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Master of Professional Accounting

Become a sought-after accounting professional with Seattle University's Master of Professional Accounting program. Excel in the dynamic world of accounting.

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About this Program

Prepare to Thrive as a Trusted Accounting Professional

Designed for those with a non-accounting undergraduate degree, our STEM-designated Master of Professional Accounting (MPAC) gives you the right credentials to switch careers or progress upwards in your organization.

This program is designed for those who have earned an undergraduate degree in a non-accounting major (including any business major, liberal arts, and/or humanities) who want to pivot to the accounting profession.

Albers' MPAC program enables you to gain highly sought-after knowledge by today's employers.

STEM Courses Prepare for Certification

With an undergrad degree in business, you are on the path to completing 225 quarter hours for CPA eligibility. If your degree is in a non-business major, we’ll help you plan your roadmap to an accounting credential, including:

  • CPA (Certified Professional Accountant)
  • CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
  • CMA (Certified Management Accountant)
  • CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
  • EA (Enrolled Agent)

We’ll also make sure you’re ready to start accounting coursework by including a few prerequisite courses in statistics, finance, and economics.

Courses in your program include IT Audit, Advanced Accounting, Corporate Governance, Not-For Profit Accounting, and Law for Accountants.

You’ll get real-world experience with a tax practicum that involves community-engaged learning. You can also do a 12-credit internship to gain even more experience.

The point is, when you graduate, you’ll be ready to thrive in your new career.

Graduate Degree in Accounting at a Glance

Learn more about this degree from the Department of Accounting and how it can contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University accounting degree can be.

Your coursework is designed to help you become an accounting professional. Our curriculum walks you through the coursework needed for a deep conceptual understanding of the extensive material required for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CMA (Certified Management Accountant), and ACCA (Association of Certified Charter Accountants) exams. The curriculum also includes courses on data analytics, visualization, as well as auditing in a world of emerging technologies.

The MPAC learning objectives are focused on your success. We will:

  • Extend your technical competencies in financial reporting and analysis, managerial decision-making, tax compliance and planning, and risk assurance and compliance testing.
  • Develop your leadership and cross-functional management skills.
  • Sharpen your essential professional competencies including: critical thinking skills, effective communication skills, ability to work effectively in teams, and data analytics skills.
  • Develop your awareness of the needs of communities beyond the boundaries of your profession.

On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Recommend a course of action to a prospective client by using a framework or model to analyze financial statements and other relevant data.
  • Evaluate the accounting implications of an economic event by applying the principles, standards, and practices of financial accounting.
  • Advise stakeholders of how strategic business risks relate to internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and/or audit using authoritative literature, fieldwork, surveys, archival, or other research data.
  • Synthesize accounting information within the context of other business functions to inform the business decision-making process.
  • Construct arguments for and against alternative accounting decisions by weighing the ethical, stakeholder, and stewardship implications of each.

This program is approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fall within the definition of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

If you are an F-1 nonimmigrant student who has completed 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training, receiving a degree in a DHS-approved STEM program means you are eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. To learn more, please speak to a Seattle University international admissions counselor.

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

#16

Top 20 Master in Accounting Program 

Nationally Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

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Top 5% World Business Schools & AACSB accredited 

Albers School of Business and Economics

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SU: ACCA Accredited 

Accredited Education Partner of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Meaningful Connections

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Career-Ready Experiences Beyond the Classroom

We understand how important it is to get experience outside of the classroom. As a Master’s in Professional Accounting student, you’ll have a variety of opportunities to learn and grow in the greater Seattle community.

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Accounting Mentor Program

The Accounting Mentor Program was launched to increase students’ interactions with professionals currently practicing in the accounting field and also serve as a networking tool for students and mentors alike.

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Accounting Student Club events

Join Beta Alpha Psi, the Accounting Society’s honors club, and attend Accounting Department-sponsored networking events with alumni and accounting professionals.

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Connected to Seattle’s Best Jobs

There’s no better place to study accounting than at the Albers School of Business and Economics. Our strong connections to the best companies in Seattle open doors and create opportunities for all our students. The Albers Career Center connects you to the mentors and resources for the current job market.

Albers Career Center

More About Accounting at SU

As an accounting student at Seattle University, you will benefit from the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence and professional formation, as well as a holistic education that focuses on the whole person.

We hope your education helps you bring your full self to your work so you can live your best life—and make the biggest positive impact on those around you.

Albers Associate Accounting Professor Dr. Gabriel Saucedo describes accounting being about “creating useful information so a company can make good decisions for long-term business success.”

The skills you learn in your accounting major can launch a high-earning career in a variety of industries!

Here’s a snapshot of some of an accountant’s responsibilities:

  • Ensure reliability of financial statements
  • Track company revenue and expenses
  • Examine financial records for errors or fraud
  • Ensure regulatory laws and rules are followed
  • Determine pricing of products and services
  • Calculate the monetary value of companies
  • Implement new accounting and finance technologies and systems
  • Manage and mitigate financial risk
  • Prepare tax returns and statements

Your accounting major from Albers School of Business and Economics sets you apart! With high CPA pass rates, our students are highly desired by the best companies in Seattle, including

  • Deloitte
  • Amazon
  • Ernst & Young
  • Boeing
  • KPMG
  • Expedia
  • PwC
  • Nordstrom
  • Moss Adams
  • PACCAR
  • Clark Nuber
  • T-Mobile
  • Grant Thornton
  • Weyerhaeuser
  • Nth Degree
  • Zillow

As a high-demand career, you’ll find many accounting opportunities right after graduation. You can also expect to rise to positions of senior leadership later in your career as well. Here are some of the most common job titles for our recent grads:

  • External Auditor
  • Internal Auditor
  • Financial Analyst
  • Non-Profit Accountant
  • Investment Banker
  • Tax Accountant
  • Entrepreneur
  • Government Auditor
  • Forensic Accountant

From Our Alumni

MPAC graduate Amy Xu

Amy Xu

“I completed both my life transition and Master's in Accounting degree at the same time. In the past, I led marketing and operations teams at companies in Beijing ranging in size from 1,000 to 10,000 staff. I also had entrepreneurial experience as an online and offline flower shop owner. Accounting may be my new career but what I have achieved in my prior work are now building blocks for my future. My new goals and dreams have brought me renewed energy and happiness."

MPAC ‘24

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Get In Touch

Get in-depth, personalized program information from an expert. Share your career goals and decide on next steps with our specialized admissions team.

Carolyn Auvil Cubillos

Senior Graduate Student Recruitment Specialist

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