What’s next for your business career? The Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) at Penn State Behrend can prepare you to advance in your field, get licensed for a new career, or make yourself more attractive to employers.
Highly trained accounting professionals with a deep understanding of business processes are increasingly in demand, as businesses adopt complex business methods, sophisticated auditing approaches, and highly technical services. With Behrend’s MPAcc, you’ll broaden your business knowledge, deepen your accounting skills, and improve your leadership potential, all while fulfilling the educational requirements needed for CPA licensure.
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Why Penn State Behrend?
Behrend’s MPAcc program is flexible and convenient, and designed for working professionals. Coursework is delivered primarily online, with limited classroom meetings per course. Plus, you can choose to earn your MPAcc in either Erie or Pittsburgh—making it easier for you to earn a prestigious master's degree, no travel required.
The 30-credit program can be completed in one year of full-time study or two years if attending part time. You’ll study high-level topics in public accounting, including strategic tax and business planning, reporting and auditing, data analytics, and forensic accounting.
Behrend's MPAcc program fulfills the educational requirements needed for CPA licensure within graduate-level education. Most states require 150 credit hours of education for Certified Public Accountant licensure, a requirement supported by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, and the Federation of Schools of Accountancy.
You'll also learn from engaged, professional faculty members in the AACSB-accredited Black School of Business, recognized as one of the country’s top business schools and ranked as a best value for students.
I enrolled in Behrend's Master of Professional Accounting program in Cranberry Township, after I had already started my career in Pittsburgh. The program has helped me gain a deeper understanding in various accounting topics, and the course material puts an emphasis on the concepts that are needed to prepare for the CPA exam. This program has helped enhance my critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, and that will be very useful to me throughout my career.
Ready to learn more about Behrend’s Master of Professional Accounting? Contact our Graduate Admissions team or Dr. Ash Deshmukh, program chair.
