The University of Kentucky’s Master of Science in Accounting prepares students for one of the world’s leading professions. Accounting careers ranked 1, 6, and 15 in Glassdoor’s 25 Jobs with the Best Career Opportunities in the U.S.
The accounting profession includes a variety of career opportunities. Whether you decide to go into public or private accounting, your options are practically unlimited. Choose a career in companies of all sizes, where you can work in numerous areas, including auditing, taxation, financial accounting and reporting, management accounting, financial analysis, and governmental accounting.
100%
Job Placement Rate BEFORE the
Semester of Graduation for the Class of 2022
>90%
CPA Exam Average Pass Rate
Per Section
10 – 14
Month Program
Highlights
- Open to all undergraduate majors
- Complete CPA Exam while enrolled in program
- Job placement rate BEFORE the semester of graduation for the Class of 2022 is 100%
- Average pass rate per section on the CPA exam is >90%
- Info Sessions
- Request Information
All majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be evaluated for admission based upon their undergraduate and/or accounting coursework grade point averages (GPA), essay responses, reference evaluations, and their TOEFL score (if applicable).
NON-Accounting Majors who apply will need to complete the Bridge Program.
- Undergraduate accounting GPA of 3.2 (out of 4.0) or greater
- GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) or greater (non-accounting majors / Bridge Program)
- Official transcripts
- Three reference forms from former professors for non-UK students
- Essay - In 800 to 900 words, discuss the reasons you wish to pursue a MSACC degree at the University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen School of Accountancy. Please address the following in your essay:
- Academic preparation and accomplishments for graduate study
- Leadership qualities and motivation
- Previous accounting and/or relevant work experience
- Expectations for the MSACC program
- Your short-term and long-term goals and how a MSACC degree will help achieve these goals
- Any additional information you feel is relevant
- Undergraduate accounting GPA of 3.2 (out of 4.0) or greater
- GPA of 3.0 or greater (non-accounting majors / Bridge Program)
- Official transcripts
- Three reference forms from former professors for non-UK students
- Essay - In 800 to 900 words, discuss the reasons you wish to pursue a MSACC degree at the University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen School of Accountancy. Please address the following in your essay:
- Academic preparation and accomplishments for graduate study
- Leadership qualities and motivation
- Previous accounting and/or relevant work experience
- Expectations for the MSACC program
- Your short-term and long-term goals and how a MSACC degree will help achieve these goals
- Any additional information you feel is relevant
- At least one official English proficiency exam score*:
- TOEFL IBT: 90 or above
- IELTS: 7 or above
- Duolingo English Test: 120 or above
- Verbal Section of GMAT exam: 30 or above
*This requirement is waived for students with U.S. degrees.
For more information, contact Yingnan Song.
Application Deadlines
Domestic Students
Fall semester: July 23
Spring semester: November 15
International Students
Fall semester: February 1
Spring semester: August 15
The Von Allmen School of Accountancy Bridge Program allows the opportunity for NON-Accounting Majors to complete the program in 14 months or longer.
Students must have earned an A or B in the following courses or their equivalent. These courses must be based upon U.S. accounting, auditing, and tax law.
- Financial Accounting (ACC 201)
- Intermediate Accounting I (ACC 301)
- Intermediate Accounting II (ACC 302)
- Accounting Information Systems (ACC 324) or Business Analytics
- Auditing (ACC 403)
- Concepts of Income Taxation (ACC 407)
Candidates who majored in Finance as an undergrad and completed ACC 301 & 302 have the following options:
- Complete ACC 324 & 407 during the summer semester, and complete ACC 403 during the fall semester while enrolled in the MSACC program.
- Complete ACC 324, 403 & 407 during the fall semester, and start the MSACC program during the spring semester.
Candidates who have yet to complete any accounting courses have the following options:
- Complete ACC 201, 301, 302, 324 & 407 during the summer semester, and complete ACC 403 during the fall semester, while enrolled in the MSACC program.
- Complete ACC 201 during the summer semester, and complete ACC 301, 302, 324, 403 & 407 during the fall semester. Begin the MSACC program during the spring semester.
Candidates who already completed ACC 201 have the following options:
- Complete ACC 301, 302, 324, & 407 during the summer semester, and complete ACC 403 during the fall semester while enrolled in the MSACC program.
- Complete ACC 301, 302, 324, & 403 during the fall semester, and start the MSACC program during the spring semester. Complete ACC 407 and ACC 625 during the summer semester while enrolled in the program.
Coursework/CPA Exam
The Master of Science in Accounting (MSACC) program is a 30-credit hour program that guides students through a modular sequence of courses that coincides with the CPA exam schedule beginning in January 2024. Six courses are required, and four courses are graduate electives.
Our program now offers three Specialty Disciplines: Business Analysis & Reporting (BAR), Information Systems & Controls (ISC), and Tax Compliance & Planning (TCP) where candidates can specialize in certain areas consistent with the new 2024 CPA exam.
- Accounting Majors can complete the program in 10 months while having the opportunity to study and sit for the CPA exam.
- Non-Accounting Majors can complete the program in 14 months while having the opportunity to study and sit for the CPA exam. NON-Accounting Majors who apply will follow the Bridge Program sequence before applying to the program.
Required Courses:
ACC 507: Advanced Topics in Taxation
ACC 624: Intro to Accounting Analytics & Data Visualization
ACC 634: Accounting & Auditing Data Management & Mining
*Candidates have the option to take one or two graduate electives during the fall semester.
Business Analysis & Reporting Discipline (BAR):
ACC 610: Not for Profit Accounting
Information Systems & Controls Discipline (ISC):
ACC 590: IT Audit
Tax Compliance & Planning Discipline (TCP):
ACC 637: Flow Through Entities
Sit for Regulation (REG) section of CPA exam in January.
*Students are not required to select a specialty discipline and can take any combination of electives where two of the four graduate electives must be at the 600 level.
Required Courses
ACC 603: Attest Function
ACC 516: Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
*Candidates have the option to take two or three graduate electives during the fall semester.
Business Analysis & Reporting Discipline (BAR):
ACC 601: Research in Accounting Theory
Information Systems & Controls Discipline (ISC):
ACC 659: Analytical Modeling in Accounting Auditing & Taxation
Or ACC 605: Internal Audit
Tax Compliance & Planning Discipline (TCP):
ACC 659: Analytical Modeling in Accounting Auditing & Taxation
Or ACC 520: Financial Planning for Accounting Professionals
Sit for (AUD) Core section of CPA exam in March.
Sit for (FAR) Core section of CPA exam in May.
ACC 625: Advanced Financial Statement Analysis & Valuation (6-week capstone course)
Sit for Specialty Discipline section of CPA exam during July.
Candidates also have the option of starting the program during the spring semester.
| Resident | Non-resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition (Full-time Students Estimate) | $23,400 | $30,563 |
| University Mandatory Fees (Estimate) | $1,544 | $1,544 |
- See University of Kentucky Tuition and Fees Page UK Tuition and Fees Page.
Tuition will be billed equally over three semesters, and the University program fee is billed over the fall and spring semesters. The Becker CPA Review course is optional, and students will pay Becker directly. The Becker fee for the 2023/24 academic year is estimated to be $3,000.
For information regarding tuition refund policies, deadlines, amounts, and other important information, please visit www.uky.edu/studentaccount.
Financial Assistance
The Von Allmen School of Accountancy has limited funds available for outstanding students in the MSACC program. These partial scholarship awards are competitively based on GPA overall and in accounting. Candidates are automatically considered when accepted into the MSACC program and no separate application is necessary to be eligible for an award. Candidates can also apply for University of Kentucky sponsored scholarships.
Refunds
Students can find tuition refund policies, deadlines, amounts, and other important information on the Student Account Services website.
University Level Funding Opportunities
The University of Kentucky Graduate School provides various funding opportunities for graduate students through fellowships, assistantships, and support funding.
The Graham Office of Career Management, an internal career center catered to Gatton students, offers assistance with career guidance, resume building, internships and more!
For career information, please visit our Accounting Career Guide. More accounting career information: www.aicpa.org/career.
Connect with Us
John Smigla
Director, MS in Accounting
Von Allmen School of Accountancy
(859) 323-9683
johnsmigla@uky.edu
Yingnan Song
International Recruiter
International Affairs
yingnan.song@uky.edu
Rick Mason
Director of Professional Recruiting
Professional Resource Center
(859) 218-5550
rickmason@uky.edu