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Curriculum

Designed with the increasing importance of data-driven analysis in mind, the Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) curriculum focuses on creating audit, assurance and advisory insight using modern data analytics tools. Course content typically introduces important real-world audit, assurance and advisory problems and focuses on communicating their data-driven solutions. With no programming experience necessary, MPAcc students gain exposure to the use of cutting-edge analytics and automation software to solve real-world cases.

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Highlights

mpacc students in classroom
Collaborate with Peers

Study groups offer support, expanding perspectives, lasting friendships, and professional contacts, and are critical to successfully completing the intense projects.

tableau
Interact with local companies

Interact with iconic Seattle companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Costco and Tableau.

data analytics
Learn Data Analytics Skills

Learn cutting-edge analytics and automation skills by applying data analytic and robotic process automation software to practical real-world business cases.

Asher Curtis and student in mpacc classroom
Gain Practical Experience

Gain practical experience through hands-on projects with Seattle companies, and guest lectures from practicing experts in the field.

 

Schedule

In just three quarters of full-time study you can earn an MPAcc degree from the University of Washington, including learning on the job with an internship. The MPAcc program kicks off with orientation in the autumn quarter, a set of analytically intensive courses in the autumn, an internship in the winter, and courses in the spring quarter that further develop analytic skills and communicating their findings. Due to the collaborative nature of the program, attendance is required at all program events. Please contact us for more information.

 

Courses

The MPAcc curriculum consists of 48 credits taken over three quarters.

Software Specifications

Software used in the MPAcc program varies depending on the cases taught each year.
Example software used in prior years includes:

Task Software
Data queries, extraction and cleaning Excel, SQL, PowerBI, Alteryx, XBRL
Data analysis Alteryx
Data visualization Tableau, PowerBI, Lucidchart
Automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence UIPath, Mindbridge AI

MPAcc courses at-a-glance

MPAcc courses at-a-glance: 48 credits

ACCTG 520: Accounting, Audit and Assurance Regulation (4 credits)
ACCTG 521: Advanced Cases in Assurance Services (4 credits)
ACCTG 522: Data Analytics for Professional Accountants (4 credits)
ACCTG 523: Advanced Financial Statement Analysis (4 credits)
ACCTG 526: Advanced Accounting Codification Research (4 credits)
ACCTG 527: Communications in Professional Accounting (4 credits)
ACCTG 528: Advanced Cases in Accounting Advisory (4 credits)
ACCTG 529: Business Ethics and Law for Accountants (4 credits)
ACCTG 575: Internship (14 credits)
ACCTG 576: Experiential Learning Project (2 credits)

Autumn

Course TitleDetails

Advanced Accounting Codification Research Advanced research and application of the codification for complex accounting issues for public companies including tax, consolidation, and recent / or announced accounting standard changes.
Advanced Cases in Assurance Services Advanced case studies for professional accountants focusing on current issues and the use of analytical tools with real-world applications in audit and assurance settings.
Communications in Professional Accounting Development of communications skills for professional accountants, including effective written and oral skills with a focus on real-world settings in audit, assurance, and advisory services.
Data Analytics for Professional Accountants Application of data analytics concepts and techniques for professional accountants, with real-world applications in audit, assurance, and advisory settings.

Winter

Course TitleDetails

Internship With the help of the EY Center for Career Development, MPAcc students will find an accounting-related internship to apply what they have learned in a professional work environment. Students will often earn enough money to create a significant discount on their annual tuition. Other winter quarter options could include independent research projects or taking other accounting-related courses.
Experiential Learning Project Written communication describing experiences learned in the MPAcc internship or MPAcc Independent research project.

Spring

Course TitleDetails

Accounting, Audit and Assurance Regulation Examines important regulatory issues in accounting, auditing, and assurance.
Advanced Cases in Accounting Advisory Project-based learning involving real-world applications of contemporary problems in accounting advisory settings using innovative analytical tools and data-driven research techniques.
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis Advanced traditional and data-driven analysis of financial statements from a user perspective with real-world applications for professional accountants.
Business Ethics and Law for Accountants Explores basic legal and ethical principles underlying the practice of accounting. Special attention devoted to identifying legal and ethical issues as they arise in commercial and professional accounting contexts.

Satisfactory Progress Guidelines for the Master of Professional Accounting program

The following guidelines are built around the University of Washington’s Satisfactory Progress policy which states that students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to graduate. The MPAcc program also adds that each student must earn a minimum grade of 2.7 in every class.

Because the MPAcc program is only 3 quarters, and the courses are only offered once per academic year, students who do not meet the 2.7 minimum for a course, will need to gain permission to return the following year to make up the requirement.

Students who do not earn a 2.7 in any course, or who do not maintain the 3.0 cumulative GPA will be placed on probation.

Fall Quarter Midterm Probation

During the middle of the fall (1st) quarter, students whose GPA is below 3.0 will be required to meet with the Student Services Director on a regular basis and be warned of the potential danger of being dropped from the program.

Fall Quarter Probation

Once grades are posted at the end of the fall quarter, students whose cumulative GPA is:

  1. 2.7 – 2.99 will be required to meet with the Student Services Director on a regular basis throughout the winter quarter. These students will be notified that they will be dropped from the program by the end of the winter quarter if the winter quarterly GPA is not at least a 3.0.
  2. Below 2.7 will be dropped from the MPAcc program.

Winter Quarter Probation

Once the grades for winter quarter are posted, students whose cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 will be on probation and required to meet with the Student Services Director on a regular basis throughout the spring quarter. They will be notified that if the cumulative GPA does not reach 3.0 by the end of the spring quarter, they will not receive their degree.

Repeating Coursework

Repeating coursework may be approved if the course grade is below 2.7 but repeating courses and earning a new grade will only average with the GPA—it will not replace the first grade.

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