University of Southern California

Master of Accounting Curriculum

Required Core Coursework

5 Accounting Courses

1 Communication Course

Elective Coursework

4 Accounting Courses

1 Floating Elective

TOTAL: 30 Units/11 course

Required Accounting Courses

  • ACCT 585: Professional Responsibilities in Accounting
  • ACCT 530: Ethics for Professional Accountants
  • ACCT 528: Fair Value Accounting: GAAP, IFRS & Emerging Issues

You will be placed in ONE of the following two classes:

  • ACCT 546: Auditing and Assurance Services
  • ACCT 557: Advanced Financial Statement Auditing Topics

You will be placed in ONE of the following two classes:

  • ACCT 547: Enterprise Information Systems
  • ACCT 549: Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies

Accounting Electives

  • ACCT 526: Global Accounting Experience
  • ACCT 535: Management Accounting and Control Systems
  • ACCT 537: Performance Measurement, Evaluation, and Incentives
  • ACCT 546: Auditing and Assurance Services
  • ACCT 559: Strategy and Operations Through CFO Lens
  • ACCT 560T: Tax Theory and Ethics
  • ACCT 562: Methods and Motivations of Financial Reporting Fraud
  • ACCT 574: Accounting in the Global Business Environment
  • ACCT 580T: Tax Accounting Methods
  • ACCT 581: Financial Statement Analysis
  • ACCT 582: Mergers and Acquisitions
  • ACCT 583: Income Tax Accounting and Auditing
  • ACCt 584: Family Wealth Preservation
  • ACCT 587: Forensic Accounting

Floating Electives

Students are able to choose a floating elective in accounting from a wide variety of business classes. In addition to MBA electives, past students have chosen electives relevant to their career goals from the USC Gould School of Law, School of Cinematic Arts, and The Price School of Public Policy. Some students have room in their programs to take additional floating electives.

*Curriculum approval required by academic advisor

Marshall Spotlight

Tony Thrower
Meet me on LinkedIn
Not having a background in finance, Tony did not anticipate entering the world of accounting; however, an offer from accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers was too intriguing to pass up. What was even more surprising was that the one-year, intensive master's in accounting (MAcc) degree from the USC Leventhal School of Accounting was actually fun. "They teach us so much more than just accounting. It's a well-rounded program that really teaches you how to build, grow, and be successful in whatever endeavor you want to undertake."
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