Are You a MAc?

For business student Christie Barrett, the decision to take part in Auburn University’s masters of accountancy program was a personal one as well as a professional one.

The MAc program is a non-thesis graduate program requiring 30 semester hours of coursework and is designed to provide students with a broad-based business education.

“The curriculum focuses on enhancing a student’s analytical and critical thinking skills, written and oral communication skills, and increased understanding of the global nature of the accounting profession,” says Barrett.

Barrett served as the president of the College of Business and graduated in accounting in May 2009. While completing her undergraduate degree, Barrett worked at Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Ga., as a tax intern and was offered a full-time job upon graduation from graduate school.

“The recruiters at the firm recommend that you attend graduate school,” says Barrett. “In order to be promoted to manager within the firm, an employee must pass the CPA exam.”

To become a certified public accountant, one must obtain 150 hours of education as well as pass a four-part exam. Seeing as how most undergraduates fulfill their degree requirements with 123 hours, Barrett says firms view the MAc program as the best way to reach the 150-hour mark.

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“Students with graduate degrees have significantly higher success rates on the CPA exam,” says Barrett, “and masters degree holders receive starting salaries that are about 10 to 20 percent higher than the starting salaries of those with only bachelors degrees.”

It can be expensive to attend graduate school, which the employer does not pay for. Barrett says the School of Accountancy offers many graduate research assistantships, or GRAs, that will cover the cost of tuition.

“Students holding a GRA appointment are expected to devote about 10 hours per week to teaching or research projects under the direct supervision of a faculty member,” says Barrett.

Barrett chose Auburn to obtain her masters degree because of the GRA program. Barrett said she wanted to continue learning from professors with whom she had built relationships.

Not only is Barrett taking the required coursework for the MAc program, but she is also teaching Auburn University freshman when she is not in the classroom herself.

“I teach UNIV1050: Success Strategies, which I greatly look forward to every week,” says Barrett. “I enjoy getting to know some of the freshman and helping them succeed at a school I am very passionate about.”