MS in Accounting // Requirements

Accelerate Your Accounting Career

Basic Requirements

The Master of Science in Accounting Program is a full-time, 30-credit master’s degree* you can complete in 9-12 months—or two terms of study—provided you have completed the prerequisite requirements listed below. Begin your studies in August and graduate in April or January and graduate in December, while using the summer to take courses or complete an industry internship. Gain the advanced accounting skills you need for success in public accounting, corporate accounting, business management careers, or further academic studies.

Upon graduating, you’ll be prepared to pass the CPA exam, and you will have satisfied the 150 credit-hour requirement required by most U.S. states to qualify for CPA certification.

Prerequisites

If you haven’t previously studied accounting, or if your prior accounting studies were not based on the U.S. system of accounting (U.S. GAAP), you will need to complete up to 18 credits of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of B or better:

Course Number Course Title Credits
BUSACC 0030 Financial Accounting 3.0
BUSACC 0040 Managerial Accounting 3.0
BUSACC 1204 Intermediate Fin. Reporting I 3.0
BUSACC 1205 Intermediate Fin. Reporting II 3.0
BUSACC 1236 Accounting Info Systems 3.0
BUSACC 1238 Auditing 3.0

Prerequisite courses do not count toward the 30-credit requirement* to complete the MS in Accounting degree. Prerequisite coursework will add at least one additional term of study. The tuition rate for the additional term will be billed the same rate as the MS in Accounting program. You can take both prerequisite courses and MS in Accounting courses in the same term.

Katz is a test-optional business school that considers applications submitted without test scores for admissions.  International applicants who are not a citizen of a country whose official language is English will be required to submit official scores from an English language proficiency exam according to the University of Pittsburgh English language proficiency requirements.

Application

Online Application. Create your personal application account where you can start and save your work as needed.

Your complete application will include:

  • Two letters of recommendation from persons who know you in academic or professional capacities (at least one from a faculty member is preferred). Applicants can enter the name and email address of their chosen recommenders in the online application. The recommenders will then receive an automatic e-mail from the online application system, notifying them to complete the letter of recommendation.
  • Essay responses in the online application
  • Current Résumé uploaded to the online application
  • Transcripts/Academic documents – An unofficial copy can be uploaded into the Educational Information section of the online application. The unofficial copy will suffice for the application review process. Once an applicant is admitted to the program, an official copy of the transcript will be requested. International applicants will be required to provide official academic records accompanied by notarized English translations, including diplomas for degrees earned.
  • Application fee – Each applicant is required to submit a $50 non-refundable application fee. You are permitted to pay by bank check drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card. If paying by check, please make the check payable to the University of Pittsburgh, and mail to: Master’s Admissions, 301 Mervis Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. If paying by credit card, please follow the instructions for payment which are included in the online application.

GMAT or GRE Test Optional

Katz utilizes a test optional admissions process for all its programs. This means that all applicants have the option to submit GMAT or GRE scores in support of their application but are not required to do so.

Applicants who do not meet at least one of the following criteria are encouraged (but not required) to submit GMAT or GRE test scores:

  • An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a B (3.00) average or higher in a minimum of 6 credits of quantitative coursework (on a 4.0 grading scale) OR
  • Have earned a graduate and/or professional degree

International applicants to full-time programs are also encouraged to submit GMAT or GRE test scores.

International applicants are required to submit an English Language test (TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo).

English Language Proficiency Requirement – International Applicants

International applicants who are not a citizen of a country listed here whose official language is English will be required to submit official scores from one of the following English language proficiency exams:

  • TOEFL
  • Duolingo English
  • IELTS

The minimum official test scores acceptable for applicants to MS degree programs are TOEFL (80 or higher), Duolingo English (110 or higher) or IELTS (6.5 or higher).

Questions and Correspondence

Applicants can email questions about Katz MS programs, the application process, or application status should be sent to admissions@katz.pitt.edu.

Applicants are also encouraged to check their application status by logging into the online application system.

All other correspondence should be addressed to:

Katz Graduate Admissions
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
301 Mervis Hall
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260