Program Director: Dr. Patricia Nodoushani, 860-768-4346 nodoushan@hartford.edu

Program Coordinator: Beverly Collins, 860-768-4576, bcollins@hartford.edu

Philosophy of the Program

The Barney School of Business has offered masters programs in accounting and taxation since 1971. It is the oldest graduate accounting and tax program in Connecticut. The programs were started in response to the requests of the Hartford Area accounting profession to have accounting programs that were convenient for their staff and provide them with the opportunity for further education. Over the years, as the program has changed with its environment, it has retained its basic founding philosophy of offering programs that fit the needs of area employers and professionals. Our MSAT program offers the traditional course formats in the evening which can be done at one's own pace, and an accelerated format that gives the student the ability to earn the masters degree in as little as 7 months after graduating with an undergraduate degree in accounting. The accelerated format is also used to provide liberal arts students with the ability to earn the degree in 15 months.

Accreditation

The Barney School of Business is internationally accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Accreditation is awarded based on achieving quality standards that include faculty, curriculum, library and computer resources, and intellectual climate.

Career Services and Placement

The major national and regional public accounting firms and financial service companies recruit students at the University of Hartford. The University, in cooperation with the Department of Accounting and Taxation, has an excellent Career Center that assists all students with both initial placements during the program as well as later assistance as students move between jobs. Over the past several years, 95% of the graduates of the Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation are working in jobs in their chosen field within the financial services profession.

Student Service, Library, and Computer Resources

All of our courses are offered on our suburban West Hartford campus. The location is ideal as it is only 4 miles from Downtown Hartford, with easy access to the major highways and suburbs. There is ample parking and convenient amenities on the campus, including a fully equipped Sports Center featuring an Olympic sized pool, Cybex Room, Racquetball Courts, and Division I Intercollegiate Athletics. Sports Center fees are inexpensive for students and alumnae as compared to regular health clubs.

All classes are taught by either full-time faculty, who are resident at the University, or professionally qualified adjunct faculty. The director of the program is a full-time faculty member and is personally available on campus. Administrative services and advising are conducted on campus in close proximity to where classes are held.

All fees and books are covered in the tuition charge and books will be available at the first class session in close proximity to the classrooms. This is part of the Barney School's "No Hassle" philosophy towards graduate education. All parking stickers, computer accounts, and identification cards will be handled during the first class session without any inconvenience.

Students have access to the Mortensen Library at the University. The library offers a full range of services to all students. There is access to many electronic databases such as, CCH Internet Tax Service, ABI/Global, and Lexis/Nexis full text to name a few. The electronic databases are accessible at the library, at all computer laboratories on campus, and at home or work through the University's proxy server.

There are three computer laboratories, with over 50 Pentium machines, in Auerbach Hall where the Barney School of Business is located. They are equipped with the most recent versions of Microsoft Office as well as internet and e-mail access and are available for use by all students.

Programs and Program Delivery

Degree requirements normally constitute 30 credit hours of specified courses including 5 accounting courses, 3 non-accounting courses, and 2 open electives beyond the requirements for an undergraduate accounting major. Students without the undergraduate accounting degree are required to take up to 21 credits of prerequisite accounting courses [See Prerequisites below]. International students must provide a syllabus (in English) that details the material covered and the textbook used for any accounting course taken outside of the United States to request a waiver of a prerequisite course. Because most foreign countries do not follow United States generally accepted accounting principles, most international students will be required to take some prerequisite undergraduate accounting courses as part of their program of study in the graduate program. All international students must take, at a minimum, AC425 Federal Income Tax Concepts as part of their program of study. Students without undergraduate business degrees may have to take additional business courses to meet CPA examination requirements in the State of Connecticut. There are two distinct tracks offered as part of the program; Financial and Assurance Services; and Taxation. Both tracks are available in the evening program and in the accelerated format.

The MSAT Graduate Program

Prerequisites for Students Without an Undergraduate Accounting Degree

* AC 210 Financial Accounting [3]
* AC 211 Managerial Accounting [3]
OR, students may take MBA 612 Accounting Concepts [3]
* AC 320 Financial Reporting Theory I [3]
* AC 321 Financial Reporting Theory II [3]
* AC 325 Accounting Information Systems [3]
* AC 332 Cost Management [3]
* AC 425 Federal Income Tax Concepts [3]
* AC 430 Auditing Concepts and Problems [3]

Course Delivery Formats

Traditional Evening Program

Evening courses are offered during the Fall, Winterterm, Spring, and Summer semesters. During the Fall and Spring, courses are offered once a week in 2-1/2 hour time blocks. The standard times for Fall and Spring courses are 5:00-7:20 PM and 7:30-9:50 PM. This allows a student to take up to two courses back-to-back to minimize time away from work and family. Winterterm courses are offered over a three week period between the Fall and Spring semesters and meet four nights a week for 3 hours each night. Summerterm courses meet over two, six-week summer time blocks twice a week for three hours each night. The average evening student would take two years to complete the 30-credit degree program.

Admissions

Admission is based on the applicant's undergraduate grade point average, GMAT score, a personal statement, and two references. Applicants who have passed the CPA examination, the CMA examination, the CFA examination, the CA examination, the Bar Exam, or have a previous masters degree need not take the GMAT. To download a pdf file with the application for either the traditional or the accelerated program click here.

Faculty

Our full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other doctoral degrees in their field. Most are either CPAs or CMAs (or both) and have substantial professional experience. We complement their expertise with a few carefully selected adjunct faculty members who have particular specialties within accounting, taxation, or financial management.

The current full-time faculty and their backgrounds are as follows: