Accountancy (Professional Accountancy -M.P.A.)

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Each applicant is expected to have satisfactorily completed the undergraduate/foundation requirements for study in the Beacom School of Business (see Admissions Information on Accountancy’s Departmental page ).

The M.P.A. degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate hours: a 21-hour graduate accounting core and a group of restricted electives. Plan A (thesis program), Plan B (non-thesis program), and Plan C (internship program) are available options. The Coordinator of the program must approve the remaining restricted elective hours at the graduate level.

All plan options require a comprehensive exam to be completed prior to graduation.

Master of Professional Accountancy Plan A (thesis): Total 30 credit hours

MPA Graduate Accounting Core 21 credit hours
Thesis 3-6 credit hours
Restricted Electives 3-6 credit hours

Master of Professional Accountancy Plan B (non–thesis): Total 30 credit hours

MPA Graduate Accounting Core 21 credit hours
Restricted Electives 9 credit hours

Master of Professional Accountancy Plan C (internship): Total 30 credit hours

MPA Graduate Accounting Core 21 credit hours
Accounting Internship 3 credit hours
Restricted Electives 6 credit hours

Master of Professional Accountancy Graduate Accounting Core: 21 credit hours

ACCT 720 - COST ACCOUNTING [online] 3 cr hrs
ACCT 731 - TAX PLANNING AND PRACTICE [online] 3 cr hrs
ACCT 740 - ADVANCED ACCOUNTING THEORY [online] 3 cr hrs
ACCT 750 - CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN AUDITING [online] 3 cr hrs
ACCT 760 - ACCOUNTING IN GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS [online] 3 cr hrs
ACCT 780 - ADVANCED ACCOUNTING [online] 3 cr hrs
BADM 582 - BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY [online] 3 cr hrs *
*BADM 582 may be substituted with an approved graduate elective if a Business Policy and Strategy class has been previously taken.

Joint M.P.A. / J.D. Program

It is possible to concurrently pursue an M.P.A. in the Beacom School of Business and a J.D. in the USD School of Law. Nine hours of 700-level accounting coursework may be counted toward the J.D. degree and nine hours of law coursework may be counted toward the M.P.A. degree if both degrees are pursued concurrently. For further information on this joint program, contact either the USD School of Law or the M.P.A. Program Coordinator.

Joint B.B.A. / M.P.A. Fast-Track Option

Beacom School of Business undergraduate accounting majors meeting requirements for entry into the M.P.A. program may opt to complete both the B.B.A. and M.P.A. concurrently. Students who pursue this fast-track option will be awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, upon completion of the two programs.

Students completing their junior-level accounting courses or beginning their senior-level accounting courses may apply for admission to the M.P.A. program using the standard graduate application process. The fast-track option will confer special student status to those admitted, who will then be eligible to apply for graduate assistantships.

Students must complete the requirements of the B.B.A. program in accordance with the undergraduate catalog and the requirements for the M.P.A. program in accordance with the graduate catalog. However, USD undergraduate students planning to pursue the Joint B.B.A./M.P.A. Fast-Track Option should plan to take BADM 582 - BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY [online] instead of BADM 482 Business Policy and Strategy, and students pursuing this option can replace BADM 323 Information Systems for Business Professionals with another business course from an approved list.