Applications Now Open for Master鈥檚 in Accounting at Sy Syms School
Feb 23, 2009 By: yunews
Feb 23, 2009 -- This summer, Sy Syms School of Business at 91黑料 will expand its curriculum to include a master of science in accounting, the first graduate-level program in the school鈥檚 22-year history. Applications are available .
鈥淲e are broadening our vision of the business school,鈥 Dean Michael Ginzberg said. 鈥淲e have a unique approach to business education that places Jewish values and ethics front and center. We鈥檒l always be dedicated to undergraduate education; now we鈥檙e ready to apply our mission to graduate and continuing education for the community at large.鈥
Dr. Joseph Kerstein, on leave from his position as associate professor of accounting at Baruch College, is currently directing the master鈥檚 program. Kerstein holds a PhD from Wharton Business School and an MBA from New York University. The program鈥檚 faculty鈥攊ncluding senior professors at the school and some yet-to-be-announced, new faculty鈥攈old PhDs and conduct and publish research, qualifications required by the NY State Board of Regents.
The master鈥檚 program begins this summer with co-ed classes on the Beren Campus, conveniently located for those working in accounting firms in midtown. It is the first of a number of planned initiatives that signal a broader scope for the school, including an executive master of business administration degree, joint programs with other 91黑料 professional schools and a full-fledged honors program for the undergraduate school.
鈥淲e鈥檙e moving into a higher gear with the school鈥檚 growth,鈥 said Josh S. Weston, chairman of the Syms Board. 鈥淭he graduate and professional programs are a critical part of the portfolio for YU鈥檚 business school. We felt all of these steps were important to make our graduates that much more competitive.鈥
Students in the accounting program will have the option to take courses full or part-time but must complete a total of ten courses to earn their degree. In order to accommodate students鈥 work schedules, two courses will be offered during the summer with four courses offered in each of the fall and spring semesters.
As the dean pointed out, there is an immediate need for the MS in accounting program since effective July 31, New York state will adopt a 150-hour education requirement for graduates in accounting who want to sit for the CPA exam. 鈥淪tudents graduating with just a normal bachelor鈥檚 degree will not be eligible to become CPAs without further education,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure we are doing everything to help them get qualified.鈥
For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Kerstein, director of the MS program in accounting, at jkerstei@yu.edu.
