Accounting Masters Degree
For Fall 2022 admissions, the Masters of Accounting program requires a valid GMAT exam. Please contact gsb@walton.uark.edu for more information.
The Master of Accountancy program provides rigorous preparation at the graduate level for students to achieve success in their chosen career path in public practice, industry, or government.
Academics
The Walton MAcc is a 30-hour program designed to be completed in one year. Depending upon their backgrounds and prior coursework, students typically begin the program in the Fall semester and complete the degree in the following May. Students needing additional prerequisites may choose to complete the program in 3-4 semesters. The following provides a two-semester plan.
View a Course ListingAdmission
Admission to the Walton College MAcc program is highly competitive and selective. Decisions are based on the entire application package. Enrollment is limited.
Admissions InformationCareers
We are particularly proud of our MAcc student placement record. The accounting department at Walton College enjoys strong relationships with corporate partners.
Careers and Professional DevelopmentCommon Questions
What prerequisites are required for entry to the MAcc program? Can I transfer graduate hours from another college or university?
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Master of Accountancy
Program Length: 1 year
Program Start Date: Fall
Application Deadline:
March 1
Curriculum Overview
View a Course Listing
Admissions Information
View Info and Requirements / F.A.Q.
Required Test: GMAT
Program Cost
View Cost of Program
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The Walton MACC Curriculum
The Walton MAcc is a 30-hour program designed to be completed in one year. Depending upon their backgrounds and prior coursework, students typically begin the program in the Fall semester and complete the degree in the following May. Students needing additional prerequisites may choose to complete the program in 3-4 semesters. The following provides a two-semester plan.
Course Listing
View a more in-depth listing, complete with course descriptions, in the academic catalog listing.
| Fall Semester – Year One15 credit hours |
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| Spring Semester – Year One 15 credit hours |
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View more in-depth details in the MAcc Program catalog listing.
Specialized MAcc Tracks
Through a combination of required and elective coursework the Walton MAcc allows students to pursue specialized career concentrations in Tax, Audit, and Industry.
Tax Concentration
- Advanced Taxation
- Individual Tax Planning
- Multi-jurisdictional Tax Issues
- Taxation of Flow-Through Entities
- Commercial Law for Public Accounting
- Professional Accounting Internship – Tax Emphasis
Audit Concentration
- Audit Standards
- Fraud Prevention and Detection
- Financial Statement Analysis
- ERP Fundamentals
- Decision Support Analytics
- Professional Accounting Internship – Audit Emphasis
Industry Concentration
- Retail & Consumer Products Supply Chain Management
- Financial Markets & Valuation
- Strategic Management
- ERP Fundamentals
- Professional Accounting Internship – Industry Emphasis
In addition to specialized tracks, students may also elect to participate in Entrepreneurship Development or Certification in Business Analytics or Enterprise Resource Planning Systems.
Admissions Requirements for the MAcc Program
Admission to the Walton College MAcc program is highly competitive and selective. Enrollment is limited.
Federal Title IV Licensure Requirement
In the State of Arkansas, the 120-credit hour undergraduate degree alone does not meet the 150-credit hour education requirement for CPA licensing. However, if you have successfully completed 30 hours of upper-level accounting coursework above the Principles and Principles II level, have successfully completed Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting, and have successfully completed 120 hours of coursework, the Arkansas State Board of Accountancy will allow you to apply for eligibility to begin writing the Uniform CPA Examination with approval from the William Dillard Department of Accounting. You will not be eligible for licensing until after you have successfully completed 150 hours of coursework. All accounting coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Passing the Uniform CPA Examination is the first step in becoming licensed. The William Dillard Department of Accounting’s master’s degree programs will allow you to have completed all requirements both to write the Exam and to be licensed in Arkansas. Be aware that all states require at least 150 hours for licensure, with each State having unique examination eligibility requirements. Those requirements can change over time. The various State Boards ultimately make the decision as to whether a student qualifies for Uniform CPA Examination eligibility. Occasionally, State Boards may also enforce unpublished requirements or change requirements during an academic year. Students should work closely with the Department CPA Examination Advisor to select the appropriate coursework for CPA Exam qualification purposes for the state where licensure is desired. It is not necessary for you to physically take the CPA Exam in the state where you are seeking licensure. The Exam is administered at Prometric testing sites across the country.
The State Boards of Accountancy provide possible avenues for license reciprocity between states once licensure is achieved. However, both the professional requirements for licensure and the reciprocity agreements vary by state and occur well after coursework is complete. Therefore, we cannot make a specific determination of when requirements will be met for either of these.
Dr. Barry Bryan is our CPA Advisor and will work with you on questions about the Exam or the licensing process. If you are interested in a state other than Arkansas, be sure to contact him as soon as possible to discuss that state’s requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
A successful applicant should have an undergraduate background in the following:
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
- Finite Math or Calculus
- Basic Statistics
- Business Law
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial/Cost Accounting
- Accounting Technology
- Auditing
- Taxation
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to qualified students. These assistantships pay tuition and provide the student with a stipend of $4,500 per semester for which students work 20 hours per week for the Accounting Department. Limited scholarships are also available. Scholarships and assistantships are extremely competitive. All students applying to the MAcc program are automatically considered for financial assistance.
Each state has specific accounting hour and course requirements that must be met before an applicant can sit for the CPA exam. Most states also have specific business course and hour requirements. In addition, some states may have different total credit hour requirements or residency requirements for sitting for the exam and successful licensure.
Students planning to sit for the exam should consult the State Board of Accountancy in the state where they would like to become licensed. The CPA advisor for the accounting department is JaLynn Thomas, jthomas@walton.uark.edu. Students may contact her for additional assistance. Students with an undergraduate accounting degree who also complete the Walton College MAcc program are generally eligible to sit for the Arkansas CPA exam.
Because the course offerings in the MAcc program are unique, all accounting courses for degree credit must be taken at the University of Arkansas. Elective courses can be transferred from another university. The Graduate School of Business requires that the course meet the following criteria:
- The course must be taken at an AACSB accredited institution
- The credit hours cannot be applied to obtain another degree
- The student must be enrolled as a graduate student at that institution
- Transfer credit is limited to 6 hours of course work
The MAcc admissions committee looks at many factors in choosing students for the program. These factors include your undergraduate academic record, your score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), personal recommendations, relevant work experience and leadership potential.
AACSB or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business is the premier accreditation institution for business schools around the world. Nearly 600 institutions worldwide have the accreditation. As an accredited institution, we must follow a set of strict guidelines governing faculty and academic quality, meaning that your degree will be more valuable to both you and your future employer. Learn more about AACSB and what it can do for you.
A laptop is not required for the MAcc Program, but it is strongly recommended that you have one. If you are getting a laptop, it is recommended that you get one that meets the following criteria:
- Specifications: Preferably 5 years old or less, 4 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB free disk space minimum
- Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8.x, or MacOS 10.x
- Network: Wireless enabled and/or Ethernet port
- Virus Protection: An up-to-date virus protection software
You Asked. They Answered.
Members of our Accounting Department Advisory Board relate their experiences as college students, and take time to offer their industry and career insights.
Related: The Integrated MAcc
The Integrated MAcc program offers current Sam M. Walton College of Business accounting students the option to obtain both the BSBA and the Masters in Accountancy in a five year period.
Learn More about the Integrated MAccRelated: The Master of Professional Accounting
The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) program provides rigorous preparation at the graduate level for students to achieve success in their chosen professional accounting career path.
Learn More about the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA)
Peters Elected President of Federation of Schools of Accountancy
Gary Peters, professor and department chair of the William Dillard Department of Accounting at Walton College, has been elected president of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy effective August 1.
Recent M.Acc. Graduate Earns Award for Top Scores on CPA Exam
William Martens, a 2019 U of A Master of Accounting graduate, has recently been awarded the Elijah Watt Sells Award for top scores on the CPA exam.
Student Spotlight: Meet Ryan Decker
My favorite part of Walton is how connected the college is with companies in NWA. Companies are genuinely interested in getting to know Walton students, and I have developed lasting relationships with professionals through networking and career events.
