Southern Methodist University · Cox School of Business
Master of Science in Accounting
Overview
An in-person Master of Science in Accounting with Assurance and Advisory, Taxation and Information Systems tracks, completed in as few as nine months full-time or eighteen months part-time. Applicants from all majors are welcome, with background courses taken in the summer if needed.
- Official program name
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Awarded degree
- Master of Science in Accounting · major: AccountingSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Degree level
- Master's
- Subject focus
- Dedicated degreeThe degree title itself is in accounting, accountancy, taxation or another accounting subject (for example a Master of Accountancy).Source: catalog.smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Entry route
- Open to both accounting and non-accounting graduatesThe program admits applicants from any field; prerequisite or foundation courses may apply, as published.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- School
- Southern Methodist University — Cox School of BusinessSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Location
- Dallas, TXSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Subjects
- Accounting — core of the degree (“Master of Science in Accounting”)Taxation — formal concentration / track (“Taxation track”)Accounting Information Systems — formal concentration / track (“Information Systems track”)
- Tracks / concentrations
- Assurance and Advisory · Taxation · Information SystemsSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Required credits
- 31-credit hour degree (curriculum page); 31 to 40 with background courses; the catalog page states 33 to 42 credit hoursSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Duration
- As few as nine months full-time or eighteen months part-time (full-time (nine months) or part-time (eighteen months); background courses may add a summer term)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Start terms
- FallSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Why this program is listed
Dedicated Master of Science in Accounting offered in person at SMU.
Degree title names accounting; students choose one of three tracks and the catalog requires at least 22 accounting hours.
Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in accounting, accountancy and taxation at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal accounting majors or concentrations, never certificates or degrees with a single accounting course. Eligibility rules
Format and attendance
- Formats offered
- On campusSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Full-time, Part-timeSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Curriculum
Foundation and prerequisite courses
- Students without the required background courses may take up to nine hours of prerequisites in the summer before the program starts in August.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Accelerated options
- The MSA is described as an Early Action 4+1 program for Cox undergraduates meeting certain criteria; it comes with a guaranteed scholarship.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Academic calendar
- Graduate classes are offered in six-week modules, two in the fall and two in the spring, with almost all classes worth two credit hours.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
CPA-related information
- Not specified. States the program satisfies the educational requirements for CPA exam eligibilityConditions stated: The page also says students can complete all four sections of the CPA exam while enrolled or shortly after graduationSource: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
A school describing a program as supporting CPA preparation does not establish eligibility for every applicant in every state, and this directory does not label any program “CPA eligible”. Check your own state board's current rules before you enrol. Accounting degrees and CPA requirements
Other professional recognition
Other professional recognition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
This directory does not publish pass rates, placement rates or salaries for any program. Occupational statistics for accountants are in the guides, labelled as statistics for the occupation, not outcomes of a school.
Admissions
Technical preparation
- Prerequisite courses
- RequiredFundamentals of Accounting I/Financial Accounting and Fundamentals of Accounting II/Managerial Accounting with a B or higher before completing the application.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Requirement
- RequiredBackground courses in Intermediate Accounting I and II, Financial Income Tax and Audit; applicants missing some can still be admitted and take them in the summer before the program begins.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Prior degree
- RequiredBachelor's degree; applicants from all majors are welcome.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Not requiredRecommendation letters are not required nor requested; only name and contact information of references.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Résumé / CV
- RecommendedThe program says resumes should highlight relevant employment, internships and accomplishments.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- Application fee
- Not requiredNo application fee.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Tests
- GMAT
- OptionalOptional unofficial GMAT or GRE report; exam must have been taken within five years of the application date.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- GRE General Test
- OptionalOptional unofficial GMAT or GRE report; exam must have been taken within five years of the application date.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
- TOEFL iBT
- OptionalInternational students have the option to submit a TOEFL/IELTS score; the page says this is not a requirement.Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.
Start dates and deadlines
- Upcoming
Application deadline
January 12, 2027 · for 2027-2028 entry
Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026 - Upcoming
- Upcoming
- Rolling
Other deadline
Rolling admission · for 2027-2028 entry (after April 21, 2027)
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Tuition and fees
Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Scholarships and funding
Merit-based scholarship Institutional scholarship
Eligibility: All candidates are automatically considered through the application; track of choice and citizenship are not considered.
Source: smu.edu · verified October 30, 2026
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026
Business-school accreditation
- AACSB — accreditedUnit: Edwin L. Cox School of BusinessListed as: AACSB business accreditationConfirmed in the accreditor's own directory.Source: aacsb.edu · verified October 26, 2026
Supplemental accounting accreditation
No separate accounting accreditation is on record. AACSB business accreditation does not mean the accounting program holds AACSB accounting accreditation.
Sources and verification
- catalog.smu.edu/programs/TAX-MSA — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 30, 2026
- DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- AACSB accredited institutions (accreditor directory) — Accreditor directory, verified October 26, 2026
- smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/masters-programs/ms-accounting — Official program page, verified October 30, 2026
- smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/masters-programs/ms-accounting/admissions — Official admissions page, verified October 30, 2026
- smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/masters-programs/ms-accounting/curriculum — Official program page, verified October 30, 2026
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