Advanced study in business administration and accountancy is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the school of business.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy with a concentration in data analytics program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 63 graduate credits rather than the 75 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees. Most students considering this program will hold a bachelor’s degree or certificate in accounting.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare accounting and other professionals to be effective leaders and managers in today’s organizations
- Equip aspiring managers with accounting tools and techniques for effective managerial decisions
- Develop the ability to organize and use accounting and other information for strategic decision-making
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business, including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the general management skills obtained in the M.B.A. with a solid specialization in accounting for managerial decision-making, or complementing the specialized accounting skills obtained in the accountancy program with general management skills needed for effective decisions
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions across a wide spectrum of levels in today’s organizations, where there is increasing emphasis on both general managerial and specialized knowledge
- Enhanced job prospects for candidates intending to switch careers or striving to move up within their organizations
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the 12 shared credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. The assigned program manager will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs. A faculty adviser from the Department of Accounting will help students consider electives that will best serve their professional goals.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 63 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy with a concentration in data analytics. Students without sufficient background in accounting may be required to first complete prerequisite course work.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 604 | Advanced Auditing (core requirement for M.Acc.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 610 | Forensic Accounting (core requirement for M.Acc.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 662 | Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems (core requirement for M.Acc.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (core requirement for M.B.A.; satisfies M.Acc. concentration elective) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (satisfies data analytics concentration elective) | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by ACCT 604, ACCT 610 and ACCT 662 | 9 | |
| M.Acc. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 604 | Advanced Auditing (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 610 | Forensic Accounting (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 621 | Accounting Analytics | 3 |
| ACCT 662 | Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 680 | Tax Research and Planning | 3 |
| • Data analytics concentration electives | 12 | |
| (INFO 661 satisfies three credits) | ||
| Select an additional nine credits from the following: | ||
| Accounting Research | ||
| Financial Analytics | ||
| Data-centric Analysis/Planning | ||
| Prescriptive Analytics | ||
| Business Data Analytics | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Marketing Analytics | ||
| SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management | ||
| Statistical Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Decision and Risk Analytics | ||
| Applied Multivariate Methods | ||
| Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business | ||
| • Business elective | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Financial Modeling and Analysis | ||
| Cases in Financial Management | ||
| Financial Intermediation and Analysis of Fixed-income Securities | ||
| Financial Management | ||
| Cases in Real Estate | ||
| Real Estate Valuation | ||
| Investments and Security Analysis | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Derivatives | ||
| Short-term Financial Management | ||
| Real Estate Finance and Investments | ||
| Leading People and Organizations | ||
| Negotiations | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| Supply Chain Innovation | ||
| Total Hours | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (satisfies data analytics concentration elective) | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ACCT 610 | Forensic Accounting (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 680 | Tax Research and Planning | 3 |
| Data analytics concentration electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 604 | Advanced Auditing (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ACCT 621 | Accounting Analytics | 3 |
| ACCT 662 | Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Data analytics concentration elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Business elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 3 | |
| Total Hours: | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options