Program Details

The Professional Program is a five-year integrated program that offers students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, Management Information Systems, Management or Marketing or a Master of Financial Management.

The Professional Program is a five-year integrated program that offers students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, Management Information Systems, Management or Marketing or a Master of Financial Management.

100% of PPA students participate in internships in public accounting, consulting, and industry firms (primarily financial services and energy firms). Students have exclusive networking opportunities and professional development coaching as part of their ACCT 321 Professional Development Seminar to help secure their internship. PPA curriculum is designed to accommodate internships during the senior year.

Tracks:

PPA applications are accepted during the fall and spring semester of a student’s junior year, when a prospective student is enrolled in or completed Financial Reporting I (ACCT 327).

Audit Track

Students pursuing this track develop skills needed to audit or consult with multinational corporations and financial institutions. Internships usually occur during the spring term of a student’s senior year. Students also take two mini-mester classes during the semester. Graduates generally begin their professional career in the audit division of a CPA firm or with a consulting firm.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Accounting.

Course List:

• ACCT607 Seminar in Auditing (3 hours)
• ACCT628 Business Application Modeling (3 hours)
• ACCT644 Control & Audit of Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT648 Accounting Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT651 Development of Accounting Thought (3 hours)
• FINC629 Financial Management (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE * (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE * (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE * (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE * (3 hours)

*ACCT684 may be used as a Directed Elective.

A Directed Elective is defined as any 400- or 600-level course in the business school or college of economics that is not an introduction to, survey of or research courses.  A 400-level course will be accepted only if there is not an equivalent graduate level course.  If you are unsure if a course will meet the requirements, contact the Professional Program for approval.

Entrepreneurship Track

Students pursuing one of this track develop fundamental entrepreneurial skills that can be applied either within an existing organization or when launching a new venture. Internships usually occur during the spring term of a student’s senior year. Students also take two mini-mester classes during the semester. Graduates will have developed an entrepreneurial mindset that prepares them to pursue opportunities with international accounting firms, corporations and financial institutions.

Students who follow this plan will earn a Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Course List:

• MGMT 632 Technology Commercialization (3 hours)
• MGMT 637 Foundations of New Ventures (3 hours)
• MGMT 638 Strategic Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
• MGMT 639 Negotiations (3 hours)
• MGMT 640 Creativity and Innovation (3 hours)
• MGMT 675 Leadership (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship (3 hours)
• MGMT Elective* (3 hours)
• ACCT Elective** (3 hours)
• ACCT Elective** (3 hours)
• ACCT Elective** (3 hours)

*Management Electives:

• MGMT 633 Organization Change & Development
• MGMT 658 Managing Projects
• FINC 644 Funding New Ventures

**Accounting Electives:

• ACCT 607 Seminar in Auditing
• ACCT 621 Corporate Tax
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis
• ACCT 651 Development of Accounting Thought
• ACCT 689 Accounting Data Analytics

If you do a Spring internship, you MUST take ACCT 689 – Accounting Data Analytics.

Finance Track

This track is designed to help students develop analytic skills necessary for decision-making roles in today’s complex business environment. Internships usually occur during the spring term of a student’s senior year. Students also take two mini-mester classes during the semester. Graduates are prepared for careers in consulting with CPA firms, corporations or financial institutions.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Financial Management.

Course List:

• ACCT 628 Business Application Modeling (3 hours)
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 651 Development of Accounting Thought (3 hours)
• ACCT Elective* (3 hours)
• ACCT Elective* (3 hours)
• FINC 629 Financial Management I (3 hours)
• FINC 630 Financial Management II (3 hours)
• FINC 632 Investment Management (3 hours)
• FINC 641 Valuation (3 hours)
• FINC 642 Analysis of Money & Capital Markets (3 hours)
• FINC 645 International Finance (3 hours)

*Accounting Electives:

• ACCT 607 Seminar in Auditing
• ACCT 621 Corporate Tax
• ACCT 689 Accounting Data Analytics
• ACCT 680 Tax Research and Policy
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship

If you do a Spring internship, you MUST take ACCT 689.

Technology Track

Students pursuing this track develop the accounting and information technology skills needed to understand and audit technology-based information systems. Semester-long internships usually occur during the fall term of a student’s senior year. Graduates often begin their careers in CPA firms, corporations or consulting firms.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Management Information Systems.

Course List:

• ACCT 628 Business Application Modeling (3 hours)
• ACCT 629 Controls Audit Tech (3 hours)
• ACCT 644 Controls & Audit of IS (3 hours)
• ACCT 648 Accounting Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship (3 hours)
• ISTM 601 Intro to Programming/VB (3 hours)
• ISTM 610 Business Data Communications (3 hours)
• ISTM 615 Business Database Systems (3 hours)
• ISTM 620 System Analysis & Design (3 hours)
• ISTM 630 MIS Project Management & Implementation (3 hours)
• ISTM Elective* (3 hours)

*Electives:

• ISTM 635 Business Information Security
• ISTM 637 Data Warehousing
• ISTM 650 Business Data Mining
• ISTM 652 Customer Relationship Management Technologies
• SCMT 644 Business Process Design
• SCMT 667 Logistics and Distribution Management
• Other Courses with Approval of Advisor

Marketing Track

This track helps students develop the competencies needed for a successful marketing career. Internships usually occur during the spring term of a student’s senior year. Students also take two mini-mester classes during the semester. Graduates are prepared for careers in consulting, brand management, market analysis, marketing research and marketing management.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Marketing.

Course List:

• MKTG 625 Marketing Engineering (3 hours)
• MKTG 635 Marketing Analytics & Pricing (3 hours)
• MKTG 660 Marketing Consulting (3 hours)
• MKTG 665 Research for Marketing Decisions (3 hours)
• MKTG 670 Marketing Leadership (2 hours)
• MKTG 670 Marketing Leadership (1 hour)
• MKTG 673 Services Marketing (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 (or MKTG 684) Professional Internship (3 hours)
• MKTG Elective* (3 hours)
• ACCT or MKTG Elective** (3 hours)
• ACCT or MKTG Elective** (3 hours)
• ACCT or MKTG Elective** (3 hours)

*Marketing Electives:

• MKTG 650 Analyzing Consumer Behavior
• MKTG 656 Branding and Marketing Communications
• MKTG 671 Product Innovation

**Accounting or Marketing Electives:

If you plan to sit for the CPA exam, you must take Accounting Electives.

Nonprofit Track

The Nonprofit Track offers students the option to earn the MS-Accounting degree with a focus on audit or tax while also receiving a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Bush School of Government and Public Service.  The curriculum begins with a foundations course on the nonprofit sector which helps give the students a good introduction into the nonprofit world.  The second course helps students understand the management and leadership of nonprofit organizations.  The last two courses required for the certificate are electives chosen in the following areas of study: fund raising and philanthropy, fiscal and performance management, leadership and management, health and human service policy, and international nongovernmental organizations.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Accounting.

Course List for the Nonprofit Track – Audit Option:

• ACCT 607 Seminar in Auditing (3 hours)
• ACCT 628 Business Application Modeling (3 hours)
• ACCT 644 Control & Audit of Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT 648 Accounting Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• FINC 629 Financial Management (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship (3 hours)
• PSAA 643 (700/720) Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3 hours)
• PSAA 644 (700/720) Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations (3 hours)
• Nonprofit Elective* (3 hours)
• Nonprofit Elective* (3 hours)

Course List for the Nonprofit Track – Tax Option:

• ACCT 611 Management of Taxation (3 hours)
• ACCT 612 Partnership and Real Estate Taxation (3 hours)
• ACCT 621 Corporate Tax (3 hours)
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 680 Tax Research and Policy (3 hours)
• FINC 629 Financial Management (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship (3 hours)
• PSAA 643 (700/720) Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3 hours)
• PSAA 644 (700/720) Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations (3 hours)
• Nonprofit Elective* (3 hours)
• Nonprofit Elective* (3 hours)

*Nonprofit Electives: (Choose 2 within any of the following optional emphasis areas)

• Fundraising and Philanthropy
  • PSAA 631:  Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 633 : Philanthropy: Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 636: Grant and Contract Management
• Fiscal and Performance Management
  • PSAA 632 (700/720): Strategic Planning and Financial Management for Nonprofits
  • PSAA 630 Program Evaluation in Public and Non Profit Organizations
  • PSAA 648 Performance Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
• Leadership and Management
  • PSAA 631 Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 642 Ethics in Public Policy
  • PSAA 648 Performance Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
  • PSAA 649 Volunteer and Human Resources in Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 669 Legal Environment of Nonprofit Management
• Health and Human Service Policy
  • PSAA 616 Public Organizations in a Pluralistic Society
  • PSAA 630 Program Evaluation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 635 Social Welfare and Health Policy
• International Nongovernment Organizations
  • PSAA 630 Program Evaluation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • PSAA 689 International Nongovernmental Organizations

Tax Track

This track emphasizes the fundamental and contemporary aspects of tax in the current business environment. Internships usually occur during the spring term of a student’s senior year. Students also take two mini-mester classes during the semester. Graduates commonly plan for a career in a CPA firm or corporate tax department of a corporation.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Accounting.

Course List:

• ACCT 611 Management of Taxation (3 hours)
• ACCT 612 Partnership & Real Estate Taxation (3 hours)
• ACCT 615 Contemporary Tax Topics (3 hours)
• ACCT 621 Corporate Taxation (3 hours)
• ACCT 622 Financial Accounting for Income Taxes (3 hours)
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 680 Tax Research & Policy (3 hours)
• FINC 629 Financial Management I (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE* (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE* (3 hours)
• DIRECTED ELECTIVE* (3 hours)

*ACCT684 may be used as a Directed Elective.

A Directed Elective is defined as any 400- or 600-level course in the business school or college of economics that is not an introduction to, survey of or research courses.  A 400-level course will be accepted only if there is not an equivalent graduate level course.  If you are unsure if a course will meet the requirements, contact the Professional Program for approval.

Consulting Track

The Consulting track blends data analytics and critical thinking with real-world cases to prepare students to enter a world of consulting.

Students who follow this track will earn a Master of Science in Accounting.

Course List:

• ACCT 628 Business Application Modeling (3 hours)
• ACCT 647 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• ACCT 648 Accounting Information Systems (3 hours)
• ACCT 650 Accounting Ethics (3 hours)
• ACCT 684 Professional Internship (3 hours)
• ACCT 689 Accounting Data Analytics (3 hours)
• ACCT 689 Accounting Consulting Course (3 hours)
• FINC 629 Financial Management I (3 hours)
• Experiential Elective (3 hours)
• Experiential Elective (3 hours)
• Soft Skills Elective (3 hours)
• Soft Skills Elective (3 hours)