PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
Master of Accounting
The Master of Accounting program (M.Acc.) prepares graduates for careers in public accounting, industry and government. USC's M.Acc. program is one of the first professional accounting curricula integrating undergraduate and graduate education in the nation. The objectives of the program include developing the sound conceptual, technical, analytical and communication skills that are required to succeed in the accounting profession. The program employs a rigorous case analysis approach that requires students to exercise their analytical abilities and develop effective verbal and written communication skills. The program also seeks to instill a deep appreciation and respect for the crucial role of the independent accountant in our free enterprise economy. This perspective provides the bedrock of the professional attitudes and responsibilities of CPAs today.
In this world of "re-engineering," the term "public accounting firm" is becoming obsolete. CPA firms now view themselves as "professional service firms." This dramatically changes the role of the CPA. The profession requires highly visible, articulate business professionals with the ability to interact on many levels within a client's organization. This requires individuals with diverse backgrounds, making the profession ideally suited for those with accounting, business, liberal arts or sciences undergraduate degrees. Students may apply to the M.Acc. program during their senior year or after completing a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate accounting or business major is not necessary, nor is work experience a requirement.
Program Requirements -- M.Acc. Program
B.S., Accounting/M.Acc. students
Accelerated dual degree students who have demonstrated high academic performance in the completion of the required business and accounting courses should expect to complete their degree with a total of 27 units. In this track, students may apply 3 units of 400-level course work, with department approval, toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees. This allows students to complete the program in 27 units instead of the normal 30 unit requirement. Of these 27 units, at least 15 units must be in accounting courses and at least 9 units must be in business courses other than accounting.
| Required Courses (9 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 547* | Enterprise Information Systems | 3 |
| GSBA 523T** | Communication for Accounting Professionals | 3 |
| MOR 569 | Negotiation and Deal-Making, or | |
| BUCO 533 | Managing Communication in Organizations | 3 |
*ACCT 548 may be substituted based on prior course work. To be determined by the director of graduate accounting programs.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an non-accounting elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an non-accounting elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test.
| Elective Courses (18 units; minimum of 12 units of ACCT 5XX electives and a minimum of 3 units of non-ACCT 5XX electives) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 536 | Advanced Cost Analysis and Management Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 537 | Management Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 544 | Introduction to Strategic Tax Planning | 3 |
| ACCT 546 | Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT 549 | Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies | 3 |
| ACCT 574 | Accounting in the Global Business Environment | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT 585 | Professional Accounting: Theory, Research and Policy | 3 |
| GSBA 568 | The Economics and Marketing of a Professional Services Firm | 3 |
| BAEP 5XX | Business Entrepreneurship electives | 3 |
| FBE 5XX | Finance and Business Economics electives | 3 |
| IOM 5XX | Information and Operations Management electives | 3 |
| MOR 5XX | Management and Organization electives | 3 |
Accounting Graduates (including USC B.S., Accounting students)
Accounting graduates and graduates in other disciplines who have demonstrated high academic performance in the completion of the required business and accounting courses should expect to complete their degree in two semesters with a total of 30 units. Of these 30 units, at least 15 units must be in accounting courses and at least 9 units must be in business courses other than accounting.| Required Courses (9 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 547* | Enterprise Information Systems | 3 |
| GSBA 523T** | Communication for Accounting Professionals | 3 |
| MOR 569 | Negotiation and Deal-Making, or | |
| BUCO 533 | Managing Communication in Organizations | 3 |
*Can be waived if student has successfully completed an equivalent course (to be determined by the director), but can only be replaced with an ACCT graduate level course.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
| Elective Courses (21 units; minimum of 12 units of ACCT 5XX electives and a minimum of 3 units of non-ACCT 5XX electives) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 536 | Advanced Cost Analysis and Management Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 537 | Management Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 544 | Introduction to Strategic Tax Planning | 3 |
| ACCT 546 | Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT 549 | Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies | 3 |
| ACCT 574 | Accounting in the Global Business Environment | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT 585 | Professional Accounting: Theory, Research and Policy | 3 |
| GSBA 568 | The Economics and Marketing of a Professional Services Firm | 3 |
| BAEP 5XX | Business Entrepreneurship electives | 3 |
| FBE 5XX | Finance and Business Economics electives | 3 |
| IOM 5XX | Information and Operations Management electives | 3 |
| MKT 5XX | Marketing electives | 3 |
| MOR 5XX | Management and Organization electives | 3 |
Business Graduates
Business graduates should expect to complete their degree with a total of 45 units.| Required Courses (33 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 525x | Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices | 15 |
| ACCT 535* | Management Accounting and Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 546 | Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT 547* | Enterprise Information Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 585 | Professional Accounting: Theory, Research and Policy | 3 |
| GSBA 523T** | Communication for Accounting Professionals | 3 |
| MOR 569 | Negotiation and Deal-Making, or | |
| BUCO 533 | Managing Communication in Organizations | 3 |
*Can be waived if student has successfully completed an equivalent course (to be determined by the director), but can only be replaced with an approved ACCT graduate level course.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
**Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
| Elective Courses (12 units; minimum of 3 units of ACCT 5XX electives and a minimum of 3 units of non-ACCT 5XX electives) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 536 | Advanced Cost Analysis and Management Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 537 | Management Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 544 | Introduction to Strategic Tax Planning | 3 |
| ACCT 549 | Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies | 3 |
| ACCT 574 | Accounting in the Global Business Environment | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| GSBA 568 | The Economics and Marketing of a Professional Services Firm | 3 |
| BAEP 5XX | Business Entrepreneurship electives | 3 |
| FBE 5XX | Finance and Business Economics electives | 3 |
| IOM 5XX | Information and Operations Management electives | 3 |
| MKT 5XX | Marketing electives | 3 |
| MOR 5XX | Management and Organization electives | 3 |
Non-Accounting/Non-Business Graduates
Non-accounting/non-business graduates should expect to complete their degree with a total of 54 units.| Required Courses (41-42 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 525x | Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices | 15 |
| ACCT 535** | Management Accounting and Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 546 | Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT 547** | Enterprise Information Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 585 | Professional Accounting: Theory, Research and Policy | 3 |
| GSBA 511* | Managerial Economics (2-3), or | |
| GSBA 514 | Foundations of Business I and II | 6 |
| GSBA 523T*** | Communication for Accounting Professionals 3 | |
| MOR 569 | Negotiation and Deal-Making, or | |
| BUCO 533 | Managing Communication in Organizations | 3 |
*Students can waive GSBA 511 based upon prior academic work of high quality.
**Can be waived if student has successfully completed an equivalent course (to be determined by the director), but can only be replaced with an approved ACCT graduate level course.
***Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
**Can be waived if student has successfully completed an equivalent course (to be determined by the director), but can only be replaced with an approved ACCT graduate level course.
***Requirement may be waived and substituted with an elective if student completed undergraduate course with high performance or successfully passed oral and written assessment test. If waived, this class must be replaced with a non-accounting elective.
| Elective Courses (12 units; minimum of 3 units of ACCT 5Xx electives and a minimum of 6 units of non-ACCT 5Xx electives) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 536 | Advanced Cost Analysis and Management Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 537 | Management Control Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 544 | Introduction to Strategic Tax Planning | 3 |
| ACCT 549 | Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies | 3 |
| ACCT 574 | Accounting in the Global Business Environment | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| GSBA 568 | The Economics and Marketing of a Professional Services Firm | 3 |
| BAEP 5XX | Business Entrepreneurship electives | 3 |
| FBE 5XX | Finance and Business Economics electives | 3 |
| IOM 5XX | Information and Operations Management electives | 3 |
| MKT 5XX | Marketing electives | 3 |
| MOR 5XX | Management and Organization electives | 3 |