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Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics

Prepare for your accounting career in the data age through hands-on experience in data analytics and cutting-edge technologies.

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About This Program

Our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) program, launched in 2018 through a partnership with KPMG, is one of the first of its kind in the nation and offers specialization in data analytics paired with broad graduate-level accounting education. This program is STEM-designated.

MADA students complete five required accountancy and taxation courses, a three-course data analytics specialization, and two accountancy electives. You’ll want to take our CPA review course, which provides high-quality CPA exam preparation and a structured study environment, as one of your electives. During the course, you’ll take three of the four sections of the CPA exam. Many of our students complete the CPA exam by the time that they graduate.

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    Program Information

    Program Type

    Master's Program

    Area of Study

    Business and Accountancy

    School

    Patterson School of Accountancy

    Duration

    10-12 months

    Degree

    Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics

    Program Location

    Oxford

    Required Credit Hours

    30

    Admission Requirements

    • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
    • Completion of the required undergraduate courses, with minimum grades where applicable
    • Minimum 445 GMAT score if you do not qualify for a GMAT waiver
    • For international students: minimum required English language proficiency exam score if you do not qualify for an exemption

    Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for full standing admission may be considered for admission in another category. Admission in a category other than full standing requires fulfilling specified grade and/or course requirements and limits financial aid eligibility until full-standing admission is obtained.

    University of Mississippi accounting majors: minimum grades of C in ACCY 401: Auditing and ACCY 405: Income Taxes I

    Accounting majors from other institutions with separate accounting accreditation by AACSB International: minimum grades of C in undergraduate auditing and tax courses that are equivalent to ACCY 401: Auditing and ACCY 405: Income Taxes I

    Accounting majors in programs without separate accounting accreditation by AACSB and applicants who majored in a field of study other than accounting:

    If a required course is not available at your undergraduate institution, you can take it at the University of Mississippi.

    We accept scores for the current and previous versions of the GMAT. Scores are valid for five years.

    The GMAT requirement is waived for:

    • Patterson School accounting majors with an overall or resident GPA of 3.0 or higher
    • Undergraduate accounting majors with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher from other AACSB-accredited institutions.

    The GMAT is required for all students who wish to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship.

    We ask students who are not eligible for a GMAT waiver to make up to three attempts if needed and send us all GMAT scores received.

    When to Take the GMAT

    • Starting the master’s program in summer or fall:
      • take the GMAT in summer or fall of the year prior (and no later than the end of December)
    • Starting the master’s program in winter intersession or spring:
      • take the GMAT in summer or fall of the year prior (and no later than the end of December) to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship for the fall semester that you’re enrolled
      • take the GMAT in summer or fall two years prior (and no later than the end of December) to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship for the spring semester that you’re enrolled (note that we rarely have openings for spring semester)

    Be sure to consider application deadlines and the timeframe for receiving your score (up to 20 business days) when scheduling the GMAT.

    If you are an international student, you are required to meet English language proficiency exam requirements as specified by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or a graduate of an institution of higher education in the U.S. or a country on that list.

    Application Information

    Priority Deadlines

    • February 1, 2025 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for a 2025 summer term, Fall Semester 2025, Winter Intersession 2026, or Spring Semester 2026 and be considered for Patterson School of Accountancy financial aid awards
      • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above (admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT)
      • Scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
    • April 1, 2025 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for a 2025 summer term, Fall Semester 2025, Winter Intersession 2026, or Spring Semester 2026 and be considered for Patterson School of Accountancy financial aid awards
      • Any remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
      • Any remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

    General Deadlines

    • August 1, 2024– Deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2024
    • December 1, 2024 – Deadline to apply for Winter Intersession and Spring Semester 2025
    • May 1, 2025 – Deadline to apply for all 2025 summer terms
    • August 1, 2025– Deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2025
    • December 1, 2025 – Deadline to apply for Winter Intersession and Spring Semester 2026

    • Complete the graduate school application, which requires you to enter basic information, select your master’s program, select your starting term for the program, and pay the $60 nonrefundable application fee (required for all applicants).
    • If you are a current student or graduate of an institution other than the University of Mississippi, have your official undergraduate transcript sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu). You do not need to have junior or community college transcripts sent.
    • If required for admission, send your GMAT score to the Patterson School of Accountancy via your GMAC account.
    • If you’re an international student, have your official English language proficiency exam scores sent to the university unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or graduated from an institution in one of those countries.

    If the GMAT is waived for your admission but you plan to take it for PSOA graduate assistantship consideration, you can have your score sent when you apply or have it sent so that we receive it by one of the priority application deadlines.

    To register for master’s classes, you must be admitted to the master’s program and have completed your undergraduate degree, with the degree that you earned listed on your official transcript.

    These semesters and terms are available to choose as your starting term in the application process: fall semester, winter intersession, spring semester, May intersession, full summer term (includes first summer term and second summer term), and August intersession. Dates for all semesters and terms are listed on the academic calendar.

    Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics students are required to take ACCY 628 in May intersession or August intersession; we recommend taking that class at the beginning rather than the end of your master’s studies.

    University of Mississippi Undergraduates

    Your undergraduate degree will be certified once final grades are posted for your last undergraduate class(es).

    If you will be taking your last undergraduate classes in spring semester and will be a May graduate, your starting term for the master’s program can be May intersession or any term after.

    If you will be taking your last undergraduate class(es) in the summer and will be an August graduate, your starting term for the master’s program can be the term after you take your last undergraduate class or any term after that.

    If you will be taking your last undergraduate classes in fall semester and will be a December graduate, your starting term for the master’s program can be winter intersession or any term after.

    Undergraduates at Other Institutions

    Contact your registrar if needed to find out when your completed undergraduate degree will be listed on your transcript and when an official copy can be sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu). Choose a starting term that begins after the graduate school will receive your official transcript.

    Degree Requirements

    Required Accountancy and Taxation Courses (15 hours, 5 courses)

    Required Data Analytics Courses (9 hours, 3 courses)

    Accountancy Electives (6 hours, choose 2 courses)

    Financial Aid

    The PSOA offers over 90 financial aid awards each year. To be considered for PSOA financial aid awards, you must complete the PSOA Financial Aid Application. You will be given access to that application once you’ve completed the admission application process.

    In addition to the information provided in the PSOA Financial Aid Application, transcript, admission application, GMAT, and FAFSA information is used to determine eligibility for PSOA awards.

    Current GPAs as of the time of selection are used in evaluating candidates for PSOA financial aid award eligibility. Students from other institutions who have completed undergraduate classes since admission must have a new official transcript sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu) by one of the priority deadlines to be considered for PSOA financial aid awards.

    Students who apply by one of the priority application deadlines will be considered for awards given for the 2025-26 academic year.

    • February 1, 2025 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for a 2025 summer term, Fall Semester 2025, Winter Intersession 2026, or Spring Semester 2026 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
      • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above [admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT]
      • Scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
    • April 1, 2025 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for a 2025 summer term, Fall Semester 2025, Winter Intersession 2026, or Spring Semester 2026 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
      • Any remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
      • Any remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

    PSOA Graduate Assistantship

    The PSOA awards approximately 50 graduate assistantships each year for fall and spring semesters.

    Graduate assistants perform 10 hours of service to the PSOA per week, with responsibilities that may include assisting faculty, tutoring, proctoring exams, and/or assisting in the PSOA office.

    In exchange for their service, graduate assistants receive a partial tuition scholarship (approximately 60-65% of resident tuition), a 100% non-resident fee scholarship, and a semesterly stipend of $3,000. For the 2023-24 academic year, the partial tuition scholarship is $3,469.50. Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

    Graduate assistantships are offered to students with the highest admission scores [admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT]. We accept scores for the current and previous versions of the GMAT. For admission score calculations, scores for the previous version will be equated to current GMAT scores using the score concordance chart provided by GMAC, the test provider. When a score for the previous version of the GMAT is equivalent to more than one current GMAT score, the highest score will be used.

    PSOA graduate assistants are not permitted to serve in additional graduate assistantship positions while serving in the PSOA.

    Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship

    With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation & Data Analytics (MTDA) programs. Hearin Fellows receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000. Hearin Fellows fulfill a minimal service obligation, which generally consists of proctoring exams periodically during the semester. Eligible candidates are Mississippi residents who are admitted to the MADA or MTDA program and plan to work in Mississippi upon graduation from the master’s program.

    KPMG MADA Scholarship

    The Patterson School of Accountancy proudly partners with KPMG to create pathways for underrepresented future leaders to build thriving careers in the professional services industry. Our Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) program was established in 2018 in collaboration with KPMG, and we are committed to preparing students for the highly complex business landscape by combining the practical use of data and analytics technologies with a focused accounting curriculum. KPMG MADA Scholars receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000. Eligible candidates are students who are admitted to the MADA program, are members of an underrepresented population, and have either accepted a post-master’s job offer with KPMG or have not accepted a job offer at the time of selection. Funding for these scholarships is generously provided by KPMG.

    Minority & First-Generation Educational Initiative Scholarship

    To provide educational opportunities in accountancy and data analytics to Mississippi residents who are first-generation college students and/or members of underrepresented populations, the U.S. Department of Education has generously provided funding for the Minority & First-Generation Educational Initiative Scholarship program. The award includes an $10,000 scholarship in fall and spring semesters and a $1,200 technology stipend, for a total award of $21,200. Eligible candidates are Mississippi residents who are admitted to the Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) or Master of Taxation & Data Analytics (MTDA) program and who are members of an underrepresented population and/or are first-generation students by this definition: an individual, neither of whose parents completed a baccalaureate degree; or an individual who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent and whose supporting parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or an individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or adoptive parent.

    Jennifer Lea McClure

    Director of Master's Programs

    I'd love to hear from you if you're interested in pursuing a master's degree in the PSOA. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions about our MADA program. 

    Jennifer Lea McClure

    Director of Masters Programs Accountancy

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