Accounting
- Master in Professional Accounting
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Doctor of Philosophy
Facilities for Graduate Work
The physical facilities, computing systems, and research centers that support graduate work are contained within the McCombs School.
Areas of Study
The objective of this program is to provide the student with a sound foundation in the body of knowledge of business administration, broad exposure to the discipline of accounting, and the greater depth in accounting required to specialize and to enter the profession with the prospect of rapid career progress, high-level responsibility, and future leadership. The program is designed to provide outstanding students with the educational foundation for successful careers in public accounting, industry, consulting, not-for-profit organizations, and educational and financial institutions.
The faculty has designed three concentrations within the MPA program: financial reporting and assurance, taxation, and managerial accounting and control. Each concentration is a sequence of courses that offers strong preparation for a particular career path. In addition, the student may choose a generalist curriculum.
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee in the spring semester 2006–2007.
- Urton L. Anderson
- Rowland Atiase
- Michael B. Clement
- Carlos Corona
- James W. Deitrick
- Robert N. Freeman
- Michael H. Granof
- Jeffrey W. Hales
- D. Eric Hirst
- Ross G. Jennings
- Steven J. Kachelmeier
- William R. Kinney Jr.
- Lisa L. Koonce
- Linda Krull
- Volker Laux
- Stephen Limberg
- Robert G. May
- Lillian F. Mills
- D. Paul Newman
- John R. Robinson
- Michael G. Williamson
- Yanfeng Xue
- Yanhua Yang
- Yong Yu
Admission Requirements
Master in Professional Accounting
Applications to the MPA program are accepted for the fall semester only.
The Admissions Committee considers each completed application, giving particular attention to the statement of purpose, prior academic performance, letters of recommendation, extracurricular and community activities, honors and achievements, test scores, and work history (if applicable). Personal characteristics that add to the diversity of the class may also be considered, such as country of citizenship, family background, gender, multilingual skills, and socioeconomic history.
The MPA program is sufficiently flexible to accommodate students with bachelor’s degrees in any field of study. However, students without a sufficient background in financial accounting may be required to complete undergraduate coursework before they begin the MPA curriculum.
Upon admission to the program, the student must pay a nonrefundable enrollment deposit to indicate that he or she accepts the offer of admission. The deposit is applied to the payment of fees when the student enrolls. Students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for assistance to cover the deposit. All fees and deposits are subject to change with appropriate approval. Students should consult General Information for the current amount of the enrollment deposit.
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission to the PhD program is based on a holistic review by the PhD Admissions Committee of several factors, including the applicant’s motivations for doctoral study, academic and work experience, and academic credentials. The number of applicants admitted is limited by the faculty’s commitment to provide financial assistance, excellent teaching, and expert guidance to each student.
Degree Requirements
Master in Professional Accounting
The core of the MPA curriculum consists of twenty-five semester hours of coursework. Three of the core courses may be waived if the student has completed equivalent undergraduate work. In addition to the core, students complete eighteen hours in more specialized courses. They may choose one of the three tracks designed by the faculty—financial reporting and assurance, managerial accounting and control, and taxation—or they may choose courses to meet their specific academic and professional goals in the generalist curriculum.
Depending on their undergraduate backgrounds, students must earn from thirty-seven to forty-three semester hours of credit to complete the program; all MPA students must complete at least nineteen semester hours in accounting. Students must complete at least two long-session semesters in residence in the MPA program.
Master of Science in Accounting
The Master of Science in Accounting is offered only to students who are enrolled in the doctoral program in accounting. This degree is offered in three options: with thesis, with report, and without thesis or report. The thesis option requires at least thirty semester hours of credit; the report option, at least thirty-three hours; and the option without thesis or report, at least thirty-six hours. All coursework must be logically related, and the student’s entire program must be approved by the student’s primary adviser and the graduate adviser. The Graduate Studies Committee’s approval is not required.
Doctor of Philosophy
The coursework for the doctoral degree includes four nonaccounting core courses, five accounting seminars, and coursework in two supporting fields outside accounting. Students also write first-year and second-year research papers. Those without teaching experience complete Business Administration 398T and teach an entry-level accounting course. Four or five years are generally needed to complete the coursework and dissertation phases of the degree program.
For More Information
MPA Program
Campus address: College of Business Administration Building (CBA) 2.302, phone (512) 471-6559, fax (512) 471-3365; campus mail code: B6400
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, MPA Program, Department of Accounting, 1 University Station B6400, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: mccombsmpa@mccombs.utexas.edu
URL: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/dept/accounting/mpa/
MSACC and PhD Programs
Campus address: College of Business Administration Building (CBA) 4M.202, phone (512) 471-5508, fax (512) 471-3904; campus mail code: B6400
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program, Department of Accounting, 1 University Station B6400, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: accounting.phd@bus.utexas.edu