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.
>90%
Average Placement Rate
By Semester of Graduation
>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
- 93% job placement rate by semester of graduation
- 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 be considered for the Bridge Program.
- Undergraduate accounting GPA of 3.2 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
- Undergraduate accounting GPA of 3.2 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
- Official TOEFL score with a minimum TOEFL IBT score of 90 or IELTS score of 7, or score at least 30 on the verbal section of the GMAT exam. 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
GRE and GMAT Information
Currently, both GRE and GMAT exams are avilable online.
The Von Allmen School of Accountancy Bridge Program allows the opportunity for NON-Accounting Majors to apply for and complete the program in 14 months.
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)
- Managerial Accounting (ACC 202)
- Intermediate Accounting I (ACC 301)
- Intermediate Accounting II (ACC 302)
- Accounting Information Systems (ACC 324)
- 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, 202, 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 & 202 during the summer semester, and complete ACC 301, 302, 324, 403 & 407 during the fall semester. Then begin the MSACC program during the spring semester.
Candidates who already completed ACC 201 & ACC 202 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, & 407 during the fall semester, and start the MSACC program during the spring semester.
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 than coincides with the CPA exam schedule.
- Accounting Majors can complete program in 10 months while having the opportunity to study and sit for the CPA exam.
- Non-Accounting Majors can complete program in 14 months while having the opportunity to study and sit for the CPA exam. NON-Accounting Majors who apply will be considered for the Bridge Program.
ACC 507: Advanced Topics in Taxation
ACC 617: Selected Topics in Taxation
MGT 641: Legal Issues in the Accounting Profession
Two graduate-level elective courses
Seating for Regulation (REG) section of CPA exam first 10 days of January.
First 7 weeks
ACC 603: Attest Function
ACC 624: Enterprise Information and Control Systems
Seating for Auditing & Attestation (AUD) section of CPA exam first 10 days of March.
Second 7 weeks
ACC 601: Research in Accounting Theory
ACC 621: Understanding Financial Statements
Seating for Business Environment & Concepts (BEC) section of CPA exam first 10 days of May.
ACC 516: Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
Seating for Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) section of CPA exam during July.
Course Descriptions
A study of advanced topics in taxation, including corporate taxation, accounting for income taxes, and international tax.
A comprehensive study of financial accounting and reporting issues involving business combinations, partnerships, foreign currency transactions, not-for-profit accounting, and other current accounting issues.
Critical examination of accounting concepts and standards. Study of current problems and contemporary developments reflected in accounting literature and reports.
A critical examination of contemporary professional attestation theory and practice including a comprehensive review of AICPA audit case studies, statements on audit procedure, and their application in simulated business situations.
A study of selected topics in taxation, including partnership taxation, tax research, and other tax topics.
Financial statements communicate information about a business and its operations. Students will gain an understanding of the information being communicated (or not communicated) by the business entity. Emphasis is on the uses of information, rather than its preparation.
The course simultaneously examines two issues related to enterprise information systems development: 1) methodologies for designing and implementing information systems, and 2) assessment of enterprise risk and internal control systems. Case analyses and real world projects are used to accomplish the course objectives. Current computer technologies, including relational database systems and internet data processing, are integrated into the course content.
A study of various legal issues in the accounting profession. Among the topics covered are accountant's liability, commercial transactions, business organizations, property concepts, and other issues in the legal environment that will be encountered in accounting practice.
| Resident | Non-resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition (Full-time Students) | $21,233 | $29,606 |
| University Mandatory Fees (Estimate) | $1,524 | $1,524 |
Tuition will be billed 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 2020/21 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/stipend 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 who receive MSACC assistant awards are obligated to work no more than ten hours per week during the fall and spring semesters under the direction of a faculty member as an exam grader/proctor or research assistant.
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
Rick Mason
Director of Professional Recruiting
Professional Resource Center
(859) 218-5550
rickmason@uky.edu