Master of Accounting

Program Overview

Saint Louis University's M.Acc. program enhances students' accounting abilities, analytical thinking, and communication skills. It offers a choice of concentrations in audit, business analysis and reporting, financial reporting, or taxation, and includes electives for customization. Accredited by AACSB, the program prepares graduates for the CPA exam and careers as accountants, with a mean average wage of $86,740 in the St. Louis area.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Saint Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business Master of Accounting (M.Acc.) program is designed to enhance students' professional accounting abilities while developing strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. The program aims to provide students with superior ethical, technical, and professional accounting skills.

Objectives:

• Develop technical competency and professional knowledge in relevant professional accounting standards, tax compliance and planning, risk assessment, and information technology.
• Enhance critical thinking and communication skills to apply professional accounting standards to complex issues, financial statement analysis, and risk assessment, with the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Foster interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively in diverse teams and employment settings toward a common goal.
• Cultivate professional values and ethics to identify ethical issues and respond appropriately by demonstrating professional conduct and demeanor.

Outline:

The M.Acc. program consists of 30 credits of advanced coursework, with 15 to 21 credits in accounting. The remaining credits are completed in business electives determined in consultation with the program director.

Required Courses:

• ACCT 6110 Financial Reporting III (3 credits)
• ACCT 6200 Accounting Data Analytics (3 credits)
• ACCT 6340 Fed Income Tax: Corp (3 credits)
• MGT 4500 Legal Environment of Business II (3 credits)

Concentrations (9 credits):

Students choose one of the following concentrations:

• Audit:
• ACCT 6190 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
• ACCT 6440 Advanced Audit (3 credits)
• ACCT 6450 Accounting Ethics, Fraud and Forensic Accounting (3 credits)
• Business Analysis and Reporting:
• Select three of the following:
• ACCT 6030 Contemporary Financial Reporting (3 credits)
• ACCT 6190 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
• ITM 6300 Database Management Systems (3 credits)
• ITM 6400 Applied Business Analytics (3 credits)
• ITM 6450 Decision Making with Enterprise Systems (3 credits)
• ITM 6550 Big Data in Organizations (3 credits)
• Financial Reporting:
• ACCT 6030 Contemporary Financial Reporting (3 credits)
• ACCT 6160 International Accounting (3 credits)
• ACCT 6190 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
• Taxation:
• ACCT 6320 Fed Income Tax: Flow-Thru Ent (3 credits)
• ACCT 6350 State and Local Taxation (3 credits)
• ACCT 6380 Wealth Preservation (3 credits)

Electives (9 credits):

• The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
• The accounting program is separately accredited by the AACSB.
• Students can access the Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center for internship and employment opportunities.
• The SLU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi provides networking opportunities and guest speakers.

Careers:

Graduates from the M.Acc. program may take the CPA exam and pursue careers as accountants. Accountants in the St. Louis area earn a mean average wage of $86,740 as of May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.