Master of Accounting

The overall aim of the Master of Accounting is to improve students' applied knowledge, skills and capabilities as accounting professionals and broaden students' horizons intellectually. The degree is designed to stimulate students' awareness of existing and emerging issues, and advance students' skills in identifying and solving accounting and business analysis problems of an applied nature. The degree also provides suitably qualified students with the opportunity to take an optional research semester and pursue a pathway to the PhD program.

1. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be adept at identifying and analysing the thinking and developments of contemporary and emerging accounting and auditing issues.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe contemporary accounting issues as reflected in national and international accounting regulator activities and pronouncements;
• Explain the key policy issues in auditing and assurance services; and
• Explain developments of contemporary accounting issues in relation to valuation, performance measurement and control systems, and corporate governance.

2. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be capable of advanced critical and strategic thinking in relation to accounting and business analysis issues and problems.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Adapt and apply strategic tools developed from the discipline of accounting and fields relating closely to accounting such as finance and economics in different decision making environments;
• Critically discuss the impact of IT on organisational change; and
• Analyse the implications of applying accounting and business techniques and approaches in a variety of management decision settings.

3. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be technical and analytical in their use of relevant decision making frameworks and empirical research evidence, in addressing specific accounting and business system problems.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Analyse and critique relevant accounting and auditing research and professional literature and consider ways of formulating research approaches which have potential to contribute to the existing literature;
• Describe and evaluate common performance measures used in a variety of organisational settings; and
• Critically evaluate the impact of accounting in contracting and agency settings.

4. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be competent in identifying and critically evaluating accounting and business system issues emerging from strategic developments in practice and regulation.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of budgeting practices in organisations;
• Identify and critically evaluate emerging corporate reporting issues from regulation and practice; and
• Discuss strategic issues in relation to the management of resources.

The Master of Accounting 16 Subject Program consists of sixteen semester-length subjects comprising eight core subjects and eight elective subjects over four semesters full-time or eight semesters part-time.

Eight core subjects:

Eight elective subjects:
Recommended electives

Students may be able to select other Masters-level subjects from the offerings within the Faculty of Business and Economics. This will be subject to the student having the required pre-requisite subject(s) and the approval of the Program Director and subject coordinator.

Research Semester

Suitably qualified Master of Accounting students will be eligible to undertake a research-focussed program comprised of 4 x 12.5 point subjects in their final semester of study.

Entry to the research semester will be dependent upon students attaining a GPA of 80 in their prior Master of Accounting subjects and subject to the program director’s approval.

Students enrolled in the 16-subject program will need to have completed 150 points of study, including 8 core and 4 elective subjects to be eligible for entry.

Students enrolled in the 12-subject program will need to have completed 100 points of study, including 8 core subjects, to be eligible for entry.

Students who are admitted to the research semester will undertake 50 points of study in lieu of 4 elective subjects.

Course Stream Subjects

One or two quantitative subjects, chosen from Faculty or University offerings. This will be subject to the student meeting the relevant subject pre-requisites and receiving the approval of the Program Director and subject coordinator. Suitable subjects include:

Assessment

Students must successfully complete 16 semester-length subjects (200 points) in order to qualify for the Master of Accounting.

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria:

• An undergraduate degree in accounting or equivalent;
• The applicant’s submitted statement of intent in seeking entry; and
• Performance on the GMAT or GRE unless the applicant has met one of the approved conditions for GMAT or GRE exemption.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Note: Students who have successfully completed the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) PY/CA Program or the CPA Australia CPA Program may receive a credit for a maximum of four elective Master of Accounting subjects.

The Faculty of Business and Economics welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Faculty’s programs.

The BCom and Masters degrees of the Faculty of Business and Economics equip graduates with the knowledge and technical skills necessary to understand and participate in the modern business world. The degrees include the following academic requirements for study:

(1) The ability to explain and evaluate concepts, theories, institutional arrangements and operations of modern mixed economies;
(2) The ability to critically evaluate the economy, commerce and business in the broader social and political context;
(3) The ability to explain and apply concepts across a range of commerce and business disciplines in solving business and policy problems; and
(4) The ability to contribute positively to the development of organisations and society in relation to business, government and the commercial professions.

All students of the Faculty’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the Faculty. Candidates for the BCom degree and for FBE Masters degrees must have abilities and skills in communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.

I. Communication: The student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and/or written form. A student must have the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of a discipline, principles or practices during assessment tasks, and in some discipline streams.

II. Intellectual‐Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem‐solving skills and demonstrate the ability to establish study plans and priorities. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities. Students should also have the ability to comprehend complex disciplinary and cross disciplinary information related to the BCom and Masters degrees.

III. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A student must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment and the emotional health required for full utilisation of his/her intellectual abilities. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. Integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are deemed necessary for students enrolled in FBE courses.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from participating in tasks involving the inherent academic requirements of the BCom and FBE Masters courses are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit. Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, but students should participate in the course in an independent manner.

On successful completion of the Master of Accounting program graduates will be:

• Adept at identifying and analysing the thinking and developments of contemporary and emerging accounting and auditing issues;
• Capable of advanced critical and strategic thinking in relation to accounting and business analysis issues and problems;
• Technical and analytical in their use of relevant decision making frameworks and empirical research evidence, in addressing specific accounting and business system problems;
• Competent in identifying and critically evaluating accounting and business system issues emerging from strategic developments in practice and regulation. Critical thinkers particularly in relation to current issues in accounting;
• Clear in articulating accounting issues and ideas to a range of audiences in written and oral form;
• Able to synthesise and evaluate accounting data and other accounting information;
• Adept at problem identification and analysis in accounting and information technology;
• Collaborative in their work practice; and
• Proficient in conducting research, including identifying and formulating relevant research questions, accessing accounting data from a range of sources and applying this data in the pursuit of those research questions.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Critical thinking particularly in relation to current issues in accounting;
• Clarity in articulating accounting issues and ideas to a range of audiences in written and oral form;
• Synthesis and evaluation of accounting data and other accounting information;
• Problem identification and analysis in accounting and information technology;
• Work collaboratively in teams; and
• Research, identifying and formulating relevant research questions, accessing accounting data from a range of sources and applying this data in the pursuit of those research questions.

Students seeking accreditation with CPA Australia / Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia etc please see the Master of Professional Accounting or the Master of Management (Accounting) entries.

Students who include a Winter Semester subject as one of their final subjects in the Master of Accounting course may not be eligible to graduate from the program until after results are released in December of the same year.

Students enrolled in the Master of Accounting who are either unable, or who choose not to continue with their studies, may be eligible to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. Students must have successfully completed eight subjects comprising five core and three elective Master of Accounting subjects approved by the program director to be awarded the a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting.