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Accountancy, MSAC

Your Success Starts With Our Hands-On Learning
  • 96%

    Placement Rate at Graduation

  • 6:1

    Student to Faculty Ratio

  • CPA

    Exam Preparation Materials and Focus

Master of Science in Accountancy Overview

What are the Benefits of the Program?

The Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) Program is a face-to-face, cohort-based program that prepares graduates for careers in all areas of financial information and includes hands-on experiences in

  • Financial reporting,
  • Audit and assurance services,
  • Information systems design and analysis,
  • Database design and management
  • Tax compliance, research and planning,
  • Cost management and analysis, and
  • Business valuation in mergers and acquisitions.

Students in the MSA Program work closely with faculty and executive mentors to develop the technical and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in a variety of financial services careers. Coursework emphasizes teamwork and communication skills in addition to technical acumen.

MSA students have access to the Becker CPA Review Program at no additional cost. Graduates of the MSA program are eligible to sit for the CPA and other professional licensure examinations and meet the education requirements to be licensed as a CPA in North Carolina and most other jurisdictions. 

MSA graduates are placed in the largest professional service firms, including all “Big Four” accounting firms, along with national and regional firms, major corporations and financial institutions throughout the world.  Placement rates for the MSA program have exceeded 95% in virtually every academic year

What else do you need to know?

The MSA Program is open to candidates who hold any undergraduate degree. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited university are generally eligible to begin the program in August with no prerequisite requirements and complete their degree in June after 11 months.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field can complete a set of prerequisite courses in the summer preceding their enrollment in the MSA. Non-accounting undergraduates complete the degree on the same schedule.

The tuition and fees for the MSA program are extremely competitive, and significant scholarship and assistantship assistance is available along with a limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers.  Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.

With this program, you can become:

A certified public accountant (CPA) is a designation provided to licensed accounting professionals. The CPA license is provided by the Board of Accountancy for each state. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) provides resources on obtaining the license. The CPA designation helps enforce professional standards in the accounting industry.

Forensic accounting is a specialized area of accounting — and a challenging one. A forensic accountant investigates incidents of fraud, bribery, money laundering and embezzlement by analyzing financial records and transactions, tracing assets, and more.

Internal auditors take a holistic view of their organization’s governance, risk, and control systems (in other words, primarily non-financial information), while external auditors are either concerned with the accuracy of business accounts and the organization’s financial condition or, in some industries, the organization’s compliance with laws and regulations.

Accounting managers develop, test, and evaluate new systems for validating and reporting financial information. They may also prepare budget reports and assist with new employee on-boarding.

Finance managers oversee their organization's different departmental budgets. They analyze market data to make forecasts managers consider when making financial decisions.

Senior financial analysts analyze data and calculate risk to complete projects and make financial decisions for their organization. As managerial staff, they may also screen, hire, and train new employees.

Tax accountants prepare and file tax documents for individuals or organizations and meet with clients to discuss and explain complex financial matters.

Corporate controllers manage their organization's financial and accounting operations, such as billing, accounts, and budgeting.

program completion feature
program completion feature

Learn to

Develop the skills necessary for critical thinking, professional research, and continuous learning.

Develop a global perspective of business and accounting practices.

Provide a framework for developing leadership and team building skills.

Recognize the importance of social responsibility and making ethical business decisions.

Develop effective communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.

MSA Charlotte Preview Tour

August 13-15

students in UNCW Library learn how to use a 3-d printer.

MSA Orientation

August 19

students learning in a classroom with computers.

Donor Dinner

August 22

White blossoming tree on campus

Meet the Firms

August 26 - August 29

student working on a mac computer.

Meet the Firms Career Fair

September 6

alumni board of visitors
Three students seated at a table with laptops open

Find Your Way in Accounting

Sample Course Offerings Available

Table lists sample courses for this program
MSA 505 Partnership & Corporation Taxation
MSA 518 Risk Based Auditing
MSA 523 Accounting Analytics
MSA 530 Management Decisions & Control
MSA 522 Business Database Systems
See The Full Curriculum

Admission Deadlines & Requirements

Information: M.S.A.C. Accountancy

Apply Now

  • Complete applications are considered for admission by the program as they are received.
  • All application and supporting documents must be received by the published deadline.

Coordinator:

  • Dr. William (Bill) Kerler, MSA Director
    Diane Hogan, Program Coordinator
    hogand@uncw.edu  

Location/Delivery Method:

  • Main Campus

Deadlines (11:59 p.m. EST)

  • Summer I 2025*:
    • April 1, 2025
    • Summer I start is only for those requiring pre-requisite courses.
  • Fall 2025:
    • June 1, 2025
    • Pre-requisites must be complete prior to fall semester start.

* If pre-requisite courses need to be completed prior to the fall semester, contact the program coordinator before submitting an application. The coordinator will assist you in determining the best course of action, which may include submission of a summer semester application instead. Should you decide to submit a fall application without conferring with the coordinator regarding pre-requisite courses and it is determined that a summer application is required, a summer re-application and duplicate application fee will be required.

Transcripts

  • One official transcript is required from each U.S. post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Getting Started page for international transcript instructions.

Test Scores

  • None Required, but is recommended for applicants with an overall cumulative bachelor's GPA below 3.0.  Contact the program coordinator to discuss your specific situation before you register for the test.

Recommendations

  • 3 recommendations by individuals who can comment on the applicant’s potential for successful completion of a master’s program.

Additional Requirements

  1. Upload Supplemental Documents After Application Submission
  2. Resume
  3. Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT):  The GMAT is not required for applicants but is recommended for applicants with an overall cumulative bachelor’s GPA of less than 3.0.  Contact the program coordinator prior to registering for the test.  
  4. Note: Differential tuition applies to this program.Tuition & Fees

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Are You an International Student?

This is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM designated program that allows eligible F1 international students to apply for a 24-month optional practical training extension.

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