Master of Science in Accounting

Memphis and the MidSouth region support a thriving service‐oriented economy, being a world class distribution center and home to several other key service industries including health care, hotel and resort management, and financial services. The master's program at the School of Accountancy provides the conceptual foundation and professional skills supportive of the service sector market we serve and consistent with employment opportunities.

A student wishing to pursue a Master of Science in Accounting has three educational tracks from which to choose:

• Accounting - Data Analytics Concentration
• Accounting - General Accounting Concentration
• Accounting - Taxation Concentration

The accounting program offers students a meaningful choice of coursework to prepare them for their chosen career paths. Our master's program advisor is:

April Jones, Academic Advisor
Email | 901.678.3499

Admission

Admission to the Master of Science degree program is granted to graduates of accredited colleges and universities who show high promise of success in graduate business study. Qualified candidates may enter the program at the beginning of any semester. The admission requirements include satisfactory performance on undergraduate course work and a recent (five years or less) GMAT admissions examination score. The GMAT is waived for candidates who have received an undergraduate business degree with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher from an AACSB‐accredited university (or from Christian Brothers University, Lemoyne‐Owen College, or Rhodes College) within five years prior to registering for the University of Memphis Master's program. The GMAT is waived for candidates who have passed the CPA exam.

Five-Year Professional Accounting Program (5PAP)

The Five‐year Professional Accounting Program is a five‐year, 150‐hour program that leads to the awarding of a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and a Master of Science in Accounting (MS) degree.

The program is responsive to the requirements of many states, including Tennessee, that CPA licensure requires 150 hours of education. The benefit of obtaining the needed hours through a graduate program is that individuals with graduate degrees typically command higher starting salaries and earn more throughout their careers.

When should you apply?

You should apply at the beginning of your final or next to last semester.

What are the requirements for admission?

To be eligible for the 5PAP program, you must:

1. be enrolled in the University of Memphis undergraduate accounting program
2. within 30 semester hours of meeting your undergraduate degree requirements
3. with a 3.50 or higher GPA. ¹

What are the advantages?

1. You are not required to take the GMAT exam for admission to the Master's program.
2. You may take up to 4 courses toward your MS prior to completing the requirements for your undergraduate degree and thereby perhaps complete the MS degree sooner.
3. Your classification during the period you are taking both undergraduate courses and graduate courses will be Combination Senior as described later in this Handbook. With that classification, you pay undergraduate tuition for your remaining undergraduate courses and any graduate courses you take while in the classification (two semesters maximum, up to 4 graduate courses).
4. Important Note: Students receiving undergraduate scholarships or Pell grants typically lose eligibility for their funding. Students encountering this problem should consult with the Master's Coordinator and consider entering the MS program after earning their BBA degrees.

You can apply online!

¹ The GMAT is waived for candidates who have received an undergraduate business degree with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher from an AACSB‐accredited university (or from Christian Brothers University, Lemoyne‐Owen College, or Rhodes College) within five years prior to registering for the University of Memphis Master's program. The GMAT is waived for candidates who have passed the CPA exam.