St. Ambrose University Master of Accounting Brochure

MASTER OF accounting

{ goal } CPA credentials

WHY ST. AMBROSE?

The Master of Accounting program, designed with input from leaders in public and private accounting, industry and government, has a solid reputation in the Quad Cities and beyond.

Known for providing personal attention in small class settings, the program offers an experience that students can mold with university support. Faculty and staff are committed to your success; feedback and career counseling are an integral part of the education students receive. Graduates develop strong communication skills honed through frequent class presentations. And diverse student backgrounds, including international perspectives, enhance the curriculum.

This interdisciplinary program offers flexibility to students with varied career objectives. For students “on the go,� an accelerated program is available.

program options

Building on a strong liberal arts

undergraduate degree, the program combines theory with real world experience. Many states now require certified public accountants to have 150 hours of college education, and the Master of Accounting hours satisfy this requirement. And because accounting increasingly relies on knowledge of leading technological applications, students can opt for a management information systems concentration at no additional cost. The degree can be earned in three ways:

> Full-time program: Students take daytime and evening classes to complete the degree in one year.

> Full-time accelerated program: Students take daytime and evening classes to complete the degree in a summer session and a fall semester.

> Part-time evening program: Students take classes in the evening to complete the degree in as little as two years.

{ reality }

diverse career skills

“ I learned how to investigate fraud in Forensic Accounting, how to be a controller in Managerial Accounting and how to be an effective leader through MBA classes. I’ve got so many tools in my arsenal.”

Kaitlyn Ward ’07, ’08 MACC Private Accountant Deere & Company

Students may take

9 to 15

of the graduate credit hours required for the Master of Accounting degree from

outside programs

like the MBA or Information Technology Management.

OVERVIEW

> The Master of Accounting program increases your potential for career development and advancement in the profession. The curriculum combines a theoretical and practical body of knowledge, which allows for independent thinking, analysis of problem solving and a search for new knowledge.

> Students can pursue electives such as International Accounting, Forensic Accounting and Management Information Systems, that help them stay current in the ever-changing world of accounting.

> Strong communication and leadership skills, a foundation of St. Ambrose’s program, are needed for careers in business, public, non-profit and governmental accounting.

flexibility

> Full-time students can complete the program over the summer and in a fall semester or over the course of one year. Most part-time students take two to three years to earn their degrees.

> Students are free to start, stop and return to the program at their convenience.

> The GMAT is required, but students may take up to two classes before they take the GMAT. Students who have an overall GPA of 3.5 and 3.5 GPA in accounting courses are not required to take the GMAT.

> If a course you need isn’t offered, arrangements may be made to allow you to earn the credit through independent study.

Did you know?

Accounting is about people more than you might think. Internships and classes such as Communications in Business and Project Management and Control help students gain the communication and teamwork skills necessary for public presentations and meeting with clients.

{ take action } Explore the program in-depth www.sau.edu/macc Graduate Student Recruitment Office Email gradprog@sau.edu or call 563/333-6354 Schedule a campus visit Email macc@sau.edu or call 563/333-6186 Apply online www.sau.edu/apply

from degree to career

At St. Ambrose, the road to success is paved

with valuable hands-on experience and connections. Students can earn up to three hours of academic credit through internships with public accounting firms, major manufacturing and financial businesses, and service and government organizations. The university hosts specialized career fairs where recruiters, many of whom are alumni, come to St. Ambrose to scout for new hires.

Our network reaches far and wide. Once hired, new grads often find themselves mentored by other Ambrose alumni at their new job. Student and alumni employers include: > Caterpillar Incorporated

> Ipsco Steel Incorporated

> Deere & Company

> McGladrey and Pullen, LLC

> Deloitte and Touche

> MCI Worldcom

> Department of Defense Finance

> Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company

and Accounting Services > HON Industries > Internal Revenue Service

> Quad City Bank and Trust > Rockwell Collins > State Farm Insurance

John Hammar { goal } personal success { reality } team results “ Between the quality of instructors and the intimacy of the program, I gained a solid foundation that continues to contribute to my success no matter what I do. Writing, delivering presentations, being able to express my thoughts—the communication and team skills I developed are very important in the business world.”

John Hammar ’08, ’09 MACC Assurance Associate McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

READ

more profiles

www.sau.edu/macc

support system > Small class sizes mean Ambrose students form tight relationships. They soon find they’ve got more than just the same classes in common; students bond over similar career goals and ambitions.

> Faculty members are personally invested in your success: from your time in class, to graduation, and even after. Students receive individual attention, including regular mentoring with faculty to ensure that students graduate on time.

> The St. Ambrose Career Center supports you throughout the job seeking process.

Counselors are on hand for resume review, interview practice and career decisionmaking. Students also have access to the center’s wealth of career search resources.

Only at

Ambrose

> Students can broaden their learning experience with interdisciplinary courses such as Accounting Ethics, Social Responsibility, Environmental Accounting and Financial Derivatives. > All faculty members, with backgrounds in public and private settings, bring real-world experience to class and remain active in the professional arena. Some even do free consulting. > Students experience a spirit of cooperation and generosity in our program and on campus, which reflects the quality of life in the Quad Cities. They share classes with peers from the area who appreciate the convenience and flexibility we offer local residents, as well as with students who come here from locations such as Chicago and New York. > The Master of Accounting program has a tradition of attracting international students. Students from all corners of the globe—from Singapore and India to Africa and Russia— are drawn by the program’s reputation and flexible format.

{ goal } crossing datelines { reality } global experience read more: www.sau.edu/macc Janis Ang ’10 MACC, Singapore After earning her business degree from Singapore Management University, Janis traveled halfway around the world to attend St. Ambrose. She chose Ambrose because of the classes geared toward the working world. “I can apply what I’m learning to my daily activities. For instance, we studied legal aspects of contracts in my Law for Accountants class. Now, when I encounter any type of contract personally or professionally, I understand what my liabilities and obligations are before I sign on the line. We also learned about the Fair Employment Act, which will assist me as I search for a job in the United States.”

the bottom line

Financing your graduate education might seem hard,

but our students quickly learn that a St. Ambrose education can be affordable (and worth every penny).

> Graduate assistantships and scholarships are available to qualified accounting students.

> St. Ambrose graduates from undergraduate accounting programs who start the Master of Accounting program within 12 months of receiving their undergraduate degree receive a discount on all graduate courses (up to 33 credit hours or the completion of 12 months, whichever occurs first).

The St. Ambrose University Master of Accounting program is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. St. Ambrose University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university’s College of Business is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.

Our Mission St. Ambrose University—independent, diocesan, and Catholic—enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.

518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 www.sau.edu/macc