Students in Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business Master of Accounting (M.Acc.) program enhance their professional accounting abilities while developing strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. Accounting graduates have a long history of success on the CPA exam, earning the Missouri gold medal on several occasions. In addition, the University recently had the highest Missouri pass rate for first-time candidates with advanced degrees.

SLU's School of Business, with its continuing mission to provide excellence in business education, has developed this program to help students gain superior ethical, technical and professional accounting skills. The program provides in-depth expertise in general accounting, taxation and auditing.

Curriculum Overview

The objective of SLU's Master of Accounting (MACC) degree program is to provide strong technical, ethical and professional skills to students planning careers in accounting. The program consists of 30 credits of advanced coursework with up to 21 credits in accounting and the remaining credits in business electives determined in consultation with the program director. Pre-program requirements in economics, accounting, finance, mathematics and statistics may be required of students without sufficient functional background.

Internships/Student Organizations

Saint Louis’ central location within the greater St. Louis metropolitan area provides a distinct competitive business advantage and allows us to enhance internship and recruitment effectiveness by creating strong relationships in public accounting, private industry, nonprofit companies and governmental entities.

SLU's graduate accounting students have access to the Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center, conveniently located within the School of Business, which serves as the catalyst for creating meaningful connections and developing outstanding internships and employment opportunities and providing other valuable career management services for M.Acc. students.

The Saint Louis University chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, a national scholastic and professional accounting fraternity, provides a vital link between students and the accounting profession and presents numerous guest speakers from various disciplines and industries each semester. The chapter has been recognized nationally among all Beta Alpha Psi chapters for its continued excellence.

Graduate accounting students at SLU also have the option for an international perspective on the accounting profession by participating in a week-long study abroad trip to Saint Louis University's Madrid campus.

Careers

Graduates from this program may take the CPA exam and pursue a career as an accountant. Accounting graduates have a long history of success on the CPA exam, regularly placing in the top 10 percent of test scores. In addition, the University recently had the highest Missouri pass rate for first-time CPA candidates with advanced degrees. The mean annual wage of accountants, according to the Bureau of Labor, is $75,280.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are reviewed for past undergraduate work, internship experience, and GMAT or GRE scores. While there is no minimum GMAT score required, the average GMAT score is 590. Average GRE scores are 150-153 on each section, quantitative and verbal. Successful applicants demonstrate a 3.0 grade point average in past academic programs.

Application Requirements

• Application form
• Transcript(s)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official GMAT score sent from ETS or Pearson VUE
• Résumé
• Personal goal statement of fewer than 500 words

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application and Assistantship Deadlines

• Applications for admission are considered on a rolling basis.
• Applicants who want to be considered for assistantships for the fall semester should apply by March 31, and for the spring semester by Dec. 1.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once all application materials are received. Application files are reviewed holistically (undergraduate work, internship experience, test scores and personal goal statement). The average time for admissions decisions is two weeks.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

In addition to financial aid available to graduate students, the Master of Accounting program offers two types of scholarships: merit-based and competitive. A limited number of merit-based scholarships are available to admitted full-time students, and all admitted students are considered. Students who are awarded a merit-based scholarship will typically receive $500 to $3,000 per semester for two semesters total. The competitive scholarships vary in amount and are awarded in the spring to students entering their first or second semester of the master’s program the following fall. Complete the application by April 1 to be considered for one of the externally sponsored competitive scholarships.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.    Less than 10% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

The accounting program is also separately accredited by the AACSB, one of only 186 schools to have earned this distinction.

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate technical competency and possess appropriate professional knowledge. Specifically:
   1. Apply knowledge of relevant professional standards and the regulatory environment to resolve financial reporting issues of U.S. business (including not-for-profit) entities.
   2. Apply knowledge of tax laws for planning (including financial planning) and compliance purposes.
   3. Recognize and evaluate areas of potential legal concern in the business environment and demonstrate understanding of the role of legal issues in risk assessment.]
   4. Recognize and evaluate areas of potential risk in an entity’s business processes and information technology environment.
2. Graduates will demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills. Specifically:
   1. Gather, interpret, evaluate, analyze and apply relevant professional standards to complex accounting-related issues, and come to well-reasoned conclusions.
   2. Apply analytical and quantitative techniques to analyze financial statements within the context of risk assessment and firm valuation.
   3. Communicate complex ideas and thought effectively both orally and in writing.
3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills.  Specifically:
   1. Work effectively in diverse teams and employment settings toward a common goal.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to recognize and appropriately respond to ethical issues in the practice of accounting.  Specifically:
   1. Identify ethical issues and decision alternatives by incorporating appropriate professional codes of conduct and social responsibility.
   2. Demonstrate professional conduct and demeanor in business settings.

Audit Concentration

ACCT 6030 Contemporary Financial Reporting (3 cr) satisfies the research requirement now mandatory for some states.

Financial Reporting Concentration

Taxation Concentration

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.