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Professor Gershon

Rady’s MPAc Curriculum Will Prepare You to Meet the Needs of Data-Driven Companies

Through an unrivaled and accessible network and faculty, and a commitment to innovation, you will receive the training necessary to engage critical reasoning in your accounting career — an advantage that will enable you to surpass the highest expectations of top-tier accounting firms.

The Rady faculty are ranked among the top in the world, and they are leading experts in their field, both academically and professionally. As a student in the MPAc program, you will learn from cutting-edge research as well as from current and former senior executives from industry and global accounting giants.

The Master of Professional Accountancy program is a 50-unit STEM-designated degree program. The curriculum consists of seven core courses, two professional seminars, and 20 units from a set of elective courses. The MPAc program of study can be completed in as little as nine months.

Upon completion, you will fulfill the CPA accounting education requirements (those who majored in accounting in undergraduate programs and most students who minored in accounting) and receive a dual emphasis on U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Required Core Courses

MGTP 401 - Professional Seminar (1)

Professional Seminar presents current industry research, professional skills development, and industry experts and business leaders as speakers. S/U grades only. May be taken for credit two times. Prerequisites: restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval. Students are required to participate in the seminar in two separate quarters for a total of two units.

MGTP 414 - Business Law (4)

Focuses on elements of business law that are essential for the basic management of business operations. Topics include the law of contracts, sales, partnership, corporations, securities, accountants’ legal liability, and Sarbanes Oxley statutes. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.

MGTP 416 - Ethics in Accounting and Business (4)

Addresses ethical theories and critical thinking approaches to analyzing ethical issues. The course provides approaches for helping students make decisions when confronting ethical issues. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91).

MGTP 421 - Internal Control over Financial Reporting (4)

Examines internal control from both an internal and external audit perspective, including control frameworks, improved information technology, role of corporate governance and audit committees, corporate risk management, SOX 404, internal auditing, and forensic auditing. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.

MGTP 424 - Professional Research and Communication for Accountants (4)

Introduces communication strategies to ensure effective communication to internal and external business and governmental audiences at all levels. Students will search and report on a range of technical topics from the professional/practitioner accounting literature. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.

MGTP 432 - Advanced Auditing and Forensic Accounting (4)

Provides students with applied knowledge on how assurance professionals assess and evaluate assurance-related evidence and risks. Topics include strategic risk analysis, corporate governance, internal control assessments, audit sampling, modified audit reports, and fraud detection. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.

MGTP 434 - Financial Statement Analysis (4)

Examines tools and techniques to analyze a firm’s financial position and performance. This course combines both accounting and finance in a practical framework for debt and equity valuation methods from both a conceptual and practical framework. Prerequisites: Restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.

MGTP 444 - Issues in Financial Reporting for Global Business: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Complex Financial Structures (4)

Helps students understand the complexities involved in international deals. Examines current financial reporting practices for business entities engaged in international activities. Focuses on policy issues such as foreign currency translation, global inflation, transfer pricing, complying with reporting requirements, taxation, and international accounting and auditing standards. Prerequisites: MGTP 434, MGTP 424, restricted to MPAc students (major code RS91) or by department approval.