Program Overview:
The M.S. in Accounting degree is a 30-credit hour program that is designed to satisfy the requirements of the New York State Education Department for:
- The business and accounting requirements for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination, and
- A master’s degree in Accounting.
Specific requirements for the M.S. in Accounting program:
- Satisfies one year of the two-year experiential requirement for licensure as a CPA;
- Assists students who have an undergraduate degree with a major or concentration in Accounting to pursue additional study to meet the 150-hour educational requirements for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant;
- Assists students who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting to pursue a career in accounting and satisfy the educational requirements for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant;
- Emphasizes the development of conceptual knowledge and analytical skills through general graduate business courses; and
- Builds toward the integration of knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities through the capstone course.
At the same time, the program aims to develop professionals who are:
- Perceptive (able to identify opportunities and recognize interrelationships);
- Decisive (able to develop opportunities into feasible strategies);
- Resourceful (able to translate strategies into productive and balanced projects); and
- Responsible (able to address social, ecological and ethical consequences of action taken).
The M.S. in Accounting Curriculum
- The M.S. in Accounting program consists of 30 graduate credits. Students pursuing the M.S. in Accounting degree must satisfy two sets of requirements. The first consists of those business and accounting courses needed to qualify to take the CPA examination in New York State; the second consists of additional courses required of all candidates for the M.S. in Accounting degree.
- Students must meet the regulations of the New York State Education Department. For example, students must also have 60 credits of liberal arts courses to sit for the CPA examination. Additional information concerning this licensure-qualifying professional program may be obtained by contacting the appropriate board office. The M.S. in Accounting program offered at The College of Saint Rose is registered by the New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions.
- MBA 690 must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.
New York State Regulations
The following undergraduate courses, taken at an accredited institution with a grade of C or better, are required to satisfy Master of Science requirements in business and accounting, as well as New York State licensure regulations to qualify to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination:
Principles of Accounting
Intermediate Accounting I and II
Financial Accounting Theory Advanced Application
Taxation
Advanced Accounting
Auditing
Economics
Finance
Business Law I and II
Statistics
Computer Science
General Business Course
Program Contacts:
To email the Coordinator of Accounting:
Gretchen Guenther-Collins, Accounting
Program Webpage:
Accounting M.S.
Program Requirements:
Academic Requirements for the M.S. in Accounting
Graduate Business Courses (15 Credits)
| MBA 516 | Management Communications and Social Responsibilities | 3 |
| MBA 555 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA 640 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA 660 | Production & Quality Management | 3 |
| MBA 690 | Strategic Management | 3 |
Graduate Accounting Courses (15 Credits)
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Required Course
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs are fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
The specialized accrediting agencies noted below are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation: The School of Business at The College of Saint Rose, inclusive of its degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
General Admission Information
Eligibility for admission to The College of Saint Rose graduate programs is typically based upon the following minimum requirements:
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Submission of a completed application and a Statement of Purpose of approximately 300 words detailing the applicant’s goals for graduate study.
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Evidence of the possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution through submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
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Academic and professional qualifications for graduate study, as indicated by two letters of recommendation.
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A grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), overall and in the undergraduate major.
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Other admission criteria specified by academic programs such as submission of resumes, writing samples, portfolios, test scores, and participation in interviews or admissions workshops.
Applicants to The College of Saint Rose are responsible for completing their applications by submitting all required components. Prospective students may wish to visit our website for online application options and downloadable forms.
See Graduate Admissions section for more information.
Financial Aid
The College of Saint Rose has long been committed to the premise that a quality education should be within the reach of qualified students. To this end, the College serves its student body through a comprehensive program of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. While the basic responsibility for financing education lies with the students and their families, scholarships, loans, and/or assistantships can supplement insufficient family resources. The amount of aid available through the College is limited and is awarded on the basis of academic merit. All financial assistance from the College is subject to adjustment if the recipients are later granted aid from other sources. Financial aid awards are contingent upon students’ maintaining good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress.
See Financial Aid section for more information.
Additional Accounting Admissions Information:
Applying for Admission to the M.S. in Accounting Program
Any person who has completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university can apply for admission to The College of Saint Rose M.S. in Accounting Program. No prior course work in business or accounting is necessary for admission. However, students pursuing the M.S. in Accounting must satisfy all business and accounting requirements needed to qualify to take the CPA examination in New York State. This may require some students to take undergraduate business and accounting courses that are required of students enrolled in the M.S. in Accounting Program. Any undergraduate prerequisite courses that are required will be done with the goal of assuring that the student has the understanding of the basic course material so they can succeed at the graduate level. The course waiver policy is the same as that for the J.D./M.B.A. Program.
The College of Saint Rose M.S. in Accounting program is intended for highly motivated individuals. Candidates are selected on the basis of potential for success in their graduate studies. This is determined by prior academic achievement as reflected by the undergraduate grade point average at all colleges attended. Applicants with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher do not need to submit a GMAT score. However, if the undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0, a GMAT score must be submitted for the application to be considered. Although evaluation of these objective criteria is an important aspect of the admission process, it is equally important for the candidate to prepare the application package carefully and thoughtfully. The admissions process also evaluates an applicant’s goals, writing skills, motivation and professional credentials. The final arbiter of admissions is a committee of faculty. It may consider other factors, such as graduate study and professional credentials. The GMAT requirement is waived for applicants holding a post-graduate degree. When a complete application package and GMAT results are received, these materials are reviewed by the admissions committee. The GMAT is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For information about the GMAT, see the previous section of this catalog on the M.B.A. Application Process. Each M.S. in Accounting candidate is responsible for submitting the following elements of the application package:
- A completed application form with the required application fee;
- Official sealed transcripts from all schools attended;
- If required, original of GMAT results sent directly to Graduate Admissions at The College of Saint Rose (code number: 2091);
- Two sealed academic and/or professional recommendations;
- Personal essay; and
- A current resume.
Under special conditions, applicants whose packages are incomplete or applicants registered to take the GMAT may be admitted as non-degree students at the option of the department chair of the Accounting program. Individuals planning to seek degree status may not take more than two courses under the non-degree status.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit The College of Saint Rose campus for a personal interview. The Graduate faculty is available to discuss the M.S. in Accounting Program throughout the year. Applicants may call The Huether School of Business at (518) 454-5272 for additional information and to arrange for an interview.
International students should also refer to information on Admission of International Students that follows.
Additional Admission Requirements
- Each student must be competent in word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
- No more than two graduate courses taken at The College of Saint Rose by a non-degree student will be applied toward an M.S. in Accounting Degree.
- Each student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. Students who receive a “C” in a course receive an academic warning; a second “C” will result in dismissal from the program. A grade of “F” in a course will result in dismissal from the program. Students so dismissed can apply for readmission after skipping a semester and filing a request with the dean of the School of Business.
- Some graduate classes have a significant online component. Each student must have a recent computer and high speed internet access.
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