Our STEM-Designated Curriculum Helps You Pass the CPA in 10 Months
Our Rice MAcc curriculum provides both the technical knowledge needed to pass the CPA exam and an interdisciplinary understanding of how business and accounting interact.
Rice Business has obtained STEM designation for all our master degrees. The STEM designation is a direct response to the data-driven business environment, employer needs and student interest. The MAcc program underwent a curriculum review this past year and that resulted in adding a sequence of data analytics courses to the program starting this fall. Check out our sample academic calendar for a more in-depth look at the curriculum.
I had an instructor who was truly passionate about the subject matter, and her excitement for accounting inspired the class. I loved the logical, detail-oriented nature of the subject and realized that accounting truly is ‘the language of business.’ I decided that a solid understanding of accounting would be a great jumpstart to my career.
Ben Soeter
Master of Accounting
Program Structure
The Rice MAcc is a 10-month, 36-credit hour program. The curriculum is lockstep and cohort-based, meaning you will take the same courses at the same time as your fellow MAcc students. Classes meet during the daytime in McNair Hall, Rice’s business school building.
Courses
You will take courses in financial accounting, tax accounting, managerial accounting, and auditing. But you will also take courses in data analytics, finance, business law, and ethics.
As the schematic above shows, we have designed a unique course schedule to optimize your learning in an accelerated program. The Rice MAcc has three types of courses: semester long courses, half semester-long courses, and “Intensive Learning Unit” (ILU) courses. The four ILU courses last just one week but meet four hours a day, Monday through Friday, so that you can fully focus on one topic.
CPA Exam Eligibility
Together with an undergraduate degree and prerequisite accounting and general business courses, the Rice University Master of Accounting (MAcc) program is intended to meet the educational requirements for CPA licensure in Texas. Since the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy has sole authority in determining whether credits earned are acceptable for examination and licensure, prospective students should work with an advisor to ensure they are completing appropriate coursework. Additional non-educational requirements, such as work experience and an ethics exam, also are required for CPA licensure.
Whether the Rice MAcc program meets the education requirements for jurisdictions outside of Texas depends on the student’s undergraduate coursework and degree. Prospective students should therefore work with an advisor to evaluate CPA eligibility education requirements for the jurisdiction in which they wish to sit for the exam.
Rice MAcc students typically sit for the CPA exam during the summer after their graduation, and we are proud of our high CPA exam pass rates.
Distinguished Speaker Series
To augment your graduate coursework, the Rice MAcc hosts wide-ranging speakers throughout the academic year. These leading accounting professionals will broaden your understanding of various facets of the public accounting profession, standard setting and regulation.
