Accounting, Master of Science

Admission

Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information. For consideration and admission to the Master of Science in Accounting program, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution and satisfactorily submit or complete the following:

1. A graduate application for admission accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
2. A minimum TOEFL® score of 173 on the computer-based version for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution where English is the language of instruction.
3. A program planning conference meeting with a program director or chair to discuss admission, candidacy, and program requirements is highly recommended.

All required application and candidacy documents should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Program Purpose

The M.S. in Accounting is designed to meet the growing need for credentialed accountants and financial managers and to respond to new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure requirements in the State of Delaware.

Wilmington University recognizes that not all accounting students aim for CPA licensure. The M.S. in Accounting also provides the foundation for students who are interested in both the Certified Management Accountant Exam (CMA) and the Certified Fraud Examination Exam (CFE).

Program Competencies

In addition to satisfying the University’s graduate graduation competencies, students will have an advanced level of applicable knowledge in the following areas as appropriate to one’s field of study:

1. Apply appropriate, relevant and reliable measurement results using applicable standards for objective disclosure and reporting.
2. Analyze risk to identify and manage audit and business risks.
3. Use technology assisted tools to assess and control risk and document work performed.

Program Design

The program incorporates a methodology that provides students with a deep appreciation of the skills and knowledge required for decision making and problem solving. Streams of emphasis include today’s contemporary organization, strategy, global realities of diversity and culture, management for innovation and change, creativity, leadership, technology, the global market and the management of teams. The program is designed for individuals who are seeking to make a strong contribution to their organization, profession, and global society while advancing and promoting their careers. The culminating independent project serves to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge. Various classes in the program are offered at the Wilson Graduate Center on weeknights, Dover on weeknights, Dover Air Force Base on weekends, and Georgetown on weeknights. At this time, all MAC courses are only offered at the Wilson Graduate Center.

Program Requirements

The MS program is based upon the students working in a wide range of organizations; they must be adept at understanding the relationship of one’s self to the organization in a way that brings them to a level of mastery. The program consists of ten 3 (three) credit hour courses. The eight core courses (24 credit hours) provide an in-depth exposure to core accounting theory and practice that are applicable to a wide range of situations and organizations. In this concentration, students also select two elective courses to compliment the core requirements. These students may select any graduate level business course as long as the prerequisite requirements are met.

Registration

All required courses in the Master of Science in Accounting program have undergraduate or graduate accounting prerequisites. Please consult with your program chair if you have questions about these prerequisites. Elective courses from the Master of Science in Management or MBA programs may be taken until the prerequisites have been met. Some MBA courses have prerequisites.

Prior to registering for your second Master of Science in Accounting course students should:

1. Meet with a program director or chair for a program planning conference. Please have a transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable) available for the conference.
2. Submit an official transcript from an accredited college, university, or other degree-granting institution, verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree. Send official transcript(s) directly from the identified college or university to the Wilmington University Graduate Admissions Office.

Advancement to Degree Candidacy

Students in the Master of Science in Accounting program are advanced to degree candidacy after completing four courses with a minimum GPA. of 3.0, provided they have:

1. Submitted an official transcript from an accredited college, university, or other degree-granting institution, verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree. Transcripts from all institutions attended should be submitted.
2. Successfully completed undergraduate courses in Intermediate Accounting I and Intermediate Accounting II.
3. Completed a credit or non-credit course in word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software applications or successfully completed the Wilmington University office software proficiency examination.

Students not completing any of these items will not be permitted to continue their Master of Science in Accounting studies until the deficiency or deficiencies have been corrected.

M.S. Accounting Program Course Requirements

Ten courses are required for program completion; the eight courses immediately below and two additional courses to be selected from the elective offerings. While some course sequencing is important, the program is designed to permit students to complete requirements at their own pace.

Courses