Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisite Courses 

Because there is no mandatory undergraduate major requirement for admission, it is essential that incoming students have these accounting fundamentals in place before beginning the MPAc program. Prerequisites can be “in progress” at the time of applying for the MPAc program but must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in the fall. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The requirements to qualify for the MPAc program are:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Successful completion of the following four courses, or their equivalents:
  • Introduction to Financial Accounting 
  • Introduction to Managerial Accounting
  • Business Law
  • Statistics

The prerequisite courses may be "in progress" at the time of applying, but must be completed before beginning the MPAc program in the fall. Prerequisites cannot be taken concurrently with the MPAc curriculum. 

Prerequisite courses can be taken at any accredited institution. If classes are planned or in progress at the time of applying for admission, please indicate where courses are being taken and expected date of completion on your application. For more information about accredited institutions, see the U.S. Department of Education Database of Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Work Experience

Work experience is not required for admission, but will certainly be considered as part of your overall applicant profile if you do have an employment history. The UC Davis MPAc program admits students with a range of experience as well as students who enroll directly from an undergraduate program without traditional work experience. Not having work experience will not put an applicant at a disadvantage for admission.

GMAT/GRE Requirements

The GMAT requirement may be waived for US domestic applicants, and international applicants who completed their undergraduate degree (all four years) from a US institution, with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or above. All applicants with a GPA less than 3.2 will be required to submit GMAT or GRE scores.

GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years and scores should be valid through September 1 of the year you plan to start your program. You may take the test as many times as allowed by the Graduate Management Admissions Council and ETS. 

Institutional Codes to send GMAT, GRE or TOEFL score reports

Mailing Address for MPAc Admissions

Graduate School of Management - Admissions
Gallagher Hall, Suite 1101
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

Duplicate Degrees

Candidates may not be admitted to the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program if it duplicates a degree the candidate already possesses. This University-wide academic policy is intended to prevent students from undertaking coursework that replicates a previously earned degree.

Internship Opportunities

The MPAc program admits a select group of students in their junior year of college. These students enroll in the MPAc upon completing their undergraduate degrees.  Individuals admitted into the MPAc in their junior year and that are eligible to work in the United States can apply for a pre-MPAc internship in the summer before the program starts. Interviews for summer internships typically occur in the early fall of a student’s final year in their undergraduate program.

Qualification to Sit for the CPA Exam

Notice regarding professional licensure and certification:

The UC Davis MPAc curriculum supports the educational requirements for CPA licensure in the state of California by fulfilling the 24 semester units in "Accounting Subjects", the 20 semester units in “Accounting Study” and, the 10 semester units in “Ethics Study”. Depending upon your undergraduate coursework, you may need to take additional courses outside of the MPAc to fulfill the 24 semester units in "Business-Related Subjects". Students with undergraduate degrees in business, economics, mathematics, computer science, or related areas will most likely have met the "Business-Related Subjects" requirement. To determine how your completed and projected coursework corresponds with the California CPA requirements, please consult the California State Board of Accountancy. 

We are unable to determine if the curriculum meets the educational requirements for any of the remaining U.S. states and jurisdictions. Individuals are recommended to consult the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy to determine examination procedure and licensure requirements outside of California.  

Please note that admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University of California and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time. 

STEM-Designated Degree

The UC Davis Master of Professional Accountancy is a STEM-designated graduate-level program that will provide you with business knowledge in science, technology and engineering needed to be a coveted and highly effective leader in industries across the globe.

In the U.S., businesses are increasingly hiring international workers who have STEM degrees to help fill the shortage of qualified workers in STEM fields. Through this STEM classification, UC Davis MPAc international students can qualify for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension up to 36-months post graduation to remain in the U.S. so they can receive training through work experience and establish their careers in STEM-related fields. You should speak to Services for International Students and Scholars following an offer of admissions to ensure that you have met eligibility requirements. 

Read more about general OPT rules and more about STEM-classified OPT degree rules.