Admission

All University and Graduate School requirements for admission to a degree program of the Graduate School at Illinois State University will apply.

Graduate students who have been admitted to the University will be admitted to the Master of Science in Accountancy program based upon their performance on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), on their previous academic performance, and other evidence of the student’s ability to successfully complete the program.

Before entering the program students will normally have had a Bachelor of Science in accounting degree based upon the study of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s pronouncements, the AICPA's Statements on Auditing Standards, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards's (PCAOB) auditing standards, and the Internal Revenue Code. Otherwise, there may be deficiencies as determined by the department.

International students are required to submit either an IELTS score (band 7.0 or higher) or a TOEFL score of 100 or more (internet-based test), 250 or more (computer version), or 600 or more (paper version) with their application for admission.
Admission Policy

See Graduate Admissions for further information and to obtain a graduate admissions application. Students will be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Accountancy program based upon their performance on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), previous academic performance, and other evidence of the student’s ability to successfully complete the program.

Admission recommendations are made by the MSA director and forwarded to the department chairperson, and then to the Graduate School. The director of the MSA program will review the background of each candidate after admission to determine their level of preparation for the program. Candidates with an undergraduate degree in accounting from an AACSB accredited institution will typically have the requisite background to begin graduate-level course work in accounting. Other candidates may be required to complete foundation/deficiency courses in addition to the MSA degree requirements.

The number of students admitted to the program and the grade point average and GMAT score required for admission may vary from semester to semester depending on program capacity and qualifications of the pool of qualified applicants. The department reserves the right to curtail admission, adjust requirements, and limit enrollment in the program because of space or budget restrictions.

Students admitted to the program who have completed a baccalaureate degree in accounting that reflects the study of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s pronouncements, the AICPA’s Statements on Auditing Standards, the PCAOB's auditing standards, and the Internal Revenue Code will usually be given credit for all, or most, of the undergraduate prerequisite courses. Students admitted to the program who have not completed a baccalaureate degree in accounting as described above can expect prerequisite deficiency courses to be added to their plan of study. Deficiency course requirements will be determined by the program director.

Students whose native language is not English must score band 7.0 or higher on the IELTS or at least 100 points (internet-based test), 250 points (computer version), or 600 points (paper version) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to be considered for admission into the master’s program.

All applications will be pooled, with admittance decisions made shortly after the dates published below. Applicants whose test scores and transcripts have not arrived at the Office of Admissions by the deadline dates below will not be considered for admission when the first round of admission decisions is made.

Applicants are encouraged to submit admission applications, transcripts, and necessary test scores early.