Master of Science In Accounting

Find the education and preparation to succeed as an accounting professional

Earn a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree from the H-E-B School of Business and Administration. The 30-hour MSA program provides graduates with the skillset needed in the competitive world of professional accounting. Graduates will have the credentials required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to sit for the national CPA licensing examination.

Courses in the MSA program are offered on weekday evenings to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Classes meet once per week in eight- or 16-week terms. Classes are taught by full-time faculty with decades of experience in professional accounting, each with a CPA license. Learn more about our faculty.

 

Becker Partnership

Students enrolled in the MSA program at UIW get unlimited access to Becker CPA Exam Review materials for two years at no additional cost. Through our partnership with Becker, UIW MSA students will be able to access:

  • Simulated exams
  • Real-world instructors
  • Up-to-date CPA Exam content
  • Skillbuilder videos

Students who study with Becker CPA Exam Review prep materials reported passing 94 percent* of the CPA Exam sections. To access the free test preparation materials through Becker, students log in to UIW's official Becker Partner account.

*To learn more about Becker's CPA Exam pass rate and accessing test prep materials, visit the Becker website .

 

MSA Curriculum

Graduate accounting students may enroll in the traditional MSA degree plan or choose from one of two areas of specialization – the Tax track or the Assurance and Financial Planning track.

Download the MSA degree plan.

The Tax track for the MSA degree focuses on contemporary aspects of taxation for use in both individual tax practices and business entities. This track is designed to enable students to become proficient in tax research, analysis and problem solving relevant to the current regulatory environment.

Required Courses:

  • ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6333 Problems in Tax Practice (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6345 Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6355 Estate, Trust and Gift Taxation (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6360 Data Analytics in Accounting (3 hours)
  • Electives (9 hours)

Elective courses in the Tax Track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes. ACCT 6388 Accounting Internship may be substituted for ACCT 6333 in the Tax Track if the internship work is in taxation.

The Assurance and Financial Reporting track for the MSA degree provides a practical and theoretical exposure to current audit and assurance service topics. Students analyze and evaluate financial statements and related disclosures while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the responsibilities of entities and the public accounting profession.

Required Courses:

  • ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6336 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6348 Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6350 Problems in Accounting (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6360 Data Analytics in Accounting (3 hours)
  • Elective (9 hours)

Elective courses in the Assurance/Financial Reporting track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes.

The traditional MSA degree is available to students who do not wish to specialize in a certain area.

Required Courses:

  • ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6345 Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6348 Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6350 Problems in Accounting (3 hours)
  • ACCT 6360 Data Analytics in Accounting (3 hours)
  • Electives (9 hours)

 

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

The curriculum of the Master of Science in Accounting program at the H-E-B School of Business and Administration provides students the opportunity to obtain the credentials necessary to sit for the Certified Public Accountant licensing exam, as designated by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

 

Admission Criteria

Find out more about requirements, standards and processes to begin your journey as an H-E-B School of Business and Administration MSA student.

Accreditation

Business programs in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration are accredited by The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The University of the Incarnate Word is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Learn more about accreditation.