MSA Audit Students:

The purpose of this message is to clarify the distinction between advising and scheduling.  As the MSA-Audit faculty advisor, it is my role to (1) approve your schedule and (2) advise you on academic matters.  The latter includes issues such as discussing “tax vs. audit” and “what elective course is best given your career plans” and “what are the pros and cons of employer X vs. employer Y”.  Such discussions are best addressed in face-to-face conversation (i.e., schedule an appointment to discuss such issues).  In contrast, the former is a mechanical exercise that boils down to inserting 12 classes into an academic program.  To the extent possible, I wish to handle scheduling via electronic communication. 

Scheduling
The MSA-Audit program at Texas Tech consists of 10 required courses and two electives.  For those taking an internship, there is only one elective course.  Like many other universities, we are approaching a lock-step (i.e., minimal flexibility) degree program.  The trick to scheduling your degree program is knowing when courses should be taken and when courses are available.

It is your responsibility to complete a draft of your degree program and forward it to Susan Davis electronically.  If you follow the directions (below), the following events should occur.  First, Susan will check your degree program.  If there are no problems, she will forward it to me for approval.  If there are problems, she will return your email explaining the problem(s). 

After you have an approved schedule, things should go smoothly, including the ability to register for future classes on Techsis.  (In the prior sentence, I highlight should because events beyond Susan's control, my control & your control may arise that necessitate revisions to your degree plan.)

Again, your task is to put 12 courses into a schedule.  You need approval to go above 9 graduate hours in a long semester or 3 graduate hours in summer session (i.e., full time), but one 'overload' semester is often necessary for new MSA students admitted in summer or fall sessions (example below). 

The official form is linked below (note: you need to download this Excel form and send it to Susan); however, it may be helpful to think of your schedule chronologically (e.g., make a chart with SU08, FA08, SP09, SU09, FA09 and think about what classes you will take in each semester).  Laying out your schedule chronologically is helpful because (1) some classes must fall in a particular order (more on this in a second) and (2) the MSA program at TTU effectively requires two fall semesters of enrollment (more on this later). 

To being your scheduling efforts, I suggest plotting courses as follows: 

1.  ACCT 5334 Professional Accountancy (required capstone course)

This course must be taken in your final semester.  Because the course is only offered in long semesters (Fall or Spring), the only acceptable deviation is to take the course during the spring preceding a summer graduation (rare).

DO NOT SCHEDULE MORE THAN 9 HOURS DURING THE SEMESTER WHEN YOU PLAN TO TAKE ACCT 5334 (it’s a very time-intensive course). 

2.  ACCT 5319 Auditing Theory & Practice (required; prerequisite for ACCT 5320)

This course should be taken in your first Fall semester (ideally, just before your internship).  For students on a traditional schedule, you will take this course during your first long semester in the MSA program.  Historically, this course has been offered only during Fall semesters.  If you have been admitted to the MSA program, but will not complete required BBA courses by Christmas break, you should defer BBA courses in order to take ACCT 5319 during the first Fall semester in which you are eligible (you are eligible to take MSA courses if you are within 12 hours of completing your BBA and if you have been admitted to the MSA program). 

3.  ACCT 5320 Business and Economic Concepts for Auditors (required)

This course should be taken in your second Fall semester.  For students on a traditional schedule, you will likely take this course during your final semester in the MSA program.  Historically (and for the foreseeable future), this course is only offered during Fall semesters. 

4.  ACCT 5382 Internship in Accounting (elective)

Although the course is elective, almost all students take a paid internship.  In almost all cases, only winter / spring internships are available because firms wish to hire you when they need you…for auditors, this occurs during ‘busy season’ (roughly January through March).  The vast majority of internships occur out of town.  If you take an internship (strongly advised), then your spring schedule will be set because of #5 (below).   

5.  ACCT 5303 Accounting Systems, Mgt. & Control (required)

Historically and for the foreseeable future, this course is only offered in a second-half compressed format during spring semester.  Effectively, this course ‘offsets’ an internship.

6.  BLAW 5392 Advanced Business Law (required)

Schedule this course as close to the end of your program as possible.  The content of the course is directly relevant to the CPA exam… as such, having the course ‘fresh on your mind’ when you sit for the exam is beneficial to you.  Historically, this course has been offered in both FA and SP.  Sporadic summer offerings may exist (but don’t count on that occurring). 

7.  ACCT 5305 Accounting Research & Communication (required)

This course should be taken during your first long semester in the MSA program (FA or SP).

8.  ACCT 5302 Current Accounting Theory (required)

This is a new course as of FA08, so there is no track record on when the course will be offered, but count on offerings during both long semesters (FA and SP).  Future summer offerings are possible / probable, but the timing is currently unknown.  Plot this course in your schedule wherever it fits, but early is better than late.

9.  ACCT 5327 Advanced Income Taxation Accounting (required)

Plot this course in your schedule wherever it fits.  Historically, the course has been offered during both long semesters (FA and SP).  Future summer offerings are possible, but the timing is unknown. 

10.  ACCT 5332 Ethics in Accounting (required)

Plot this course in your schedule wherever it fits.  Early is good.  Historically and for the foreseeable future, this course will be offered during Summer 2 and Fall semesters. 

11.  ACCT 5309 Special Entity-Ownership Accounting Issues (required)

Plot this course in your schedule wherever it fits.  The course is offered during SU1 2008 and it will be offered during FA08.  The expectation is that the course will continued to be offered during these time slots. 

12.  Elective.  You must pick from the following list of approved courses:

The timing of elective course offerings is unknown to me, but past availability (i.e., when the course has been offered) is a good predictor of future offerings. 

If you are uncertain about an elective, feel free to insert a generic “elective” description into your degree plan. 

Example:

For someone starting the program this summer, here is a good schedule:

________________

Additional notes:

Note 1:  Before finally turning to the official degree plan (i.e., putting the preceding 12 courses into a schedule), know that if you elect to do an internship, your chronological plan needs to include two Fall semesters.  Given the timing of course offerings and prerequisites, it is not possible to complete the program with only one fall semester.  While this reality does not significantly affect students beginning the program during Summer or Fall, for those beginning in Spring, you will effectively have one summer “off” (please consider our study abroad program during that time).  Also, the “Two Falls” reality is important to note for those admitted to the program but not finished with BBA courses (see #2, above). 

Note 2:  If you are beginning your MSA program at TTU after completing your undergraduate degree at another institution, all of the preceding will apply eventually…but transfer credits and potentially required ‘leveling courses’ (e.g., intermediate accounting) must be dealt with first.  If you are coming from another university, you need to see Susan.

Note 3:  Nine hours of graduate coursework is full time.  Although most of you have been able to easily handle many more hours of undergraduate coursework, adjust your expectations at the graduate level.  A nine hour semester should be viewed as “normal” (again, you need permission to take 12 hours).  More than 12 hours is not permitted. 

 Finally: The Excel Template. 

Please download the file, complete the file, and then email it to Susan Davis at susan.davis@ttu.edu.