MSA Academics & Curriculum

Curriculum

MSA Academics & Curriculum

The MSA provides in-depth knowledge of accounting, taxation, and auditing. Whether you want to expand your career as an external auditor in public accounting, an internal auditor in private accounting, a government auditor, or a tax consultant, you will be rewarded with excellence in your faculty, curriculum, and fellow students. Our 30-credit hour MSA program consists of 18 credit hours of accounting coursework and 12 credit hours of business electives. 

MSA Program

The program accommodates the needs of working professionals. Students enrolling in the MSA program on a part-time basis may complete the program in 18 months. Students may also fast-track through the curriculum by completing their degree requirements in an accelerated 12-month time frame (depending on undergraduate coursework). Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Flexible Scheduling

The UCCS MSA program is a 30-credit, hybrid graduate accounting program that combines in-person and online learning to provide students with optimal flexibility.  Students who cannot meet in person for the on-campus accounting courses may attend the course remotely (synchronously).  All on-campus classes are offered in the evening hours from 4:45 pm to 7:20 pm or 7:30 pm to 10:05 pm. Faculty will either meet weekly or will notify students about in-person/remote synchronous class meeting dates at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Students can elect to enroll in online business electives. The combination of campus, remote synchronous, and online provides flexibility to students who are also busy working professionals. 

 

  

Required Accounting courses

(15 credit hours)

Course Number

Course Title

ACCT 6010

Seminar: Financial Accounting Theory

ACCT 6510

Accounting Ethics and Institutions

ACCT 6620

Advanced Auditing

ACCT 6720

Coporate and Partnership Taxation

ACCT 6750

Advanced Financial Accounting

 

Plus one (1) of the following Accounting electives

(3 credit hours)

Course Number

Course Title

ACCT 6110

Advanced Managerial Accounting

ACCT 6200

Internal Auditing

ACCT 6730

Introduction to Accounting Systems

ACCT 6740

Accounting for Governments & Not-For-Profit Organizations

ACCT 6770

Federal Tax Research & Planning

ACCT 6950

Topics in Accounting - Graduate

 

Additionally, students take 12 credit hours of business electives

MSA students choose their business electives from any 6000-level business courses in the MBA program (except ACCT 6100). The accounting faculty recommend the following classes as being particularly relevant to future accounting professionals.

Course Number

Course Title

ACCT 6960

Graduate Internship in Accounting

BUAD 6700

Service Management

CYSM 6100

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity Technologies

CYSM 6200

Enterprise Information Security

FNCE 6000

Corporate Financial Management

FNCE 6100

Problems and Policies in Financial Management

FNCE 6200

Investment Management & Analysis

FNCE 6400

International Financial Management

FNCE 6500

Managerial Economics & the Business Cycle

MGMT 6400

Legal Issues in Managing Human Resources

MGMT 6550

Applied Principles of Negotiation & Conflict Management

MKTG 6400

Service Marketing

OPTM 6300

Managing Projects for Competitive Advantage

Students in the Master of Science in Accounting program also complete an End of Program Assessment in their final semester.