MAcy Program
Master of Accountancy
Accounting requires technical & analytical skills plus creativity
One misconception about accounting is that it is primarily about numbers and that you have to be good at math to be good at accounting. That does help, but what makes you really good at accounting is having strong analytical skills and an inquisitive nature plus an ability for creative problem solving. You need a strong desire to want to know "why" and to find the best (often the most creative) solution for your client, your employer, or yourself as a business owner.
Creative accountants earn national ethics awards
Two teams of MAcy students used their creativity, knowledge of ethical analysis, and acquired new skills in acting, script writing, video editing, and production to earn Judges' Choice 1st and 2nd place awards in the national "Ethics in Action" competition. The event is sponsored by the Center for the Public Trust (CPT) which is affiliated with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Each team entering the competition must identify an ethical dilemma that young professionals might face in their careers, analyze the dilemma, and identify feasible courses of action to address the situation. In addition to mastering the challenge of "telling their story" in three minutes, the students also benefited from working together as a team.
The dilemma depicted in one video, Break Time, was that of a new employee deciding whether to falsify her time records to reflect more time worked on client assignments. The second video, The Startup, features a staff accountant realizing her CFO has "fudged the numbers" in a financial report and she must decide whether to report him to their CEO.
To view the videos, follow these links:
1st Place: Break Time
2nd Place: The Start-up
McCoy College top master's student
Another prestigious award was earned by MAcy student Emily Cantu (BBA '21 & MAcy '23). She was honored as the 2022-23 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student for McCoy College of Business. Each academic program selects one Outstanding Graduate Student and submits their nominee to the college. To receive this honor, Emily had the support of all departments within McCoy College.
Emily earned her BBA from Texas State with a double major in accounting and finance. She maintained a 4.0 GPA during the MAcy program and is now studying for the CPA exam. After graduation, she will join a public accounting firm in Austin as an assurance associate. Emily says of her educational experience, "I had the pleasure of working with numerous faculty as a GA during the MAcy program. Texas State is so special, and all the professors I've learned from (and worked alongside) have had a profound impact on my studies and my life. I truly could not have made it this far without all of you!"
AICPA minority scholarship
Saidif Mejia (BBA '22 & MAcy '24) is the first MAcy student to receive an AICPA Scholarship for Minority Students. He researched scholarship sources for graduate accounting majors and found the AICPA website. It included a section that described previous recipients. "It seemed like students from even the smallest schools had received this scholarship." With encouragement from Dr. Kasey Martin, MAcy Director, and her letter of recommendation, Saidif applied and was selected for the scholarship.
The support he received from Dr. Martin is the same kind of support that first brought him to Texas State for his bachelor's degree in accounting. Saidif describes our university as providing "exceptionally generous scholarships and financial aid…something I did not get from other schools." He further notes, "This was extremely meaningful for me as a first-generation college student from a low-income family."
Saidif's words of wisdom for other students are that they should consider the MAcy program "because of the superb professors and strong relationships you will build with classmates, along with the challenging curriculum that makes MAcy students more competitive in the job market." He is emphatic about pursuing an accounting career because of the "many opportunities in any industry and any location while being able to generate financial security and success." In keeping with his own ethical and generous spirit, Saidif hopes that accounting graduates will "use their developed skillset to further social justice causes that matter the most to them."
Measures of success
MAcy graduates reflect the success of our program
- 100% of graduates in spring 2023 have received at least one full-time job offer before graduation. Others have multiple offers.
- 100% completed internships during their MAcy program.
- 100% are taking the CPA exam or will do so within the next year
MAcy Mentors make connections
MAcy Mentors was a pilot program during the spring 2023 semester. Thirty-six undergraduate students from Intermediate Accounting courses were matched with MAcy students. The MAcy students answered questions about the program and provided insights about their own strategies for success. Many of the undergraduates sat in on a graduate class and were encouraged to participate and ask questions about presentations given by the MAcy students.
Madi Lujan-Eckert (BBA '23) says her MAcy Mentor and the entire experience was informative, supportive, and encouraging. "As an undergraduate, I felt a bit intimidated by graduate courses. After I sat in on a MAcy class with my mentor, I was pleasantly surprised. The class was small and all the students interacted with each other. They made me feel comfortable. My MAcy Mentor shared the topics for the class ahead of time and because of her knowledge, I was prepared to be part of the class discussion." Madi adds that she is impressed that her mentor has been pursuing a MAcy degree while being employed full-time at Texas State.
MAcy support system
Bruce Howard, MAcy Program Recruiter, provides guidance to undergraduates as they look ahead and solidify plans for accounting careers. That usually includes a MAcy degree. He also offers perspectives as MAcy students move through their program and consider many career options. "My goal is for every MAcy student to have multiple job offers. With the shortage of accountants right now, it is a 'seller's market' for students to choose from multiple firms, locations, and specialties. It is a great time to graduate with an accounting degree!"
To get the word out about the seemingly unlimited opportunities in accounting, this year Bruce attended &/or supported a dozen student organization meetings as moderator or guest speaker, gave 31 classroom presentations, and participated in more than two dozen related events. This included Meet-the-Firms, Winterfest, and the Accounting Awards & Excellence Celebration. Bruce urges students to participate in all such activities to maximize networking with potential employers.
His enthusiasm for the accounting profession is contagious. "I love what we do...helping students achieve their career goals...often achieving more than they imagined." Students frequently send email messages or handwritten thank-you notes, telling Bruce how much he helped them. This semester, he received special thanks from a student's father, expressing gratitude for Bruce's dedication to MAcy students...but, especially for his daughter's success in obtaining an internship. Bruce sees that as part of the "whole package" of the MAcy program. "It's what we do. We focus on each student and take care of them. We provide a total support system."