Since its founding in 1993, Rhodes’ Master of Science in Accounting program has achieved a 100 percent job placement rate for students following graduation. The 2019 graduates continue this sterling success, having all been hired by the Big Four accounting firms—KPMG, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers—or other national organizations.
Why so successful?
“Our M.S. in Accounting program extends the Rhodes undergraduate liberal arts perspective, which emphasizes critical analysis and communication skills in addition to technical accounting subject matter. This prepares students for long-term success in a wide range of business careers,” says program director and associate professor of accounting Dr. Pamela Church. “We also provide opportunities for students to interact with accounting professionals on campus and in the workplace through our annual Meet the Firms event, classroom speakers, and summer internships.”
Offered by the Department of Business, the M.S. in Accounting program prepares students for careers in a variety of business environments and careers, including public accounting, corporate accounting, investment banking, and financial consulting. The program averages around 20 students per academic year, with 19 graduating in 2019. In the last three years, graduates of the program have been hired by firms in cities such as Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, DC, and Memphis.
What makes the Rhodes program so distinctive?
“Our small size allows professors to mentor students individually to help them identify the best job placement for their talents and preferences,” says Church. “We also use a cohort structure in which a group moves through the program in two semesters. Students tell us that their peers support them during the program and throughout their careers.”
All applicants must have an earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution before being admitted into the program, and all non-Rhodes applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test. The majority of candidates can fulfill the requirements of the degree in two four-course semesters. Courses include Financial Accounting Theory and Research, Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Entities, Taxation of Business Organizations, Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, and Systems Auditing.
Grant Ramey, who has accepted a position at Ernst & Young, passed each part of the CPA Exam on the first sitting, with grades of 99, 99, 99, and 98. He offers extensive praise for Rhodes’ M.S. in Accounting program and says, “It exceeded all my expectations this year. The level of detail and critical thinking required for my courses pushed me to perform at my best and helped me gain a much deeper understanding of the material. I believe this directly translated into my success on the CPA Exam. The care and dedication Professor Church and the rest of the M.S. in Accounting faculty have for the program and its students is incredible. During job interviews, I never felt like I had to convince employers about the quality of my education at Rhodes. Employers greatly appreciate how well Rhodes equips its students for the workplace.”