The MAcc program consists of 30 semester hours at the graduate level, (600–700 level only). At least fifteen semester hours are in accounting courses and the remaining semester hours are to be taken as graduate business electives. Please refer to the MBA course descriptions for a listing of PMBA-*XXXX elective courses. MAcc students may elect to use the MBA electives to create concentrations. See the “Concentration” section provided under the MBA policy portion of this catalog. Required graduate accounting courses are offered each semester. Graduate accounting electives are typically offered on a three-semester rotational basis.

MAcc students who hold an undergraduate degree in an area other than business will need to complete all of the Business Core Requirements and Accounting Core Requirements before taking any Upper Level Accounting Courses.

MAcc students who hold an undergraduate business degree in an area outside of Accounting may waive the Business Core Requirements but must complete the Accounting Core Requirements before taking any Upper Level Accounting Courses.

MAcc students who hold an undergraduate degree in Accounting may waive the Business Core Requirements and the Accounting Core Requirements.

Waiver of these courses follows the guidelines defined under the Waiver of Core and Pre-Program Courses section page 3.

Note: Because Rider has earned AACSB Accounting accreditation, students who graduate with the MAcc degree, are deemed to have met educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam. However, students planning to take the exam should consider elective courses in Business Law (PMBA-8491) and Governmental Accounting (MAcc-658).

Note: An objective of the MAcc program is to improve the communication skills of the students. This will be done both formally through a class for those not demonstrating a level proficiency expected for business professionals and informally for all students through faculty review of student-prepared course materials such as research reports, case study write ups and papers.

Students must have a 4.0 score or higher on the Analytical Writing Section of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). This proficiency level demonstrates adequate writing skills and at this level, students will be waived from taking the required business writing course. If a student’s score is lower than 4.0, he/she must take the English Department’s course ENG-321 Work Place Writing: Business and Professional Contexts, or a similar writing course at a U.S.-accredited university at the Junior (300), Senior (400) or Graduate (500 and above) levels. The student must achieve a “C”or better in the course, demonstrating basic proficiency. Course work done outside of Rider University must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. This requirement must be met within one year of the start of a student’s first semester in the MAcc program.