University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business

Integrated Master of Accounting Program

The Walton Integrated Master of Accountancy Program (IMAcc) is a five-year program of undergraduate and graduate coursework that allows outstanding students to earn the B.S.B.A. and the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) OR Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) degrees at the same time.

Program Overview

The Integrated Master of Accountancy (IMAcc) five-year program at the Sam M. Walton College of Business will provide you with a broad-based accounting education where critical thinking, creative problem solving and professional determination are encouraged.

The professional curriculum, which begins in the student's senior year, includes specially designed accounting courses taught in relatively small classes by full-time faculty members. Students accepted into the integrated degree program may concurrently enroll in undergraduate and graduate level courses. Completion of the Walton College IMAcc meets the academic requirements needed to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam in the state of Arkansas. Our MAcc Advisors can also help you design a program to meet the CPA exam requirements in other states.

At the Walton College, we connect scholarship with practice and people to organizations. Through excellent curriculum, outstanding placement, and exceptional people, the IMAcc program will give you the competitive advantage needed to excel in the accounting profession. Because IMAcc graduates are expected to become leaders in the accounting profession, highly motivated students with the personal qualities and intellectual capacity to establish successful careers in public accounting, industry, not-for-profit organizations, and higher education are encouraged to apply.

 
Integrated Masters in Accounting Program

Integrated Master of Accountancy

Program Length
2 years (includes senior year)

Program Start Date: Fall

Application deadline
February 15 of your junior year

Curriculum Overview
View a Course Listing

Admissions Information
View Info and Requirements / F.A.Q.

Required Test: GMAT*
Students admitted to the Integrated Master of Accountancy program (IMACC) who plan continuous enrollment into the Master of Accountancy (MACC) program do not need to reapply, but must submit an acceptable GMAT score. Please review our full master’s admissions catalog policy.

Program Cost
View Cost of Program


Request Information Apply Now   Schedule a Time to Talk to Us

 


 

The Walton IMAcc Curriculum

A 24 month program that provides a solid grounding in accounting and business theory. Students complete their undergraduate requirements in tandem with 30 hours of graduate courses to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the end of the two years.

Course Listing

View a more in-depth listing, complete with course descriptions, in the academic catalog listing.

 

Fall Semester – Year One - Senior Year
  • Undergraduate Courses as needed
Spring Semester – Year One - Senior Year
  • Spring Internship Opportunities
  • Undergraduate Courses as needed
  • Compressed Audit and Cost Courses, if needed
  • Graduate Elective Courses as available
Summer Semester – Year One
  • Internship Opportunities
  • Study Abroad Opportunities
Fall Semester – Year Two  15 credit hours
Spring Semester – Year Two  15 credit hours

 


The Value

  • MAcc program ranks in the Top 25 best graduate programs in mid-size category by Public Accounting Report
  • Employer-driven demand to be CPA-ready
  • Higher average starting salary and better job placement opportunities
  • Outstanding internship opportunities + mini-semester course options during Spring semester of senior year
  • Receive excellent CPA preparation + Becker review
  • Be ahead of the game, apply one year in advance and get into the program
  • Out-of-state students from neighbor states can receive non-resident tuition waiver extension to a fifth year if qualifications are met
  • Our program is AACSB Accredited

IMAcc Academic Timeline

  • Submit application by February 15th of your junior year
  • 4th Year IMAcc Orientation – August
  • IMAcc Assistantship and Scholarship Awards – December
  • Internship Opportunities Spring and Summer Semesters
  • 5th Year MACC Orientation and Kickoff – August
  • 5th Year Graduate Coursework
  • Completion of Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees – May
  • CPA Review – May & June
  • CPA Exam – July
  • End of Integrated MAcc Experience, first day at firm – September

 



 

Frequently Asked Questions

The IMAcc program will add value to your future career.

  • Increased access to employers.
  • Higher average starting salary and better job placement opportunities.
  • Outstanding internship opportunities + mini-semester course options during Spring semester of senior year.
  • Ability to obtain graduate credit for internships.
  • Receive excellent CPA preparation + Becker review during the summer after your MAcc/MPAcc degrees.
  • Early access to graduate level scholarships and assistantships.
  • Out-of-state students from neighbor states can receive non-resident tuition waiver extension to a fifth year if qualifications are met
  • Our program is AACSB Accredited

All current students at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply during your junior year.

  • Completed 75 credit hours
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Must have taken or be currently enrolled in 6 hours of accounting courses (ACCT 3723, ACCT 3843)
  • Students admitted to the Integrated Master of Accountancy program (IMACC) who plan continuous enrollment into the Master of Accountancy program (MACC) do not need to reapply, but must submit an acceptable GMAT score. Please review our full master's admissions catalog policy.

No. The IMAcc is an integrated degree where you will receive both the BSBA in Accounting and the MAcc/MPAcc degrees when all undergraduate and graduate courses are completed at the end of the fifth year.

Students generally take their first graduate course during the fall semester of their fifth year. However, since you will now be a student in the IMAcc program, you would have access to graduate accounting and business courses.

You can start your online application by visiting Admissions/Apply. The IMAcc program application deadline is February 15th during your junior year.

IMAcc program is a 5 year program; you earn your BSBA in Accounting and MAcc or MPAcc degrees concurrently.

  • Students admitted to the Integrated Master of Accountancy program (IMACC) who plan continuous enrollment into the Master of Accountancy program (MACC) do not need to reapply, but must submit an acceptable GMAT score. Please review our full master's admissions catalog policy. You must have taken the GMAT exam before the application deadline of February 15th. For information on the GMAT, you can call 1-800-GMAT-NOW or visit the GMAT website.
  • For continuous enrollment into the Master of Professional Accounting program (MPACC), students with a GPA of 3.2 or above do not need to supply an exam score.

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in their accounting courses and must have completed ACCT 3723 - Intermediate Accounting I and ACCT 3843 - Fundamentals of Tax I. In addition, the IMAcc admissions committee looks at several different factors including students' undergraduate academic record, GMAT score (if required), resume, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose, and leadership potential.

Applicants to the IMAcc program should submit:

  • Application Form
  • Application Fee ($60 non-refundable application fee)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts – we have access, no need to submit anything
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Official GMAT Score Report (if required)

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to qualified students. Limited scholarships are also available. Scholarships and assistantships are extremely competitive. All students applying to the IMAcc 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/MPAcc programs are generally eligible to sit for the Arkansas CPA exam.

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

This is a common request. Unfortunately we face two primary constraints. First, the Arkansas State Board of Accountancy does not recognize Review Courses towards the 150 hours of College Credit needed to sit for the CPA Exam. Secondly, AACSB accreditation standards do not recognize Review Courses as acceptable degree requirements. Other Universities in the area circumvent the above two constraints by increasing their IMAcc requirements to 33 hours (as opposed to 30 Hours) and offering the CPA Review course as an elective. This way the students will hypothetically have more than 150 hours of University credit (so the CPA review course does not need to be counted to the CPA requirements and the degree accreditation of 30 hours is still maintained). Students are then charged university tuition to take the course. The University then outsources the course to a CPA Review Provider.

Other Universities emphasize the importance of individuals to take professional responsibility for career progression. The CPA Review experience is then facilitated on campus (but not administered by the University). This is the approach we have chosen to incorporate into the MAcc/MPAcc program experience at the University of Arkansas and part of the reason why we do not offer such Review courses for college credit. There is no doubt that CPA Review courses can be extremely beneficial. We encourage students to make it an important part of their preparations for the start of their professional accounting career. As a result we have committed to working with CPA review providers to have an independent course offered on campus.

"Walking in Commencement" and "Applying for Graduation" are two different things.

We encourage all of the IMACCs to participate and walk in May Commencement in their 4th Year to celebrate the completion of BSBA requirements. However, IMACC students should not "apply for graduation" until their graduate year. Their participation in commencement is organized by the MPAcc Director. In the following year the IMACC student participate again in Commencement to celebrate the completion of their MACC/MPAcc requirements. It is during the MACC/MPAcc year that IMACC students will actually apply for graduation to receive both degrees. Note that students will still receive the automated messages from the Registrar’s office that are sent to ALL seniors about applying for BSBA graduation.

 


Our Graduates Work At:

(partial list)

  • ArcBest
  • BKD, LLP
  • Conoco
  • Deloitte
  • Dillard's
  • Ernst &Young
  • Erwin & Co.
  • FedEx Freight
  • Frost PLLC
  • Grant Thornton
  • Hogan Taylor 
  • Hudson Cisne, & Co. LLP
  • IRS
  • JB Hunt Transport Services
  • JPMS Cox PLLC
  • Koch Industries
  • KPMG
  • Phillips66
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • RSM
  • Southwest Energy
  • Stephens
  • Tyson
  • Walmart
  • Windstream Communications

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.