Accounting and Financial Analysis M.S. - Major Code 1300

(30 Semester Hours) Evening Program

Broken Arrow Campus Only

MAFA Mission Statement

The Mission of the NSU College of Business and Technology Master of Accounting and Financial Analysis (MAFA) program is to help satisfy educational and professional development needs of accounting and finance students, the business community, and other employers within the University’s service area. In fulfilling this mission, the MAFA faculty is committed to excellence in instruction, scholarly activities, educational outreach, and service. Within the College of Business and Technology, the MAFA faculty and facilities provide an educational environment where students can expand or modify their knowledge, values, attitudes, philosophies, skills, and ethics that will guide them throughout their lives.

Purpose

The purpose of the MAFA Program is to educate and train accounting and finance professionals who:

1. Use an analytical approach in problem solving and decision making.
2. Communicate effectively;
3. Have current, relevant, integrated knowledge in accounting, finance and business;
4. Understand the economic, social, political, legal, and technological environment of business in a global context;
5. Are prepared to be dynamic leaders and effective team members;
6. Are professional in their attitude and approach to a career; and
7. Appreciate the civic, social, and ethical responsibilities of business organizations and business professionals.

Objectives

The objectives of the MAFA program are to:

1. Provide an academically rigorous integrated cross-functional approach to the study of accounting and finance.
2. Enhance the student’s professional accounting and financial capabilities in a dynamic business environment.
3. Meet the needs of employers in industry, government, public practice, consulting, and financial markets.
4. Assist the student in achieving professional recognition through the Certified Public Accountant license, Certified Management Accountant designation, Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, or other equivalent certification or specialist designation.

Program of Study

The MAFA program is a 30 semester hour program which integrates the areas of accounting and finance. The program is rigorous with broad coverage in financial accounting, finance, information technology, management accounting, taxation, international business, and investment analysis. All students should enroll in Accounting and Finance Analysis Seminar I during their first fall semester in the MAFA program. Accounting and Finance Analysis Seminar II should be taken near the end of the program.

The MAFA program will be attractive to individuals employed or interested in becoming employed as controllers, financial managers, public accountants, financial analysts, and financial planners. It is expected that applicants will have an undergraduate background in either accounting or finance.

Admission

Admission to the Graduate College does not imply admission to the MAFA program. Since the capacity of the program is limited, a MAFA Admissions Committee consisting of three graduate faculty members, including the MAFA Program Coordinator, exists to review each application and associated materials. The purpose of this review is to allocate the program’s capacity to those applicants who are deemed by the MAFA Admissions Committee to be the most likely to be successful in the program. An applicant’s previous academic records, professional experience, recommendations, accomplishments and test scores will be assessed during the admission decision process. At the discretion of the MAFA Admissions Committee, an applicant may be requested to respond to clarifying questions by mail, e-mail, telephone, or in-person interview. To be considered for admission to the MAFA program, the student must have:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A sufficient background in business subjects. Students who have completed the undergraduate Business Core at NSU or equivalent courses are considered to have a sufficient background in business.
3. An undergraduate major in either accounting or finance or have completed 15 hours of undergraduate courses in finance including Managerial Finance, Investments, and Securities Markets or fifteen hours in accounting including Intermediate I and II and Auditing or the equivalent with a “C” or better in each course.
4. A Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score, not more than five years old, that combines with the undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) to satisfy the following formula: GMAT ≥ Maximum of 400 or [1,050 - (UGPA x 200)]. Accordingly, the student’s GMAT score must add to the product of the undergraduate GPA and 200 to yield a total of at least 1,050. However, in no case may the GMAT score be less than 400.
5. An approved Application for Graduate Admission.
6. One official transcript of all previous course work from each college or university attended. The transcript must be sent directly from the schools attended to the Graduate College.
7. A vita detailing the applicant’s educational background, work experience, skills, awards, and achievements. The vita should be submitted directly to the MAFA Program Coordinator.
8. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who either are or have served in a position of authority over the applicant. Preferably, one letter will be from an employer source and one letter will be from an academic source. These letters must be sent directly from the source to the MAFA Program Coordinator.

Applicants who have submitted all required documentation will be notified of the admission decision by mail. The following schedule applies:

All Application Materials for an Admission Decision

Must Be Received By	Decision To Be Mailed By
April 1	July 31
September 1	December 31
February 1	May 31

Degree Requirements

A student must complete a minimum of thirty semester hours of graduate 5000 level business course work and a capstone experience as prescribed by an approved plan of study with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to the MAFA degree program does not imply admission to candidacy.

Students are eligible to be admitted to candidacy if they have:

1. Been admitted to the MAFA Program.
2. Been assigned an advisor by the Graduate College from the College of Business Graduate Faculty.
3. Filed a plan of study signed by the student and approved by the MAFA program advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
4. Filed a Statement of Understanding signed by the student and approved by the MAFA program advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
5. Completed a minimum of twelve graduate hours as prescribed by the plan of study
6. Maintained a “B” average in all course work by the date of candidacy.

Fifteen semester hours toward the master’s degree must be completed after being admitted to candidacy.

Capstone Experience

The MAFA program requires a learning experience beyond the specified minimum number of courses. The capstone experience can be satisfied by making an acceptable score on a professional examination to receive the Certified Public Accountant license, Certified Management Accountant designation, or Chartered Financial Analyst® designation or other equivalent certification or specialist designation. The capstone experience can also be satisfied by completing a business plan, research paper, thesis, 6 hours of additional coursework, or other synergistic experience. Generally, the capstone experience must be approved by the MAFA Program Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate College. A capstone experience not involving an approved professional examination will also require the approval of an advisory committee, consisting of three graduate business faculty members, at least two of whom must be faculty who teach in the MAFA program. Students who do not complete the capstone experience by the end of program coursework must enroll in ACFN 5711 under the MAFA Program Coordinator until the capstone experience is completed. Evidence of completing the capstone experience must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College at least thirty days before conferral of the degree.

Program Format

ACFN 5003 will include focused attention on program orientation and, therefore, should be taken as early in the program as possible. ACFN 5363, which is the capstone course, will require substantial progress toward completion of the capstone experience and, therefore, should be taken at or near the end of the program. Other program courses may be taken in any sequence.