GENERAL QUESTIONS
How do I apply?
There are two applications that need to be completed in order for your application to be complete.
(1) Complete the university application at www.csumentor.edu
(2) Complete the departmental application at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MSA_Supplemental_Application
(3) Send all of your transcripts and TOEFL scores (if necessary) to the Office of Admissions and Records
(4) Submit your GMAT scores to code PVC-C4-19. CSUN B.S. in Accountancy students do not need to take the GMAT unless their overall GPA is less than 3.0.
What are the minimum admissions requirements?
(1) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
(2) GPA: Overall GPA of at least a 3.0 / Accounting GPA of at least a 3.0 / Last 60 units GPA of a 3.0
(3) Prerequisites:
(4) GMAT score – NOT REQURIED FOR CSUN BS of Accountancy Students
Minimum overall GMAT score must be in the 50th percentile (550 – 575).
(5) For students with a bachelor’s degree when English was not the principle language of instruction a TOEFL or IELTS score is required.
TOEFL score must be 70 (internet-based) / 213 (computer-based) / 550 (paper-based).
IELTS score must be a minimum of 6.
How long does it take to complete the Master of Science in Accountancy at CSUN?
The program is designed to be completed in one-year after inception. Students start the program in the fall semester, and complete the program after the summer semester.
Why should I pursue a Master’s in Accountancy?
The program was designed in preparation for the new 2014 California CPA Licensure requirement changes. Completion of the program guarantees the satisfaction of the new educational requirements to be implemented in January of 2014.
What is the size of your entering class?
The target size of every entering class is approximately 35 students. The program is conducted in a cohort model, which increases retention and graduation rates among working adults.
How many people apply to Master’s in Accountancy Program at CSUN every year?
Fall 2011 was the program’s first year of operation. For the fall 2011 cohort, approximately 70 people applied to the program.
Does the Master’s of Science in Accountancy Program accommodate working professionals?
CSUN’s MSA program is designed for working professionals. All of the courses are held in the evenings, usually from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Some courses are even conducted in a hybrid model (50% in-class, 50% online) for the students’ convenience.
When does the program begin? Are students allowed to begin the program in any semester?
Currently, the program only begins in the fall semesters. Since the program is conducted in the cohort model, students are not allowed to begin the program in any semester. They must start with the cohort in the fall semester.
How are the career services for the MSA program?
The department of Accounting and Information Systems at CSUN has its very own career center. This career center only serves accounting and information systems students. With the Ernst & Young Center for Careers, we consider our career services as our competitive advantage against other universities. Services provided by the E&Y Center for Careers include career and job search counseling; a campus recruiting program; job listings; workshops on resume writing; interviewing; job offer and salary negotiation; internships; and more such as employer panels on topics such as interviewing and resume writing; a credential file service; and career fairs. For more information, please visit (http://cobae.prod.acquia-sites.com/busecon/top-menu/career-and-internship-opportunities).
Can I apply if I already have an MBA from another university?
If you already have an MBA, you can still apply for the MSA program. An MBA does not exempt you from taking the GMAT. Applicants with an MBA are still required to submit a GMAT score.
My undergraduate focus in from a non-business area. Can I still apply for the MSA?
Yes. We encourage students from all disciplines and studies to apply for our program. However, there are certain accounting and business prerequisites that need to be met in order to be admitted into our program. These course prerequisites are discussed in the admissions FAQ’s.
Is there any way in which the GMAT can be exempt?
Only CSUN B.S. in Accountancy graduates with an overall GPA of 3.0 are exempt from the GMAT. Any other applicants who graduated with other majors or universities are required to take the GMAT.
Will the MSA be accredited?
All programs offered through California State University, Northridge are regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). CSUN business programs meet the rigorous standards for specialized accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). December 2010, AACSB formally renewed CSUN’s business accreditation. The Master of Science in Accountancy has been designed to meet AACSB accreditation standards and will be reviewed during the next site visit, scheduled in 2015.
Will the program be cohort-based? If so, how often will new cohorts be admitted?
Yes, the CSUN MSA program will use a cohort model. Cohorts are small groups of students (usually less than 35) that move through the program together in a predetermined sequence from the start of the program through fulfillment of the degree requirements and graduation. Because you’ll be working with the same cohort for every class, you'll find communicating with faculty and other students in your group much easier. Cohorts provide peer support for questions you may have about important points in a lecture or advice on the best way to complete assignments.
How much will the tuition and fees be for the MSA program?
Under California Executive Order 1054, graduates students in state-supported professional business programs in AACSB-accredited schools are required to pay a Graduate Business Professional Fee (GBPF). This fee is in addition to the State University Fee, campus fees and non-resident tuition (if applicable). The GBPF for Fall 2012 is $254 per unit. Assuming nine units per semester and no further CSU fee increases, the total tuition and fees for the MSA program is approximately $19,275.
If I have not met all the MSA program prerequisites, can I take them at CSUN?
The CSUN MSA program is primarily targeted to those who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting. If you majored in a discipline other than accounting, you will need to take prerequisite coursework to qualify for admission. MSA Program admission requirements are listed above in the PREREQUISITES section of this program description.
Because the CSUN B.S. in Accountancy program is classified as "impacted' by the CSU system, we currently do not have the faculty resources to provide the accounting prerequisite coursework for the MSA. Until the resource picture changes, we recommend applicants with non-accounting undergraduate degrees take the prerequisite coursework at any local accredited college or university. Many take their prerequisite coursework at UCLA Extension or DeVry University. If you do take extension courses, be sure you enroll for credit.
Couldn’t I take the program prerequisites by enrolling in CSUN as an Unclassified Post Baccalaureate student?
California State University, Northridge, is not currently accepting applications for Unclassified Post Baccalaureate students (applicants who wish to enroll in graduate courses for professional and personal growth).
What if I enroll as a non-matriculated student through CSUN’s Tseng College of Extended Learning Open University? Is that an option for taking the necessary prerequisites courses?
While it is true non-matriculated students (i.e., those who have not been admitted to a degree program) can enroll in state-supported university offerings at CSUN through the Open University, course admission is on a space-available, instructor-approval basis. Registration requires a permission number for any empty seat. For the Accounting and Information Systems Department, the department chair oversees issuance of permission numbers for all upper-division undergraduate accounting courses.
As mentioned earlier, because the CSUN B.S. in Accountancy program is classified as "impacted' by the CSU Chancellor, there are insufficient spaces for matriculated pre-accountancy undergraduate majors wishing to take upper-division accounting courses. The priority of matriculated students over non-matriculated students means that at this time, Open University students will not be able to take 300- or 400-level accounting courses. Until the resource picture changes, we recommend non-matriculated students take their prerequisite coursework at any local accredited college or university.
When is the admission deadline?
The MSA is a fall-only program. The admission deadline is May 1st. The test score submission deadline is May 31st.
Do I need to take and pass the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) ?
Yes, the Trustees of the California State University have directed that "all students entering the CSU System... be required to demonstrate their proficiency with regard to writing skills as a requirement for graduation." This includes graduate students. To be eligible for “classified” status as a graduate student, students must complete the WPE with a passing score (8 or higher). (Classified graduate students are those who have met all criteria for classification in their respective programs.) CSUN students who have passed the WPE previously as an undergraduate, do not need to retake the exam. Graduate students provisionally admitted to the program as “conditionally classified” must satisfy the Writing Proficiency requirement during the first semester of residency. (A conditionally classified graduate student has been accepted into a degree program but has not yet met all classification criteria.) Refer to the Upper Division Writing Test Home Page for more details: http://www.csun.edu/testing/upper/
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
What is the average GMAT score?
The Fall 2011 cohort had an average GMAT score of approximately 575.
What is the average overall GPA?
The Fall 2011 cohort had an average overall GPA of approximately 3.20.
What is the minimum GMAT score requirement?
You must have a minimum GMAT score in the 50th percentile (550 – 575).
I have taken the GMAT more than once. Which score will be taken into consideration?
The MSA admissions committee will only look at your highest total GMAT score. We do not average different GMAT scores taken during separate testing periods.
When is the latest I can submit my GMAT test score?
The deadline to submit your GMAT score is May 31st of each year. The deadline to apply to the program is May 1st of each year.
If I plan to take or retake the GMAT score after the test submissions period has closed, may I be conditionally admitted?
Our program does NOT offer conditional admittance under any circumstances. You must meet all of the admissions requirements, including a sufficient GMAT score, by the time the test submission date closes (May 31).
Do you accept the GRE as a GMAT substitute?
We do take the GRE in lieu of the GMAT. You must have a score in the 50th percentile to be considered for admission.
I am an international student and I received my degree at an institution where English was not the principle language of instruction, are there additional admissions requirements for me?
Yes. Students who fall into this category must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. The TOEFL score must be 70 (internet-based), 213 (computer-based) or 550 (paper-based). The IELTS score must be a minimum of 6.
If I do not take the GMAT by the deadline, can I be conditionally admitted if I plan to take/re-take the GMAT after the application period has expired?
CSUN’s MSA program does not offer conditional admittance for pending GMAT scores. You must take the GMAT and receive a score at least in the 50th percentile by the May 31st deadline to be considered for admission.
Is a personal interview required as part of the application process?
CSUN does not require any personal interviews as part of the application process, unless specified by the MSA admissions committee.
Are CSUN MSA applicants required to have work experience by the time they apply to the program?
CSUN MSA applicants are not required to have any work experience. However, any work experience is always taken into consideration when evaluating an application.
I earned my undergraduate degree from CSUN. Does this enhance my chances for being accepted?
CSUN B.S. in Accountancy students do not need to take the GMAT. With that being said, that does make their application experience easier. However, in terms of application evaluation, CSUN B.S. in Accountancy students are evaluated identically to all other applications.
Do I need to submit community college transcripts and/or transcripts from other institutions I attended, even though they are indicated on the University transcripts I graduated from?
Yes, you must submit all your transcripts from all of the universities you previously attended to the Office of Admissions and Records. Contact the Office of Admissions and Records to see if they already have transcripts on file. Their number is (818) 677-3700.
I earned a three-year undergraduate degree. Am I eligible to apply to CSUN’s MSA program?
An applicant with a three-year undergraduate degree must have their transcript evaluated by a graduate evaluator. In order to be eligible to apply, that three-year degree must be equivalent to a domestic four-year degree.
How do I find out if my undergraduate degree is from an AACSB accredited Institution?
CSUN is AACSB accredited. To check another institution, see the AACSB website: http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accreditedmembers.asp
PREREQUISTES & COURSES
How do students waive out of foundation courses?
Students may waive out foundation courses with proof of passing sections of the CPA exam. For example, if you passed the REG portion of the CPA exam, the MSA admissions committee can reasonably assume that you have sufficient knowledge in business law. This waives the BLAW prerequisite.
What is the difference between part-time and full-time status?
At the graduate level, full-time status is 9 units or more. Part-time status is 6 to 8 units.
Can I take individual classes without being admitted to the program?
No. Since the program is conducted in the cohort model, you must take all of the courses in the order of the cohort. You must take all of the classes (3 classes per semester) in the order of the cohort organization.
PROGRAM COSTS & FINANCING YOUR PROGRAM
Is there financial aid available?
Yes. There is financial aid available. If you wish to receive university financial aid, you must submit your FAFSA by the March 2nd deadline. Also, there are scholarships available. For more information regarding departmental scholarships, please contact an MSA representative at (818) 677-2461 or shoot an email to msaccountancy@csun.edu
What is the cost of the Master of Accountancy Program?
Based upon Fall 2012 tuition and fees, the cost of CSUN Master’s of Accountancy program is proximately $19,275. If you wish to see the tuition and fees breakdown, send an email to msaccountancy@csun.edu.
MSA_Handout_01.05.12.pdf
