Master of Accounting (MAcc)

Frequently asked questions

• In general, what are the admission requirements?

  The admission criterion uses a combination of your overall GPA in your last 60 credit hours and the GMAT score. The GMAT exam is required and must be submitted to the graduate school. GMAT information can be found at its website: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat

  A waiver of the GMAT requirement is available for applicants from AACSB accredited accounting programs with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

• Are most of your graduate classes taught by full-time faculty?

  Yes, most of our courses are taught by full-time faculty. The few part-time faculty members are regarded as experts in their respective field.

• Are these programs designed for full-time or part-time students?

  The MAcc program is designed to meet the needs of both full-time and part-time students. The majority of our students will be full-time and continuing UNC undergraduate accounting students. Full time students may begin the program during the summer, fall, or spring and complete the degree requirements within one year by taking a full course load all of these sessions. Part-time students may typically complete the program by taking coursework during the fall and spring semesters, and earning additional credit hours in summer classes.

• When are your graduate classes offered?

  Most of our graduate accounting courses are taught during the week in the afternoons and some in the early evening.

• Do you offer any online classes?

  Program electives can be drawn from online MBA courses with the approval of the program advisor and the Chair of Accounting and CIS.

• Which courses are required as prerequisites for the MAcc program?

  Students who complete their undergraduate degree in accounting at the University of Northern Colorado or its equivalent from an AACSB-accredited institution will normally meet the prerequisites. Students must have met the prerequisite courses for graduate courses. Students with an undergraduate degree in accounting will normally meet the prerequisites. The courses listed below are the normal undergraduate prerequisite courses:

  BACC 220: Principles of Financial Accounting
  BACC 221: Principles of Managerial Accounting
  BAAC 300: Information Systems
  BACC 320: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  BACC 321: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
  BACC 323: Cost / Managerial Accounting
  BACC 325: Income Tax I
  BAAC 328: Accounting Information Systems
  BACC 425: Auditing
  BAFN 231: Legal Environment of Business
  BAFN 370: Business Finance
  BAMG 350: Management of Organizations
  BAMK 360: Marketing

• What are the requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Colorado?

  Most of our students intend to become qualified as Certified Public Accountants (CPA). While the CPA exam is a national exam administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, its execution and licensing practices are governed by state law. For example, many states including Colorado require a certain number of credit hours in particular subjects and have overall accounting and business credit hour requirements. As such, you should check with the state in which you intend to practice to determine what the specific course requirements are for that state. Our department is unable to make a determination of your eligibility to sit for the CPA exam, but we can provide advice to begin your investigation. This can only be done by the appropriate state board. Requirements for the State of Colorado can be viewed at:

  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Accountancy

  http://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/Colorado

  For the CPA requirements in other states, please consult the State Board of Accountancy for that state. Links to the requirements for each state can be found at:

  The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

  General information on the CPA exam can be found at https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam.html/.

• How much is the tuition for these programs?
  Please refer to Graduate Costs at https://www.unco.edu/costs/Graduate.
• Do you offer any financial assistance?
  Graduate education at Northern Colorado is affordable and numerous resources exist to help fund your education. Our Office of Financial Aid has complete information about loans, aid and scholarships. A Graduate Universal Application can be completed by graduates who are not admitted until after the March 31 scholarship application deadline. For more information, you may contact the Graduate School at 970.351.2831 or cathy.lopez@unco.edu.
• My bachelor's degree isn't in accounting, but I want to sit for the CPA exam.

  To be eligible to sit for the CPA exam is a State Board of Accountancy determination; however, under current law (2010), 27 hours of accounting and 18 hours of business subjects are required.

• Are there any special procedures to qualify for graduation?
  To complete the program, you must complete the 30 credit hours for the program and provide evidence of a qualifying conditional score on two parts of the CPA exam.
• Do you help on-campus with career planning & job placement?

  Yes. All students are encouraged to visit the Center for Career Readiness for assistance with career planning as well as part-time, full-time, and internship opportunities. Representatives from local, national, and international businesses visit the campus to meet with students and to interview and discuss career employment opportunities with graduating students and alumni. Individual interviews are scheduled with visiting employer representatives.

  A series of programs is offered throughout the year providing information and skill-building activities in resume development, interviewing skills, networking, securing internships, and much more. The University Career Services has established a comprehensive and current career resource and research facility which contains career-related materials for use by students and alumni including employment opportunities, salary surveys, descriptions of specific careers, and the preparation necessary to attain them. The University Career Services enables students to work on their job and internship search and allows students to create a career profile, upload resumes, search for jobs and internships, and sign up for on-campus interviews. An annual Accounting Meet the Firms event is sponsored every fall by Beta Alpha Psi (the accounting honorary fraternity). This is a fantastic opportunity for accounting students to network with over 30 local and national firms looking to fill both internship and full-time positions.