Frequently Asked Questions – Current Students
Answers to frequently asked questions on the following topics are included below:MPA Degree Policies
What is the grading system for graduate students at UT-Austin?For graduate courses, the following grades are used: A (4.0), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.0), B- (2.67), C+ (2.33), C (2.00), C- (1.67), D+ (1.33), D (1.00), D- (.67), and F (0.00). Plus/minus grades are recorded only for graduate courses taken by graduate students. Only courses in which the student earns a grade of C or better may be included in the Program of Work for a graduate degree.
I received a ‘C’ in a class. Can I retake it?
A graduate business student may not repeat for credit a course in which he/she has earned a grade of C or better.
What are the GPA requirements for the MPA program?
Three separate Grade Point Averages are calculated while a student is in the MPA program. In order to graduate from the program, a student must obtain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all three categories.
- Graduate/Overall GPA: This is the GPA that appears on a graduate student’s transcript. The University of Texas at Austin calculates the Graduate GPA on the basis of all graduate-level courses taken as a graduate student at UT-Austin in which a student has earned a letter grade. If graduate-level courses were completed at UT prior to enrolling in the MPA program, these courses will be included in the calculation of the Graduate GPA. Upper-division undergraduate courses taken during a student's graduate studies prior to fall 2008 are not counted in the calculation of the Graduate GPA. However, beginning in fall 2008, upper-division undergraduate courses will count in the calculation of the Graduate GPA.
- MPA GPA: The MPA GPA is calculated on the basis of all undergraduate upper-division courses and all graduate-level courses taken during the MPA program of work. The MPA GPA excludes any courses completed prior to enrollment in the MPA program.
- Accounting GPA: The Accounting GPA is calculated on the basis of all accounting classes taken during the MPA program of work. This GPA includes both undergraduate upper-division accounting courses (if applicable) and graduate-level accounting courses.
How many undergraduate hours, maximum, may a student take for degree credit for the MPA? What are the terms for receiving approval?
Students may count up to nine hours of upper-division undergraduate courses towards their MPA degree requirements, with approval. Please note that your advisor will only approve an undergraduate business course if you have not completed an equivalent course at either the graduate or undergraduate level and only if the equivalent is not being offered at the graduate level. Lower-division undergraduate courses (with the middle digit the number 0 or 1) will NOT count toward the MPA degree.
How many elective hours, maximum, may a student take outside of the business school? What are the terms for receiving approval?
MPA students may fulfill up to 6 semester hours of business electives with upper-division undergraduate or graduate-level courses taken outside of the business school (on the UT campus), with approval. In the request for approval, students will be expected to explain how the proposed outside elective ties in with their career objectives and include a copy of the syllabus. Examples might include foreign language, communication, economics, or public policy courses. Request forms are available in the MPA Program Office or online.
How many independent stud hours may be completed for degree credit?
One independent study (in addition to the internship course, ACC 391C-CR/NC) may be counted for credit toward the MPA degree. An independent study that is completed in an accounting topic (ACC 391C) will count as a graduate accounting elective. Before the semester starts, both the instructor and your academic advisor (and, in some cases, the chair) must approve the independent study course to be completed that semester. The approval form is available in the MPA Program Office or online. The basis for determining the course grade must be included on the form.
Is an internship required for the MPA degree?
The internship is an optional component of the traditional MPA degree program.
How many internships am I allowed to complete?
A student can complete more than one internship, but only one internship (3 credit hours) will count towards the MPA degree.
Will the internship count as a graduate accounting elective?
No. Because the internship is ‘experiential’ (rather than in a traditional classroom setting) and because ‘credit’ rather than a letter grade is awarded, the internship will count as a graduate business elective, even though the credit is granted under an accounting course number.
Can a student complete an internship class during his or her last semester at UT?
The purpose of the internship, in part, is to enrich the student’s classroom experience subsequent to the internship. Therefore, academic credit is not available for any internship performed during a student’s final semester.
Can a finance-related internship count for degree credit?
Yes. MPA graduate internship credit is granted for work activity that requires regular and rigorous use of knowledge and skills learned in the MPA program. This not only includes internships in public accounting, but also internships in all other market sectors that meet this standard, such as financial services, industry, consulting, investment banking, and so forth. Unless obvious, the determination of whether an internship meets this standard will be made on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only internships completed in non-routine accounting may be counted either towards the CPA exam eligibility or work experience requirement in the state of Texas.
What is the policy on taking courses on the CR/NC basis?
With the exception of the internship course (ACC 391C-CR/NC) and the MPA Lyceum (ACC 180C), students must complete all courses counted toward the MPA degree on the letter-grade basis. Additional courses that are not required for the MPA degree may be taken on the credit/no credit-basis (CR/NC) only if the professor gives consent.
If I received approval to waive/substitute a core course, can I decide to take it at UT for degree credit?
A student who is granted a waiver or substitution for a core course will not receive degree credit, even as an elective, for this course if taken at a later date, unless the student received permission to do so in advance from his/her academic advisor, and in some cases, from the MPA director.
How long do I have to resolve an ‘incomplete’ for a course?
Students who receive an incomplete (symbol X) in a course have one long semester to resolve that incomplete. Failure to resolve an incomplete within its required time frame (the end of the grade reporting period for your next long semester of enrollment after receiving the X) results in the conversion of the symbol X to the symbol I (permanent incomplete). The symbol I cannot be converted into a grade. When the symbol I has been recorded, the symbol X also remains on your permanent record.
I am currently in an independent study in my final semester but will not finish the work prior to the end of the semester. Can I take an incomplete and finish the work/receive a grade for the course next semester? How will that affect my graduation?
It is very important to actually complete the work and receive a grade for the independent study no later than the grade reporting period of your final semester. Once the graduation certification time period for your final semester has passed, we will not be able to ‘go back’ and certify you to graduate for that semester. If you are certified to graduate in the following semester, after receiving a grade for your incomplete, you will need to actually register for a class in that semester because students must be enrolled in the semester in which they are certified to graduate.
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McCombs Resources
Is there a directory of current business students and alumni?The McCombs School of Business maintains an online student directory for its students and alumni. This directory is also referred to as the "McCombs Online Resource" or “MOR.” All McCombs business students and alumni are listed in this directory. Your photo will be taken during Orientation for this directory. Please note that your photo will be automatically suppressed (for privacy), so you will need to log in to your MOR profile and opt to have the photo displayed to other students and alumni, if you prefer this option.
Where are the study rooms and lounge areas in the McCombs School of Business?
AIM Reading Room (quiet study): located in GSB 4.112B
Atrium (lounge): located in CBA 3.300
MBA/MPA study rooms (group study): located in GSB 3.140
MPA Lounge: located in CBA 4.352
Reliant Productivity Center (quiet and group study): located in GSB 4.112A
How do I gain access the MPA Lounge and MBA/MPA Study Rooms?
If you have not done so already, you will first need to obtain a proximity UT ID card in the ID Center (located in the Flawn Academic Center). Once you have received your card, you can bring it to the MPA Program Office to have it programmed to gain access to the MPA Lounge and MBA/MPA study rooms.
How do I reserve one of the MBA/MPA Study Rooms for group study?
Instructions on how to reserve MBA/MPA study rooms, in GSB 3.140, can be found by going to this website: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/tech/help and searching for Study Rooms.
What other resources are available to business students?
Business Information Center
Computer Services (including computer labs)
Copy Center
Media Services
SWAT Shop support
(for students who purchased a laptop through the McCombs Notebook Computer Program)
Technology Training
Are lockers available in the business school?
Lockers can be rented from either the Graduate Business Council or the Undergraduate Business Council at either a per-semester or per-year rate. Details will be provided at Orientation, or feel free to contact the GBC/UBC officers directly for more information.
Temporary suit lockers on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the business school are to be used for storing personal items during recruiting season only on the day of your interview. Please contact the Front Desk Manager in Career Services for more information.
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Registration
Where can I find the course schedule and academic calendars?Information about registration, including the course schedule and academic calendars, can be found on the Registrar’s website at: http://registrar.utexas.edu/.
Where can I find course descriptions or syllabi for graduate business courses?
Course descriptions and syllabi can be found on the departmental websites. Click on the department offering the class, and then on ‘course information’ or ‘courses’ on the left-hand menu.
What are the minimum and maximum credit hours allowed per semester?
MPA students must be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 9 credit hours) in the fall and spring semesters. Students are not required to enroll in the summer, but most MPA students opt to do so, in order to graduate in 12-18 months. MPA students are allowed to enroll in a maximum of 15 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and a maximum of 12 credit hours in the summer. Students will be automatically approved to enroll in a maximum of 16 hours in the first fall semester, due to the 1-credit-hour MPA Lyceum (ACC 180C).
What is the last day I can add a course, drop a course for a refund, and drop a course without a refund?
Before classes begin and during the first four (4) class days of a long (fall/spring) semester [and the first two (2) class days of each summer session], a graduate student may add or drop a course through the online registration system as described in the course schedule. During this time period, a dropped course is deleted from the student’s record and a refund is granted if the student paid his/her tuition prior to dropping the class.
From the 5th through the 12th class day in a long semester [or on the 3rd and 4th class days in each summer session], a student may add an open course with the approval of the instructor of the course and with assistance from the academic advisor and may drop a course for a refund with assistance from the academic advisor.
After the 12th class day in a long semester [or after the 4th class day in each summer session], a student may add an open course only under rare and extenuating circumstances. Although a graduate student may drop a course with the required approvals through the last class day, no refunds are given for courses dropped after the 12th class day in a long semester [or after the 4th class day in each summer session]. From the 13th through the 20th class day of a long semester [or from the 5th through the 10th class day of a summer term], the student may drop a course with no academic penalty; the symbol Q is recorded. If the student drops a course after that time, the instructor determines whether a Q or an F should be recorded.
What’s the difference between dropping a course and withdrawing for the semester?
Dropping an entire course load constitutes withdrawal from the university for that semester. To withdraw, the student must file a withdrawal petition with his/her academic advisor. The withdrawal refund policies differ from the course drop refund policies. A 100% refund (less $15 matriculation fee) is only granted if the effective withdrawal date is prior to the first class day. The refund percentage decreases as the semester progresses, and no refunds are given after the 20th class day in a long semester [or after the 7th class day in the summer]. The student may withdraw through the last class day. If the student abandons his or her courses without withdrawing, the instructor in each course determines the grade to record.
Why am I not able to add a particular graduate accounting or business course, even though it is listed as ‘open’ in the course schedule?
The course may be restricted to a certain group of students (other than MPA students), or it may have a waitlist. Check for restriction notes by clicking on the unique number in the online course schedule. If the course does not have any restriction notes, then check the listing of course waitlists by logging into MOR. If the course has an existing waitlist, then the open seats will be filled via the waitlist system, and students will not able to add the class via the registration system. If the course does not have restriction notes or a waitlist, then contact your academic advisor for assistance.
How do I add my name to a graduate course waitlist?
Instructions on accessing the graduate waitlists can be found on this website: http://mba.mccombs.utexas.edu/students/instructions/waitlists.asp. Please note that the McCombs waitlist system for graduate courses is different than the Registrar’s waitlist system for undergraduate courses.
How do I enroll in an upper-division undergraduate business course?
To enroll in an upper-division undergraduate course, you will need to complete a request form (available in the MPA Program Office or online) and bring it to your academic advisor for approval. Please note that your advisor will only approve an undergraduate business course if you have not completed an equivalent course at either the graduate or undergraduate level and only if the equivalent is not being offered at the graduate level. Once approved, you will need to bring a copy of the form to the Undergraduate Programs Office (CBA 2.400) on the first class day to be added to the class. The UPO will add you to an upper-division undergraduate class only if there is space available on the first class day, since first priority goes to undergraduate business degree seekers. Therefore, you should have a back-up plan by enrolling in a graduate-level course, in the meantime.
What paperwork is required to get credit for the internship? Will the MPA Program Office enroll me in the ACC 391C course, or should I do that myself?
Information about the required paperwork for internships can be found on our website. You may enroll in ACC 391C (Credit/No Credit) yourself; the MPA Program Office will not automatically enroll you in the course. The MPA Program Office will contact you if there are any problems with approval of your internship.
What are my options if I would like to audit a class?
Students who are interested in sitting in on particular class lectures can ask the instructor of the course for the permission to do so without formally auditing the class. However, students who wish to sit in on all class sessions during the semester should formally audit the class. Permission to audit a course entitles the student to attend class but not to hand in papers, take part in discussion, or receive evaluations. An auditor does not receive University credit for the course audited. A student who wishes to audit a course should obtain a Class Auditor Permit from the Office of the Registrar and secure the consent of the course instructor and his or her dean (in MPA Program Office). Auditors are permitted only when space is available. An instructor may refuse any request to audit a course. No class audit fee is assessed to current UT students, and the course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
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Other
How many hours do I need to enroll in to qualify for financial aid?Financial aid packages for graduate students automatically assume the enrollment of 6 hours in the summer and 9 hours in the fall, unless the financial aid office is notified otherwise. If you plan to enroll in more or fewer than 6 hours in the summer or 9 hours in the fall, you will need to contact Santa Garza in financial aid so that she can adjust your financial aid package accordingly. Her email address is: santa.garza@austin.utexas.edu. Alternatively, you may call the financial aid call center at 475-6282, option 4, for assistance. Keep in mind that you will need to have completed a FAFSA to be packaged for financial aid.
How do I apply for a teaching assistantship (TA) position in the Department of Accounting?
A very limited number of graduate assistantship positions are available through individual academic departments across the campus. Students who are interested in an Accounting Department TA position should contact Professor Jan Gillespie at jan.gillespie@mccombs.utexas.edu. Teaching assistant positions require enrollment in at least nine semester hours and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Positions are usually 10 to 15 hours per week, and international students are eligible to apply. Assistantships do not qualify a non-Texas resident or an international student for in-state tuition.
What are the study abroad options?
Study abroad options are described in detail on our website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/advising/international.asp.
What are the educational requirements for the CPA exam?
CPA eligibility requirements for the state of Texas can be found on our website. For CPA exam requirements in states outside of Texas, please refer to the NASBA website.
What accounting or finance-related professional certifications are available other than CPA?
A listing of other certifications, such as the CMA, CIA, and CFA, can be found on our website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/resources/#Cert.
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