Accounting (MS), Program Information

Program Faculty

Department Chair

Sharon Gary Finney, Ph.D., CPA

Associate Professor

Program Coordinator

Sharon Gary Finney, Ph.D., CPA, Chairperson 

Department of Accounting and Finance 

Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management 

GSBM 516

Tel: (443) 885-3445; Fax: (443) 885-8295

Program Faculty

Sharon Gary Finney, Ph.D., CPA, 

Associate Professor and Chairperson

Kang Cheng, Ph.D.,  

Associate Professor

Yu Cong, Ph.D., 

Associate Professor

Dina El-Mahdy, Ph.D., 

Associate Professor

Darlene Green-Connor, ABD 

Lecturer

Bilal Makkawi, Ph.D., CPA,

Associate Professor

Buagu Musazi, Ph.D.,

Associate Professor

Huey-Lian Sun, Ph.D., CPA, CMA,

Professor

Sheela Thiruvadi, Ph.D.,

Associate Professor 

Program Description

The MS in Accounting program is designed for the accounting, business and nonbusiness undergraduate that may be seeking to become a Certified Public Accountant and make a career in the accounting profession. While the program focuses on the public accounting field, graduates will be prepared to seek employment in investment banks (e.g., mergers and acquisitions) and in corporate financial management positions. The program offers the specific courses required by the state of Maryland to sit for the CPA examination. For additional information on the requirements for the CPA examination in Maryland, go to the Maryland Board of Accountancy website at: http://dllr.state.md.us/license/cpa/.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the MS in Accounting program are to:

1. Prepare students to apply accounting knowledge in realistic business situations,

2. Prepare students to adapt and innovate to solve business and accounting problems using technology, data analytics and research,

3. Help student integrate the course material and communicate effectively about accounting issues in a contemporary context, and

4. Apprise students of relevant accounting research impacting business and accounting practice.

General Requirements

Candidates for the MS in Accounting degree must complete a minimum of thirty (30) academic credit hours of 600-level courses. Additional credit hours may be required to complete prerequisite courses.

Students may receive ‘C’ grades in no more than 6 credits of the coursework undertaken.  If a student exceeds this credit allowance, the student must retake the same courses with C grades until satisfactory grades are earned to bring the student in compliance with the regulation.

Admission

To be eligible for admission to the MS in Accounting program, an applicant must: 

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in the accounting major. Students without an undergraduate degree in accounting will be required to take accounting and business exposure courses. These exposure courses may be transferred from accredited four year undergraduate U.S. institutions. Some exposure courses may be transferred from four-year institutions outside the U.S. after evaluation by a U.S. credentialing service.

• Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better to be considered for regular admission. Students who possess a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of between a 2.5 and less than 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.  Post-bachelor’s undergraduate credits will not be used to enhance G.P.A. requirements for admission to graduate study. 

• Submit an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.  All required documents must be submitted as directed by the School of Graduate Studies prior to program review and admission decision.  

• Provide test scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).  Test scores may not be more than five years old prior to the date of application.  These scores must be delivered by the Graduate Management Admission Council to the Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies. The GMAT is waived for candidates with a 3.7 or higher G.P.A. (on a 4.0 scale) for all prior coursework.

• Use the application system to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be placed with the application.  The letters must be from officials or faculty members of institutions previously attended who are acquainted with the applicant’s ability for graduate study or from employment supervisors where applicable. 

• Submit a typed exposition regarding the candidate’s personal academic and professional plans and the reasons for selecting Morgan State University. 

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents do not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission should be made based on that review.

Program Course Requirements

MS Accounting 30 Credits

Business and Accounting Exposure Requirements 

These courses or their equivalent must be completed to qualify for the Core and Professional Track Requirements for the MS in Accounting program. Equivalent exposure courses may be transferred from other qualifying institutions. These courses are offered at the undergraduate or graduate level at Morgan and may be taken while enrolled in the MS in Accounting program.  NOTE: These courses will not count as part of the program’s credit requirement.

The following is based on a 30 credit hour MS in Accounting program. It assumes students have two business and accounting exposure courses before beginning.

Total Credits 30

Suggested Curriculum Sequence

• Accounting (MS), Curriculum Sequence