Department of Accounting and Finance

Adamson Hall 202A • 678-839-6469
https://www.westga.edu/mpacc

Accounting permeates the fabric of modern society. It is the discipline that provides financial information that is necessary for the management, control, and evaluation of business enterprises, governmental units, and not-for-profit institutions. Accounting provides the measures of economic activity for our society and for our individual lives. It is the language used to communicate financial information.

The study of accounting requires a serious commitment. Students are expected to dedicate themselves to becoming accounting professionals. Discipline and integrity are essential ingredients for success. Our students are taught that being a professional means putting forth whatever effort is needed to get the job done.

An effective accountant must understand the tax law, securities regulation, accounting, auditing, and other assurance standards, as well as how to motivate employees, how to measure business processes, how to design efficient systems to achieve shareholders’ goals and assess the risks involved, how to prevent manipulation of such plans, and how to communicate those plans to the firm and to outsiders. Furthermore, an accounting professional must be able to explain the confusing data to those with little knowledge of the tremendous amount of important detail contained in the financial statements.

Graduate professional education is not just training, just skill development, or just preparation to pass a licensing exam. It is far more than all of these combined. While focusing on the integration of technical expertise and ethical judgment, a graduate education in accounting must develop the student’s analytical skills, which will be tested by difficult and often unanticipated economic conditions. This education must also develop the written and oral skills that proficient communication demands.

The MPAcc program serves students graduating from liberal-arts-based B.B.A. programs both at West Georgia and other comparable institutions. In addition, students graduating from non-business degree programs are served. The majority of students are from the local/regional area served by West Georgia. The program also attracts students from outside the University’s regional service area, including other states and countries. The program endeavors to attract students with liberal arts degrees. Women and minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

The Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). The undergraduate accounting and MPAcc programs carry the distinction of separate AACSB accreditation as well.

MPAcc Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MPAcc program must hold a bachelor’s degree. Admission requires submission of all undergraduate transcripts. The MPAcc program in the Richards College of Business relies on a competitive admission process. Meeting the requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission into the program. In all cases final admission decisions are made by the MPAcc Graduate Admissions Committee. Admission requirements may be met under any of the four following conditions:

An undergraduate accounting degree from an AACSB-accredited institution with an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) and a minimum of 18 hours of upper division (3000-4000 level) accounting courses with an accounting GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0).
A minimum of 18 hours of upper division (3000-4000 level) accounting courses from an AACSB-accredited institution with an accounting GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a scale of 4.0).
A minimum 2.5 overall GPA and a score of 950 points based on the formula: (undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale) x 200) + the applicant’s Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score (minimum 450), and a 3.0 or higher on the analytical writing section of the GMAT.
A minimum 2.5 upper division GPA and a score of 1000 points based on the formula: (upper division undergraduate GPA (last 60 hours, on a 4.0 scale) x 200) + the applicant’s GMAT score (minimum 450), and a 3.0 or higher on the analytical writing section of the GMAT.

International students must submit a minimum 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79-80 internet-based on TOEFL score.

In a limited number of cases, prospective students who already hold a graduate degree may apply for and be granted a GMAT waiver. To be considered for a GMAT waiver, applicants must submit the GMAT Test Score Waiver Form with supporting documentation. This form is available through the Richards College of Business Office of Graduate Student Services.

Programs

Master of Professional Accounting