Master of Accountancy

Program Overview

Our 30-credit Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program develops fluency with accounting, auditing, taxation, and regulatory issues. We also develop communication and data analytic skills that make our students stand out with employers.

Program Distinctions

• 100% job placement (5-year average)
• Top 10% CPA exam pass rate among U.S. institutions with 10 or more candidates (based on NASBA reporting)
• Satisfies the 150 credit-hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam
• Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) course offerings
• Program STEM designation reflects the technical aspects of the accounting profession and enables our international students the opportunity to gain U.S. work experience
• A majority of our MAcc students receive scholarships

How to Apply

Basic requirements are listed below. We encourage you to read detailed instructions on the MAcc application requirements and process. Learn more about MAcc tuition and scholarship opportunities.

• Your online application
• Your personal information and statement
• Names and emails for three individuals (typically faculty) providing references
• A current transcript (does not need to be official) with your application - if admitted, an official transcript will be required
• Documentation and test scores sent directly from the granting source to the UVM Graduate College. GMAT and GRE scores are optional; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores are required for non-English speakers

Concentrations

Students may choose to specialize in one area of accounting.

• Financial reporting and auditing
• Federal taxation: compliance and planning
• Sustainability reporting and assurance

Curriculum

Accounting is a dynamic profession. We regularly engage with industry leaders to ensure our curriculum is current and sets you up for success. Career fit is also important – working closely with a MAcc advisor, you will individualize your course of study to capitalize on prior professional experience and/or coursework on the way to reaching your goals.  

Highlights

• Broad exposure to knowledge and practices across the accounting profession
• Option of choosing a focus in auditing and financial reporting, tax, or sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting
• Program STEM designation reflects the inclusion of data analytics and other technologies throughout the curriculum
• Each MAcc student’s program is geared toward their individual interests and needs

The University of Vermont’s Master of Accountancy Program comprises 10 courses, equaling 30 graduate credit hours including:

• 18 credit hours (6 courses) of accounting, auditing and tax knowledge;
• 3 credit hours (1 course) of CPA law;
• 3 credit hours (1 course) of professional communications; and
• 6 credit hours (2 courses) of graduate-level business courses. Students with an undergraduate business degree can substitute additional accounting courses for business courses.

Required Courses

Professional Communications (BUS 6601): Addresses different components of professional communications key to accounting career success. Clear business writing, strong interpersonal skills, effective presentation and group meeting communications are emphasized and illustrated in a variety of assignments.

Accounting Research, Regulation and Ethics - MAcc Capstone (BUS 6690): Students research current financial reporting issues and regulatory requirements. Readings and cases emphasize the ethical responsibilities of professional accountants.

CPA Law (BUS 6602): Provides Master of Accountancy students with exposure to the major areas of U.S. law emphasized on the uniform CPA exam.

Accounting Electives

Accounting Information Systems (BSAD 5660): Examination of how accounting information is collected, stored and made available to decision makers with an emphasis on internal control implementation.

Auditing (BUS 5630): Examination of auditing theory and practice. Topics include standards, ethics and legal obligations of the profession, audit planning, internal control, audit evidence, and auditor communications.

Fraud Examination (BUS 5635): The course covers all of the major methods employees use to commit occupational fraud. Students learn how and why occupational fraud is committed, how fraudulent conduct can be deterred, and how allegations of fraud should be investigated and resolved.

Data Analytics for Accounting (BUS 5990): The course covers managerial statistical tools in descriptive analytics and predictive analytics, including regression, forecasting, risk analysis, simulation, and data mining. Students will learn how to create data-driven visualizations and presentations.

Corporation Taxation (BUS 5641): A survey of the tax consequences for C corporations and their shareholders of womb-to-tomb transactions, which includes formations, acquisitions, divisions, consolidations, and international operations, as well as the reporting of book/tax differences.

Tax Research (BUS 5646): Uses various research techniques to analyze federal tax principles governing individuals and business entities and emphasizes the effective communication of technical analyses.

Tax and Entrepreneurial Ventures (BUS 6641): A study of the tax consequences of using partnerships, S corporations, and limited liability companies for business operations, with an examination of the tax aspects of choice-of-entity, operational, and divestment decisions for small and family-owned businesses.

Advanced Special Topics (BUS 6990): Advanced courses on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings.

Financial Reporting

Advanced Accounting (BUS 5615): Focuses on accounting for business combinations and developing consolidated financial statements. Includes accounting for foreign currency transactions, foreign subsidiaries, segment, interim, and SEC reporting.

Governmental Accounting (BUS 5650): This course introduces accounting principles and auditing standards applicable to governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. Course projects utilize local government and not-for-profit financial reports and expose students to practical application of governmental accounting requirements.

Advanced Topics in Management Accounting (BUS 5620): Emphasizes use of internal and external information in management decision making; includes cost of inventory, business activities, strategic use of information, long-range planning.

Accounting & Reporting for ESG (BUS 6670): Combines an introduction to financial and managerial accounting and reporting with the most recent standards used by entities worldwide to report on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities.

Sustainability Content: Students who are interested in a sustainability focus are encouraged to visit the Certificate of Graduate Study in Sustainable Enterprise course offerings which include descriptions of graduate non-accounting elective courses.

Internships: MAcc credit can be obtained for approved internships and enrollment in internship coursework.

The Accounting and Finance Career Fair in September will help you start the full-time job recruitment process.

Applicants with an undergraduate business degree in a field other than accounting must complete the two corporate financial reporting courses (BUS 3610 and 3611) in addition to the 10 courses required by the MAcc program.

Note: Most states require at least one auditing and one taxation course to sit for the CPA exam and become certified as a CPA.

Deadlines

Rolling admission for domestic students.
International student deadlines: Fall – May 15; Spring – October 15.

Apply early for greater scholarship consideration. Classes are capped at 45 students.

For a jump-start, consider taking advantage of condensed summer courses before the start of the fall semester.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee, MAcc applicants must meet the following minimum requirements (separate criteria for AMP students):

• 4-year bachelor's degree
• 2.75 (4.0 scale) overall GPA
• International students only: TOEFL of 90 or IELTS of 7.0
• GMAT or GRE equivalent are not required, but students with lower GPAs and/or foreign university graduates may wish to submit scores to enhance credentials

Prerequisite courses

• Microeconomics
• Principles of Financial Accounting (Introductory Financial Accounting)
• Principles of Managerial Accounting (Introductory Managerial Accounting)
• Corporate Financial Reporting 1 (Intermediate Accounting 1)
• Corporate Financial Reporting 2 (Intermediate Accounting 2)

Students meeting these requirements complete the program in as few as 9 months.

Outcomes

You'll find the majority of UVM MAcc graduates working as assurance and tax associates with Big-4 and other international as well as regional and Vermont accounting firms. Employers of recent MAcc graduates include: