Master of Professional Accountancy
Earn Your Master of Professional Accountancy Degree
Earning a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA/MPAc) degree can enhance your skills as a professional accountant, boost your accounting career path, and prepare you to become a leader in professional accounting.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) degree program is a smart choice to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Students may begin their degree program in either the fall or winter quarter.
UCR’s Master of Professional Accountancy program provides you with advanced professional accountancy education in auditing and assurance, taxation, cost and managerial accounting, accounting information systems, and ethics.
Our professional accountancy degree program will provide you with the knowledge to meet the State of California Board of Accountancy education standards required for the following exams:
- Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Management Accountant® (CMA)
- Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor® (CISA)
Holding one or more of these professional certifications will provide a wide array of professional accountant job opportunities for you.
On the Right Track to Your MPAc Degree
Unlike other advanced accounting degrees, UCR’s MPAc degree is offered through two tracks.
Track One is for applicants with a degree or major in accounting and is typically completed in nine months. Two prerequisite courses or their equivalents are required:
1. Financial Accounting Principles and Practices and
2. Auditing and Assurance.
Track Two is for applicants without an accounting background and is often completed in 15 months. Students in Track Two are encouraged to complete an internship over the summer quarter.
“UCR’s MPAc program provides an excellent opportunity for students to study advanced topics in accounting, auditing and taxation while earning additional units that can help them qualify for the CPA license. Students will also gain important professional research and communication skills that are sure to help them succeed in their careers.”
Daniel J. Almendarez
MPAc Program Academic Director
Explore the Master of Professional Accountancy Program at UCR
Career Options with Your MPAc Degree
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 1.5 million jobs for accountants and auditors in the United States in 2021. These positions are projected to grow at a rate of 4% annually, resulting in a significant amount of new jobs being added each year. Notably, the field of accounting is currently facing a shortage of certified accountants. The 2021 Trends Report from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) highlights a consistent decline in accounting degree graduates in the U.S. since 2015. This presents a promising opportunity for those pursuing an MPAc degree, as it positions you in high demand within the job market.
Top companies recently hiring UCR MPAc degree graduates
Our MPAc students are consistently hired by the Big Four and other major accounting firms:
- KPMG
- EY
- Deloitte
- PwC
- BPM
- BDO USA
- Armanino LLP
- SingerLewak LLP
- Grant Thornton LLP
- Eide Bailly LLP
- Chen&Fan Accountancy Corporation
Professional accountant job titles UCR MPAc graduates have obtained:
- Accounting manager
- Budget analyst
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Cost accountant
- CPA
- Forensic accountant
- Internal auditor
- Managerial accountant
- Risk analyst
- Senior accountant
- Tax manager
- Treasury analyst
Benefits of UCR’s Master of Professional Accountancy Degree
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