The 30-credit MPAcc program is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis and uses a hybrid format of 75 percent online instruction and 25 percent in-class instruction. Each course meets four times—twice online via Zoom and twice in person, either on the Behrend campus in Erie or at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township, near Pittsburgh. Classes typically meet on weeknights.
MPAcc Course Descriptions
All MPAcc courses are 3 credits.
ACCT 545 Strategic Cost Management: Current managerial accounting topics such as activity-based costing, theory of constraints, and performance measures, and their use in organizations.
ACCT 504 Auditing Theory and Practice: Accounting and the managerial processes of planning, control, and decision making.
ACCTG 803 Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support: Study of investigative accounting, consulting, and litigation support activities undertaken in forensic accounting engagements.
ACCTG 806 Taxes and Business Planning: Effects of tax regimes on decision-making, tax planning, and market outcomes; ethics, tax research, and policy.
ACCTG 873 Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting: Financial disclosure and reporting for complex business enterprises and activities; current issues in financial reporting.
ACCTG 881 Financial Statement Analysis: Analysis of financial reports to identify business strategy, assess performance and economic standing, and value claims.
B ADM 526 Leadership and Ethics: A multiperspective review of leadership theory and research with special emphasis given to the ethical dimensions of leadership.
B LAW 444 Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions: All articles of the Uniform Commercial Code, banking relationships, debtor-creditor law, and bankruptcy law.
MIS 481 Business Analytics: A broad understanding of business.
For more on the MPAcc curriculum, visit the Graduate Bulletin.
Typical Course Schedules
MPAcc courses are scheduled so that full-time students can complete the 30 credits in three semesters, beginning with a fall semester. Most full-time students enroll in four fall courses, five spring courses (often one of those courses is an internship), and complete the degree with a six-week course at the start of the summer semester. Part-time students often take two courses per semester, completing the degree in five semesters.
The Graduate School allows eight years to complete a graduate degree. A 3.0 minimum GPA is required to graduate.
Semester dates can be found on the Academic Calendars page.
Typical Full-Time MPAcc Course Schedule
Fall
ACCTG 806: Taxes and Business Planning
ACCTG 873: Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
ACCTG 881: Financial Statement Analysis
B LAW 444: Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions
Spring
ACCT 504: Auditing Theory and Practice
ACCT 545: Strategic Cost Management
B ADM 526: Leadership and Ethics
MIS 481: Business Analytics
Summer
ACCTG 803: Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support (fully online)
Approved Elective or Internship
Total Credits: 30
Typical Part-Time MPAcc Course Schedule
Fall
ACCTG 806: Taxes and Business Planning
B LAW 444: Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions
Spring
ACCT 504: Auditing Theory and Practice
B ADM 526 Leadership and Ethics
SummerACCTG 803: Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support
Approved Elective or Internship
Fall
ACCTG 881: Financial Statement Analysis
ACCTG 873: Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
Spring
ACCT 545: Strategic Cost Management
MIS 481: Business Analytics
Total Credits: 30