Accounting, M.S.

Program Prerequisites

To be considered for admission to the M.S. in Accounting program, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or the international equivalent, by the time of matriculation
• Show evidence of strong academic preparation, intellectual curiosity, and a passion for their chosen field of study
• Provide evidence of relevant work or internship experience, as well as honors, awards, and extracurricular involvement
• Exhibit qualities of character (e.g., academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, ability to collaborate, awareness & ability to engage across differences, growth mindset, initiative, resilience & perseverance, social engagement, unique perspective, and personal & professional integrity).
• Demonstrate evidence of strong written and oral communication skills; non-native English speakers must also demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English sufficient for graduate study

In addition, students must have successfully completed the following prerequisite courses in accounting or their equivalents prior to matriculation:

• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Managerial Accounting
• Intermediate Accounting I
• Intermediate Accounting II

To view the latest admissions and prerequisite requirements, please visit https://commerce.virginia.edu/ms-accounting/admissions/eligibility.

Admission Requirements

Candidates seeking admission to the M.S. in Accounting program will submit the following items:

• Completed online application
• Resume
• Two required essays
• Two letters of recommendation (including one academic reference from a college or university faculty member)
• Transcripts and academic records from every college and/or university attended
• TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable); McIntire requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100iBT or IELTS score of 7.5
• GMAT or GRE score (accepted but not required)
• Interview (by invitation)
• Application fee: $85

Candidates who accept their offer of admission will be required to submit their online enrollment agreement as well as $1,000 non-refundable deposit to reserve their place in the class and initiate their University of Virginia student account. A second and final non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required to confirm your place in the class. Please refer to the M.S. in Accounting deadlines page for specific enrollment deposit submission dates. Upon enrollment, the entire $2,500 enrollment deposit will be applied to your tuition account.

For additional information, please visit the M.S. in Accounting program website or contact:

McIntire Office of Graduate Marketing and Admissions
140 Hospital Drive
P.O. Box 400173
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4173
(434) 982-6800
msaccounting@virginia.edu
https://commerce.virginia.edu/ms-accounting

Departmental Financial Aid

The McIntire School of Commerce offers a limited number of departmental scholarships to qualified graduate students in the M.S. in Accounting Program. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need, and prospective students may express interest in being considered for a departmental scholarship in their application for admission. If awarded, scholarships will be communicated at the time of admission.

Grading & Academic Performance Expectations

Grading

Grades are awarded only to students who are registered for and complete a course for credit.  All courses are on a credit basis only, and students must receive a grade.  The letter grades used for grading students in McIntire graduate courses are: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F.

GPA Requirements for Graduation

Students are required to complete their program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in order to graduate.

Academic Performance Expectations

Good academic standing is defined as maintaining a 3.00 cumulative GPA.  At the end of each term, a student’s academic performance will be evaluated by the Program Director to determine if the student is in good academic standing.  A student not meeting the 3.00 cumulative GPA criteria at the end of the first semester will be placed on Academic Warning, and a notation of Academic Warning will be placed on the student’s academic record until such time as the academic issue is resolved.

While on Academic Warning, a student will meet regularly with the Program Director to ensure appropriate progress is being made toward degree completion.  A student who earns a cumulative GPA below a 3.00 in two consecutive terms will be dismissed from their program of study.  A student who earns a grade of ‘F’ in any course will be dismissed from the program.

Behavioral & Administrative Expectations

Behavioral and administrative expectations are outlined throughout the Graduate Record and include but are not limited to required class attendance, making progress toward a degree, and fulfilling all expectations implied by enrollment at the University (e.g., Honor Code or Standards of Conduct).

Student adherence to these expectations will be evaluated periodically or when a situation is brought to the attention of the Program Director.  If a student’s behavior is found not to be in adherence with the expectations, a warning will be issued to the student, and a behavior modification plan will be put in place.  This plan will include a timeframe for reevaluation of the student’s behavior.  After a reevaluation is conducted, a student who has met the expectations of the behavior modification plan will return to good standing.  A student who is still not meeting the behavioral expectations outlined in the plan will be given a final opportunity to remediate the deficient behavior and return to good standing.  If, after a second opportunity to meet the expectations of the program and university, a student is still found to display behaviors inconsistent with the program expectations, an ‘Enforced Withdrawal’ will be enacted by the Graduate Program Committee.

Employment

Students may not engage in employment in excess of what is compatible with a full-time commitment to the graduate study of accounting. Therefore, full-time students must seek approval from the Director of the M.S. in Accounting Program if they plan to be employed for more than 20 hours per week or receive financial compensation or financial awards for activities requiring more than 20 hours per week.

Residency, Enrollment Requirements, and Time to Degree Completion

All degree candidates must complete two full semesters in residence except in the case of students who (A) graduated from the undergraduate program at the McIntire School of Commerce and (B) completed adequate undergraduate credits and specific 5000-level courses in their undergraduate program to transfer semester hours to qualify for a one-semester residency requirement. Those one-semester residency students must complete at least 18 credit hours in courses approved for graduate credit in the M.S. in Accounting Program and their one semester of residence. Students interested in this one-semester alternative should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to assess eligibility. All other students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to be considered a full-time student in the M.S. in Accounting Program. These 12 credit hours must be for courses approved for graduate credit in the M.S. in Accounting Program.

All students must complete the program within four semesters from the time they initially enroll in the program.  Students failing to meet the program requirements within four traditional semesters (fall and spring) will be dismissed from the program.

All students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and may take up to 18 credit hours per semester.

Transfer of Credit

Up to six credits for approved courses can be transferred for two-semester students to satisfy the 30-credit graduation requirement in the M.S. in Accounting Program.  Transfer credits must be approved by the Director of the M.S. in Accounting Program and will be approved on a case-by-case basis.  Courses will only be approved if a similar course is offered in the MSA program and was not required to satisfy the student’s undergraduate or other degree requirements. Courses will be approved for transfer credit if they are graduate level (which are defined as 5000- and 7000-level courses at the McIntire School of Commerce) and were not required to satisfy any major, degree, concentration, certificate, or university requirement. Students in the one-semester residency program (described above) may transfer 12 credits toward their graduation requirement. All students requesting transfer credit must provide adequate documentation of course details and undergraduate degree requirements to support their request.

Course Enrollment

M.S. in Accounting students may take up to 3 credits of a University of Virginia 5000- or 7000-level course beyond courses offered in the M.S. Accounting program (inside or outside the McIntire School of Commerce) for credit towards their degree without special permission from the Academic Program Director. Students must receive advanced permission from the course instructor before the assigned registration period.  

Enrollment in M.S. in Accounting courses is generally restricted to students in that specific program.  Permission may be granted to non-degree students to enroll in these courses on an exception basis.  A request for this exception must be made in writing to the M.S. in Accounting Academic Program Director.  Requests will be evaluated based on course availability, applicant qualifications, and any other factors that might impact the administration of the graduate course under consideration.  Exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis for no more than two courses for any student not admitted to the M.S. in Accounting Program and will be permitted only under rare circumstances.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n))

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Accounting at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402)

Academic Requirements

Students must complete the 30 total credit hours, including the MSA Program Curriculum and all additional requirements associated with their designated track below.