Course description
Today's accounting and finance professionals must possess knowledge, experience, and a well-developed set of technical skills to meet the challenges of a wide range of business environments.
These challenges are addressed by the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) program at Wake Forest University. The MSA program prepares students for a variety of careers in accounting and financial management. All students participate in intensive course work to prepare for a career in auditing, tax consulting, investment banking, or financial consulting. Students in the program acquire the competence necessary to succeed as an accountant or financial manager through courses, seminars, and case-based research related to accounting, auditing, taxation and finance. Many MSA students receive significant merit-based scholarships in order to pursue their education at Wake Forest University.
According to recruiters, Wake Forest University is considered a premier recruiting school for the Big 4 accounting firms. In addition, the MSA program is AACSB accredited in business, with a special accreditation in accounting.
Program Eligibility: MS in Accountancy
The Wake Forest University Schools of Business seek individuals who have demonstrated achievement through academic coursework, professional experience and community involvement. Wake Forest looks for leadership ability, motivation, focus, enthusiasm, strong values and teamwork skills in its prospective students.
For Fall 2010 enrollment, candidates must meet the following criteria:
1. Hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. All undergraduate majors will be considered.
2. Wake Forest undergraduates: Wake Forest students can enroll in the integrated MSA program and earn both the bachelor of science and master of science degrees with five years of course work at Wake Forest, beginning with a strong liberal arts education in the first and second years. These students apply to the Schools of Business in their sophomore year and then apply to the MSA program in their junior year of study. Requirements for admission under this path require admission into the Wake Forest undergraduate business program as well as junior level accounting coursework within the undergraduate business school.
3. Graduates from other colleges and universities: Individuals who have already completed an undergraduate degree can earn the MSA in a two to three semester program of study.* Students who enter the program do not have to possess an accounting background.** However, students without an accounting background are required to successfully complete the following prerequisite courses prior to enrollment:
Principles of Financial Accounting (offered in a mini term during the second half of May)
Intermediate Accounting I (offered in the Summer I session)
Intermediate Accounting II and Introductory Tax (offered in the Summer II session)
In addition, the following undergraduate courses are required to be taken as pre- or co-requisites:
Principles of Finance (offered in the Summer I, Fall and Spring sessions)
Principles of Managerial Accounting (offered in the Summer II, Fall and Spring sessions)
* The difference between the two and three semester options is the inclusion of a paid busy season internship during the beginning of the second semester for the three semester option. The three semester option is highly recommended.
**Students who do not possess an accounting undergraduate background will be required to take a graduate level Auditing (ACC652) course and a graduate level Accounting Information Systems (ACC651) course in their first semester of graduate coursework in addition to the regular curriculum.
