Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA)

The MPA program at WVU is designed to prepare students to meet challenges they face in launching into a career in public accounting. The structured educational experience of a graduate program broadens and deepens the student’s knowledge and skills. Many states, including West Virginia, require 128 hours of formal education before taking the CPA examination and 150 credit hours to be fully certified. Earning a Masters of Professional Accountancy can help students achieve this requirement and begin their careers on solid foundation.

Nationally recognized program of excellence

In addition to the College’s AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International accreditation, the Accounting department earned its own accreditation in 1997. This AACSB Accreditation makes WVU’s Accounting department one of the top programs in the country. Fewer than 28 percent of all AACSB-accredited schools have an additional accreditation for their MPA program.

Outstanding placement record

The MPA program has an excellent placement record. The big four as well as many other international, national, regional, and local firms actively recruit WVU accounting graduates.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MPA program is determined by a committee of accounting faculty. The committee acts upon individual applications within a short period of time after receipt of the completed application.

GPA and GMAT Requirements

The admission committee seeks applicants who possess a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (calculated on all college courses completed or the last 60 hours); an accounting grade point average of 3.0 (calculated exclusive of principles, proctoring, internship, and independent study courses); and a total GMAT score in the 60 percentile or higher. Both full and half-time applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the MPA program.

Students who possess appropriate GMAT scores and grade point averages, but do not possess a bachelor’s degree in accounting, may apply for provisional MPA graduate status. Provisional students must complete the prerequisite courses before enrolling in MPA courses. Applicants with accounting undergraduate degrees must also satisfy all the prerequisite courses for the MPA program.

Students receiving provisional admission to the MPA degree will meet with the MPA coordinator to develop a written plan for the completion of the prerequisite courses. After completing all prerequisite coursework the student must request a change from provisional to regular MPA status which is subject to approval by the MPA Admission Committee. Failure to satisfactorily complete the plan will result in the cancellation of the applicant’s provisional MPA graduate student status.

Note: No student will be admitted as a provisional graduate student without satisfying the GMAT requirement. GRE scores (Graduate Records Examination) will be accepted in lieu of GMAT scores only for applicants with GRE scores in the 70th percentile or above.

Prerequisite Courses

• Business Finance

• Income Tax Accounting

• Principles of Marketing

• Principles of Management

• Principles of Microeconomics

• Introduction to Statistics

• Introduction to Computer Science

• Business Law

• Principles of Accounting I and II

• Intermediate Accounting I and II

• Cost/Management Accounting

• Internal or External Auditing

The WV Board of Accountancy requires the above listed courses to sit for the CPA exam in West Virginia, in addition to other accounting related courses. These courses are also required because CPAs need a broad business background in the practice of public accounting.