Master of Science in Accounting - Virtual Information Session

The theater and then lab.

Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. We'll give everybody just a moment to get logged in and settled, and we'll begin in just a second.

For those that are watching this pre recorded, thank you for bearing with us for just a moment or feel free to advance your slides just a few seconds.

All right, all right, we'll go ahead and get started. So again, hello everyone. My name is Jen Radwanski. I'm the associate director for graduate admissions here at Stockton University, and I am joined by my colleague and program chair for our MSN in accounting or Ms. in Accounting program. There we go. I can't speak today. Uh, Doctor Carla Kabarle, we're here to tell you a little bit more about this awesome new program that we have here at Stockton. Umm, And before we get started and I turn things over, I want to just give you a couple.

Housekeeping items. Number one, we are recording this session and for those that are watching it prerecorded, we will share our contact information with you at the end. As far as any questions you may have, if you are joining us live, there is a chat feature on this webinar and you can drop your questions into the chat. I would encourage you to wait to maybe put your questions in the chat until the end because we have a lot of information we are going to cover and we'll probably cover your question throughout the presentation.

Again, jot those down and we will cover those questions live for our live attendees. And then lastly, again, because it's being recorded, if you do have questions and joining us live, we would ask that you refrain from putting any personal information in the chat. But again, we'll give you our contact information to follow up with us after the fact. So with that being said, I'm going to turn things over to Doctor Kabarle. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Hi everybody, umm so I would like to 1st acknowledge that if you are a current student at Stockton and you're interested in the dual degree pathway, this this webinar is also for you.

As your preceptor, I'll be guiding you through your coursework in the undergrad and in the grad program. So that's really the only, only, the only kind of difference is that you're, you're, you're assigned to me early.

So.

So I do appreciate if you're, if you're here whether you're dual degree or you are interested in the standalone Ms. in accounting.

So we'll go to the next slide. So we have just launched this program officially. We had a soft launch last spring and we have a good number of students that are already in varying stages of the dual degree program and we have a few that are in the graduate in graduate status right now. The program is going wonderfully and we we do have three graduate classes, brand new graduate classes that we've.

Begun offering this particular semester and it's very exciting and the students are really enjoying them. So all of our courses are offered in Atlantic City. We meet from 6:30 to 8:30 from, you know, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Umm, most of our courses are face to face, although some of them are offered online, asynchronous at this time.

The class usually meets once a week, but it is considered a hybrid class so there is additional work that that is assigned to utilize those extra the extra time during the week that we aren't meeting face to face.

And we, the whole purpose of the program really is to make you profession ready. So we want you to be prepared to enter the profession. We want you to feel confident and have a substantial knowledge base and then also to prepare you to pass the CPA exam.

We also have, as you can see, our beautiful Atlantic City campus. We have beachfront dorms if you're interested in living down at the shore. And of course, we have housing also available in in Galloway on our main campus.

So the next slide talks a little bit about how to become a CPA in New Jersey. As I said, the programs, one of our primary goals besides getting you profession ready is to encourage you to become a CPA. So the the rules are sort of in flux right now in New Jersey. A lot of states are trying to.

Come up with a new pathway to get students to meet the education requirements.

As they stand right now though.

In New Jersey, NJ is right in line with the other states in that you need 150 credits in order to meet the education requirements. You have to have a finished bachelor's degree. And then beyond that you need experience. And the experience requirement in New Jersey for someone with 150 credits or more is one year, which is 17150 hours, and that is working under an active CPA. You do not have to.

Work in public accounting, but you do have to be supervised by an active CPA, and the work has to be substantive and intensive and diversified.

Another thing that New Jersey is, or one thing that New Jersey is trying to do right now is open up the education requirements to those who don't wish to go on for 150 credits. It's a proposal right now. It's not a final guideline or a final law where if you have 120 credits or more.

Um, you can still meet the education requirements, but you have to have two years of work experience under an active CPA, et cetera that is supposed to be.

Umm, decided upon, voted upon this semester, uh, sometime this fall. So as soon as I know about that, I'll be sharing that information with my current students and anybody else who's interested.

The other part of the education requirements are that you have to have 24 credits in accounting and 24 credits in business and our bachelors and the really all the bachelors of science degrees in accounting, I would say in New Jersey, I'm guessing, but I would assume that they all meet that. So as long as you have 24 accounting credits, 24 business credits and 150 total credits, you've met the education requirements. And then to get licensed you need to have that experience and of course.

Exam.

The and we'll talk a little bit more about this in a bit, but our coursework does incorporate.

CPA exam topics? So we don't teach to the exam, but we use the exam as our guidepost to help us decide what content we are teaching in those grad courses. And then we do do we do some CPA exam questions in testing and other assessments?

So our main courses that are required, the Common Core are information accounting, information Systems, which is a spring semester class. We have Advanced cost accounting and Analytics, which is a fall semester class. We have Advanced Federal Income Taxation, which is a fall semester class. We have advanced auditing and Attestation, which is a spring class. Advanced Financial accounting and reporting is a fall class. And then your accounting internship is whatever semester you're able to get an internship.

So we do recommend even for dual degree students that you take this internship once you've gotten into graduate status. There's a couple reasons for that. One of them is we'd like you to use the four out of the five coursework. The actual courses towards your dual degree status, which is where your four courses or 12 credits are at grad level, are used to substitute for 12 credits at the undergrad level and those 12 credits count for both.

The undergrad and the grad programs.

And so we'd like you to take the coursework for that so that when you have when you finish the bachelors, you have 12 credits of coursework, not not nine with a three credit internship. And the reason, the other reason why we want you to have the internship in grad status is because, sorry.

Because the internship hours that you complete after you've received your bachelor's degree, those hours count towards your work experience requirement in New Jersey.

So that is something that that New Jersey allows that some other states might not.

Uh, they also allow us up to 30 credits actually at the graduate level where you can work and have those hours count towards your work experience requirement, which is why we've built into, into our program, into our electives.

A Co-op.

We also so we have a CPA firm Co-op right now our Co-op is with them and likely that'll continue.

The other opportunities though are are substantial. We have students that are doing co-ops or extended internships at other firms and the list is just growing all the time. So students have found ways to.

To find their own internships and and then negotiate that with the.

The firms to see if they're willing to let them gain the hours necessary for the 18 credits of the electives.

If you don't do the Co-op or an extended internship, then there's coursework that you would complete for the other 18 credits. And we do have some flexibility built in here, but sort of the the neatest, the cleanest way is to do 9 credits in forensics and 9 credits in business analytics. You also could just pick one and do a nine credit internship. You also could pick up to 9 credits in the NBA coursework. So we allow.

As well. But that of course has to be graduate level. So you could take, let's say you know, one of their graduate level marketing classes or HR or employment law or something like that.

Where that might count towards the 18 credits here. So that also benefits people who have started an MBA program and maybe now want to switch over to Ms. So if you've already taken some MBA courses, you're not necessarily going to lose all of them depending on how many you've taken if you switch over to the Ms.

So in our concentrations forensic accounting, we have understanding corporate fraud, fraud analytics and financial forensic investigations. Those are the three courses that we currently offer. We are looking at revamping the understanding corporate fraud class, but right now it is a course in in the bundle. We also offer three business analytics courses in the BUSA program, their grad level and.

Business analytics is very, very important to aspiring accountants and Cpas and working accountants.

And it's heavily integrated into the CPA exam, so those courses are very useful.

As I said earlier, we have extended internships, but we also for everyone and that's an elective. But for everyone, we have a required internship. As you saw in the first screen where I was talking about the curriculum, the three credit requirement is for everyone. It does not have to be at a CPA firm. It can be at your choosing as long as it is at the level that would be appropriate for a new, a new staff person.

It cannot be at a job that you currently have unless you are in a professional capacity and it's been less than six months when you're trying to, you know, since you've been working there, when you're trying to get the credits for that. So that's something that you'd have to talk with me about on a case by case basis. And we'd have to look at how long you've worked there and what your role is and, and things like that. When you're doing the three credit internship, you get a free section of Becker and the assessment for or how we assess your, your mastery of the.

Besides reflection reports and a report from the employer is that you complete an entire section of Becker and.

You sort of design your your plan when the semester begins as to when you're going to complete each part and you stay on track and you give reports to me about about how you're doing so if for some reason you cannot.

Do this particular internship. Let's say you already have a job, you're working in the profession, you're coming back to get your CPA. You don't want to quit your job because it is in your profession and it's your career.

There's still a way to get these credits.

That are required. So there's an option for service learning project that we would design together or you could work on an academic research project with me or another faculty member. So if there's some reason where you cannot do a three credit internship and we've talked about it, there are other options and ways for you to fulfill that requirement.

As I said earlier, we have two pathways to the Ms. The first pathway is for current Stockton students, Stockton accounting majors, where as I said earlier, your 12 credits of graduate courses, typically it's the advanced tax cost, financial and auditing those courses. When you're taking those, you're taking them in your senior year and those count towards the bachelors completion and they count towards the upcoming masters completion.

So the benefit of that is that you're taking those 12 credits at undergraduate tuition rates rather than graduate tuition rates.

And of course, we want you to finish the masters, but you finish your bachelors clean and clear. Whether you go on and finish the masters program as it is or not, you would graduate once you finish those 12 credits. You would graduate with your bachelor's degree, but instead of having 12 undergraduate credits in your curriculum, you'd have 12 grad credits.

Um, once you have graduated in the semester that you're graduating, you apply for course for graduation and then as soon as you're approved for graduation, then you apply for graduate status for the very next semester. As early as if you graduate spring, you could even apply for direct entry in summer. And so as soon as you are grad status, then you can start taking your graduate internships.

The other pathway is a standalone pathway and this is for current, you know, students.

That are graduating at Stockton, maybe you've already taken the courses that are swapped out at the undergrad level, or maybe you just want to finish the way the path that you're on and you want to come back. You can do that. And it's also available for non-stop and students. So this standalone pathway is is good for, you know, for all all people that are interested in our program and into interested in becoming Cpas. So this is a post baccalaureate.

You apply for graduate.

School and you have to meet the accounting prerequisites. So if you are not an accounting major at Stockton or elsewhere, you still have to have taken the upper level accounting courses in order to take the graduate level accounting courses. So you just have to keep that in mind that if you are a current student, a current student pursuing a VS that you want to. If you're accounting, you probably are taking those. But if you're not accounting, you want to find a way to take some of those upper level accounting courses as.

Electives before you graduate so that you can then be eligible to take those grad classes once you've been accepted into the program. You can't take the undergrad classes as a graduate student, so it doesn't work the other way.

If you meet the requirements for direct entry, umm, you may be able to apply that way, and Jen's going to talk about that in a little bit.

And then I believe Jen's going to start talking to us about funding opportunities.

Yes. So now that you have a little bit more background about the program itself, let's talk about how you apply, how do you pay for it? Those are, you know, two of the big pieces in becoming a graduate student. So first let's talk about how we pay for it. So our graduate programs are all fully forward facing as far as the information for cost, it's cost per credit. And on every single one of our grad pages on the left hand side, you can click the finance button and that's going to show you a breakdown of the cost per credit for both in-state, out-of-state.

And for masters and doctoral students, so some other ways that we can talk about, you know, other than paying out of your own pocket for graduates.

Out ways that we can help.

To offset those costs.

1st or graduate assistantships. This is TV.

Grammar area of study that you've.

Only covers about one or two credits, uh.

For students and it's not, you have to apply for it and.

Only a certain number of students are awarded this, but it does.

Offset also helps to get some competition information.

Resume in your area.

Study The second is the graduate student scholarships. There are two ways to apply for those One, there is a new student scholarship that you.

Students may be eligible for. If you meet the criteria, you will be automatically considered the.

For that, if you're a 2° student umm, you would not be receiving uh, uh opportunities for the new student uh piece.

I'm wondering if you're able to hear me now, Carly, you can hear me OK. We just got OK.

Um, so if you're a current student, what you can do is if you are, there is no gap between your time as an undergraduate student in may and your time as a graduate student in the fall. You can apply for the foundation scholarships, umm, and those can be done through our foundation office. And so that takes place in February. So you'll want to apply for that again if you are a current Stockton student, uh, and in the dual degree program or doing the stand alone program and just going from one under.

Schedule a program to the grad program. Um, there is financial aid available and we're actually going to be doing a full entire webinar on that. Keep a look at the same place that you registered for this. You can register for our financial aid information session that will be taking place later next month. But there are a lot less loans that are, excuse me, There are a lot less aid that's available for graduate students and that's just not Stockton, that's nationally. Uh, but there are loans that you can apply for that, umm, you'll definitely want to look into.

And that'll be through our Office of Financial Aid. And then as we had mentioned, there are some opportunities through the co-ops that you may be already participating with through this program itself, which is a great opportunity as well. So let's talk about the application itself.

On our website for the accounting program, all of these things are outlined and then when you start your application, they'll be outlined as well. So we're going to talk first about the general application. So this is if you're applying either.

Uh, not as a dual degree student, not as direct entry, not, and maybe not even affiliated with Stockton at all. So the first thing is that you do have to have all the prerequisites. Our dual degree students are going to have those automatically. So that's not something you need to be concerned about. But if you're coming from external to Stockton, there are a number of prerequisites and those are all listed on our website.

There is also an application fee, it's $50.00, but again, if you're doing direct entry or dual degree, that application fee is waived. An essay is required for this program. Dual degree students, uh, typically do not need to do the essay, but direct entry students will need to do the essay. Umm, so that'll be a component in that process. And then anyone applying external to the institution will also, uh, be doing the essay. What you'll need to know is that, that, umm, for external.

Applicants, when you're applying that $50.00 for the application fee or if you have a fee waiver code is what triggers your ability to see the essay. So many times I actually got a text message from an applicant this morning said I can't see the, I can't see the essay. And I said, well, you need to submit your application with that, uh, waiver code or with that fee. And then that'll take you into the next component to be able to see the checklist as well as the essay.

Um, for our traditional application as well, you'll also need 2 letters of recommendation. These need to be from individuals who can speak to your academic success or have seen you in the field. Umm, you know, working and can speak to your ability to succeed as an accountant, umm, but it should not be your next door neighbor or a friend or family member. It does need to be someone who can speak academically, umm, or professionally about your abilities to be in this program. Again, dual degree in direct entry will not need these.

Of recommendation.

Um, and then lastly, GPA is a factor as well. Again, for all of these processes, dual degree, direct entry or external applicants, A32 or higher for external applicants. And then if you are within dual degree or direct entry, umm, we will be working with you individually. So lots of different options to get to the same result in the end. And what I would share with you all is, uh, Carla and I and my team here in graduate admissions are here to help you through.

That process to answer any questions you have applying to grad school can be a little bit confusing, but we're here to help you through that so that it doesn't need to be um.

So we had mentioned the website. I can also post the direct link into the chat. Umm. And at this time, if you do have any questions, please start putting those in the chat. Carly, have I missed anything?

Uh, can you hear me?

Yup.

OK. One thing I wanted to to clarify to the when Jen was talking about the application process that is for the stand alone pathway. So the dual degree application process is a little bit different. If you are interested in dual degree, your current accounting major at Stockton, you can apply to the program, but it's not through the grad school. You apply directly to me. So I have the application, I have a fact sheet that I'll send you and then you do have.

Have to write an essay So what Jen was saying was the essay that's required from the Graduate School is not required when you are dual degree moving to grad status but you've had to write the essay when your original degree so we even require that for students that are transferring into Stockton even though they might automatically get sort of meeting the guide meeting the guidelines or meeting the rules for.

Acceptance into dual degree we still require that they complete the application and the essay.

So if you are interested as a dual degree student, all you need to do is send me an e-mail Carla Kabali at Gmail. I'm sorry, at stocktonnotgmail@stockton.edu soitscarla.cabarle@stockton.edu. Just tell me that you're interested in the dual degree program and I will send you the application and fact sheet and, uh, and then we'll just correspond back and forth and we'll get you, we'll get you, umm, reviewed and, and hopefully.

Mm-hmm.

Accepted that way so and I'm always willing to answer any questions if we're on campus or if you see me in class or whatever, anytime.

Excellent.

So with that, I don't see any questions in our chat. So, um, I have put our contact information up there for any of you who are watching this live or who are watching the pre recording. Please don't hesitate to reach out. We are definitely here to assist you and uh, we thank you all so, so much for joining. What I will leave you with is 1 closing thought. Umm, I often get asked the question why should I consider Graduate School at Stockton? And without question, I don't even have to hesitate. It's because of our amazing faculty. Umm, and this program is definitely.

One of those where you've got faculty who really care about you or looking out for you, they want to see you succeed. And although this is one of our newer programs, the faculty within this program have been at Stockton for a long time and are excited to have this new educational endeavor that they've been working towards for a while. And again, you were, uh, an individual who they are looking forward to getting to know and to see really excel and to succeed. And I think that that's one of the greatest parts of being a graduate student at Stockton. So Carla, thank you to you and your colleagues.

For us being able to be able to promote that. So I hope everyone has a wonderful day and we hope to see you in Graduate School here at Stockton soon. Have a great day everyone, take care. Bye bye.

Thank you.