Master of Accountancy
The mission of the Department of Accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University is to prepare students for careers in accounting, to interpret and expand accounting knowledge, and to render service to the professional and academic communities. The department does so by (1) providing a learning environment in which students are encouraged to interact with others through identifying and solving accounting and business problems; (2) investigating, developing, and sharing knowledge which has the potential for significant influence on accounting, business, and education; and (3) interacting with the accounting profession, the business community, and the community at large.
The Department of Accounting boasts full accreditation by AACSB-The International Association for Management Education. Many of the Accounting Department professors have the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. The fifteen member staff of full-time professors enthusiastically brings their practical work experience into the classroom. The pass rate of our students on the CPA examination has ranked us as one of the top two public institutions in the state of Virginia for the past three consecutive years.
We have an exciting interactive curriculum and a wealth of support from the business community. The support of the business community is evidenced by our student job placement upon graduation and membership on the Controllers Executive Roundtable. Placement of students completing accounting degrees is approximately 98% to 100%. Placement efforts are supported by the "Big 4" firms, regional firms, government and industry sectors.
The Controllers Executive Roundtable, established in 1999, provides a means for enhancing the professional development of controllers of major private and public companies, wile cultivating a regional network of controllers facing common challenges and having distinctive professional interests as a group. In addition, the Roundtable also serves as a means of establishing closer relationship between Virginia Commonwealth University and senior executives dealing with accounting / financial issues. Additionally, the Controllers Executive Roundtable awards two scholarships each year to two well-deserving, outstanding accounting majors.
Internships, scholarships and financial aid are made available to students at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Curriculum
The Master of Accountancy degree was most recently revised in the spring of 2000. The revision addresses a requirement that future candidates for the CPA exam must have completed at least 150 credit hours of college study to be eligible to sit for the examination. Most undergraduate students complete 120 credit hours as part of their bachelor's degrees. Students intending to take the CPA examination are encouraged to consider earning the additional credit hours of study in the integrated Master of Accountancy program.
The Master of Accountancy program offers multiple admission tracks. Students should select the admission track that most closely matches their current level of experience in accounting. By selecting the link for that admission track, you will find the specific curriculum requirements for completion of the graduate degree:
Program Option 1: Students currently pursuing a bachelor's degree: This admission track allows VCU students the opportunity to earn the Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy degrees upon completion of 120 hours of undergraduate credit and 30 hours of graduate credit. Students who are currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at another accredited institution may apply to transfer to VCU and enter the 150-Hour Professional Program. Curriculum and Application Procedures
Option One: Approved Program Form
Program Option 2: Students who have already completed a bachelor's degree: Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree will apply for admission directly to the graduate portion of the 150-Hour Professional Program. Once admitted, you complete a minimum of 10 graduate classes (30 credit hours) depending upon previous business and accounting course experience. Curriculum and Application Procedures for the MACCT program alone.
Option Two: Approved Program Form