McCombs School of Business
Master in Professional Accounting (MPA)
MPA : Traditional MPA : FAQ—Program Nature

MPA Program:  Frequently Asked Questions

Nature of the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) Program What is the difference between the integrated and the traditional approach to the MPA degree?
The traditional MPA is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (or will have earned a bachelor’s degree by the time of admission to the MPA) from any 4-year accredited institution.  The integrated MPA is designed for students admitted to the McCombs School of Business who have not earned a bachelor’s degree.  Upon completion of the integrated MPA, students will earn a BBA degree in accounting as well as an MPA degree.
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How long does it take to complete the MPA degree program?
The MPA program ranges in required semester credit hours from 37 to 43, depending on the student's undergraduate coursework.  Students with an undergraduate accounting degree often complete the program in 37 hours.  Students without an undergraduate degree in accounting or business normally earn the MPA degree by completing a 43-hour program.  A 37-hour program can typically be completed in one year (fall, spring, and summer semester).  A 43-hour program is typically completed in one year and a half (summer, fall, spring, and summer).
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What courses are required for the MPA degree?
Please visit our academic website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/advising/summary.asp for a summary of degree requirements.
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Do you accept transfer credits?
Rather than accepting transfer credits, the MPA program will waive up to two courses and substitute electives for courses (beyond the first two course waivers) if the equivalents were completed (with grades of ‘B’ or better) prior to beginning the MPA degree program.  For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/advising/corecourses.asp
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Can students begin in the spring semester?
MPA admissions is for the fall semester only.  However, students who have not completed the equivalent to Financial Accounting must begin in the summer.
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What is the MPA class size?
The average incoming MPA class is 100 students.
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Is an internship required as part of the MPA degree program?
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.  For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/advising/internships.asp
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What sort of specializations can one pursue?
Track options include: Financial Reporting and Assurance, Managerial Accounting and Control, Taxation, and Generalist.  For detailed information on each track, please visit our website at: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/traditional/advising/tracks.asp
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After graduating from the MPA program, will I be eligible to take the CPA exam?
After students are accepted into the MPA Program, they meet with their academic advisor for an initial advising appointment.  At that time they discuss their career goals and long term academic plan.  If your goal is to satisfy the requirements for the CPA exam, then you would tailor your academic plan so that you would be eligible by the time you completed the MPA Program.  Please note that CPA exam eligibility requirements vary widely from state to state.  Your educational background and the state in which you plan to sit for the exam will determine whether or not you will need to complete coursework above and beyond your MPA degree requirements in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam.
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I work full-time. Do you offer any online or evening courses? Can I pursue the MPA program on a part-time basis?
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.
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Do you offer an MPA/MBA dual degree program?
No.  A student must complete these degrees separately through each individual program.  For information about the McCombs MBA program, please visit their website at: http://mba.mccombs.utexas.edu/.
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Can I take MBA courses while pursuing the MPA degree?
MPA students enroll in graduate business courses (and co-mingle with MBA students in these courses) to fulfill the graduate business elective(s) that are required as part of the MPA degree program.  The number of business electives completed for the MPA degree varies for each student, depending on track selected and the number of core courses that are substituted for an elective based on equivalent coursework completed prior to entering the MPA program.
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Can I take graduate-level accounting classes without applying for the MPA program?
There are the following limitations on taking graduate-level accounting classes without applying for the MPA program:
  • No more than 12 hours of graduate accounting courses may be taken as a non-degree seeking student.
  • No courses taken while enrolled as a non-degree seeking student may be applied to MPA program 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 this website for more information: http://mba.mccombs.utexas.edu/admissions/adm/faq.asp#otherapply.
  • 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:
  • the individual is admitted to UT-Austin as a non-degree seeking transfer student
    1. to apply, please follow the procedure outlined on the Admissions website at: http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/transfer/admission/nondegree/index.html
    2. 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)
  • 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)
  • the non-degree seeking student meets the prerequisite(s) for the requested course(s)
  • 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 a representative in the MPA Program Office by calling (512) 471-6559.  Please print and complete the request form(.pdf) (with the exception of the instructor and MPA Program Office approval) and bring it to your appointment.

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What types of career fields can I enter with an MPA degree? Which employers recruit MPAs? What are the placement statistics? What are the MPA graduates’ average starting salaries? What is the MPA recruiting environment like? Can international students work in the U.S. after graduating from the MPA program?
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 Ford Career Center website at: http://fcc.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/. More specifically, placement and salary statistics are located here: https://fcc.mccombs.utexas.edu/employers/stats_home.asp, and a sample of employers who recruit MPA students are listed here: http://fcc.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/recent.asp. The FCC site also contains information specific to international students at: http://fcc.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/int.asp.

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