MSA Competencies

 

The Master of Science in Administration degree program requires all degree-seeking students meet competency requirements in the areas of Financial Accounting (ACC 201 or ACC 203) and Statistics (STA 282).

You have the following options to meet these competency requirements:

  1. Previous Course Work: successful completion of the course (grade of "C" or better) or its equivalent within three years prior to admission to the MSA program. Please be sure to notify your Advisor after your transcripts have arrived to ensure that your student record is coded.
     
  2. Competency Examinations: pass a competency exam, only offered if the student has previously taken the course. Students may take a free competency examination for Accounting and/or Statistics. Examinations may be taken twice and must be passed with at least 70% accuracy. Competency examinations are offered through your local program center or through a proctor.
     
    1. Study guides are available for each of these competency examinations from the MBS Bookstore; select "Buy Course Materials", click "Continue" and select option for "Workshops" which appears near the end of the program center listings. The study guides are relatively inexpensive (approximately $10-$20 each) and help familiarize the student with terminology, formulas, and sample questions.
    2. Workshops are also offered for a fee of $150 each. These workshops are available online or occasionally at program centers. Please keep in mind that the workshop is not the equivalent to an undergraduate course and the student is still required to complete the competency examination to meet the pre-requisite requirements. The study guide and a textbook may be required for the workshop.


    Sample exams:
    CA Accounting Sample Exam

    CA Statistics Sample Exam
     

  3. Undergraduate Course – take the course or its equivalent at CMU or another accredited institution. If students have never had an accounting or statistics course they will need to take an undergraduate level course in accounting and/or statistics. These courses are available online and occasionally at program centers. Students must earn a "C" or better in the course in order to meet prerequisite requirements.


NOTE: Students may also prefer to take these undergraduate level courses at their local community college. If so, please verify that the course you plan to take will meet CMU’s requirements:


MOST OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ONLY PURSUING AN MSA GRADUATE CERTIFICATE DO NOT NEED TO MEET THE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS. STUDENTS PURSUING AN IRM CERTIFICATE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE ACCOUNTING AND STATISTICS COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO MEET IRM COURSE PREREQUISITES.
 

 
 

 

Contact Us Apply to CMU Request Info