Combined Master of Professional Accounting, MPAcc and Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.

The University of West Georgia now offers a path for students to earn their MPAcc and MBA degrees concurrently. This option develops the proficiencies students need to succeed in today’s competitive job market.

Graduates qualify to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination in the state of Georgia and earn sufficient graduate-level accounting hours to teach as a full-time lecturer or part-time adjunct faculty at the University level.

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, MPAcc, and combined MPAcc-MBA programs also carry the distinction of individual, specialized AACSB accreditation.

Learning Outcomes

MPAcc Learning Outcomes

Communicate at a professional level in oral presentations and in writing.
Identify how globalization affects organizations and their environment.
Recognize the importance of ethical decision making.
Understand the major forms of accounting and be able to apply these principles and practices in a professionally responsible manner to accounting and business processes and systems.

MBA Learning Outcomes

Communicate at a professional level in oral presentations and in writing.
Work effectively with others and lead in organizational situations.
Identify how globalization affects organizations and their environment.
Recognize the importance of ethical decision making.
Integrate analytical and problem solving skills with concepts and theories from all functional areas of business.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the combined MPAcc-MBA must be admitted into both the MPAcc and MBA programs. Applicants should review the “Admissions” tab on the following web pages for specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission:

MPAcc program https://www.westga.edu/academics/business/program_page.php?program_id=77
MBA program https://www.westga.edu/academics/business/program_page.php?program_id=59

Course Requirements

The combined MPAcc/MBA requires successful completion of 45 graduate course hours. Students without an undergraduate accounting degree must complete 15 additional upper division undergraduate accounting hours. Students without an undergraduate business degree must also fulfill a five business course core requirement, which may be taken in a face-to-face classroom setting or as self-study modules.

*Select either ECON 2105 or ECON 2106

Business Core Courses

ACCT 2101 Principles of Accounting I
ACCT 2102 Principles of Accounting II
ECON 2105* Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2106* Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 3402 Statistics for Business I
FINC 3511 Corporate Finance

Basic Accounting Courses

ACCT 3212 Financial Reporting I
ACCT 3213 Financial Reporting II
ACCT 3232 Managerial Accounting
ACCT 3251 Income Tax Accounting for Individuals
ACCT 4241 Accounting Information Systems

Required MPAcc Courses

ACCT 6216 - Seminar in Financial Reporting 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6233 - Seminar in Cost Accounting 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6242 - Strategic Information Systems 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6253 - Seminar in Tax Accounting 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6263 - Seminar in Auditing 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6264 - Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing 3 Credit Hours
ECON 6461 - International Finance 3 Credit Hours
FINC 6532 - Finance 3 Credit Hours

Required MBA Courses

ECON 6450 - Managerial Economics 3 Credit Hours
MGNT 6670 - Organizational Theory and Behavior 3 Credit Hours
MGNT 6681 - Strategic, Ethical, and Global Management 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 6815 - Marketing Strategy 3 Credit Hours

MPAcc/MBA Electives

(Select three)

ABED 6100 - Strategic Business Communication 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6265 - Accounting for Sustainability 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 6285 - Special Problems in Accounting 1.0 - 3.0 Credit Hours
CISM 6331 - Strategic Management of Information Technology 3 Credit Hours
ECON 6430 - Business Forecasting 3 Credit Hours
ECON 6485 - Special Topics in Economics 3 Credit Hours
FINC 6542 - Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 5805 - Sales Management 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 6820 - International Business Strategy 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 6881 - Independent Study in Marketing 3 Credit Hours
MGNT 6675 - Work Practicum 3 Credit Hours
MGNT 6685 - Special Problems in Business 3 Credit Hours
(Note: Any of the above elective courses can count as an elective course in the Combined MPAcc/MBA path as either the MPAcc or MBA elective.)

Additional Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 is required for all combined MPAcc-MBA students. Only courses in which a student previously earned a grade lower than a “B” may be repeated. Students may repeat no more than two graduate courses. Only one repeat per course is allowed. The new grade will not replace the previously earned grade; instead, the grade received in the second attempt will be averaged into the student’s overall GPA calculation. If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below a 3.0, the University’s policies on academic probation, suspension, and dismissal apply (see Academic Standards in the General Academic Policies section of the catalog).

All requirements must be completed within six (6) years from the date of matriculation as a graduate student.

Any combined MPAcc-MBA student earning a grade of “F” or “WF” during the course of his or her program of study will be subject to dismissal from the program.