Master of Science in Accountancy
STEM Certified – OPT Extension Eligible #1 CPA PASS RATE More often than any school in the past 25 years #1 in BIG FOUR JOB PLACEMENT Wake Forest MSA graduates are more likely to land in the Big 4 than those from any other school
Masters in Accounting Curriculum
Wake Forest University’s M.S. in Accountancy curriculum features a robust selection of courses including three distinct tracks—assurance services, financial transaction services, and tax consulting. This program is two semesters and requires 30 hours of graduate coursework with an optional third semester for students who would like to participate in a paid nine-week internship.
Students who have not completed the foundational coursework are required to complete them on the Wake Forest campus during the summer prior to beginning the program in August.
Overview
Wake Forest’s accounting curriculum allows graduate students to tailor their accounting classes towards their career interests. Our Masters in Accountancy graduate program offers three distinct career tracks:
- Assurance Services, for careers in the assurance/audit practice area
- Financial Markets & Transactions (only offered at Wake Forest), for careers in the financial transaction and advisory services areas
- Tax Consulting, for careers in the tax services practice area
Courses include Forensic Accounting, Business Analysis and Valuation, and Tax Policy and Planning. For official curricular details, complete course descriptions, and any potential electives, please refer to the current edition of the School of Business Graduate Student Handbook found on our Academic Services page.
CPA Preparation and Paid Internship
In addition to our accounting classes, Wake Forest provides some of the best CPA exam preparation in the country. In fact, our pass rate has been #1 in the country more than any other school in the past twenty-five years.
We also offer an optional third semester which provides students with the opportunity for a nine-week paid internship. This includes first-hand accounting experience during the busy tax season. In the past, many students have received full-time offers after graduating as a result of these internships.
The MBA Advantage
As an additional benefit of the Masters in Accounting program, Wake Forest MSA graduates have a head start with the potential to complete their Wake Forest MBA degree in as few as 12 months as part of the MBA Advantage. Graduates will receive credit for program courses that are substantially equivalent to Wake Forest MBA coursework when they return. Typically, candidates return to complete their MBA degree within five years of graduating from the Masters in Accounting program.
Foundational Coursework
Foundational Courses Include:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credit Hours | Dates | Location |
| N/A | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| N/A | Managerial Accounting | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| N/A | Introductory Statistics | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| N/A | Principles of Finance | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| N/A | Accounting Information Systems | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| N/A | Introduction to Auditing | 3.0 | prior to June | any non-WFU campus |
| ACC 520 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4.0 | late May to June | WFU campus |
| ACC 530 | Intermediate Accounting II | 4.0 | early July to August | WFU campus |
| ACC 540 | Introductory Tax | 3.0 | early July to August | WFU campus |
Foundational courses are a requirement of the MSA degree but do not count towards the 30 hour minimum of required coursework.
Learn more about our proven graduate Accounting curriculum!
Wake Forest University’s Masters in Accounting curriculum includes three career tracks, a paid internship, and an unparalleled CPA exam pass rate. Interested in learning more? Request information today!
