The integrated approach to the Master in Professional Accounting is a five-year program of undergraduate and graduate coursework. This approach allows the student to earn the BBA (typically at the end of their fourth year of study) and the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degrees (typically after an additional year of graduate study). The curriculum usually begins in the student’s junior year and includes core coursework as well as access to graduate-level courses that will apply toward their MPA degree. 

Undergraduate degree requirements for the integrated BBA/MPA students are identical to those listed for the Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. The courses listed in the Admission tab represent the subset of BBA coursework that must be completed prior to application.

Students are admitted to the integrated approach to the MPA degree based on satisfaction of the following requirements. Admission is granted only for the fall semester. Application materials and information regarding deadlines are available here.  

Students interested in this program must have met the following requirements by the application deadline. Completion of at least 54 semester hours of coursework, including:

Admission is based on the applicant’s University grade point average, as well as other relevant examples of academic ability. An applicant with a University grade point average below 3.00 is unlikely to be admitted to this program. Admission may be restricted by the availability of instructional resources. An applicant’s disciplinary record, as maintained by the Office of the Dean of Students, will be reviewed for academic dishonesty or other violations of University policy. Violations will be reported to the Admissions Committee and taken into account as part of the application process. Violations may exclude a student from admission depending on the nature and severity of the offense(s). 

Students are encouraged to apply to the program at the completion of their sophomore year (for admission in the fall semester of their junior year). Applications by students completing their junior year (for admission in the fall semester of their senior year) will also be considered.  

International students pursuing the BBA/MPA degree: English skills are essential for success in the MPA program. As a result, it is important to demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write, and understand English through the TOEFL or IELTS. Official scores for either the internet-based TOEFL or IELTS must be on the student’s record prior to the application deadline, unless such testing requirements were waived for admission to the University. The preferred minimum for the TOEFL is 105 overall, with a minimum of 24 for each individual section or a minimum band score of 7.5 for the IELTS. If previously submitted test scores do not accurately reflect the applicant's current English proficiency, it is strongly recommended to retake the test. 

Before beginning the fifth year, integrated approach students must be admitted to the MPA program. Students must complete at least two long semesters in residence in the MPA program. Application forms are to be submitted by February 1 for fall admission or October 1 for spring admission. Students must have completed the following BBA degree requirements before the application deadline: the University Core Curriculum, courses needed to declare a major, the human behavior requirement, and the lower-division business core.

Students pursuing the integrated approach to the MPA degree are expected to complete their BBA accounting degrees within four years as a milestone toward their MPA degree. The additional requirements for graduation pertaining to the BBA degree are detailed here.  

To receive an MPA degree, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all coursework taken as part of the 30-43 hour MPA degree. They must also have a grade point average in graduate accounting coursework of at least 3.00.