As registration for fall 2026 classes gets underway, the Terry Lyons School of Accounting at the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business is launching the new MPAcc 30-hour program, allowing students to build advanced accounting expertise whether they wish to enhance a business background or transition into the field entirely.
Kirsten Cook, Ph.D., director of the Lyons School of Accounting, says the program gives students two powerful options.
“They can deepen their existing business education with accounting knowledge that prepares them for the CPA exam and leadership roles,” Cook said, “or they can pivot into accounting and become eligible for CPA certification by completing just 10 courses.”
When paired with a BBA, the MPAcc meets all educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Texas. The curriculum is intentionally aligned with key exam sections, including financial accounting and reporting (FAR), auditing and attestation (AUD), taxation and regulation (REG), and information systems and controls (ISC), while also fulfilling required coursework in accounting research and ethics.
Associate Professor of Practice and MPAcc Director Matt Hart, Ph.D., says the coursework not only equips students with the technical knowledge and professional competencies needed in today’s accounting profession but also opens doors for business students in other degree programs.
“Beyond meeting the educational requirements to take the exam in Texas, the program provides a great opportunity for students with a variety of undergraduate degrees to pursue careers in the accounting industry,” Hart said. “Regardless of their undergraduate major, we hope the MPAcc program can help students achieve a satisfying and successful career.”
The program is open to students without an undergraduate degree in accounting and degree requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Resume
- Letter of recommendation
- Essay
- Two prerequisite courses – Intermediate Accounting I and II
Many Rawls College students can complete the prerequisites within their existing degree plans; in fact, finance majors already fulfill these requirements while other undergraduate students may use elective hours to do so. The prerequisite courses are offered in both online and in-person formats throughout the year, providing additional flexibility.
The MPAcc program provides students in-person and fully online formats, with start dates offered in August, January, and May. Full-time students can complete the degree in as little as one year, while part-time students have the ability to progress at their own pace. For students without a business background who aspire to the CPA certification, the program also offers flexible options to complete any additional upper-level business coursework online.
Positioned to be competitive in cost, the MPAcc is expected to run approximately $20,000 or less after scholarships. Program leaders anticipate offering generous scholarship support, helping reduce overall cost across both online and in-person formats.
The Lyons School of Accounting developed the program with input from its Advisory Council and in response to national conversations among accounting educators and industry leaders, including those within the American Accounting Association Leadership Section where institutions are increasingly exploring new pathways into the profession.