Accounting students at Alcorn State University have access to an accelerated Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree pathway made possible through a newly established partnership with Mississippi Christian University.

A Memorandum of Understanding between MC and Alcorn, signed June 30, establishes a 4+1 program that allows qualified Alcorn students to earn both their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Alcorn and their Master of Accountancy degree from MC in five years of study, decreasing the total length of undergraduate studies plus graduate school by one year.


Leaders from Alcorn State University (ASU) and Mississippi Christian University (MC) gather following the June 30 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing an accelerated 4+1 Master of Accountancy pathway between the two institutions. Seated, from left, Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State University; and Dr. Blake Thompson, president of Mississippi Christian University; standing from left, Dr. Edmund Buckner, associate provost for research and innovation, ASU; LaTuesday Guy, J.D., program coordinator, ASU; Dr. Antwon Woods, dean, School of Business, ASU; Dr. Stephanie Busbea, interim provost, MC; Dr. Marcelo Eduardo, Dean, School of Business, MC; and Dr. Billy Morehead, program coordinator, MC.

The combination of the Alcorn BBA in accounting and the MC MAcc supports the preferred pathway toward the 150-hour CPA licensure eligibility under Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy rules and regulations.

“Mississippi Christian University is proud to partner with Alcorn State University to offer students a streamlined path to earning their Master of Accountancy degree,” said MC President Blake Thompson. “This arrangement benefits both MC and Alcorn State and establishes a clear pathway to help keep the best and brightest future accountants in our state.”

Alcorn State University President Tracy M. Cook also praised the partnership between the two institutions.

“This signing with Mississippi Christian University offers a new opportunity for our students who are ready to lead,” said Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State. “By developing this accelerated pathway to an AACSB-accredited Master of Accountancy, we are continuing to expand access to the accounting profession. That is the promise of an education at Alcorn State. I am proud that we are building this future with our partners at Mississippi Christian University.”

Antwon D. Woods, dean of the ASU School of Business, said the agreement provides a “faster, smarter route to the CPA profession” for accounting students at Alcorn State.

“This partnership is about more than an agreement on paper,” Woods said. “It is about building a clear, accelerated path for our students from undergraduate accounting at Alcorn directly into one of Mississippi’s premier graduate accounting programs and onto the CPA exam. When two institutions choose to walk together in service of student opportunity, the future of our state’s accounting profession becomes stronger.”

Marcelo Eduardo, dean of the School of Business at MC, said the 4+1 program benefits everyone.

“This is a program that benefits the students, above all,” Marcelo said. “But it also allows both Alcorn State University and Mississippi Christian University to provide a high-quality degree that only enhances the economy in this state.”

Billy Morehead, MC professor of accountancy and director of the MAcc, spearheaded the 4+1 program details. “We’ve designed this program to be the preferred path for undergraduate students to become CPAs,” said Morehead.

“The market for accountants in Mississippi is demanding a more educated, better prepared and experienced workforce. The 4+1 program will help bridge this gap.”

Students with good academic and student standing and 90 credit hours completed with a minimum 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average required for the BBA accounting degree from Alcorn will be eligible for provisional admission to the MC online MAcc degree program. Students seeking admission to the MC School of Business will not be required to take the GMAT entrance exam as long as they have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.

Students in the BBA Accounting program will complete an undergraduate course of study approved by Alcorn that is equivalent in length and rigor to the course of study ordinarily required by Alcorn for awarding of the BBA in accounting. Students will be allowed to complete six hours of approved cross-listed or graduate coursework which will count toward both their BBA in accounting and MAcc degrees.

Alcorn will award the student the BBA Accounting degree upon completion of ASU’s degree requirements. After the student completes the additional requirements for the MAcc degree, MC will award the student the MAcc degree.

The 4+1 program in accounting is modeled after the 3+3 accelerated law degree partnership the MC School of Law has established with colleges and universities throughout the state, allowing students to earn both their bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate in six years of study rather than seven. The 4+1 program complies with the requirements of the SACSCOC, ACBSP and AACSB as applicable to each respective university.

The online AACSB-accredited Master of Accounting program at MC was the first 100-percent online MAcc program in Mississippi and was designed top-to-bottom for the online format. For more information, visit business.mc.edu/graduate/master-accounting.

About Alcorn State University

Founded in 1871, Alcorn State University is the nation’s first public, historically Black, land-grant university. Alcorn State offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nearly 50 top-degree programs. Located on 1700 acres in Lorman, Mississippi, with branches in Vicksburg and Natchez, the University is celebrating 155 years of academic excellence. Learn more at alcorn.edu.

About Mississippi Christian University
Founded in 1826, Mississippi Christian University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi. Affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, MC is a comprehensive Christian university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ. Offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, the university prepares students to lead lives of purpose and service. Learn more at mc.edu.