Rady School of Management Launches Master of Professional Accountancy

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The Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego today announced the launch of the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) degree. The new degree offers a comprehensive accounting education that prepares graduates to pursue a wide array of accounting career opportunities. It also provides important educational requirements for candidates seeking Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure. Hiring by public accounting firms is at an all-time high, especially at the master’s degree level, and employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow steadily over the next decade. 

“The Master of Professional Accountancy program is an exceptional opportunity for undergraduate students to extend their education one year and significantly accelerate their career advancement,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “We have a robust accounting undergraduate constituency so it was a natural fit for us to offer this program.” The Rady School’s undergraduate accounting minor provides foundational accounting courses and is one of the largest minors on campus with more than 200 students graduating each year.  

The Rady School’s 50 unit MPAc program emphasizes a broad and intensive curriculum composed of quantitative, analytical, legal and regulatory coursework and can be completed in as little as nine months. MPAc program graduates will be well prepared for accounting careers, providing financial reporting and analysis, auditing, tax, and consulting tasks for corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations, governments, and individuals. MPAc students will have an understanding of core business functions (marketing, finance, management and operations) and be able to both financially evaluate business opportunities and identify their associated risks. They will have experience analyzing and reporting financial information, objectively considering issues and recommending solutions. 

The program also explores the markets and management issues of global science and technology-driven firms and the unique challenges they face. Where appropriate, MPAc courses and elective options will focus on innovation and technology. With examples taken from technology-driven innovative companies, the courses will provide students with a nuanced understanding of the accounting and control needs for this highly important business segment in the U.S., and particularly in California. 

The MPAc program joins the Rady School’s other prestigious graduate programs including the MBA, MSBA, and MFin programs. The MPAc program is accepting applications now with classes scheduled to begin in September.