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Frequently Asked Questions

  9. Is there financial assistance available for Distance students?
  1. Why does a prospective Master of Accountancy (MAc) candidate need these six accounting foundation courses?
    Two Reasons: 1) the MAc Program curriculum builds upon the material taught in the six undergraduate accounting foundation courses, and 2) the CPA exam heavily tests the material covered in these courses.
  2. May I be accepted to the MAc Program before completing these courses? If not, why?
    No. Successful performance in the above courses is one of many criteria used in evaluating a MAc candidate's application package.
  3. How quickly may a candidate complete the six accounting foundation courses via distance learning before becoming an eligible candidate for the MAc Program?
    Students working full-time should take no more than two classes per semester.
  4. What steps should I take to enroll in these accounting foundation courses?
    For more information, click here.
  5. Why must a prospective MAc candidate apply to Auburn's Undergraduate Admissions in order to take the accounting foundation prerequisites to the MAc Program?
    Successful performance in the accounting foundation courses is one of many criteria used when evaluating a MAc candidate's application package. Also, to receive a graduate degree from Auburn University, a student must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all courses taken. If at the end of any semester, the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Because the accounting foundation courses are very rigorous, it's in the student's best interest to take these courses with an undergraduate classification.
  6. How soon after enrolling in the undergraduate accounting foundation courses should a prospective MAc candidate apply to the MAc Program?
    Before submitting the MAc Program E-Application, the student must first contact the Director of Accounting Graduate Programs who will advise the student on the appropriate plan of action.
  7. Does the School of Accountancy offer an undergraduate degree in accounting via distance learning?
    No, the six accounting foundation courses are offered distance learning so that a prospective Master of Accountancy candidate may obtain the prerequisites to become a qualified applicant to the MAc Program.
  8. What is the cost per credit hour for taking a distance learning accounting course?
    $568 per credit hour or $1,704 per course. This fee is the same for both in-state and out-of-state applicants. The School of Accountancy reserves the right to change this fee each year.
  9. Is there financial assistance available for Distance students?
    Distance students may apply for student loans through Auburn University's Financial Aid office at http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/student_affairs/finaid/index.html. Students must be enrolled for at least two courses (six credit hours) to be eligible for student loans.
  10. How are the courses delivered to Distance students?
    On-campus classes are video-taped in the Lowder Business Building's state-of-the-art classroom facilities. Distance students are shipped DVDs within seconds of the on-campus lectures ending. Students may also view the on-campus lectures via streaming video. Students must have a high-speed internet connection, such as a cable modem, DSL, or T1 line, to utilize the streaming videos. Links to the streaming videos will be through WebCT. Students log on to WebCT through the main Auburn web page. Sudents' classes should appear with a streaming video link on the main page of the distance course. In order to protect Auburn's servers and to restrict the students connecting to distance students only, students are asked for their Auburn user IDs and passwords again after selecting a class meeting date.

    DVDs are mailed out with the frequency that the on-campus classes meet. Classes begin and end on the same day as the on-campus program. During fall and spring, on-campus classes meet twice a week (Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays) for 1 hours and 15 minutes. Therefore, distance students receive two DVDs per week. Distance students employed full-time should take no more than two classes per semester during fall and spring. Summer semester courses are taught in two five-week mini-sessions, and classes meet five days a week for 1 ½ hours per day. Therefore, distance students receive five DVDs per week. Distance students working full-time should take only one class per mini-session during the summer term. Students receive DVDs within 2-4 days normally. The streaming videos are available the same day of the on-campus lecture.

    Homework assignments and tests are the same as those for on-campus students and should be completed and mailed in by the due dates specified on the course syllabus.

    Tests are administered by an approved Test Proctor.

    Advisor and faculty set aside designated telephone office hours for distance students.

    Additional contact is facilitated through e-mail and web sites (commentary submissions, downloads of materials/handouts, homework assignments, etc...)
  11. How do I take exams?
    Distance learning students are required to have a test proctor. This person is usually someone at the student's place of employment.

    A TEST PROCTOR MUST BE AT LEAST ONE LEVEL ABOVE THE STUDENT OR A HUMAN RESOURCES/TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE STUDENT'S COMPANY.

    If a test proctor has already been approved for a particular company, this person should act as proctor for all Graduate Outreach students in that company. In the event that two or more students at the same company were to take the same courses concurrently, the approved proctor would administer the tests to both students at the same time and place. Any exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Outreach Office in advance. If a test proctor cannot be secured from within the student's company, a local librarian, or a community college testing service department may be utilized.

    A test proctor must be willing and able to:
    Receive examination material from Auburn University.
    Administer examinations according to instructor guidelines included with each exam.
    Sign each exam cover sheet, attesting to the proper administration of the examination.
    Return tests to the address provided on the exam cover sheet.
    Give prior written notification (e-mail is acceptable) of discontinuation of Proctor Status. Any changes of proctor status should be addressed to Becky Young (Academic Evaluator)
    Maintain a file copy of all completed tests. This will serve as a back-up in the event of a test being lost and are to be held until a grade is assigned for the course. After a grade has been assigned for the course, the test files are to be destroyed.
    Communicate test due dates to students in a timely manner so any potential conflicts may be resolved prior to the due date.
  12. How do I get my books?
    You may order the required texts from the Auburn University Bookstore, J & M Bookstore, or Anders Bookstore (two local private book retailers). You may also order books from any national source. However, be sure you have the correct Title/Author/ISBN number before ordering from another source outside of Auburn.
    There are TWO ways to order from the AU Bookstore:
    Go to http://www.aubookstore.com and order your book on-line by submitting the order form provided on that page. Your order may be charged to your Bursar bill or you may use your credit card.
    Dial the toll free number to the AU Bookstore, 877-278-2337 and ask for Kim Hawkins to order your textbooks for you. She handles all of the Graduate Outreach Program's orders personally. PLEASE CALL Kim Hawkins at the AU Bookstore, Anders or J&M at their 800 numbers to report problems with book shipments or charges.
    To order from J&M Bookstore: Online: http://www.jmbooks.com, or call their Toll Free Number, 800-323-1405.
    To order from Anders Bookstore: Online: http://www.anders-bookstore.com, or call their Toll Free Number, 800-Anders1 (263-3771).
  13. Are the undergraduate accounting foundation courses offered via distance learning different from the courses offered on-campus?
    No, the distance learning courses are the same as the on-campus courses in accreditation, content, expectations and appearance. Transcripts for distance students are also the same as transcripts for on-campus students. Distance students are required and expected to meet high academic standards in the same manner as our on-campus students. Distance students follow the same academic calendar as on-campus students.
  14. Do I receive graduate credit towards the MAc degree for taking the undergraduate accounting foundation courses via distance learning?
    No, the student receives undergraduate college credit when completing the accounting foundation courses and meets the prerequisites for the MAc Program.
  15. How much study time outside of watching the lectures on DVD do you recommend?
    Three to four hours for every one hour in class.
  16. Other than purchasing the textbook, do you recommend any other course materials?
    Yes, a student should order the following Gleim Exam Questions & Explanations Books. You do not need to purchase the software, only the books. Click on the hyperlinks below:
    ACCT 3113 and ACCT 3123 Intermediate Accounting I and II
    ACCT 3213 Cost Accounting
    ACCT 4313 Audit
    ACCT 4413 Income Tax I
    You will not need to purchase a Gleim book for the ACCT 3513 Accounting Information Systems course. For the other courses, these books are essential for success.
  17. What study approach do you recommend for the undergraduate accounting foundation courses?
    The key to success when taking an accounting course is repetition. To get the repetition that you need, follow the suggested study approach below.
    1. Before you view a lecture, QUICKLY read the assigned material in order to be familiar with the concepts and terminology.
    2. View the lecture on the assigned reading material.
    3. Reread the assigned material AGAIN very thoroughly and make yourself a condensed outline of the chapter.
    4. Begin to work your homework assignments while referring back to examples in the chapter.
    5. Reread the material and review before the exam. (Don’t rework the same homework problems over and over. When you do this, you are memorizing which doesn’t work in accounting. Try and work different problems at the end of each chapter.)
    6. Study Gleim Questions