Dual Degree, MS in Accounting/MS in Finance

The dual MS in Accounting/MS in Finance program prepares students for success by providing excellent skills in both finance and accounting.  The program offers specialized coursework applicable to careers in corporate accounting, controllership, public accounting, and the financial professions. Students select either the corporate finance or the investments concentration in the MS in Finance. Students in the program can complete the CPA exam preparation course through CPAexcel® at a significant discount, and even qualify to receive a 100% reimbursement.

The program is open to students with strong quantitative and analytical skills, regardless of their undergraduate majors.

The program allows students to receive both the MS in Accounting and the MS in Finance simultaneously upon completion of 51-57 credit hours, depending on applicable course exemptions and course choices. 

All courses in the program are offered on campus; many are also available on-line. You may enroll on a full- or part-time basis during the fall and winter semesters, and some courses are often available during the summer. The program usually can be completed within 24 months of full-time study.

Admission is rolling, and you may begin the program in September or January. May admission is also usually possible for part-time students.

University of Michigan-Dearborn students who have been admitted to the program may take up to 6 graduate credits during the final semester of their undergraduate program.  Students must successfully complete their undergraduate degree before taking any additional graduate-level courses.

MS in Accounting Goals and Objectives

Goal: MS in Accounting students will be able to integrate theory and applications in a wide variety of business situations.

Objectives: MS in Accounting students will:

  • Be able to effectively communicate ideas orally and in writing.
  • Integrate multiple sources of information to formulate solutions to complex business issues.
  • Apply standards and regulations that affect multinational businesses.
  • Apply standards of practice to business situations.

MS in Finance Goals and Objectives

Goal 1:  Students will demonstrate analytical skills in solving problems.

Objectives of the Corporate Finance concentration:  MS in Finance students will have the ability to:

  • Analyze and manage risk in a global setting.
  • Estimate the value of real assets.
  • Evaluate managerial decisions concerning financial policy.​

Objectives of the Investments concentration:  MS in Finance students will have the ability to:

  • Analyze and manage risk in a global setting.
  • Estimate the value of financial assets.
  • Apply portfolio theory concepts to construct optimal risky assets portfolios that meet the objectives and constraints of their clients.

Goal 2:  Students will be persuasive and/or informative communicators.

Objective 1:  MS in Finance students will be able to convey finance knowledge through effective communication.

MS in Accounting/MS in Finance Admission Prerequisites

  • Mathematics admission prerequisite. Calculus is not required for admission. However, applicants who wish to pursue careers in investments or risk management, as well as those who wish to earn Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credentials, are strongly recommended to satisfy the Mathematics admission requirement with a college level Calculus course. Also, Calculus is a course prerequisite to FIN 656, an optional course in the MSF Investments concentration.  Students who wish to take this course must first complete a college level Calculus course with a grade of “C” or better.
  • GMAT/GRE admission prerequisite, if applicant qualifies for the GMAT/GRE waiver.

MS in Accounting/MS in Finance Curriculum

MSF Foundation Courses
Required:
BE 530Econ Analysis: Firm & Consumer3
DS 520Applied Statistical Modeling3
FIN 531Fin Fundament & Value Creation3
MSA Core
ACC 505Devel & Interp Financial Info3
ACC 514Financial Reporting3
ACC 516Advanced Accounting 13
ACC 555Cost Management3
ACC 557Auditing 13
ACC 560Intro Federal Income Taxation 13
ACC 580Accounting Information Systems3
MSA Electives
The MSA Electives are NOT REQUIRED of students selecting the MSF Corporate Finance concentration
Select two of the following:6
Not-for-Profit Accounting 2
Information Technology Auditing 2
Management Control Systems 2
Auditing&Forensic Examination
International Accounting
Financial Statement Analysis
Advanced Accounting II 2
Adv Auditing & Assurance Serv 2
Advanced Federal Income Tax 2
Commercial Transactions 2
MSF Concentration
Select one of the following MSF concentrations: Corporate Finance or Investments18-21
1

Simultaneous credit toward the BBA Accounting major and MSA for students admitted to the Accounting 4+1 program.

2

Recommended for students who intend to take the CPA exam.

General MSF Requirement

Complete at least 15 BE and FIN credits, excluding BE 530 and FIN 531.

MSF Foundation Course Exemptions

Previous equivalent undergraduate or graduate coursework may qualify students to exempt any of the foundation courses. Students must replace exempt MSF foundation courses with additional courses within their MSF concentration.

MSA Core Course Exemptions

Previous equivalent undergraduate or graduate coursework may qualify students to exempt any of the core courses. Exempt core courses are replaced with additional MSA electives.

Previous coursework deemed substantially similar to BE 530DS 520 or FIN 531 may qualify to exempt students from these MSF foundation courses. Students must replace exempt MSF foundation courses with additional courses within their MSF concentration.

Regardless of exemption credits granted, students must earn at least 51 credits in the dual-degree program if completing the MSF Corporate Finance concentration, or at least 54 credits if completing the MSF Investments concentration.

In addition, up to 6 transfer credits for previous equivalent graduate coursework can be applied to the degree if those credits have not been counted toward a degree.

Exemptions and transfer credit are granted at the discretion of the program faculty.

MSF Concentrations

MSF Corporate Finance

MSF Required:
FIN 581Topics in Corporate Finance3
FIN 650Corporate Valuation & Strategy3
FIN 652Derivatives & Risk Management3
MSF Accounting Electives:6
Select two of the following: 1
Financial Reporting
Advanced Accounting
Cost Management
Intro Federal Income Taxation
Information Technology Auditing
Management Control Systems
Financial Statement Analysis
Advanced Federal Income Tax
MSF General Electives:
Select two of the following:
Global Econ: Crisis & Growth
Invstmnt Proc, Analysis & Mgmt
Banking, Insurance, and Fintech
International Financial Mgt
Fixed Income Securities
Investment Fund Management
Graduate Research
Business Internship
1

At least one of which must be ACC 514ACC 555 or ACC 608.

 

Investments

Required:
Financial Statement Analysis
Invstmnt Proc, Analysis & Mgmt
Derivatives & Risk Management
Topics/Investments & Cap Mkts
Electives:9-18
Global Econ: Crisis & Growth
Topics in Corporate Finance
Banking, Insurance, and Fintech
International Financial Mgt
Fixed Income Securities
Investment Fund Management
Graduate Research
Business Internship
At most one of the following:
Applied Forecasting
Decision Analysis
System Simulation

ACC 505     Devel & Interp Financial Info     3 Credit Hours

Students learn how financial information is developed, interpreted and utilized in business. This is accomplished by studying financial accounting tools and estimation methods used for interpretation and managers? decisions relating to investing, financing, and operating activities. Topics include financial information development and analysis, accounting estimation techniques, and cash flow analysis. Financial accounting methodology with respect to the sales and receivables cycle, inventory, property, plant and equipment, liabilities, corporate equity and initial public offerings, and investments in other corporate entities are studied. Cases requiring critical analysis and interpretation may be integrated throughout the course.

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 514     Financial Reporting     3 Credit Hours

This course covers detailed financial statements, the theoretical foundations behind those statements and how the various transactions are reported on those statements. These transactions include financing through various ownership and debt instruments, off-balance-sheet financing and leverage; investing in tangible and intangible operating assets; investing in financial instruments for return and risk management purposes; and investing in financial instruments to influence or control operations of other business units. Specifically, the course will review the accounting process and examine in detail the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash flows including a study of the basics of revenue recognition, a detailed study of accounting for inventory, accounting for the life cycle of capial investments in non-current assets, various debt topics such as short term loans and payroll, as well as how companies account for long term debt and equity changes. These operating, financing and investing issues will be considered based on today's international business environment. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 516     Advanced Accounting     3 Credit Hours

To study selected advanced accounting topics which may include partnerships, business combinations, consolidated financial statements, multinational accounting and reporting, accounting for financial distress situations and regulation of accounting by the SEC. Students will not receive credit for both ACC 416 and ACC 516.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 514

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Program is

ACC 520     Communications for Accounting and Tax Professionals     3 Credit Hours

The ability to communicate effectively is an important skill for the tax professional. This course develops this important skill in tax compliance and tax planning settings through a series of case studies. Emphasis will be placed on effectively communicating technical aspects of the tax law to management, clients, and other professional tax situations.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 360

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 539     Not-for-Profit Accounting     3 Credit Hours

To study the principles and procedures of accounting for not-for-profit entities. Topics may include: state and local government financial accounting, financial accounting for selected other entities, managerial concepts and current issues. Student will not receive credit for both ACC 439 and ACC 539.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Program is

ACC 555     Cost Management     3 Credit Hours

To introduce how cost and managerial accounting concepts and techniques can be applied to fully utilize information created by contemporary accounting information systems. The theoretical and empirical nature of cost management reports, their structures and contents, are emphasized with the goal of highlighting the relevance and limitations of this information in decision making. The course gives consideration to global and individual responsibility center performance by covering such topics as product costing, control standards, cost allocation, pricing, quality, short-term and long-term budgeting, and performance evaluation. In addition, the reciprocal roles of accounting and technology in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness benchmarks are investigated. Interwoven into course coverage are ethical, diversity, critical thinking, and global dimensions of business. This course also integrates emerging issues and techniques to assist managers and consultants in the accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources arenas.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 557     Auditing     3 Credit Hours

To study generally accepted auditing standards, internal control, principal audit objectives, the structure of audit programs, audit procedures, professional legal liability, ethical standards, statistical sampling techniques, the audit of EDP systems, auditors report and management letters. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 560     Intro Federal Income Taxation     3 Credit Hours

Full Title: Introduction to Federal Income Taxation Survey analysis of the basic framework utilized in measuring and reporting taxable income of individuals and business entities including gross income, deductions, tax rates ,credits, timing issues and procedural matters. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 580     Accounting Information Systems     3 Credit Hours

Accounting uses techniques to take raw data and convert it into information that is useful to managers and investors. But is it possible to convert data into information without knowing what it relates to, where and how it was gathered and what its limitations are? We will address these questions as we study accounting information systems. To begin, we focus on how data for typical business processes is captured and processed in a computerized accounting system using relational databases. We'll then learn how to describe an organization's accounting-related processes in a professionally rigorous way via documentation using tools used in the profession. We'll finish by learning how to analyze accounting processes to find control weaknesses in them that might allow them to generate unreliable data that could compromise the assets or liabilites of the firm or the decisions made by accountants, the managers they support or investors. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 601     Information Technology Auditing     3 Credit Hours

With the increased capabilities of IT have come new risks for firms and or their auditors. Audit firms are finding that they can no longer audit ‘around the computer’. This requires CPAs to understand the types of risk arising in IT-based systems and consider their impact on a clients’ business and the audit. This course introduces you to these types of risk, the implications these risks have for the traditional audit and the other services public accountants provide to address IT-based risks. IT is also a powerful tool that accountants and auditors must know how to harness. Students will become proficient in applying commonly used electronic audit tools to conduct computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs).

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505 or ISM 525 or CIS 564 or IMSE 570 or EMGT 570 or CIS 200 or CIS 2001

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 603     Management Control Systems     3 Credit Hours

The nature of the control function in business corporations is the focus of this course. Thus, classes cover the characteristics of management planning and control in functional and divisional organizations, responsibility accounting and the role of efficiency and effectiveness in performance measurement. Coverage also extends to controllers' roles in strategic planning, programming, and budgeting, transfer pricing, and their behavioral, global, ethical, and technological dimensions. Class presentations employ case analysis and emphasize the qualitative nature of controllership.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 555

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 608     Financial Statement Analysis     3 Credit Hours

The objective of financial statement analysis is to examine the relationship between financial statement information and the measurement of firm value. The analysis merges actual firm value created by economic process and estimating firm value through accounting reporting methods. Students will develop tools to interpret financial statement information for use by investors, creditors, and other third party stakeholders. Topics include, but are not limited to, an overview of financial statements, basic financial analysis, profitability analysis and the quality of earnings, cash flow analysis, asset analysis, liability analysis, and valuation and equity analysis.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505 and FIN 531*

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

ACC 614     Advanced Accounting II     3 Credit Hours

This course is intended to help students gain expertise in preparing financial statements for complex business organizations. Specific topics include: The preparation of segmental and consolidated financial statements. Intricate accounting issues associated with business combinations including but not limited to combinations at the date of acquisition and periods post acquisition. Analysis of inter-company transactions such as inventory and asset transfers between parent and subsidiary. Reporting for segments of a business as well as interim reporting. Reporting foreign exchange issues including inter-period reporting and financial statement translation. Analysis of firm issues related to SEC reporting, re-organization, bankruptcy and troubled debt restructuring. Understanding of issues associated with fair-value reporting. International reporting issues associated with all of the above, as well as other, topics. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 516

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 657     Adv Auditing & Assurance Serv     3 Credit Hours

Full Title: Advanced Auditing and Assurance Services Introduces students to advanced audit and assurance service practices, strategies, and techniques. Topics include audit strategy, fraud, internal and operation audits, auditor liability, issues in audit information technologies, and audit practice. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 557

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

ACC 660     Advanced Federal Income Tax     3 Credit Hours

Full Title: Advanced Federal Income Taxation Survey analysis of federal tax law relating to the formation, operation, and liquidation of corporations, partnerships, and LLCs, including current distributions; and the election, operation, and termination of Subchapter S corporations. (OC)

Prerequisite(s): ACC 560

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

*An asterisk denotes that a course may be taken concurrently.

Frequency of Offering

The following abbreviations are used to denote the frequency of offering: (F) fall term; (W) winter term; (S) summer term; (F, W) fall and winter terms; (YR) once a year; (AY) alternating years; (OC) offered occasionally