Academic Policies

The Master of Science in Accountancy Program (MSACCY) is governed by the University of Houston (UH) Graduate Catalog Policies, C. T. Bauer College of Business Graduate Policies, and program specific policies.

The following policies include an overview of the UH Graduate Catalog Policies and is not an all-inclusive list.

Catalog Policies
  • Graduate students are expected to be enrolled in consecutive long semesters (i.e., Fall and Spring semesters) until the degree program is completed and the degree is awarded.
  • Any student who cannot enroll in a given semester must apply for a leave of absence to remain in good standing. A student who leaves the university without obtaining a formal leave of absence from graduate study is not automatically readmitted.
  • Although grades of D+ and lower are included in the computed grade point average (GPA), the university awards no credit toward the degree for courses in which the student receives a grade below C-. If such courses are required for the degree, the student will be required to take the courses again.
  • If a graduate student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.00, the student will be placed on Academic Warning. When a student is placed on Academic Warning, they will be notified and instructed to contact their academic advisor. If the student does not raise the GPA to 3.00 after one long semester on Academic Warning, they will be placed on Academic Probation. A student regains satisfactory academic standing when their cumulative GPA returns to 3.00 or above. A student on Academic Probation will be dismissed from the graduate program if any of the following occurs:
    • the student's cumulative GPA remains below 3.00 after completing an additional 9 semester credit hours (SCH) of letter-graded coursework.
    • the student has not completed 9 SCH of letter-graded coursework within two long semesters after being placed on academic probation and the student's cumulative GPA remains below 3.00.
  • Graduate students cannot graduate with a cumulative GPA that falls below a 3.00.
  • Students who are enrolled as graduate students at the University of Houston must complete the standard master’s degree program within five years of the date of enrollment with a master’s degree objective at the University of Houston.
College Policies
  • To take Masters' level courses (6000-7000 level) in the C. T. Bauer College of Business, students must have graduate standing at UH and meet the specific course prerequisites.
  • A course prerequisite must be completed prior to the start of the course for which it is a prerequisite.
  • Undergraduates and post-baccalaureate (PB) students are not allowed to take any Masters’ level courses in the Bauer College of Business.
  • If a course is cross-listed under two departments, students may not get credit for both a cross-listed course and its equivalent.
  • New classes use a generic course number (7397) until a unique course number is assigned. It is possible to have a course with a generic number one semester and a unique number in the next semester. If the course number changes a student cannot obtain credit for taking the same course twice.
Program Policies
General
  • All new students are required to complete GENB 7303: Professional Accounting Communications during their first semester. Students must seek departmental consent if unable to enroll in GENB 7303 in their first semester; please speak with your academic advisor during your initial advising appointment about the process.
  • Accounting electives must be taken at the 7000 level.
  • If a student has taken an undergraduate or PB equivalent of any graduate level course and successfully completed it, they cannot receive credit for the same course as part of their graduate career.
  • The only transfer credit accepted to complete less than the hours required to meet MSACCY degree requirements is for Bauer Professional Program in Accountancy (PPA) students that have completed PPA “double-count” courses or, in certain circumstances, specific courses completed in the Certificate in Accountancy Program (CAP). CAP students should consult their academic advisor about the classes that may transfer into the MSACCY program on a case-by-case basis.
  • In rare cases, a waiver of a required course may be allowed with substitution. The maximum amount of required courses that can be waived with substitution is 9 hours. Course waivers, and corresponding documentation, will only be accepted for review up until the official closing day of a student's first semester.
  • MSACCY courses taken by students in other UH departments who have not been admitted to the Bauer College of Business may not be applied to a future MSACCY degree at UH.
  • MSACCY certificates are only available to students currently enrolled in the MSACCY program.
  • Students have the option of obtaining a certificate(s) while enrolled in the program. Additional information regarding certificate policies can be located here.
Summer 2022 or Earlier

The policies outlined below only apply to the 36-hour iteration of the MSACCY degree plan.

  • Students who have received a BBA and/or MBA from an AACSB accredited institution may be eligible to waive the 3-hour business elective from their degree plan.
  • Students can take up to 2 pre-approved IT courses to count toward the accounting elective section of the MSACCY degree plan. These courses must be selected from the list of IT courses approved by the Department.
  • On the 36-hour version of the degree plan, MSACCY students have the opportunity to take a 3-hour accounting internship course as an accounting elective. Registration for the Accounting Internship course is necessary before being eligible to receive credit for the internship. For more information regarding eligibility requirements click here. Note, an internship for credit is not available on the 30-hour iteration of the degree plan.
  • Students that started in Summer 2022, or a prior semester, have the option to switch to the new 30-hour degree plan curriculum or stay in the one that was in effect when they started the program (36-hour degree plan). Students interested in changing to the new curriculum need to meet with their academic advisor to determine eligibility and submit a graduate petition for approval.