Program Overview

Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.)

The Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.) emphasizes the use of accounting as an analytical tool for understanding business and public affairs while preparing students for professional careers in public accounting, industry, or government.

Description

Our mission is to inspire lifetime learning at the leading edge of Accounting education and research. The program's goals and learning outcomes include:

• Demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate in a business environment
  • Develop and orally present a professional presentation
  • Professionally write clear and concise conclusions/recommendations
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in audit, taxation, and financial accounting
  • Solve accounting problems or issues in the areas of audit, taxation and/or financial accounting
  • Evaluate and present relevant information to aid in decision making
• Demonstrate the ability to solve complex accounting issues using data
  • Collect, prepare, and analyze data to support sound conclusions
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues and professional responsibilities
  • Recognize and deal with ethical issues in a professional manner

Program Options

The master's degree under Option A requires a thesis and is most appropriate for students who are preparing for careers in research and scholarly work or additional academic pursuits beyond the master's degree. Under this option, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours, consisting of 20 to 24 credit hours of regular course work, plus a thesis equivalent to 6 to 10 credit hours.

The master's degree under Option B does not require a thesis and is most appropriate for students pursuing practice-based or professional careers in which the master's degree provides suitable training. Under Option B, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours. At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree must be in the major.

Admission Requirements

Standard requirements for all graduate programs include:

• Application for Admission with a $50 non-refundable application fee
• Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of the application form
• If the applicant's native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required
• If the applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information
• Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application

Additional requirements specific to this program include:

• Entrance Exam: GMAT (a waiver may be requested if the applicant has a GPA of at least 3.0 both overall and for all accounting courses taken)
• Resume
• Personal Statement: A one-page statement of purpose discussing the area of interest in accounting, why the applicant wants to earn this degree, and what they hope to accomplish with it
• Letters of recommendation: 2-3 letters, at least one from an accounting professor
• Academics: A typical successful applicant for this MPA program will have a GPA of at least 3.0 both overall and for all accounting courses taken

Admission Application Deadlines

For Fall fellowship consideration, apply by April 15.

Program Faculty

The program faculty includes:

• Herita Akamah: Financial Accounting, International Accounting, Earnings Management, Corporate Disclosures, Management Forecast and Tax Avoidance
• Arthur Allen: Financial and Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
• Dirk Black: Executive Compensation, Financial Accounting, Performance Evaluation Systems, Performance Measurement, Quantitative Data Analysis
• Aaron Crabtree: Impact of Taxes and Audits on Capital Markets, Federal Tax Accounting
• Stuart Dearden: Auditing
• Amanda Gonzales: FASB and IASB Accounting Standards, International Accounting, Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions
• Steven Hegemann: Ethics, Financial Reporting Fraud, Forensic Analysis, International Financial Reporting Standards, Moral Hazard and Unintended Consequences
• Tony Kang: Capital Markets and International Accounting
• Jina Morris: Managerial Accounting
• Tom Omer: Tax and Auditing
• Kelli Saunders: Judgment and Decision Making in Accounting, Auditor-to-Auditor Interactions, Auditor to Client Interactions, Audit Quality Control Mechanisms, Internal Audit, Financial Reporting and Investor Behavior
• Jill Trucke: Auditing

Accelerated Master's Programs

Accelerated Master's Programs allow University of NebraskaLincoln undergraduate students to pursue this degree in an abbreviated timeline.

Dual Degree Programs

Dual Degree programs allow students to be admitted to two degree programs simultaneously with approval of each Graduate Program Committee and the Dean(s) for Graduate Studies.