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Shared Program

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Bachelor of Arts–Master of Science in Accounting Program

The shared bachelor’s – master’s program in accounting allows accepted students to get an early start on their graduate program. Up to nine qualifying 400-level and above credits may be taken at the undergraduate level and tuition rates and applied to the master’s program.

Students interested in pursuing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license must have 150 credit hours of college/university credit to be eligible for certification. The shared program may not reduce the overall number of credits a student must take, but it can provide a cost savings to the student, allowing up to nine graduate program credits to be taken at undergraduate tuition rates. This will be considered and built into the student’s study plan.

Application Deadlines for 2024-2025

  • October 1, 2024 for those students eligible to start the shared program in Spring Semester 2025
  • January 15, 2025 for those students eligible to start the shared program in Summer or Fall Semesters 2025
  • March 1, 2025 for those students eligible to start the shared program in Summer or Fall Semesters 2025
  • October 1, 2025 for those students eligible to start the shared program in Spring Semester 2026

When to Apply

Students must be admitted to the undergraduate accounting major and must have completed at least ACC 300 before applying. Admission to the program requires a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0, and admission is competitive based upon space available.

Application Process

Step 1: You will need to have an approved plan of study. Please email Katie Burley to develop your approved plan of study for the shared program. This plan must be submitted with your application.

Step 2: Create a profile and begin the application process here: https://explore.msu.edu/apply/.

Listed below are supplemental items that must be uploaded and/or submitted online with your application:

  1. Current resume
  2. Plan of study
  3. Three essay responses: 2 written essays (750 word maximum), 1 video essay
  4. Letters of Recommendation- For shared applicants, use the following as recommenders:

Shannon Mulally (mulally@msu.edu)

MSA Program (msacct@broad.msu.edu)

5. Application fee

$65 for domestic students

$75 for international students

Step 3: Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email notification of the admission decision.

Step 4: If admitted, you will need to complete a Request for Shared Enrollment Status form. Further program instructions will be provided with the admission notification.

Admitted students can take up to three courses that apply to the M.S. in Accounting degree at the undergraduate level. Students may take these courses, along with other B.A. degree requirements, during senior year.

In other words, if a student will graduate with more than 120 credits, the student may be able to take up to nine credits at the undergraduate level and tuition rate that will count towards the MS in Accounting degree. These credits must be in addition to the 120 credits needed for undergraduate graduation. For example, if a student will meet their undergraduate degree requirements with 129 credits, the student could take ACC 411, MGT 409 and ACC 821 for the MS program at the undergraduate tuition rate. The number of credits taken at the graduate premium tuition rate would be reduced to 21. The student would have the 150 credit hours required for CPA certification. Individual circumstances will dictate how the student can take advantage of the shared program.

Courses

Courses marked with an * are available to seniors on a space-available basis and if prerequisites are completed.

Students should familiarize themselves with the curriculum guide available online and in the departmental lobby on the second floor of the Business College Complex.

All M.S. students are required to take COM 875 Communication Leadership Skills in Organizations, (fall, spring, and summer semesters) and ACC 827 Accounting Analytics (fall and spring semesters).

In addition to the track requirements, students must take 12–15 credits in electives. A student may take up to six credits at the 400 level.

Nine credits must be outside of the major. PCA, Tax, and TS students may count IS courses as outside the major, while IS students may count other accounting courses as outside the major.

Information Systems Track (IS)

Choose four of the following:

Public and Corporate Accounting Track (PCA)

FI 801 required. Choose four of the following:

Taxation (Tax)

FI 801 required. Choose all of the following:

Transaction Services (TS)

FI 801 required. Choose all of the following:

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