Curriculum

The curriculum prepares graduates for positions in public accounting, industry, and government. Our program is centered on four learning objectives aimed at ensuring the professional success of our students including a broadened perspective, specialized technical skills and knowledge, professional ethics, and effective communication.

Our course offerings include two required courses, Accounting Theory and Contemporary Accounting Issues. An additional eight elective courses enable students to customize their course work or follow a more structured path within either the financial reporting and assurance track or the taxation track. Elective course offerings will vary based upon faculty availability.

Full-time Financial Reporting Track

Below illustrates a typical full-time schedule for a student in the financial reporting track.

Fall Spring Summer
Accounting Theory* Contemporary Acc. Issues* Two Electives (6 hours)
Business Taxation Data Ana. & Acct Inf Sys. –
Advanced Accounting Int. Audit & Forensic Acc –
Advanced Auditing Intl Business Law –

Full-time Taxation Track

Below illustrates a typical full-time schedule for a student in the taxation track.

Fall Spring Summer
Accounting Theory* Contemporary Acc. Issues* Two Electives (6 hours)
Business Taxation Research in Taxation –
Advanced Accounting Advanced Taxation –
Advanced Auditing Intl Business Law –

*Required courses include Accounting Theory and Contemporary Accountancy Issues

Part-time Program Track (Year 1)

The following schedule assumes that at least two courses are taken each semester as well as a total of two summer classes over the two-year period. The two required courses and eight electives could be taken during the late afternoon or evening over the two-year period. This hypothetical part-time program schedule is for a student pursuing the Financial Reporting and Assurance Track.

Fall Year 1 Spring Year 1 Summer Year 1
Accounting Theory* Contemporary Acc Issues** Elective TBD
Advanced Auditing Internal Auditing Elective TBD
Advanced Accounting Research in Taxation –
Business Taxation Intl Business Law –
– Data Ana. & Acct Inf Sys. –

Part-time Program Track (Year 2)

The following schedule assumes that at least two courses are taken each semester as well as a total of two summer classes over the two-year period.

Fall Year 2 Spring Year 2 Summer Year 2
Accounting Theory* Contemporary Acc Issues** Elective TBD
Advanced Auditing Internal Auditing Elective TBD
Advanced Accounting Research in Taxation –
Business Taxation Intl Business Law –
– Data Ana. & Acct Inf Sys. –

*Required courses include Accounting Theory and Contemporary Accountancy Issues. The eight remaining elective courses may be selected to create either the Financial Reporting & Assurance or the Taxation program tracks. NOTE: Some of these courses will be taught in the late afternoon and evening.

Curriculum Overview

Here's additional information about the College of Charleston MSA program.
  • Credits

    Thirty (30) credits are required for graduation. A minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours must be selected from graduate-level accountancy courses.

  • Transfer Policy

    The Master of Science in Accountancy does not accept graduate transfer credit from another institution.

  • Required Courses

    Students are required to take six (6) credit hours in the core curriculum:

    • ACCT 500 Accounting Theory
    • ACCT 599 Contemporary Accounting Issues
  • Elective Courses

    Students must complete twenty-four (24) credit hours of elective credit. 

    A full list of electives and their course descriptions may be found in the Academic Catalog: Accountancy, M.S.

    The program offers three tracks with required and recommended courses. These tracks include financial reporting and assurance, taxation and international.

    explore the program tracks