Accounting (Great Valley)

The Master of Professional Accounting program  at  Penn State Great Valley  is taught by renowned faculty, evening and hybrid courses delve into competencies covered in the CPA exam, including regulation, financial accounting and reporting, audition and attestation, and business environment and concepts. Students can expect to complete the 30-credit program in one year with a fall admission and if attending classes full-time, or two years if going part-time.

The program culminates in a capstone course that builds on previous coursework to develop analytical and presentation skills. Utilizing case studies, students will study investigative, consulting, and forensic accounting as they examine a current issue in regulation. Through this comprehensive project, they acquire a big-picture understanding of trends and issues, along with the critical-thinking skills to evaluate and debate them. The program is fully accredited by AACSB International.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students who apply for admission should have completed course work substantially equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Business (or a business discipline) from Penn State University. Applicants to the Penn State Great Valley M.P.Acc. program should also have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in their final 60 credits of undergraduate course work, both overall as well as in accounting courses. If the undergraduate major is not Accounting, an applicant must have completed the following minimum core of accounting course work (or its equivalent) with a final grade of B- or better:

All applicants to the Penn State Great Valley M.P.Acc. program are required to submit GMAT or GRE scores. A waiver will be considered if the applicant has an advanced degree (e.g., master’s degree or higher) from a regionally accredited university with AACSB accredited programs OR one or more professional business certifications including a CFA, CPA, FRM, and/or CMA, or doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., J.D.).

Degree Requirements

Master of Professional Accounting (M.P.Acc.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at the 400, 500, or 800 level, with at least 18 at the 500 or 800 level, and a minimum of 9 credits at the 500 level. This includes 24 credits in the required core courses:

ACCTG 831 serves as the capstone course for this degree. This capstone course taken at the end of the program uses all the knowledge gained from prior coursework and applies them through presentation and analysis of case studies. Students will study investigative accounting, consulting, and litigation support activities undertaken in forensic accounting engagements through the use of case studies. This capstone course includes a final capstone project which emphasizes case analysis to develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the use of accounting reports for broad-based business analysis. In this capstone project, students examine a current issue in accounting and regulation. Through this comprehensive capstone project, students acquire a big-picture understanding of accounting trends and regulatory issues, along with the critical-thinking skills to evaluate and debate them.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies and GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies, depending on the type of degree the student is pursuing:

• GCAC-611 Minor - Research Doctorate
• GCAC-641 Minor - Research Master's
• GCAC-709 Minor - Professional Doctorate
• GCAC-741 Minor - Professional Master's

Student Aid

Refer to the Tuition & Funding section of The Graduate School's website. Students in this program are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Financial aid for students in on-campus programs is in the form of student loans and a limited number of small scholarships, as described on the Penn State Great Valley website.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Accounting (ACCT) Course List

Accounting (ACCTG) Course List

Business Law (BLAW) Course List

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

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