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  1. Home
  2. Black School of Business
  3. Academic Programs
  4. Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc)

How to Apply to the MPAcc Program

Admission to the MPAcc program is based on undergraduate performance, particularly in prerequisite courses, and a Statement of Interest. A GMAT score is not required. A complete application portfolio must be submitted to be considered for admission, which is granted jointly by the Graduate School of Penn State University and Penn State Behrend’s Black School of Business.

Applicants for Fall 2023 must submit a complete application by June 12, 2023.

Late applications will be considered on an individual basis. Contact Graduate Admissions at [email protected] to request consideration.

Please note: International students requiring an I-20 visa cannot enroll in our MPAcc program, since the program is delivered predominantly online. International students residing in the U.S. with a work visa may apply.

Academic Eligibility and Prerequisites

For admission to the Graduate School at Penn State, you must hold either: 

  • a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or 
  • a postsecondary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

If you hold an undergraduate degree in accounting from an accredited university, you should have the appropriate coursework to support your acceptance into the MPAcc program. If your undergraduate degree is from another business major, you should have completed Intermediate Accounting I and II (or the equivalent), tax accounting, cost accounting, and audit courses with a grade of B or higher. If you do not have this level of accounting education, please contact Dr. Ash Deshmukh, MPAcc program chair, prior to applying to discuss your individual circumstances.

You should have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in junior and senior years and 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in accounting courses.

MPAcc Application Process

Review these steps fully before beginning your application. For best results, apply using Firefox or Chrome browsers. Individuals with international credentials will have additional requirements for application. 

1. Submit Penn State’s Graduate School Online Application.

Before you apply, be sure to have official transcripts from all institutions attended (see Step 3 below for details). In the application, skip any questions that don’t apply, such as junior/senior GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, etc.

2. Upload a Statement of Purpose.  

The statement should be a page in length. Upload your completed statement to your online application. (Note: It is recommended that the statement be a .txt or .pdf file for ease of uploading.) The statement should address the following:

  • Why have you chosen to pursue a Master of Professional Accounting degree at Penn State Behrend?
  • How will these studies help you achieve your personal and professional goals?
  • Your current or most recent work and/or internship experiences.

3. Upload a copy of an official transcript from each institution attended, except Penn State.  

Prior to applying, contact the registrar’s office at all institutions attended, except Penn State, to obtain an official transcript. An official transcript bears the university logo and includes the registrar’s signature. Do not upload advising or unofficial transcripts. Your application will not be processed without an official transcript. Do not mail any transcripts or other printed materials to Penn State Behrend or to the Graduate School.

If you're a Penn State alumnus, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but you must list Penn State as part of your academic history. Previously submitted transcripts for a Penn State undergraduate application cannot be used for a graduate level application. 

You can return to your application in the Graduate School portal at any time. Click on “Check your application status.”

MPAcc Admission Notification

Once your application is complete, a recommendation for admission will be made by Dr. Ash Deshmukh, MPAcc program chair. This typically takes up to seven business days, and you will be notified of your admission status by email. Admission is offered jointly with the Graduate School, so your credentials also require its formal approval.

Upon acceptance of your offer of admission, you will receive a request from the Graduate School to send sealed copies of your official transcripts (these are separate from the official transcripts that you unsealed to upload to your online application). Accepting your offer and completing this step in a timely manner keeps the admissions process moving, allowing you to register for classes sooner.

Once you accept your offer, you will receive a series of emails introducing you to the tools you’ll use in your graduate education, including LionPATH, which is Penn State’s student information system. LionPATH is where you register for courses, access your tuition bills, and more. You must complete all pre-registration activities in LionPATH prior to enrolling in courses.

You’ll also be notified about a mandatory MPAcc orientation session.

Transferring credits

Penn State allows the transfer of up to 10 qualified external credits into a program. Credits must not have been used to satisfy the requirements of another degree at Penn State or elsewhere. 

Transfer credits must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be equivalent to a 400-, 500-, or 800-level course at Penn State;
  • Must have been earned at a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an officially recognized degree-granting international institution;
  • Must be of "A" or "B" grade value ("B-" grades are not transferable, and pass-fail grades are not transferable unless the “Pass” can be substantiated by the former institution as having at least "B" quality);
  • Must appear on an official transcript of a regionally accredited U.S. institution or recognized degree-granting international institution;
  • Must be earned within five years prior to the date of registration in a graduate degree program at Penn State, and specific criteria apply. 

Transfer of external credits must be approved by the academic program and by the Graduate School. Contact Dr. Ash Deshmukh, program chair, for consideration of transfer credits.

Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc)

  • Curriculum for MPAcc
  • How to Apply to the MPAcc Program
  • Costs and Aid for MPAcc
  • MPAcc Alumni Testimonials
  • MPAcc Faculty
  • Request Information about the MPAcc Program

See Also

  • University Bulletin
  • Graduate Programs
  • Graduate Financial Aid
  • Graduate Events
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