As you prepare your application for the Master of Accounting program, you may have questions very similar to those of other applicants. Below are answers to a list of commonly asked questions.
- Do I need to apply online? Also, when I apply, do I submit one general application or do I need to apply through the University of Arizona Graduate College AND through the Department of Accounting?
For the University of Arizona Graduate College, you may apply online or download an application to print and mail in, however, an online application is preferred. For the Department of Accounting, you may apply online.
To apply for the Master of Accounting program, you must complete two applications before the application deadline.
The first application is through the University of Arizona Graduate College.
Once completed, you will need to complete the online application form for the Department of Accounting.
Click here to view the deadlines for applying each semester.
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- I am currently completing my application online and the submission deadline is coming up, but I haven't taken my GMAT. Can I leave that part of the application blank? Can I submit an incomplete application?
As seen in the question above, there may be instances where you will be finished with your application but it is incomplete. For matters, such as not taking the GMAT or not having information available, you may submit an incomplete application. Please note that even though your application has been submitted, you will still be responsible for getting the incomplete information to the Graduate Program Coordinators as soon as it becomes available.
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- Where may I find information regarding the application process for international students?
If you are an international applicant, you will need to submit any supporting materials for your financial guarantee to the Graduate College. Click here for more information.
Additional information for international applications may be found here.
All international applicants must submit their TOEFL score (if applicable, please refer to the TOEFL requirements by Country) to the Department of Accounting. You will select to forward your TOEFL score when you complete the exam.
Click here for more information regarding Proficiency in English.
Please click here for more information about full-time status and how it corresponds to F1 visas.
If you are admitted to the Master of Accounting program, the Accounting Department will forward your transcripts to the Graduate College.
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- I received my Bachelor's Degree from an international institution, but the program was only three years. What other requirements are necessary for me to fulfill the four-year Bachelor's Degree requirement?
In cases where a 3 year degree is held, then the student must hold either a 2 year Master's degree or a 1 year Post-Graduate Diploma in the same field as the Bachelor's degree.
As long as the Post-Graduate Diploma received is from an accredited university/institution, there is no requirement as to how it was administered (i.e. nights/weekends/correspondence, etc.)
Any further evaluation would require that the student submit an application.
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- What examinations are required for Proficiency in English?
All international applicants must submit their TOEFL score (if applicable, please refer to the TOEFL requirements by Country) to the Department of Accounting. You will select to forward your TOEFL score when you complete the exam.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination can be submitted in lieu of the TOEFL. The minimum IELTS score requirement for admissions consideration is a score of 7, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module.
In the case of both the TOEFL and the IELTS, test scores must be dated within two years of the date of enrollment.
Also, in the case of both the TOEFL and the IELTS, a student's official scores will be sent directly to The University of Arizona if you request it on your application form. For TOEFL, you are asked to enter the The University of Arizona institution code which is 4832. The IELTS requires that you include the university's address: Graduate Admissions, Administration Bldg. Room 322, P.O. Box 210066, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Please visit the Graduate College Proficiency in English page for more information regarding TOEFL and IELTS exams.
Requirements for entrance are listed below:
- International applicants must have a Paper-Based TOEFL score of at least 600 (CBT 250, iBT 100)
- Test scores must not be more than 2 years old
For a comparison of how the iBT scores compare to the CBT and Paper-Based TOEFL exams, please click here.
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- Do I need to send my supporting materials (transcript, financial guarantee for international students, etc) to the Graduate College or the Department of Accounting?
If you are an international applicant, you will need to submit any supporting materials for your financial guarantee to the Graduate College. Click here for more information.
All applicants must submit their transcripts, TOEFL (if applicable, please refer to the TOEFL requirements by Country), GMAT score, 2 letters of recommendation, 3 short essays, and resume to the Department of Accounting. You will select to forward your TOEFL score when you complete the exam. The GMAT score is sent when you take your GMAT, where you will have the option to choose which institutions will receive your GMAT score. The GMAT is required for EVERYONE. You may not substitute a GRE or LSAT score. You also may not substitute work experience, credentials (CPA, etc) or any other consideration in lieu of the GMAT.
The letters of recommendation, essays, and resume are submitted online when completing the department specific MAcc application.
Transcripts should be mailed to:
Master of Accounting Program Coordinator
Department of Accounting
McClelland Hall 301
University of Arizona
PO Box 210108
Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
All supporting material to be sent to the graduate college may be mailed to:
University of Arizona
Graduate College Admissions
Administration 322
PO Box 210066
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
If you are admitted to the Master of Accounting program, the Accounting Department will forward your transcripts to the Graduate College.
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- On the description for the MAcc Application on the University of Arizona Graduate College site, it states that 2 letters of recommendation are required. How do the letters of recommendation work?
When completing the online application for the Department of Accounting, you will need to include at least two reference writers. You will be asked to input the personal information, phone number, email and address of each reference writer. You will then be able to access the reference forms with instructions for the letters of reference to give to each writer.
When you enter your online reference information, you will have the option to have your reference writer submit their recommendation online or you may print the reference form and have your reference writer mail it in. Free form letters accompanying the reference form are also acceptable.
For more information, please click here
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- On the description for the MAcc Application on the University of Arizona Graduate College site, it states that 3 short essays are required. What are the topics of the 3 short essays?
When completing the online application for the Department of Accounting, you will be asked to submit three separate essays answering department specific questions as part of your application (Step 8).
The three required essay questions are as follows:
1. Why are you pursuing a degree in accounting at this time?
2. What are your career objectives as they relate to graduate study in accounting?
3. What information would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application for admission?
Essays should be about 250 words each.
There is no specific format for these essays, but rather the Admission's Committee is simply interested in knowing a little more about you.
For more information, please click here
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- What is the typical program length and what are the costs associated with the program?
The program requires 30 graduate units, with no fewer than 18 in the field of accounting from a variety of courses available through the department. If one were take 15 units per semester, their program length will be one year.
All requirements for a graduate certificate must be completed within 4 years. Time-to-degree begins with the earliest coursework to be applied toward the degree including any credits transferred from other institutions. Work more than 4 years old is not accepted toward meeting certificate requirements.
The estimated costs of the program vary depending on how many semesters a student plans to be enrolled, how many units per semester the student is planning to take, and whether the student is an in-state, out-of-state, or international student. For a breakdown of the estimated costs and fees, please click here.
For an estimated cost of attendance (please note, tuition will be different than that presented on this webpage), please click here.
For additional information on specific tuition fees for the Master of Accounting program, please visit the Bursar Office breakdown for the MAcc program fees.
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- Where can I find information about student housing?
Two available resources for student housing are La Aldea (graduate housing on campus) or off-campus options. For information about La Aldea, please visit http://www.life.arizona.edu/graduate/index.asp. For information about off-campus options, please visit http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/och/.
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- What form of financial aid does the University of Arizona offer? I'm aware that government
loans aren't available to international students, but is there any other way of funding the graduate coursework.
The department typically does not offer aid to international students. You may need
to seek other sources of funding. For more information, you can visit the financial aid
website : https://financialaid.arizona.edu/Default.aspx.
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides information for scholarships for international students at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/scholarships/international/default.aspx.
Scholarships for domestic students may either be found at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/scholarships/graduate/default.aspx or on the Department of Accounting's Scholarship Page.
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- Is there a set number of credit hours a student must take? As a
condition of the F1 visa that I would be on, I need 9 credit hours per semester
to be officially listed as a full time student. Would I be able to do just
9, or is there a minimum number of credit hours per semester?
According to the University of Arizona website for International Students, you only need to take a minimum of 9 credit hours (as a graduate student) to maintain your full time F1 status. If you need an exemption, you may view a list of possible exemptions for full-time enrollment here.
Domestic students will be considered full-time with 9 units. Students may enroll in a minimum of 3 units, unless they are holding teaching or research assistantships/associateships, in which case the minimum enrollment is 6 units. For more information regarding minimum enrollment, click here.
You
may opt to take more credits if you wish complete the program sooner. In order to
complete the program, you have to complete 30 credit hours. For more information, visit:
http://accounting.eller.arizona.edu/master/curriculum.aspx.
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- What pre-requisites are necessary to enter the program? What are the costs of these pre-requisites?
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites may be satisfied by taking comparable courses at an acceptable accredited institution.
Unmet prerequisites will be added to the master’s program as part of first-year requirements but will not count towards the units needed for the Master of Accounting degree.
* Acct 200 and Acct 210 must be taken before you enroll in the MAcc program. Acct 500A, Acct 500B, and Acct 520 may be taken after being admitted into the MAcc program.
Graduate Tuition rates will apply for all 500 level classes. Tuition rates for Acct 200 and Acct 210 will be determined based on your choice of enrollment.
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- I have taken accounting classes at another school and would like to know if these classes count for some or all of the pre-requisites. How do I find that out?
Please visit the Eller Undergraduates Program's webpage for information about transferring credits and transfer course evaluation.
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- I have not yet met all requirements to get into the Master of Accounting program. May I still take 500 level classes so that I may transfer them into the University of Arizona Master of Accounting program once I do meet requirements?
There are four minimum requirements to be accepted into the Master of Accounting program at the University of Arizona.
Applicants to the master’s program in accounting must meet the following requirements:
- 4-year Bachelor's Degree*
- 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
- 550 GMAT **
- 600 (CBT 250, iBT 100) TOEFL (international students only, please review the TOEFL requirements by country)
* Note: Applicants from undergraduate majors other than accounting will be considered for admission.
**Note: The GMAT is required for EVERYONE. You may not substitute a GRE or LSAT score. You also may not substitute work experience, credentials (CPA, etc) or any other consideration in lieu of the GMAT.
If you fail to meet any of these requirements, you may still attempt to enroll in up to 12 graduate level units of coursework through Non-Degree Enrollment. Click here for more details on Non-Degree Enrollment.
Additionally, if you have completed the GMAT and received a score of 550 or greater and your official score will not be available in time for admission deadlines, please send your unofficial GMAT score for review.
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- I have met all requirements to get into the Master of Accounting program, but have not completed all of the pre-requisites. May I still be accepted into the program?
If you met the requirements for acceptance into the MAcc program but have not finished the required pre-requisites (found here), you may still be admitted into the program. If admitted, it will be noted in your letter of admittance that you are on provisional status and will remain on provisional status until completion of the necessary pre-requisites.
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- What is the GMAT? How do I take it?
The following is directly from the GMAC website:
The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) examination is a standardized test designed to measure basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that have been developed over a long period of time through education and work. It does NOT measure—
- knowledge of business
- job skills
- specific content in undergraduate or first university course work
- subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills
- abilities in any other specific subject area
To learn more or set up an exam appointment, please visit http://www.gmac.com.
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- Is the GMAT required? May I take an alternative test or classes?
A GMAT score of 550 is required for EVERYONE. There are no alternatives, such as classes or any sort of paperwork that may defer this necessity. You may not substitute a GRE or LSAT score. You also may not substitute work experience, credentials (CPA, etc) or any other consideration in lieu of the GMAT.
A suggestion would be to take a review course for the GMAT or to use GMAT exam prep material, which may be offered online, on CD, or in text book form.
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- I didn't score too well the first time I took the GMAT. If I take it twice will it be looked down upon? Also, which score will show up on my application? The more recent, the highest, or an average of the two?
If you didn't score as well as you liked on the GMAT, we highly encourage that you take it again. Applicants who take the GMAT more than once are not looked down upon or graded negatively. Also, we accept your highest GMAT score so if you don't feel like you did your best the first time, it can only be to your benefit to retake the GMAT.
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- I applied and was previously accepted into the MAcc program at the University of Arizona a few years ago, but had to turn it down due to circumstances. Am I still eligible to enter or must I reapply?
Even though you were accepted into our program earlier, unless you discussed this issue with the appropriate personnel and worked something out, you must reapply to get into the program.
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- I took my GMAT in 1999 and received a score of over 550. Is this score still valid for my application or must I retake it?
GMAT scores, even if high enough, are only valid for a period of 5 years after your test date. If it has been more than five years, you must retake the GMAT and receive an appropriate score to enter the MAcc program.
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- Provided that I was accepted for program, would it be possible for
me to take all the prerequisites, ACCT 200, 210, 500A, 500B, and 520, in the
Summer session before starting the fall program?
You will not be able to take all the pre-requisites for the program in the summer. You are encouraged to take what you can though, especially ACCT 200 and 210 during summer.
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- I am taking ACCT 101 (financial accounting) at Pima community college
this term. Would this be sufficient equivalent of your ACCT 201? (The pima
tells me that their ACCT 101 and ACCT 102 are equivalent to UA ACCT 201 and
202.)
The Accounting 101 class you are currently taking at Pima is equivalent to the ACCT 200 class at UA. In addition, you are encouraged to complete at least ACCT 210 (Introduction to Managerial Accounting) at UA this semester or over the summer/winter before starting the program. Click here for more information.
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- I completed graduate coursework prior to my application for the MAcc program. How many units of prior coursework may I transfer?
Course work taken more than two years prior to admission to a certificate program cannot be transferred. Not more than 6 credits from a degree program may transfer to a certificate program; many programs allow fewer transfer credits. Transfer of credit toward a graduate certificate will not be made unless graduate credit was earned and grade was A or B.
Grades for transfer work will not be used in computing the student's grade-point average unless the credit was earned at The University of Arizona. Credit for correspondence courses or extension work from other institutions will not be accepted for graduate credit.
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- I plan to take 36 semester hours of accounting courses in order to meet
the CPA requirement. If I follow the curriculum of your MA course, would I
earn the 36 semester hours?
The Master's program will give you the opportunity to earn the 36 credits of accounting required to meet the CPA educational requirement in Arizona.
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- There seems to be a large amount of forms necessary for different items, before and after admission into the MAcc program. Is there a central location where I can find a majority of these forms?
On the graduate college website, there is a central location for a majority of the forms necessary once you are in the program and a few others that you may need before you enter. These forms can be accessed at http://grad.arizona.edu/Current_Students/forms/GC_Forms.php.
Generally, at the end of the semester prior to the semester in which you graduate, you will need to complete a Plan of Study.
Click here to download the Plan of Study You will need to be logged in to access this form.
In the semester you graduate, you will need to complete a Completion of Degree Requirements Form.
Click here to download the Completion of Degree Requirements Form.
You will need to be logged in to access this form as well.
You may also have trouble downloading the Domicile Affidavit form. Download the form here (.pdf)
On this page, you will find both forms that can be accessed without logging in and others that require you to log in with your UA Net ID.
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- I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona and was classified as a resident. I am returning to enroll in the MAcc program, so do I need to re-complete my Domicile Affidavit?
Even if you were classified as an Arizona resident during your undergraduate career at the University of Arizona, you are required to submit a Domicile Affidavit to the Graduate College to ensure that you receive resident tuition rates.
Download the form here (.pdf), print it out and complete it, and take it to the Modern Languages Building, Room 347.
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- How can I learn more about MAcc applicants every semester? What is the average GPA, GMAT score, work experience, and TOEFL score?
You may learn more about MAcc applicants by visiting the Class Profiles page.
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