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The MPA program includes 12 hours of electives beyond the MPA core courses that can be chosen from graduate accounting courses, other graduate courses offered by the School of Business, and senior-level accounting courses (up to 6 credit hours only). The MPA program is designed primarily as a professional program rather than a preparation program for doctoral study. Both research and non-research options are available in the program. Students planning to pursue doctoral study or having an interest in research should select the research option. Students choosing the non-research option must complete a minimum of 36 semester credits of prescribed study, exclusive of leveling course work. Students choosing the research option must complete either 30 semester credits of prescribed study plus a thesis, or 33 semester credits of prescribed study plus a research problem.

The thesis must deal with a topic of generalized concern to the profession, be scholarly in its orientation, demonstrate the students understanding of and ability to use sophisticated research techniques, show promise of a contribution to knowledge that could be worthy of publication in a scholarly or professional journal. Students will arrange with their graduate committees to sit for an oral examination of their thesis.

The research problem should deal with a practical problem of concern to the student. It should follow recognized research procedures but does not require the level of sophistication of thesis research. The findings do not necessarily need to be of such import as to merit publication.