MPAC -
Master of Professional Accounting

Susan Weihrich, PhD, Program Director

Graduate Degree Requirements

from Seattle University's Bulletin of Information 2007-2008

Master of Professional Accounting - MPAC (2008-2009)

Minimum Credits required for degree 46-88

Tuition and Fees

The MPAC degree requires 46 graduate credit hours (14 three-credit courses and 1 four-credit course) beyond the undergraduate degree and any of the basic business and accounting prerequisites.

I. Preparatory Course Work

Computer Skills

Business Calculus

(The above requirements must be completed by the end of the first year in the program)

II. Fundamental Business Classes*

Twenty-four credits, including:

*Students with previous comparable course work with a B (3.0) or better have the option of waiving these classes based on self-assessment materials regarding their proficiency. Students without previous course work are required to take these classes.

III. Fundamental Accounting Requirements**

Eighteen credits, including:

**Students with previous comparable course work completed in the past 5 years with a B- (2.7) or better have the option of waiving these classes.

IV.  Management and Technical Core:

Nineteen credits, including:

V. Other Required Accounting Courses:

Twelve credits - choose four from the five following classes:

VI. General Electives

With the permission of the chair of the accounting program, students with an undergraduate degree from Seattle University, who have taken ACCT 436/539 and/or ACCT 413/533 may waive six credits for the MPAC program, and thus may have 40-88 credits. These courses will satisfy course requirements toward both the undergraduate degree in accounting and the master of professional accounting. 

Degree Offered 

Master of Professional Accounting -MPAC

Certificate of Post-MPAC Studies

Objectives

The master of professional accounting program is designed to prepare graduates for leadership responsibilities in professional accounting. The program is constructed with the following objectives:

    To transmit, in-depth knowledge and broaden the understanding of the fundamental disciplines, techniques and ethical dimensions involved in providing professional accounting services in the public, private, and governmental sectors of accounting. Depth of knowledge is developed in the cost, financial, tax, information systems, and auditing disciplines. Breadth of understanding is enhanced through the study of financial statement analysis, management control systems, and additional graduate business coursework.

    To develop leadership and management skills essential for taking direction of the accounting function across a broad range of enterprises.

    To develop student awareness of the needs of communities beyond the boundaries of their profession.

    To sharpen essential professional skills including critical thinking, effective written and oral communication, working effectively in teams, and a proficiency in the use of the computer for information search, retrieval, problem solving, and communication.