Master of Accountancy
The MAcc program represents one of the top accounting programs in the nation. With a unique course structure and a partnership with Becker CPA exam prep, students are led through a series of courses deliberately designed to help prepare them for the Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) exam. For students holding an undergraduate degree in accounting, the MAcc can be completed in just one year with a full-time course load. Students in the program take two eight-week courses at a time throughout the fall, spring, and summer semesters. This structure allows students to study and sit for one of the four CPA exams at the end of every eight weeks. The MAcc program can be completed online or in person on the Pocatello campus.
While the primary focus of the MAcc program is to support students to pass all four sections of the CPA exam, this program also supports accounting career development with exposure to accounting standards research, AI applications, fraud examination, and casework that exposes students to various tasks that they may perform as they enter into their professional careers.
The program is also one of only 175 business schools in the world to hold both a business and accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Step 1
Apply: isu.edu/graduate
Fee: $65
Send official transcript to: gradadmissions@isu.edu OR Graduate School 921 S. 8th Ave. Stop 8075
You must meet all requirements of the ISU Graduate School as well as the College of Business requirements. Please refer to the ISU Graduate Catalog.
Step 2
Submit via the online app:
2 letters of recommendation (no personal references)
Statement of purpose (approximately one page in length)
Resume
Step 3
Test: GRE or GMAT
Send score to: Idaho State University
The admissions formula can be found here. It is a combination of your GPA and GMAT or GRE exam.
GMAT Focus Edition: [200*GPA + GMAT Total Score > 1120]
GRE: combined, quant + verbal [11.66*GPA + (GRE Verbal + GRE Quant) > 337]
* If your cumulative or last 60 credit hour GPA is 3.5 or higher from a regionally accredited institution, you do not need to take the exam for admission. Once you apply and upload all the materials above, you must send an email to cobgrad@isu.edu with a request to waive the exam if you meet this preliminary criterion. Otherwise, we will not know that you are applying without the exam. The GMAT or GRE is required for graduate assistantships no matter your GPA.
* International students may be asked to provide course syllabi in order to determine if a sufficient foundation in United States accounting concepts has been established. If admitted and it is determined that you need additional coursework, you will need to complete the appropriate undergraduate equivalencies prior to beginning the MAcc Program.
Domestic
June 1 - Fall Term
November 1 - Spring Term
April 1 - Summer Term
International
June 1 - Fall Term
October 1 - Spring Term
The MAcc program assumes students enter with an undergraduate accounting degree from a regionally accredited college. If a student has their undergraduate degree in accounting, they can proceed with the MAcc Courses listed below which can be completed in as little as one year.
MAcc Courses
| ACCT 5531 | Advanced Tax Concepts |
|---|---|
| ACCT 5533 |
Legal Environment of Accounting |
| ACCT 5557 |
Advanced Auditing |
| ACCT 5561 |
Advanced Accounting |
|
ACCT 6613 |
Fraud Examination |
|
ACCT 6623 |
Accounting Analytics |
|
ACCT 6625 |
Managerial Control Systems and Corporate Social Responsibility |
|
ACCT 6631 |
Accounting Theory |
|
MBA 6622 |
Financial Management |
|
ACCT 6660 |
Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Entities |
If a student does not have an undergraduate degree in accounting but has a business degree, the student will need to complete the equivalent of an undergraduate accounting major core. These prerequisite classes are listed below.
Required Prerequisites to begin MAcc Coursework
|
FIN 3315 |
Corporate Financial Management |
|
ACCT 3323 |
Intermediate Accounting I |
|
ACCT 3324 |
Intermediate Accounting II |
|
ACCT 4425 |
Intermediate Accounting III |
|
ACCT 3331 |
Principles of Taxation I |
|
ACCT 3332 |
Principles of Taxation II |
|
ACCT 4403 |
Accounting Information Systems |
|
ACCT 4456 |
Auditing |
|
ACCT 3341 |
Managerial and Cost Accounting |
If a student does not have a degree in accounting or business, they may need to complete these 3300-level courses before they take any of the MAcc Prerequisites listed above.
Entry Level Accounting Courses
|
ACCT 2201 |
Principles of Accounting I |
|
ACCT 2202 |
Principles of Accounting II |
|
ECON 2201 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
|
ECON 2202 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
|
MATH 1143 |
College Algebra |
|
MGT 2216 |
Business Statistics |
You can view the academic catalog by clicking here. A plan of study will be created to align with your preferences once you’ve been admitted to the program.
Graduate and Lab Assistantships: The College of Business is granted a limited number of assistantships each academic year. You can read more on assistantships and fill out the application here. Assistantships are competitive and we receive an abundance of inquiries, as such we will contact you if you are selected. The GMAT or GRE is required if you are interested in becoming a graduate assistant.
Bengal Online Scholarship System (BOSS): The Bengal Online Scholarship System is home to hundreds of ISU and College of Business specific scholarships.
Financial Aid: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a government program awarding grants and loans to students based on their household income. Students can also obtain student loans or get an on-campus job as part of the work study program.
Graduate School Funding and Support resources can be found here.
What is the CPA Exam?
A Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) licensure represents a highly qualified credential for accountants in the field. Due to the exam’s notorious difficulty, it is highly respected. A CPA licensure requires a candidate to pass four sections of the Uniform CPA exam and obtain 150 college credits. The CPA exam consists of three four-hour Core sections and one four-hour Discipline section of your choice. There are three Discipline sections to choose from.
CPA Exam Sections
Core Sections - must pass all three of the listed Core sections
FAR: Financial Accounting and Reporting
AUD: Auditing and Attestation
REG: Regulation
Discipline Sections - must pass one out of the three listed Discipline exams
BAR: Business Analysis and Reporting
ISC: Information Systems and Controls
TCP: Tax Compliance and Planning
ISU’s Partnership with CPA Study Prep:
Our focus is to support our students to pass the CPA exam while they complete their MAcc degree. In alignment with this mission, we have partnered with Becker, a global CPA exam prep leader, to utilize their comprehensive CPA study materials as the primary course material for the MAcc Program. Becker course materials are required for all MAcc students but are offered at a discounted rate. Students maintain access to all study materials provided through Becker until they pass all four sections of their CPA exam. Additionally, we have partnered with Universal CPA Review to give students 12 months of study and preparation materials at no cost.