The AMAcc Program

Program Overview

The Apprenticeship Master of Accounting Program delivers a thirty-semester-hour online curriculum that prepares students for the CPA Exam while honing communication and leadership skills, deepening their understanding of current professional challenges, and fostering ethical decision-making. This comprehensive approach ensures graduates excel in accounting and business and are poised to lead with integrity in an evolving professional landscape.

The CPA Exam. In January 2024, the CPA Exam transitioned to the CPA Evolution structure to better align with the evolving demands of the accounting profession, particularly in the areas of technology and analytics. The exam still consists of four sections and candidates must still score 75 or higher on each section. Georgia CPA Exam candidates now have 30 months to pass all four sections. If you are not sitting for the Exam as a Georgia resident, please check with your State Board of Accountancy.

• CORE SECTIONS: Every candidate must pass three core sections:
  • Auditing and Attestation (AUD): Covers the principles and procedures of auditing and attestation.
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): Covers the concepts and standards for financial statement preparation and reporting.
  • Taxation and Regulation (REG): Covers taxation and regulation, including federal taxation and ethics, professional responsibilities, and business law.
• DISCIPLINE SECTION: Candidates must also pass one of three discipline-specific sections, which allows them to demonstrate deeper knowledge in a specialized area of interest:
  • Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR): Focuses on financial reporting, technical accounting, and financial management.
  • Information Systems and Controls (ISC): Focuses on information systems, security and controls, and IT audits.
  • Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP): Focuses on tax regulations, compliance, and tax planning and strategy.

The CPA Evolution ensures that all certified professionals possess a robust foundation in accounting, auditing, and tax, while also allowing them to develop specialized skills that are increasingly valuable in a technology-driven marketplace.

The CPA License.  The Certified Public Accountant license is available from any of the 55 U.S. boards of accountancy (50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands). The license allows CPAs to provide auditing, review services, financial advisory, tax planning, and financial statement audits. Only CPAs can legally express an audit opinion on the financial statements of publicly traded entities. For more information, visit the Georgia State Board of Accountancy website.

Prerequisites

Admission prerequisites vary. Non-business majors need 24 semester hours (12 in general business and 12 in upper-level accounting). Note: Lower-level accounting courses count as general business. Non-accounting business majors need only the upper-level accounting courses. See the table below for specific prerequisites. Applicants can fulfill general business prerequisites in various ways; contact the AMAcc program advisor for details.

General Business (12 Semester Hours)

• Financial Accounting Principles
• Managerial Accounting Principles
• Other business course
• Other business course

Upper-Level Accounting (12 Semester Hours)

• Intermediate Accounting I
• Intermediate Accounting II
• Accounting Information Systems
• Income Tax

All these prerequisite courses can be taken online from Georgia Southern University.

Program Requirements

The Apprenticeship MAcc is a 30-semester hour (10 courses) online program. The curriculum includes 9 required courses and one elective, chosen based on the CPA Exam discipline the student chooses to pursue.  Student who successfully complete the AMAcc program will meet Georgia’s requirements for CPA licensure.

Required (27 Semester Hours)

• AMAC 7131 Financial Accounting & Reporting (3)
• AMAC 7132 Auditing & Attestation (3)
• AMAC 7133 Taxation & Regulation (3)
• AMAC 7231 Ethics for Accountants (3)
• AMAC 7232 Accounting Internship (3)
• BUSA 7131 Business Communication (3)
• BUSA 7132 Leadership and Coaching (3)
• BUSA 7133 Professional Issues in Business (3)
• BUSA 7790 Business Internship (3)

Elective (3 Semester Hours)

Choose one of the following:

• AMAC 7134 Business Analysis & Reporting (BAR) Discipline (3)
• AMAC 7135 Information Systems & Controls (ISC) Discipline (3)
• AMAC 7136 Tax Compliance & Planning (TCP) Discipline (3)

Program of Study

The following table shows how students will progress through the program. Here are some points to note as you review the table:

• The Program of Study was designed to accomplish the following objectives:
  • Provide around five months of study time for each section.
  • Minimize the amount of program-related work during the student’s first busy season (assumed to be spring semester).
  • Earn both the master’s degree and obtain the CPA license in less than two years.
• The four courses that prepare students for the four sections of the CPA exam are taught over the full semester (approximately 15 weeks in fall/spring semesters; 10 weeks in summer semester).
• All non-CPA Exam-related courses are taught over minimesters (approximately 8 weeks in fall/spring semesters; 5 weeks in summer semester).
• The graphic shows when we recommend that students sit for each CPA Exam section.
• Students will be encouraged to sit for FAR in early January prior to the first day of spring semester classes (This is because non-accounting majors will need to submit their fall semester course work to the State Board of Accountancy to be eligible to sit.  Accounting majors will be encouraged to sit for FAR in December.).