School of Business MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING SUNY Geneseo s Master of Science (M.S.) in Accounting provides the knowledge and skills needed for success in today s accounting profession and, with its prerequisite, a B.S. in Accounting, satisfies New York state requirements for CPA licensure. The M.S. in Accounting may be completed in nine months of full-time study by students who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting. Designed for future accounting professionals seeking the CPA licensure, the program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International (AACSB). Our small classes are taught by faculty with a rich blend of academic and professional experience, who are committed to student success in and beyond the classroom. School of Business Vision Operating within a nationally-recognized public liberal arts college with strong professional programs, the School of Business at Geneseo strives to prepare students for both the immediate challenges of employment or graduate study and the lifelong pursuit of professional success. Mission The School of Business is committed to excellence in business education within the context of a strong liberal arts tradition. Our carefully designed programs reflect our sustained commitment to teaching and continuous improvement. We endeavor to prepare graduates to assume responsible leadership positions in professional employment, to enter and succeed in graduate schools, and to develop lifelong habits of learning. In support of our teaching mission, we emphasize applied and instructional development scholarship. We also employ our professional skills in service to the school, college, scholarly and professional organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders.
Program of Study The M.S. in Accounting curriculum is delivered over two semesters according to the following rotation: Fall Term ACCT 502 Advanced Financial Accounting ACCT 510 Advanced Taxation Accounting MGMT 511 Financial Management MGMT 522 Quantitative Analysis ECON 525 Managerial Economic Analysis Spring Term ACCT 503 Strategic Management Accounting ACCT 520 Advanced Auditing Theory ACCT 530 Accounting Theory and Research MGMT 500 Leadership in Organizations MGMT 550 Information Systems Theory and Practice Total: 30 credit hours The five accounting courses (ACCT) cover topics in financial, managerial, and tax accounting as well as advanced audit practices, and financial accounting theory and research. Courses with a management (MGMT) or economics (ECON) prefix address related topics in information systems, quantitative methods, managerial economics, advanced financial management, and electives. Course descriptions are available at www.geneseo.edu/business/masters_accounting_courses. Program Prerequisites Students seeking admission to the M.S. in Accounting must have completed (or plan on completing) an approved undergraduate accounting program prior to entering the program. This requirement is based on New York state education law for CPA licensure and cannot be waived. The Advantage of an M.S. in Accounting Recipients of the M.S. in Accounting satisfy the academic requirements for CPA licensure in New York. In addition, they may expect: Enhanced preparation for a career in accounting: Graduates will arrive in the workplace with a superior level of skills and knowledge. This frequently translates into more rapid advancement and enhanced career prospects. Career planning flexibility: CPA licensure or the ability to become licensed enhances career mobility. Most states require 150 credits of coursework for CPA licensure and extend reciprocity for out-ofstate applicants who possess only a 120-credit degree. Combined with a 120-credit undergraduate degree in accounting, the M.S. in Accounting will foster career advancement. Shortened experience requirement: Professionals earning the M.S. in Accounting need only one year of work to meet the experience requirement for CPA licensure. Performance on the CPA exam: Experience shows that professionals who earn an M.S. in Accounting achieve significantly enhanced pass rates on the CPA licensure exam. Many of our students complete part or all of the CPA exam during their year of study.
School of Business Faculty 23 full-time members Doctorally-qualified full-time faculty teach the M.S. in Accounting courses, and in certain cases such as Advanced Taxation and Information Systems, practicing professionals are carefully selected for the specialized expertise they bring to the classroom. The faculty of the M.S. in Accounting program include: Harry Howe, Professor Ph.D. and M.B.A., Union College; B.A., Brown University; Director of the M.S. in Accounting Program. Mark C. Mitschow, Professor Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.B.A., SUNY Buffalo; B.A., Washington and Lee University. Lei Gao, CPA, Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Kansas; B.A., Renmin University of China. Richard Gifford, CPA, Associate Professor Ph.D., Temple University; M.B.A., Pennsylvania State University; B.A., Gettysburg College. Michelle Staebell, CPA, Lecturer M.S. in Accounting, SUNY Brockport. Jason Wood, CPA, CISA, CITP, CIA, Adjunct Lecturer M.B.A., University of Dallas; B.B.A., Southern Methodist University. The SUNY Geneseo School of Business SUNY Geneseo is widely regarded as one of the nation s finest public liberal arts colleges. With more than 800 majors in accounting, business administration and economics, the School of Business is an integral part of the College and able to draw upon its rich intellectual resources. Accredited by AACSB International, the School of Business is tightly connected to the western New York business and accounting communities and maintains active recruiting relationships with global, national, and regional firms in the New York City metro area. Program Cost Graduate tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 academic year are $11,685 (New York state resident rate). Financial Aid Two $2,500 graduate assistantships are available in the spring semester. In addition, students are eligible for need-based financial assistance packages available to all students. These include Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and college work-study employment. More information is available at www.geneseo.edu/financial_aid. Denise Rotondo, Ph.D. Dean, School of Business Message from the Dean Geneseo aims to give students a wide-ranging experience, one that extends beyond just a functional expertise in one professional area. Students must be able to think critically, have excellent communication skills and a keen sense of the world. In turn, our students fuel success for the business school with a work ethic so strong that companies know and seek them out.
Outcomes Geneseo MS in Accounting graduates are highly sought after and employed by all of the Big Four public accounting firms as well as regional firms in western New York and the New York metropolitan area. In the past several years, graduates have secured a 100 percent placement rate. While most MS grads work in public accounting, a number have sought positions in diverse organizations and roles that include Special Agent for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); full-time Lecturer in Accounting at Cornell University; internal accounting at a Rochester-based publicly traded asset manager, a private equity firm, and a cosmetics manufacturing company; and accounting for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). In short, the sky is the limit for Geneseo MS in Accounting graduates who are prepared to follow virtually any career path they choose. AACSB International Accredited The School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International (AACSB), the benchmark of quality for business education worldwide. AACSB-accredited schools have the highest quality faculty, relevant and challenging curriculum, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools. Less than five percent of the world s 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates who are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than other non-accredited schools. Admission Requirements A complete application must include: Completed online application. $50 application fee payable to SUNY Geneseo. Official transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education attended. Results of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) sent directly to the Office of Admissions at the address below. Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be completed by a faculty member. Application Deadline: September 1, early action (non-binding) for the next academic year and February 1, regular decision for the upcoming academic year. More information is available at www.geneseo.edu/graduate_admissions. For additional information, please contact: Michael R. George, Graduate Enrollment Coordinator GradAdmissions@geneseo.edu SUNY Geneseo Office of Admissions 1 College Circle Doty Hall, Room 200 Geneseo, NY 14454 Phone: 585-245-5040 Fax: 585-245-5550