Accelerate Your Accounting Career
Earn Your CPA License
The Katz MS in Accounting program is tailored to help you achieve CPA certification the first time. Our students have a first-time pass rate of 70%, compared to the Pennsylvania state average of 55.7% and national average of 50%.
Each term, MS in Accounting students are asked to assist the AICPA in a field test of the CPA exam. Students can sit for a specific section of the exam in a test environment, to try questions that could be used on a future CPA exam. Few schools give this opportunity.
To become a licensed CPA in most states, students must complete 150 academic credit hours (36 credits in accounting), have one year of work experience (1,600) hours, and pass the CPA exam (4 parts). Many states additionally require that the academic credit hours include the achievement of a master’s degree.
Our MAcc program strives to improve the pass rate by teaching elements of the CPA exam not customarily covered at the undergraduate level.
For CPA requirements in PA, please see www.picpa.org and for other states, please visit www.nasba.org/stateboards.
The Future Accountant
Technology is becoming more important for the future of business. MS in Accounting students are encouraged to participate in professional development workshops such as the Business Analytics Speaker Series, Introduction to Python programming, among others, to enhance technical skills. Students can also choose to complete the BQOM 2501 Enterprise Systems course, which offers students the opportunity to take the SAP/TS410 Certification exam on the last day of class.
Student Clubs
Interested MS in Accounting students are also encouraged to participate in related professional development activities:
- University of Pittsburgh Accounting Association (UPAA)
- Beta Alpha Psi (BAP)
- Wall Street Prep workshop hosted by Katz
- Business Technology Club
- Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) – Pittsburgh Chapter
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
As a student, I sought out classes and opportunities (like the Super Analytics Challenge) to learn and grow in this new area. I feel empowered and proud in a way I wouldn’t have thought possible prior to earning my graduate degree.
Katz has the perfect combination of small class sizes that foster a great learning environment while simultaneously having the perks of a larger program like access to working with great companies and professors.
