MBA in Accounting
The Master of Business Administration in Accounting is designed specifically for the student interested in becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Applicants for the CPA certificate in Michigan are required to have completed 225 quarter hours (equivalent to 150 semester hours) of college education. Most states have adopted similar requirements. Earning an MBA in Accounting from Cleary University, along with an undergraduate degree, fulfills the 225 quarter hour education requirement in the State of Michigan for CPA licensure.
The MBA in Accounting consists of thirteen courses designed to provide students with the analytical abilities, communication skills, and technical competence that will enable them to serve the public in a complex and changing business environment. Overall, this degree provides CPA candidates with a good balance of accounting and other management skills.
Students complete six courses in accounting and law, including: Advanced Financial Accounting II, Individual Taxation, Corporate Taxation, Auditing I and II, and Legal Issues for Public Accountants. All of these courses are taken on campus and are designed to assist students in acquiring the necessary accounting competencies to prepare for the CPA exam.
The remaining seven courses are taken in other business areas and may be taken online. (Some courses may also be available in a lecture format). These courses include Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Investments and Portfolio Management, Quantitative Managerial Analysis, Organizational Behavior and Theory, Strategic Marketing Management and a Master's Capstone Project. Education in these business areas enables CPA candidates to understand the concepts, processes, and institutions involved in the production and marketing of goods and services, as well as in the financing of a business and other forms of organization.
Applicants for the MBA in Accounting must already hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. As part of their undergraduate education, students should have completed at least 18 quarter hours (or 12 semester hours) of accounting study, including: financial accounting, managerial accounting, accounting information systems, and governmental accounting. They should also have completed at least nine quarter hours (or six semester hours) of general business subjects, including business communications. If the required hours of accounting and general business subjects have not been completed, they must be completed as pre-requisites of this degree. MBA students may receive up to twelve credit hours (three classes) of transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution.
All MBA students will participate in an online orientation course which is available one week prior to the start of the term. This course will provide information regarding services, academic policies, the course management system, and to prepare students for academic success in the program.
MBA Accounting
Business Core Courses 24 credits
ECO 645 Managerial Economics
FIN 605 Financial Management
FIN 615 Investments and Portfolio Management
MGT 625 Quantitative Managerial Analysis
MGT 635 Organizational Behavior and Theory
MKT 605 Strategic Marketing Management
Major Courses 24 credits
ACC 605 Legal Issues for Public Accountants
ACC 655 Individual Taxation
ACC 665 Corporate Taxation
ACC 675 Advanced Financial Accounting II
ACC 695 Auditing I
ACC 696 Auditing II
Capstone Course 4 credits
STR 605 Master's Capstone Project
Total 52 credits
MBA Accounting Competency Core Courses
In order to meet entrance requirements, MBA Accounting students must have completed the courses listed below at Cleary University or must have completed the equivalent courses at other regionally-accredited colleges or universities.
MBA Accounting Competency Core
ACC 415 Governmental/Non-profit Accounting
ACC 440 Cost Accounting I
ACC 441 Cost Accounting II
ACC 470 Accounting Information Systems
ACC 472 Advanced Financial Accounting I
COM 400 Advanced Business Communication Methods
It is assumed that students enrolling in this degree program are proficient users of MS Excel.
Guidelines for CPA licensure in the state of Michigan can be found at:
http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-35299_35414_35451-113534--,00.html. Students interested in becoming licensed as a CPA in a state other than Michigan should check the requirements for that state.