Master of Science in Accounting and Finance

Program Coordinator: Sheri Erickson, Ph.D
Center for Business 204B, 218.477.4073
erickson@mnstate.edu

Program Description

The Master of Science in Accounting and Finance program is designed to provide a unique blend of two disciplines and practice. Students completing the program will be well-prepared to pursue careers in investment management or accounting and to obtain professional designations like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Professional certifications are becoming increasingly important in today’s competitive business environment. This program helps prepare students to obtain one or more of these professional certifications. One goal of the program is to improve the marketability of both accounting and finance graduates.

Accreditation

The School of Business is accredited by AACSB International. Fewer than 5% of the world’s business schools have achieved this distinction, which involves a process of rigorous internal review and evaluation. AACSB accreditation signifies that the School of Business has a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of business.

Admission Requirements

The items listed below are required for admission to this program; only complete files are reviewed. Send all materials to:
Graduate Studies Office
MSU Moorhead
1104 7th Ave. S.
Moorhead, MN 56563

Application Priority Deadlines: October 15 and March 15

Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance. In addition, those graduating with a finance degree must have successfully completed Intermediate Accounting I and II in order to take courses in this program.

1. Baccalaureate degree in Accounting or Finance* or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution.
2. 3.0 grade point average.**
3. Completed "Application for Admission to Graduate Study" form.
4. Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended.
5. Non-refundable $20.00 fee for first-time applicants to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
6. Cover letter stating reasons for wanting a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance.
7. Two current or recent letters of recommendation

In addition to the above, International applicants must provide the following:

1. Completed Financial Statement listing the availability of adequate monetary support for the duration of graduate study and a certified bank letter. The current requirement is at least U.S. $13,600.00 per year.
2. For those whose native language is not English, an official TOEFL or IELTS examination is required. Scores required on the TOEFL are 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). A band score of 6.5 is required on the IELTS and 7.0 is required for admission to the Speech-Language pathology program.
3. A comprehensive course-by-course transcript evaluation by either Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) is required for transcripts from all post-secondary colleges and universities outside of the United States. Do not send these transcripts directly to MSUM.
4. International students must purchase the University health insurance. No exceptions will be made.

*Students with bachelor’s degree in disciplines outside accounting and finance must have the equivalent of ACCT 330, intermediate accounting I, ACCT 331, intermediate accounting II, ACCT 350, cost accounting, FINC 340, financial management, and FINC 360, principles of investment. Bachelor’s degrees will be evaluated by the School of Business faculty to determine whether any additional undergraduate coursework is necessary to be admitted to the program.

**If applicant’s GPA is below 3.0, a provisional admission may be allowed under the following conditions:

1. The applicant takes the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) with the expectation the applicant earns a score of at least 550.
2. If the above requirements are not met, the applicant may be granted conditional admission which is granted at the discretion of the MSUM School of Business Faculty.

Degree Requirements

1. 31 credits for degree completion; 15 core credits, 15 elective credits, 1 portfolio credit
2. A student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the program. If a student’s GPA falls below 3.0 then the student will be placed on probation and allowed to take only 6 credits the following semester. If after taking 6 credits during probation, the student’s GPA is still below 3.0 then the student will be expelled and not allowed to reapply.
3. Students who wish to transfer credits from other institutions or have taken courses before admission to the graduate program should refer to the “Residence and Transfer of Credit” section in the Graduate Bulletin for further information.
4. Completion of oral examination which serves as a review of the student’s portfolio.

Course Requirements

Core Requirements (16 Required Credits)
BUS 602 Quantitative Methods (3)
BUS 640 Financial Statement Analysis (3)
BUS 642 Corporate Finance (3)
BUS 644 Accounting for Managerial Decision Making (3)
BUS 648 Investments (3)
BUS 696 Project/Action Research (Plan B) (1)

Restricted Electives
Students select 5 courses from the following list:
ACCT 507 Commercial Transaction, Property, and Special Topics (3)
ACCT 532 Advanced Accounting II (3)
ACCT 541 Individual Taxation (3)
ACCT 543 Corporate/Partnership Tax (3)
ACCT 561 Audit II (3)
FINC 546 Financial Decision Making (3)
FINC 560 Portfolio Analysis and Management (3)
FINC 563 Futures and Options (3)

Note: Students enrolling in 400 level cross-listed courses to meet undergraduate degree requirements will not be allowed to use them for graduate credit.

Suggested Order for Your MS in Accounting and Finance

Additional Information

Graduate Application Form
Printable copy of this information in PDF