Academics
Format
Courses are offered in-person, online, and in a hybrid format. Students can schedule a mix of course formats that fit their schedule.
Schedule
Our Master of Accounting program is offered at a full-time or part-time pace. Full-time students can complete the program in two semesters (8 months), while part-time students earn their degree in four semesters (15 months).
To accommodate busy professionals, our classes are primarily offered in the evening allowing students to work full-time while in the program. Once admitted, you will work with your academic advisor to map out a course of study that fits with your other life commitments.
Students can begin the program in the fall or spring semester.
NEW
Explore the MAcc Advantage
Join us online to learn how our MAcc degree can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and support required for top accounting careers. We will share unique insights and answer any questions you may have.
Tuesday, April 22 |
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. MT
| Online
Curriculum
Our MAcc curriculum balances broadly-applicable accounting courses that can benefit a variety of advanced accounting careers, with courses that allow students to specialize in either audit, industry, or tax accounting. These emphasis areas allow students to focus their education according to their interests and career goals.
The program consists of 30 credits regardless of which focus area a student chooses. Students who choose an area of focus with lower credit requirements will take additional elective credits to reach 30 total credits.
- 12 core credits
- 6-12 focus area credits
- 6-12 elective credits
Note for Non-Accounting Undergraduates
Applicants with a non-accounting educational background are required to take additional credits.
See our admission requirements for more information.
Core Courses
Course Number: ACCTG 6155
Credits: 3
This course will introduce students to the typical data analytical skills and tools that accounting students should master to meet the demands of our profession and to prepare for the CPA exam. These skills include the following: 1. Data Analysis and Interpretation: Accountants need to be comfortable dealing with large volumes of data and should be able to interpret that data to make informed decisions. They should be able to spot trends, anomalies, and correlations in the data. 2. Financial Analysis: This includes understanding financial statements, conducting ratio analysis, and carrying out profitability assessments. Financial analysis skills are key to making strategic recommendations based on financial data. 3. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is about asking the right questions, interpreting the data in hand, and making well-informed decisions. It’s important to evaluate the validity of data and challenge assumptions when necessary. 4. Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Accountants need to solve complex problems such as reconciling conflicting reports or resolving discrepancies. This requires logical thinking and creativity. 5. Risk Analysis: Understanding and evaluating potential risks is crucial in accounting. Accountants should be capable of identifying financial risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. 6. Proficiency in Accounting and Data Analysis Software: Student must be familiar with and able to use modern data analysis tools like Spreadsheets (Excel), Tools to connect to clean it and transform data (Power Query and Alteryx), data visualization tools (Power BI and Tableau), database management tools (SQL and Access) and tools to manipulate data (Python and R). No discussion on data analytics tool is complete with out understanding how to use AI software like Chat GPT to enhance the use of the above tools (we will use Microsoft 365 Copilot in this course). 7. Statistical Analysis: Understanding statistical methods can help accountants analyze and interpret data more effectively. 8. Reporting: Analyzing the data is only part of the job. Accountants also need to communicate their findings effectively, often through reports. Thus, they should develop skills in creating clear, concise, and informative reports.
Credits: 3
In this course students will gain an understanding of how to use accounting information for decision making within an organization. Students will learn about management accounting systems and their use in decision-making while considering the limitations and assumptions underlying these data. Students will learn the following fundamental principles: 1) Ways to identify and extract relevant information from management accounting systems as an input to decisions concerning resource allocation and performance evaluation. This will include the estimation of cost functions using accounting data. 2) Forecasting and budgeting procedures. This will include the evaluation of risk and uncertainty. 3) Performance evaluation of products, divisions and managers. This will include inter-departmental allocations, outsourcing considerations, productivity measures, and the choice of performance metrics for compensation purposes, and the rationale behind the balanced scorecard. 4) Multinational firms and special considerations involved in the global economy. This will include multinational transfer prices and tax considerations.
Credits: 3
This course is designed to make you an effective reader and interpreter of financial statements. Most of you have put in considerable time learning how to prepare financial statements. But, the knowledge base and skill set you have developed to become an effective preparer are not the same as those that you need to become an effective reader. Ergo, this course. Being able to effectively read and interpret financial statements is a crucial part of becoming a successful businessperson. The reason for this is simple: Successful businesspeople attract investors; investors want a return on their invested capital; and, financial statements are the primary source of information about what this return has been and will be. With this in mind, we begin the course by learning how to calculate and interpret return on invested capital (i.e., ROIC), its components, and other key performance indicators (i.e., KPIs). Understanding how to calculate and interpret KPIs is important, however, KPIs are only as good as the accounting numbers underlying them. Hence, in the second part of the course, we focus on how to evaluate accounting quality and, if necessary, make accounting adjustments that improve the informativeness of the reported numbers and the KPIs that are based on these numbers.
Course Number: ACCTG 6620
Credits: 3
The use of financial statements to analyze growth, profitability, efficiency, liquidity, and other economic characteristics of publicly-traded companies. The analysis focuses on developing an understanding of strategy, operations, industry, competitive environment, and risks with the aim to estimate valuations for investment decisions. In addition to the listed prerequisites, students are strongly encouraged to have also taken ACCTG 6610.
Areas of Focus
MAcc students must choose at least one focus area.
Audit
Credits: 3
The primary objective is to familiarize students with contemporary problems in auditing practice and systems as well as the general research methodology in dealing with those problems. A secondary objective is to improve the students’ teamwork and communication skills. This course primarily consists of a series of challenging cases in auditing and systems.
Credits: 3
Objectives include providing students with an understanding of the security issues in a computerized environment. Students will be exposed to security guidelines, implementation and cost issues, security issues pertinent to the internet, and other issues. Students will also be exposed to the potential for fraud and abuse in a computerized environment.
Choose One
Credits: 3
This course is designed to help students gain a strong understanding of the issues related to corporate and LLC taxation. The course is beneficial to students intending to take the CPA exam, preparing them to answer corporate, partnership and LLC tax questions contained in the exam.
Credits: 3
We will analyze the role taxes play in the business world. Our analysis will include U.S. taxes as well as international taxes, focusing on the need for all businesses to remain economically competitive in a worldwide marketplace. The textbook provides a unique perspective by quantifying how and when taxes should be integrated into the decision making process. Over the course of the semester, we will explore investment opportunities, retirement planning, tailoring the choice of entity to the needs and opportunities available, shifting income or expenses between domestic and foreign jurisdictions, the effect of taxes on financial statement reporting, opportunities for sale or merger of the business, and planning to minimize estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Industry
Credits: 3
Theoretical aspects of modern corporate finance. Optimal capital structure in different market environments, dividend policy, conflict of interest between groups involved in decision making, and issues of asymmetric information and signaling.
Choose One
Credits: 3
This course is designed to help students gain a strong understanding of the issues related to corporate and LLC taxation. The course is beneficial to students intending to take the CPA exam, preparing them to answer corporate, partnership and LLC tax questions contained in the exam.
Credits: 3
We will analyze the role taxes play in the business world. Our analysis will include U.S. taxes as well as international taxes, focusing on the need for all businesses to remain economically competitive in a worldwide marketplace. The textbook provides a unique perspective by quantifying how and when taxes should be integrated into the decision making process. Over the course of the semester, we will explore investment opportunities, retirement planning, tailoring the choice of entity to the needs and opportunities available, shifting income or expenses between domestic and foreign jurisdictions, the effect of taxes on financial statement reporting, opportunities for sale or merger of the business, and planning to minimize estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Tax
Course Number: ACCTG 6300
Credits: 1.5
Primary focus is learning and applying effective tax research methodologies. In addition, the class focuses on ethical standards applicable to tax practitioners, various sources of tax authority and their relative importance in establishing tax law, use of electronic tax services, and effective methods of communicating tax conclusions.
Course Number: ACCTG 6320
Credits: 3
Focus is the federal income taxation of C corporations and their shareholders. The course covers the formation of corporations, taxation of regular and stock dividends, taxation of redemptions, tax impact of liquidations on corporations and shareholders, tax-free reorganizations, etc. In addition to C corporations, a significant focus is S corporations. Topics covered in this course provide a solid foundation for the tax portion of the Regulation section of the CPA examination.
Credits: 1.5
Introduction to U.S. International Taxation. This course focuses on the tax laws, issues, problems and planning strategies dealing with companies and individuals operating in multiple foreign jurisdictions. It includes an examination of inbound and outbound transactions, resident and nonresident alien taxation, withholding taxes, tax treaties, foreign income exclusion, income tax nexus, income and deduction sourcing rules, foreign tax credit, optimal forms of organization structures, cross-border distributions, Subpart F income, controlled foreign corporations and transfer pricing issues.
Credits: 3
An in-depth study of partnerships and LLCs with emphasis on the formation, operation, distributions, and liquidations of such entities. The professor’s approach is one of practical application rather than simply theory. Topics covered in this course provide a solid foundation for certain portions of the CPA examination (tax portion of “Core” and the “Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)” discipline) in dealing with partnership/LLC tax questions.
Course Number: ACCTG 6370
Credits: 1.5
Introduction to State and Local Taxation. This course focuses on tax laws, issues, problems, and planning strategies dealing with companies and individuals operating in multiple U.S. state and local jurisdictions. It includes an examination of state income, franchise, sales, use, property, and payroll taxes.
Course Number: ACCTG 6380
Credits: 1.5
This course focuses on tax laws, issues, problems, and planning opportunities facing companies in our current tax environment. Such topics are incorporated in a survey of ASC 740 (Accounting for Income Taxes). A strong, foundational, knowledge of ASC 740 is critical for both tax and audit professionals.
Elective Courses
Course Number: ACCTG 6520
Credits: 3
Objectives include providing students with an understanding of the security issues in a computerized environment. Students will be exposed to security guidelines, implementation and cost issues, security issues pertinent to the internet, and other issues. Students will also be exposed to the potential for fraud and abuse in a computerized environment.
Course Number: ACCTG 6540
Credits: 3
The course will cover both the concepts and tools involved in fraud examination and forensic accounting. Students will be involved in cases and projects designed to help them understand the guidelines for successful fraud prevention and detection. In addition, they will gain hands on experience using a variety of fraud prevention tools. They will also be exposed to concepts of forensic accounting which involves any accounting work done for litigation purpose.
Course Number: ACCTG 6732
Credits: 3
This course is designed to help students gain a strong understanding of the issues related to corporate and LLC taxation. The course is beneficial to students intending to take the CPA exam, preparing them to answer corporate, partnership and LLC tax questions contained in the exam.
Course Number: ACCTG 6735
Credits: 3
We will analyze the role taxes play in the business world. Our analysis will include U.S. taxes as well as international taxes, focusing on the need for all businesses to remain economically competitive in a worldwide marketplace. The textbook provides a unique perspective by quantifying how and when taxes should be integrated into the decision making process. Over the course of the semester, we will explore investment opportunities, retirement planning, tailoring the choice of entity to the needs and opportunities available, shifting income or expenses between domestic and foreign jurisdictions, the effect of taxes on financial statement reporting, opportunities for sale or merger of the business, and planning to minimize estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Course Number: ACCTG 6590
Credits: 3
This class covers financial analysis, valuation, strategy, and accounting issues related to mergers and acquisitions and other major corporate events during the lifecycle of firms (e.g., raising capital, share repurchases, leveraged buy-outs). The course content is relevant for all business students who are interested in understanding how companies grow and maximize long-term value for their stakeholders. The knowledge and skills you will learn can be applied in a wide array of careers in finance, accounting, consulting, entrepreneurship, or corporate strategy.
Course Number: FINAN 6040
Credits: 3
This course explores the more advanced tools in Microsoft Excel that are applicable to the Finance profession. The course will cover Shortcut keys, Financial Modeling, Pivot Tables, Advanced Functions, What-Ifs, Scenarios, and Databases. Students will develop advanced Excel skills through a combination of participating in demonstrations of Excel tools and applying the skills they learn by using them to solve real world finance problems using Excel.
Course Number: FINAN 6045
Credits: 1.5
This course is for accounting and finance students that have advanced Excel skills and would like to take their skills to the next level by learning Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The course assumes that students have little or no application development experience. The class will provide an introduction to creating macros in Excel using VBA. The course focuses on VBA skills that will enhance an accountant or finance professional’s use of Excel. These skills include, recording macros, building user defined functions, importing and manipulating data, automating routine tasks and building user forms.
Course Number: FINAN 6080
Credits: 3
Through the use of case analysis, this course provides students with an opportunity to learn the principles, theories and processes relating to personal financial management. While anyone could benefit from the course, it is most suitable for those preparing for a career as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), an attorney or individuals planning to advise on the financial affairs of individuals, families and small business owners. Topics include personal balance sheet assessment, understanding and improving cash-flows, debt analysis, budget creation, goal identification, investment analysis, retirement Income forecasting, education funding analysis, insurance planning, the impact of income tax, estate planning and small business owner issues.
Course Number: FINAN 6300
Credits: 1.5
This course focuses on key topics when funding a startup company and/or fueling its growth such as valuation, equity and debt financing, analyzing risk in early stage companies, the fundraising process, investment psychology, deal structure, due diligence, the road to acquisition/IPO, trends and the fundraising ecosystem.
Course Number: FINAN 6310
Credits: 3
This course is a deeper treatment of the concepts of FINAN 6300. It involves case discussions and analysis of companies seeking financing, the making of a successful fundraising pitch, components of risk, strategies around equity and debt financing for startups and growth companies, venture capital industry norms & trends, due diligence, capital structures, legal and financial considerations. It draws on industry experts and case studies involving real companies in various stages of growth.
Course Number: FINAN 6220
Credits: 3
Theoretical aspects of modern corporate finance. Optimal capital structure in different market environments, dividend policy, conflict of interest between groups involved in decision making, and issues of asymmetric information and signaling.
Course Number: FINAN 6225
Credits: 3
Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) includes financial planning, financial performance reporting, and modeling, among other financial analysis activities within a corporation. FP&A professionals support HR, marketing, operations, accounting, and other departments. FP&A groups provide critical financial information used by the CFO or other executives to improve corporate decision-making.
Course Number: FINAN 6360
Credits: 3
Examine stocks, bonds, derivatives, and financial markets. Analytic treatment of portfolio selection and measurement of investment performance.
Course Number: FINAN 6520
Credits: 3
This course offers an introduction to programming for finance students without any previous programming knowledge. The goal of the course is to provide a broad understanding of the principles and techniques of programming for finance applications. Students will learn how to use “base” Python and the components of the SciPy ecosystem that are most widely used in the financial industry. The project-based, data-driven approach used in the course will improve students’ data analysis and programming skills, as well as their understanding of the modeling process, by providing a connection between the statistical and financial concepts covered in students’ other courses. By the end of the course, students will have acquired the experience and skill with programming to uniquely prepare them for future professional opportunities in finance.
Course Number: IS 6420
Credits: 3
Advanced topics in database theory and design, including hands-on development of a working database system. Topics covered include the relational database model, foundations in relational algebra, design techniques, SQL, distributed databases, multimedia databases, and knowledge bases.
Course Number: IS 6489
Credits: 3
This is a graduate level course in statistics, with an emphasis on developing predictive models using an open source statistical programming language. The engaged student should expect to develop foundational skills for data analysis. Topics covered will include some or all of the following: descriptive statistics, non-parametric regression, probability distributions, linear and logistic regression, tree-based methods, model assumptions and model checking, cross-validation, simulation, resampling, visualization, and reproducible research.
Course Number: IS 6491
Credits: 3
Data Visualization is the graphical representation of information. Data Visualization and related technologies create value within organizations by providing insight from complex sets of data by communicating key aspects therefrom. This course focuses on how to increase the likelihood of action based on insights from data by telling stories with data that leverage effective Data Visualizations. The course includes a mix of theory and hands-on application using contemporary processes and Data Visualization technologies.
Course Number: STRAT 6760
Credits: 3
This class is designed to familiarize students with the current challenges and trends of growing a business in today’s economy. Students learn not only through lectures and readings, but also from frequent presentations by distinguished entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their real-world experiences. This business elective has no prerequisites and is open to all majors at the University of Utah.
NEW
Explore the MAcc Advantage
Join us online to learn how our MAcc degree can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and support required for top accounting careers. We will share unique insights and answer any questions you may have.
Thursday, May 22 |
11 a.m. - noon MT
| Online