Office of University Communications 

Missouri State to provide accelerated master's option to SBU students

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University and Southwest Baptist University (SBU) have agreed to collaborate for the purpose of making the Missouri State accelerated master’s in accountancy available to SBU students. A memorandum of understanding between the two universities was signed yesterday (Jan. 17, 2008).

Accelerated master’s options provide a transition that enables outstanding students to be admitted into graduate programs and to enroll for a limited amount of graduate course work in their junior or senior year. It also allows students to have greater efficiencies in their pursuit of educational goals that extend into graduate degrees. There are currently accelerated master’s options in 12 graduate programs at Missouri State, and several disciplines are developing this option. 

“It has been gratifying to be able to work with SBU in developing this collaboration for students majoring in accounting,” said Dr. Frank Einhellig, associate provost and dean of the Missouri State Graduate College. “Our accounting programs have always had good communications, and the students that take advantage of this opportunity for transition into graduate work will find this program a winning combination for their career aspirations.”

Through the advising process, SBU will inform its students of this collaborative opportunity for enrollment at Missouri State University, which will then accept applications from qualified SBU undergraduate junior and/or senior students.

SBU students accepted into the accelerated master’s program will be enrolled at Missouri State in an undergraduate exchange student classification. Those students enrolling at Missouri State through the accelerated master’s programs will pay tuition and fees to SBU according to the SBU fee structure.

Missouri State’s financial aid office will work with SBU to provide necessary documentation of the joint enrollment for students receiving federal financial aid. 

“Our SBU accounting department is excited about teaming up with Missouri State’s master’s in accountancy (MAcc) program,” said Dr. Wayne Clark, chair of SBU’s accounting department.  “Advanced training is becoming more and more important for today’s accountants, and the Missouri State program is well prepared to meet the needs of SBU’s accounting graduates. MAcc also is a vehicle to allow SBU accounting graduates to more quickly proceed with graduate work in preparation for a possible career as an accounting educator.”