The traditional MPA is designed for students who will have earned a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year accredited college or university prior to enrolling in the MPA program. The integrated MPA is designed for students admitted to the McCombs School of Business who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. Through the integrated MPA, students will earn a BBA degree in accounting as well as an MPA degree. 

The MPA program ranges from 36 to 42 required semester credit hours, depending on the student's undergraduate coursework. Students with an undergraduate accounting degree often complete a 36-hour program. Students with an undergraduate degree in an area outside of  accounting or business typically complete a 42-hour program. A 36-hour program can be completed in one year (fall, spring, and summer). A 42-hour program can be completed in just over one year (summer, fall, spring, and summer).

Summary of degree requirements 

Rather than accepting transfer credits, the MPA program will waive up to two core courses and substitute electives for additional courses if the equivalents were completed with grades of ‘B’ or better prior to enrolling in the MPA degree program. Details are available on our core courses web page. 

The average incoming MPA class is 100 students.

An internship is an optional component to the MPA degree program. The internship program is designed to give students an opportunity to combine their formal academic preparation with an exposure to the accounting profession. This experience is beneficial to students not only upon graduation but also during the remainder of their time in the MPA program. After an internship, students are more confident in expressing their opinions about the profession and related issues. In addition, the students are more aware of the skills needed to be successful in the accounting profession.

The University of Texas at Austin does not offer a part-time, evening, online, or weekend MPA program. Students are expected to enroll full-time (in at least 9 credit hours) in the fall and spring semesters. Classes are generally held at various times within the 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. time frame.

We do not offer a dual MPA/MBA program. A student must complete these degrees separately through each individual program. Information about the McCombs MBA program

The following limitations apply for taking graduate-level accounting classes as a non-degree seeking student:

1. No more than 12 hours of graduate accounting courses may be taken as a non-degree seeking student.

2. Courses completed while enrolled as a non-degree seeking student may not be applied to MPA degree requirements if the candidate is later offered admission to the MPA program.

Course selections will exclude all MBA courses. Individuals who wish to enroll in MBA elective courses will need to follow the procedure outlined by the MBA program. Please visit the MBA website for more information.

Because our graduate-level accounting courses are in high demand by the students in the MPA program, non-MPA students (including graduate students in other UT programs on campus) may not register for these courses until the 5th class day (or 3rd class day in summer) and can only be added to courses in which MPA student demand has been satisfied.

Subject to the limitations above, an individual may apply to take graduate-level accounting courses as a non-degree seeking student provided that the following conditions are met:

1. the individual is admitted to UT-Austin as a non-degree seeking transfer student

2. to apply, please follow the procedure outlined on the Admissions website at: http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/transfer/admission/nondegree/index.html

3. to be admitted, an applicant will need to meet all of the transfer admission requirements for the college to which he or she has applied. Historically, the Liberal Arts College transfer admission requirements have tended to be the most flexible.

4. there is space availability in the requested course(s) as of the 5th class day (fall and spring semesters) or as of the 3rd class day (summer)

5. the non-degree seeking student meets the prerequisite(s) for the requested course(s)

6. the non-degree seeking student obtains approval from the MPA Program Office to enroll in the requested course(s)

After being admitted to UT-Austin as a non-degree seeking student, please set up an appointment with Kathy Saqer in the MPA Program Office by calling (512) 471-6559.  Please print and complete the request form (with the exception of the instructor and MPA Program Office approval) and bring it to your appointment. Please contact Kathy Saqer directly if you have any questions about the non-degree-seeking policies or procedure.

Recruiters from various industries pursue our students to fill a diverse range of internship and full-time positions. Detailed information about MPA careers and recruiting can be found on the MPA Career Services website. Also, the MPA website provides information on placement and salary statistics and a sample of employers who recruit MPA students.