<p>My son is going into his senior year this fall. He is an accounting major and has received an internship at a big 5 firm next summer. He is going back and forth on his plans for doing a graduate degree.
He is hesitant about doing another year studing accounting courses and is thinking about doing a masters in Finance which may still satisfy the NY State 150 requirements and may leave him more options in his career.
Has anyone taken this route?</p>
<p>Is a “Big 5” firm considered GT or McGladrey or something? I haven’t heard anyone refer to it as “Big 5” since Arthur Andersen was still around.</p>
<p>Anyway, are you absolutely sure he meets the education requirements in NY? Those 150 credits must include 33 credits in accounting, and most AACSB accredited undergraduate accounting programs don’t consist of 33 credits in required accounting classes (24 is more likely). I’d pursue the masters in accounting because the requirements in other states (such as Florida) are more stringent. If he ever wants to leave New York and sit for the exam elsewhere, he may run into some problems without additional accounting coursework. Also, a masters in finance is going to require some additional bridging courses assuming he didn’t double major or minor in finance.</p>
<p>“Is a “Big 5” firm considered GT or McGladrey or something?”</p>
<p>OP must’ve posted this in ignorance or error. You’re right, since AA went down its Big 4. McGladrey and GT and those who work at either sometimes think they’re right up they’re with the Big 4 but they’re not.</p>
<p>Ok I ment No 5 accounting firm.
Any more feedback on the masters.
Thanks in Advance</p>
<p>Illinois has also just changed its regulations concerning the 150 hour rule. Like NY it has an increased accounting hour requirement over the standard undergraduate program (30 hours instead of 33 in NY) but Illinois has certain other semester hour requirements concerning course work in accounting analysis and research, business ethics and business communications. In Illinois, the one way not to have to have every course on your transcript analyzed adnausium - is to get a masters from an AACSB accredited accounting program - luckily there are numerous accredited programs in Illinois and surrounding states. So, unless you are a glutten for punishment, get the MACC/MSA from an accredited program. </p>
<p>My son is a rising senior, who is also interested in eventually getting an MBA in finance from a name school. However, he is currently applying for MACC/MSA programs for next year so he can get his CPA. He also has a Big 4 internship lined up for next summer and hopes to work there for a few years and then think about going back for his MBA.</p>
<p>mrcorgi12 is right. In NY you have to get 33 credits, where as most undergrad. accounting programs will give you only 24. He can still get MS in Finance, but he will have to take some additional accounting courses. You can tell him to consider MS in Tax, which is also a very popular choice among accounting students.</p>