Go back to the Graduate Programs Page
The MSA is a 36 hour program, or 42 hours if you lack the two prerequisites.
ACCT. 501 and 502 are required if you have not already passed Principles of Accounting and Intermediate Accounting, respectively.
Yes, but there are a several other courses that you can also take at the same time.
The MSA is offered both in Dallas and online. A few courses are also available in Commerce.
No, you can do some live in Dallas and some online if you choose.
Some students may be able to totally complete the program in one year and one semester. However, everyone’s situation is different and it could take longer.
No. There is an accounting core of 24 hours and an advanced accounting core of 6 hours. The remaining 6 hours consists of electives.
If you have already completed a particular course, or subject material, elsewhere and are not getting credit for it in the MSA, you will choose an elective to achieve your required hours rather than repeating the course again.
Yes, up to 12 hours.
This will depend upon the rules of each individual state. Please see the following link provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Additional information about becoming a CPA, including about the exam, can be found at:
You can complete a MSA with as few as 24 additional hours.
Yes you can, so long as you have any required prerequisites for a course.
No, they do not form part of the degree. They are required so that you have the background in accounting to be able to take the courses which comprise the MSA program.
The research component previously used to satisfy the Research requirement of the State Board (CPA exam) has been removed. Effective Fall 2015, ACCT 595 no longer satisfies the State Board’s requirement for research.
Please see "Where can I get the required research hours?" below for more information.
Not necessarily.
If you are not planning to take the CPA exam, changes to ACCT 595 are not relevant.
If you completed ACCT 521 and ACCT 538 in Fall 2014 or later, then you have earned the research hours required. If you need research credit to satisfy the State’s requirements, you may take ACCT 588, which will count as an elective course.
Ideally, students should take ACCT 595 first, beginning with the Fall 2015 semester. However, students that are already enrolled may take ACCT 595 as soon as possible.
The communication hours required by the State Board are still satisfied in ACCT 595.
Beginning in both Fall 2014 and Spring 2015, the State Board approved ACCT 521 and ACCT 538 for one-hour of research each. Going forward, both courses (ACCT 521 and ACCT 538) will each provide one hour of the required research credit.
Beginning in Fall 2015, during your last semester, you must apply for graduation to initiate the Comprehensive Exam process. When you apply for graduation (in your final semester) you will be notified regarding the exam expectations. The exam details will come about 1-2 weeks after the graduation application period closes to your MyLeo Email.
Comprehensive exams are typically given around midterms. Contact the graduate advising office MBA@tamuc.edu no later than the second week of the semester if you have any questions.
Please contact the Director of the College of Business Graduate Advising, Shanna Hoskison at 1-866-622-3899 or at MBA@tamuc.edu.
To request a change to this page or to request access to make changes yourself, email helpdesk@tamuc.edu.