Master of Accounting Curriculum

Curriculum & Course Information

Pre-requisites

The MAcc program focuses on applicants who have a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting or completion of the following courses (or equivalents as determined by the department chair):

Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Account II
Auditing

Core Courses

Ethics for Accounting Professionals
Advanced Financial Accounting
Audit Analytics
Professional Communications
SEC Reporting
Accounting Internship OR Seminar in Accounting Practice

Electives

Select four:鈥�

Tax Research鈥�
Advanced Finance鈥�
Individual Tax鈥�
State and Local Taxation鈥�
One other Graduate Business or MAcc elective

Select four:鈥�

Tax Research鈥�
Individual Tax鈥�
State and Local Taxation鈥�
One other Graduate Business or MAcc elective

Select four:鈥�

Data Visualization for Decision Making
Select one or two from each group
- Graduate Business
  - Introduction to Data Analytics鈥�
  - Data Management & Database Systems鈥�
  - Business Intelligence & Data Mining鈥�
- 鈥婱础肠肠
  - Tax Research鈥�
  - Advanced Finance鈥�
  - Individual Tax鈥�
  - State and Local Taxation鈥�
  - ESG and Sustainability

CPA Exam Review

Students accepting offers from firms should check to see if the firm pays for CPA exam review materials. Becker CPA Review is the program of choice for many students. Most firms that hire Loyola students coordinate with Becker for direct billing, meaning no out-of-pocket cost to students for the prep course. For this reason, we recommend that students wait to purchase the CPA Review until after internships have concluded. We also offer discounted access to Becker prep materials.

Recommended schedule for CPA exam preparation during the MAcc program:

November-January - Study for FAR
Mid-January - Take FAR
January-February - Study for AUD
Early March - Take AUD
March-April - Study for REG
Early May - Take REG
May - June - Study BEC
Early June - Take BEC

MAcc Tracks

The Loyola MAcc curriculum offers three track options which allow students to either focus on specific accounting topics at a deeper level or maintain a broader perspective to meet their career goals and prepare for further career advancement.

Financial Reporting

The Financial Reporting Track helps students focus primarily on financial reporting areas of accounting to achieve specific career goals and prepare for further career advancement. Students who select this track are strongly encouraged to take GB 736 Data Visualization for Decision Making to better prepare for continuously changing technology in the accounting profession.

Tax

With the ever-increasing complexities of taxation, the Tax Track offers students the ability to expand upon their undergraduate studies with additional courses in Individual Taxation and Tax Research & Writing. The Tax Track will provide students with a strong foundational framework needed to begin or advance a career in the tax field. The focused courses in our Tax Track will provide students with the essential skills and abilities to identify and solve tax problems and recognize tax planning opportunities.

Data Analytics

The prevalence of big data and the increased availability of digital tools and services have created opportunities for accountants and other key decision makers to conduct detailed analyses of emerging market trends and business operations. Real-time data platforms and improved analytics now make it possible for organizations to quickly sense and respond to market needs. In this track, students will take a series of courses designed to deliver specific skills for how to prepare, visualize, and understand patterns in data within the accounting field.

For more information on Loyola's MAcc program, contact us at 410-617-5067 or macc@loyola.edu.

Robert J. Callens, 鈥�81, Partner, RSM US LLP

RSM has a long and very successful relationship with Loyola - supporting its programs, its faculty and staff, and its students. Over the years, we have recruited many of our most successful professionals from Loyola鈥檚 undergraduate and graduate programs. As a Loyola alumnus myself, I鈥檓 always proud when another Loyola student or alumnus joins the Firm.

John Peter Krahel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Accounting

While earning a Masters will almost certainly qualify a student to earn his or her CPA license, the true benefit such programs provide comes from a truly increased depth of knowledge.

Christine Aspell, BBA & Partner, KPMG LLP

As chair of the Accounting Advisory Board and a future employer of accounting students, I鈥檓 excited this new program will offer a clear path to completion of the 150-hour requirement, in addition to building a pipeline of very qualified CPAs for years to come.

Bob Jirsa, BA 鈥�77, Partner, RSM US LLP

The new MAcc curriculum is focused on developing deeper technical, communication and decision making skills, providing graduates crucial tools for successful careers in public accounting and beyond.