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UC Riverside

School of Business

A. Gary Anderson
Graduate School of Management

Graduate student attending a class in Anderson Hall, UCR School of Business

Master of Professional Accountancy

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Master of Professional Accountancy

This program builds a career in accounting through advanced education in audit and assurance, taxation, accounting information systems and ethics. It prepares you with the knowledge to meet the State of California Board of Accountancy education standards required for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, as well as for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) examinations.

Two tracks are offered: Track One is for applicants with a degree or major in accounting and is typically completed in 9 months. Track Two is for applicants without an accounting background and is often completed in 15 months. Domestic students may also choose to follow a flexible schedule that combines your studies with industry work experience.

A STEM-Designated Degree Program

The Master of Professional Accountancy is a STEM-designated degree program (science, technology, engineering and math). International students in a STEM-designated program are granted extended stay to work in the U.S. and are eligible to apply for 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) in their field of study after graduation.
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Track One:
9 Months*
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Track Two:
15 Months*
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48 Units
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5 Required Courses
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7 Elective Courses
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Comprehensive Final Exam


*Students typically complete in this time frame; however, there is some flexibility. Students are recommended to consult with their academic advisor.

 

Application Deadlines


Priority Round:
December 15

Round 2:
January 31

Round 3:
March 31

International Late Round:
June 1

Domestic Late Round:
August 1

  View the Brochure

Brochure

        Questions?
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MPAc Spotlight

 

 

Slice of Life as an MPAc Student

 

 

Rishika Jain, MPAc ’22
The MPAc curriculum is closely aligned with the CPA exam and gave me confidence to pass the exam and interview for jobs knowing I had the necessary knowledge and skills for the role. The whole experience at AGSM was enriching and helped me grow professionally and personally, preparing me for the corporate world. Thanks to the program content and the support from the Career Development Center, I was able to land my dream job at Deloitte upon graduation.
Rishika Jain, MPAc ’22
Audit Associate, Deloitte
Jesse Sun headshot
The MPAc program is ideal because it allows students to enter from a non-accounting background and quickly gain the necessary relevant technical skills in the field. A few of the key skills I learned during the program include: auditing, Excel, flow chart documentation, research abilities, and teamwork.
Jesse Sun, MPAc ’21
Tax Staff, EY
Jack Adams, MPAc ’22
The AGSM MPAc program helped me land an associate level position at a Big Four accounting firm, developed me into a high-performing professional in my field, and provided me with the opportunity to form relationships with other professionals. Thanks to the knowledge and experience that this program has to offer, I felt fully confident upon starting work at KPMG.
Jack Adams, MPAc ’22
Audit Associate, KPMG
Zhang Han
The MPAc professors are not only great professors and researchers, they come from the business world. Within the curriculum, they teach students practical skills including how to analyze financial data, design audit processes, and conduct tax planning from real-life business situations.
Zhang Han, MPAc ’22
Assurance Associate, BPM
Yuqun Zhou, MPAc
At UCR AGSM, I met so many amazing peers, faculty, and mentors. It was an affordable choice for a business school in the United States and yielded a significant return on the investment. After my program, I passed the CPA exam and landed a job as a Tax Associate at PwC!
Yuqun Zhou, MPAc ’19
Tax Associate, PwC

Featured News:

MFIN MPAc article

The business world has undergone sizable changes in the past decade due to the ever-growing reliance on data and technology. While finance and accounting are more traditional, established career paths, career development opportunities across sectors, cutting-edge tech, and ROI make them as valuable as ever. 

If you're looking for these benefits, a Master's in Accounting or Finance is a time-tested way to land a job and succeed in these fields. (...)

Read the Article