Professional Accountancy

Globalization, a revolution in technology, and increased regulation affecting internal accountants and external auditors have all contributed to demands for additional accountants with education beyond the baccalaureate degree. 

The Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program at The A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management fills this growing demand for qualified certified public accountants (CPAs), especially with a California law effective for years after 2013 requiring 150 semester hours (or 225 quarter hours) of applicable college credit. 

Designed to be completed in nine months, the goal of the 48-unit MPAc program is to prepare students with the 20/20 vision needed to become the ideal accounting and auditing professionals in the year 2020 and beyond. Our students will benefit from a quality business education of a University of California caliber and learn from leading scholars and practitioners in the field. In addition, many influential business professionals at international accounting and auditing firms proudly call UCR their alma mater and actively recruit and support UCR students.

Required Courses (20 units)

• MGT 225:  Professional Accounting and Auditing Research - Provides an in-depth examination of the professional accounting and auditing research process. Includes issue identification; location and evaluation of authority using online and electronic accounting, auditing, and tax research databases; developing conclusions and recommendations; and communication of research results.
• MGT 229:  Accounting Ethics and Professional Responsibilities - Examines the ethical and professional responsibilities of accountants and auditors. Focuses on ethics, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)'s Code of Professional Conduct, Circular 230, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) laws and regulations, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards, state and federal laws relevant to accountants, auditors, and Certified Public Accountants.
• MGT 240B:  Advanced Taxation - Articulates advanced topics in federal taxation and tax planning. Explores many facets of the complex body of tax law including tax research, alternative minimum tax, investment losses, employee compensation, corporate distributions, and federal transfer taxes.
• MGT 278A:  Foundations of Auditing and Assurance Services - Examines the history, demand, and foundations of audit and assurance. Focuses on judgment and fundamentals of evidential reasoning. Topics include risk assessment, internal control, audit evidence, independence and objectivity, measurement theory, suitable criteria, standards and regulation, framing, heuristics and biases, and the role of technology.
• MGT 278B:  Information Technology Auditing and Assurance - Covers basic concepts and techniques used in the provision of information technology audit and assurance services. Topics include information technology security; risk assessment; internal control; nature of audit evidence; independence and objectivity; suitable criteria; the role of standards and technology; and ethical issues.

Recommended Electives (20 units):

• MGT 204:  Cost and Management Accounting - A study of accounting information for managerial planning and control. Topics include managerial applications for product costing, budgeting, and performance evaluation; accounting techniques for modern manufacturing
  systems; activity-based accounting and cost management; international cost accounting systems; and the behavioral implications of accounting information.
• MGT 205:  Information Systems - Examines the operation and management of information systems as applied to the business environment. Topics include hardware, software, databases, decision support, and systems analysis. Software packages are used to integrate information
  systems concepts and business applications.
• MGT 218:  Ethics in Management - Examines ethical dilemmas faced by managers and organizations and extends decision analysis to
  include the ethical dimension present in most policy decisions. Seeks to increase the students' ability to identify and respond to ethical issues in organizations, including such areas as affirmative action, bribery, deception, working conditions, product safety, environmental impact, and international relations.
• MGT 226:  Fraud and Forensics Auditing - Addresses forensic accounting and fraud examination in how it pertains to both civil and criminal matters. Develops a basic understanding of the characteristics of fraud, fraud prevention and detection, investigative techniques, asset recovery, and use of information technology.
• MGT 245:  Financial Statement Analysis - Explains the role of financial statement analysis in an efficient capital market. Data from financial statements of major corporations is analyzed to develop skills necessary to interpret financial accounting information. Designed for future professionals who will be intensive users of financial accounting reports (e.g., security analysts, credit analysts).
• MGT 278C:  Internal Auditing - Examines the nature and practices of internal (operational) audit and assurance, the management audit process, and the use of internal auditing by top management and governing boards. Develops skills to understand, analyze, and critically evaluate internal audit research.
• Other MGT electives may be taken with advisor approval.

Requirements

The MPAc program is open to eligible students with an accounting background gained from undergraduate coursework, prior work experience, or a combination of both. We accept applicants with undergraduate degrees in business, accounting, economics and other related fields.

We consider each applicant's professional, academic and life experiences in addition to character and personality. Admission to the program is based upon several criteria, including the quality of previous academic work, GMAT or GRE performance, personal essays and letters of recommendation. Professional experience is considered advantageous, but is not required for admission. We encourage recent graduates, entry-level and mid-career professionals to apply. 

Prerequisites for Admission

Applicants must have completed the following accounting courses (UCR course numbers for reference) or their equivalents at another institution:

• Financial Accounting and Reporting (BUS 020)
• One year of Intermediate Financial Accounting (BUS 165A/B/C)
• One auditing course:
  • Auditing (BUS 169A)
  • Quality Assurance in Auditing (BUS 169B)
• One taxation course:
  • Individual Taxation (BUS 168A)
  • Federal Taxation for Corporations, Partnerships, Estates, and Trusts (BUS 168B)
• One cost or managerial accounting course:
  • Financial Evaluation and Managerial Analysis (BUS 108)

Additionally, all applicants must have completed another 5-6 business courses outside of accounting.

Required Documents

• Statement of Purpose & Personal History essay
• Resume/CV
• 1 letter of recommendation

• Official transcripts
• Official GMAT or GRE score report: GMAT institution code is 346-VD-62 and GRE institution code is 4839.
• For International Students Only:
  • Official degree certificate
  • International applicant sponsorship form
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS score report: TOEFL institution code is 4839. IELTS official score reports can be mailed to the MPAc Program Office.

  All application materials (including transcripts) should be mailed to:

  Graduate Program in Accounting

Scholarships

• Bank of America Business Leaders Scholarship
• Colette and Gary Lee Award