ASAP: Online Prerequisite Program

This no-cost online tutorial does not grant course credit to the participant. Its purpose is to allow incoming MAC students a brief review of key topics from a common undergraduate introductory financial accounting course before taking the entrance proficiency exam. The successful completion of an entrance proficiency exam with a minimum score of 75% is required for all students planning to participate in any portion of the ASAP Program. The entrance proficiency exam must be completed before the start of the ASAP Program.

Cost: No Cost Course
Duration Estimate: Varies based on experience

Intermediate Financial Accounting I builds upon certain topics first introduced in the Financial Accounting Fundamentals Review. The course covers more advanced topics related to the accounting cycle, major categories of assets, current liabilities, and the preparation of the balance sheet, statement of stockholders’ equity, and income statement. Topics covered closely align with those covered in intermediate accounting courses offered for course credit.

Cost:  $1,000
Course Duration Estimate:  2-3 weeks, 50-60 hours

Intermediate Financial Accounting II builds upon some of the topics first introduced in the Financial Accounting Fundamentals Review and introduces new topics unique to intermediate accounting courses. The course covers more advanced and specialized topics relating to long-term liabilities, investments, stockholders’ equity, deferred income taxes, revenue recognition, pensions, leases, accounting changes, and the statement of cash flows. Topics covered closely align with those covered in intermediate accounting courses offered for course credit

Cost:  $1,000                
Course Duration Estimate:  2-3 weeks, 50-60 hours

Business Law covers topics generally included in an undergraduate level introductory Business Law course. The course provides a basic introduction to the American legal system, including legal terminology, court systems, procedural rules for lawsuits and applicable law for certain torts, crimes and contracts.

Cost:  $750                   
Course Duration Estimate:  1-2 weeks, 20-25 hours

ASAP Audit covers topics generally included in an undergraduate level introductory Audit course. The course provides a basic introduction to the audit profession, ethics, audit evidence, planning, materiality, strategy, risk, sampling and completing the audit.

Cost:  $1,000                
Course Duration Estimate:  1-2 weeks, 20-25 hours

Income Taxation covers topics generally included in an undergraduate level introductory Income Taxation course. This course provides a basic introduction to topics including:  business taxation, property acquisitions and dispositions, nontaxable exchanges, sole proprietorship and flow through entities, corporate taxation, business entity choice, jurisdictional issues, and individual taxation and compliance.

Cost:  $1,000                
Course Duration Estimate:  2-3 weeks, 50-60 hours

ASAP Managerial covers topics generally included in an undergraduate level introductory Managerial Accounting course. The course provides a basic introduction to managerial and cost accounting topics, some of which include job order costing, activity based costing, process costing, budgeting and ratio analysis.  No course credit is earned for completion of the ASAP Managerial course but it does meet the MAC program prerequisite.

Cost:  $1,000                
Course Duration Estimate:  30-40 hours

There is a cost associated with each ASAP Course. See pricing above in module drop down descriptions.  Payment is due at the time of registration. Funds collected through the ASAP program will help support further development of ASAP courses, faculty and staff support and may be used to support other activities within the Master of Accounting program. The ASAP course fees are non-refundable. This remains true if the course is not completed for whatever reason. If you have payment questions please contact the MAC Admissions team at jay_arrington@ncsu.edu.

The ASAP courses can be registered for at one time or individually. Payment is due at the time of registration. Course access is available for one year from the time of registration.

MAC Admissions determines and communicates the needed ASAP courses based on your transcript history. A C- or higher must have been received in any prerequisite classes already taken. If you are unsure of what courses you need reach out to Jay Arrington, director of MAC admissions, at jay_arrington@ncsu.edu

No and No. ASAP course are non-credit prerequisite courses. They will not show on your transcript. Your pass/fail status will be communicated to the director of admissions prior to the beginning of MAC courses.

Each ASAP course contains a series of topics broken down into modules accompanied by a practice exercise. There is no grading of these exercises. After completing the modules and exercises you will take a proficiency exam. Achievement of 75% is required to pass. You will have up to three attempts to pass the proficiency exam, with the highest attempt taken. If a passing score is not achieved you may need to retake parts of the ASAP course. Your exam results will be communicated to MAC Admissions.

The pace at which you take the ASAP course is up to you. We require that the ASAP prerequisite course be completed prior to taking its advanced equivalent in the MAC program (e.g. ASAP Audit before ACC 550 Advanced Auditing). An ASAP course is considered complete upon achievement of 75% or higher on the proficiency exam.

See time estimates in the drop down module descriptions above. 

No. Taxation is the only course that uses a textbook and the MAC program is providing access to the e-book at no cost to you, the student. Contact the MAC assistant director of academic programs, Jessica Moran, jbmoran@ncsu.edu for questions related to the textbook. 

Yes – please ask questions! For efficiency, as well as to address similar questions other participants may also have, please post all questions in the question forum rather than via an email. Our team will monitor these forums regularly to answer your questions. Remember you are not expected to be an expert at these topics.

No, the exams are not proctored. The exam is given online and students are given two hours and three attempts.  Participants who do not pass the proficiency exam on their own are unlikely to be successful in the MAC program.