The accounting world is changing.
Welcome to the school that is Changing with it. The accounting world is changing. UIC Liautaud prepares students for a business world marked by continuous change, with academic programs that blend conceptual and technical knowledge with practical application to prepare individuals for careers in financial, managerial, governmental/non-profit and international accounting, as well as auditing, information systems, taxation and business law. Housed inside a major research university in the heart of Chicago s thriving business community, the Liautaud Master of Science in Accounting program leads public universities in Illinois in preparing students to successfully pass the CPA exam. Our MSA degree also gives graduates the training and credentials sought by many firms as they identify future leaders, partners and executives. UIC Liautaud accounting professionals are ready for the complexities of a global economy and ever-changing financial markets, business practices and government regulations.
Start accounting for your future today. Accounting jobs are growing at a staggering rate an expected 22 percent increase over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For those who earn a professional designation such as Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant, this is especially true. Opportunities range from public accounting, management accounting and government accounting to internal audit in public accounting firms, private industry, financial institutions, government and nonprofit organizations.
The Liautaud Advantage Flexible ProgRam Options Our students can begin the MSA program in any of three semesters (fall, spring or summer). Many of the MSA classes are offered in the evenings. A Record of Distinction Leading Edge Learning Facilities The UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business is housed in the new Douglas Hall on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. The building features state-of-the-art technology and interactive, flexible learning studios designed to foster teamwork and collaborative learning. The UIC Liautaud MSA program is accredited by the AACSB, one of 171 programs worldwide with this designation. And UIC MSA graduates have one of the highest pass rates in the state of Illinois on the CPA exam. Strong Alumni Network UIC Liautaud MSA alumni hold a significant percentage of key leadership positions in accounting in Chicago and throughout the business world. UIC alumni have been instrumental in engaging key accounting firms in supporting the school financially, academically and by recruiting students for internships and full-time employment. Distinguished Faculty UIC Liautaud s research faculty is working at the leading edge of the accounting field, investigating the issues tied to changes occurring in industry and the economy. As a result, their teaching is forward looking and prepares students to be adaptable and attuned to the opportunities that emerge in a changing, global economic environment.
Program OVerview The Master of Science in Accounting curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to meet the requirements to sit for the CPA exam, regardless of undergraduate study, in a one-totwo-year program of study. Business Undergraduate: 10 courses (40 credit hours) Accounting Undergraduate: 8 courses (32 credit hours) Non-Business / Non-Accounting Undergraduate: 16 courses (64 credit hours) 3 Foundation Courses (12 credit hours) 3 Breadth Courses (12 credit hours) 5 Accounting Background Courses (20 credit hours) 2 Required Courses (8 credit hours) 3 Accounting Courses (12 credit hours) 3 Accounting / Business Elective Courses (12 credit hours) Foundation and Breadth Courses represent a core of basic business and accounting skills that provide underlying support to begin the study of accounting and are required only of those who do not have an undergraduate business major. These include: ACTG 500 Financial Accounting ACTG 474 Accounting Information Systems IDS 570 Statistics Three non-accounting business courses in Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management Background Accounting Courses present the basic skills of the accounting profession required for the CPA exam and are required of those who do not have an undergraduate accounting major. They include: ACTG 435 Auditing ACTG 502 Intermediate Accounting I ACTG 503 Intermediate Accounting II ACTG 506 Management Accounting ACTG 508 Federal Income Tax Required Accounting Courses are taken by all students enrolled in the Master of Science in Accounting program, regardless of prior areas of study. They include at least two of the following four courses: ACTG 516 Financial Statement Analysis ACTG 525 Management Control of Strategic Performance ACTG 585 Corporate Valuation and Accounting Information ACTG 593 Accounting Research Methodology and Communication Accounting Elective Courses allow students to develop more depth in areas of particular interest, whether it s tax, international or business law. The full list of elective courses can be found at go.uic.edu/msa_electives. International students with an undergraduate degree in business or accounting are required to take 13 courses (52 credit hours). For more full requirements and class listings, visit go.uic.edu/msa
+ JOINT MSA / MBA PROGRAM Emil Barci Chicago, IL I pursued the MSA degree because I wanted to be able to speak effectively when discussing accounting-related issues with different audiences. I observed many individuals analyze financial statements and then struggle to communicate the findings with people who may not have an accounting background. I felt sharpening these skills would allow me to better serve my clients. Undergraduate study: BS in Finance, University of Illinois at Chicago Graduate study: Joint MBA/MS in Accounting, University of Illinois at Chicago If you feel your professional interests would be well served by both an MSA and MBA, after being admitted independently into each program, some coursework can be credited to both. To learn more, visit: go.uic.edu/jointmsamba Guaranteed Admission (Gamsa) Program For UIC Undergraduates Outstanding undergraduate students in UIC s College of Business Administration who have an overall GPA of 3.25 and a GPA of 3.0 in accounting courses can be admitted into the MSA program without scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test and letters of recommendation. This program allows undergraduate accounting majors to complete the CPA requirements and earn a master s degree in as little as one academic year. For more information about the GAMSA program, visit: go.uic.edu/gamsa
Career Services The accounting profession is full of opportunities and the Career Services office at UIC Liautaud prepares students to take advantage of those opportunities. A series of workshops helps students understand the professional job market and prepares them to present themselves effectively. Students often accept positions with Big Four global accounting firms or with smaller regional firms, which actively recruit on the UIC campus. Students have the opportunity to present themselves at an annual Meet the Firms event each fall, which is the first step in a recruiting process that can lead to either internship or full-time employment opportunities for students. Companies that recruit Liautaud graduates The Allstate Corporation Blackman Kallick Bronner Group, LLC Caterpillar Inc. Deloitte LLP Ernst & Young Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C. General Growth Properties Illinois Tool Works Inc. KPMG LLP Kraft Foods Inc. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP Mitchell & Titus, LLP Plante & Moran, PLLC PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP True Partners Consulting LLC United Airlines, Inc. Weiss & Company LLP Master of Science in Accounting Association (MSAA) The Master of Science in Accounting Association is the student organization of the MSA program, and its purpose is to provide educational, professional development and social opportunities for students in the program. The MSAA affiliates with the undergraduate Accounting Club to sponsor key annual events, such as the Meet the Firms recruiting event each fall and the Accounting Banquet in the spring. Jia Luo Beijing, China Experiences such as networking, being a Liautaud student ambassador and UIC teaching assistant and working with professors and staff, have been far beyond what I expected to get from UIC. Besides the rigorous MSA program coursework, I have obtained a lifetime of knowledge and skills outside accounting including public speaking, communication, teamwork and time management. Undergraduate study: BS in Computer Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University Graduate study: MS in Industrial Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea For more information on Career Services, visit go.uic.edu/career
How to Apply The Liautaud MSA program offers fall, spring and summer enrollment options. The online application can be found on our Web site at: go.uic.edu/apply. A complete application includes the following documents: Financing Your MSA The Liautaud MSA program has one of the most reasonable tuition and fee structures among MSA programs in the Chicago metropolitan area. For more information on tuition and fees, visit: go.uic.edu/msa_financing. Application Checklist Completed online application Non-refundable application fee ($60 - Domestic / $60 - International) Official transcripts of all post-secondary study Official GMAT score. Please indicate that you wish to have your scores sent to University of Illinois-Chicago: Liautaud Graduate School of Business: MA/MS/MSc in Accounting Two letters of recommendation Personal statement Current resumé Additional Requirements for International Applicants Official TOEFL score school code 1851 Declaration of Finances Form and financial support documents Application Deadlines Domestic Applicants International Applicants May 15 Fall semester entry February 15 Fall semester entry November 1 Spring semester entry July 15 Spring semester entry March 15 Summer semester entry Learn More Learn More Campus Information Sessions The Liautaud MSA program holds regular evening and weekend campus information sessions. View the full schedule of events: go.uic.edu/info_sessions Alumni & Student Voices Our students and alumni are our best advocates. To get a greater understanding of what life is like in our MSA program, visit: go.uic.edu/student_voices Personalized Campus Visits Prospective students may arrange a personalized campus visit. Liautaud staff can arrange activities such as a tour of the campus, meetings with faculty and students, a career services overview and classroom visits. Complete a visit request form for more info: go.uic.edu/request_visit Contact Us University of Illinois at Chicago College of Business Administration Liautaud Graduate School of Business (MC 077) 705 South Morgan Street, 110 DH Chicago, IL 60607 Phone: (312) 996-4573 Fax: (312) 413-0338 Email: lgsb@uic.edu Web: go.uic.edu/msa To apply, visit go.uic.edu/apply
Don 't follow a career path, blaze one. www.lgsb.uic.edu