MBA in Public Accountancy (262)

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Public Accountancy program must submit:

• One official copy of all undergraduate (four-year degree) and graduate coursework, including a baccalaureate degree in accounting from an accredited institution. 
• An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 basis). If an applicant has a GPA below 3.0, inclusion of GMAT or GRE in their application package may be requested. A satisfactory test score of 450 or better on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or of 300 or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Contact information for three individuals who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation
• Statement of objectives
• For international students, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 on the internet-based exam or higher is required prior to admission. Candidates with less than an 80 TOEFL score will be admitted to the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
•  Entering MBA students are expected to have competency in basic computer, quantitative, and oral and written communication skills. Students that need to acquire these skills will be advised to take additional credit or non-credit courses to obtain these skills. Any credits taken to obtain basic skills may not, however, be applied toward the MBA degree.
• Entering MBA students who have earned a "B" or better in any of the foundation courses approved to be equivalent to the corresponding courses at New Paltz may have these courses waived. In addition, up to nine credits of graduate coursework approved to be equivalent to the corresponding courses at New Paltz may be transferred into the MBA program.

Graduate Checklist

Academic Program Requirements

The MBA degree requires the completion of 36 to 45 credits depending on prior academic coursework. The MBA in Business Administration consists of foundation, core, and elective courses while the MBA in Public Accountancy includes foundation and core courses.

MBA degree requirements must be completed within seven years of acceptance into the program, with a cumulative average of no less than 3.0 (4.0 scale and with no more than two grades below a B-). All MBA courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher for progression in the program.

The foundation segment comprises seven courses that are designed to provide students coming from an academic discipline outside of business with the prerequisite knowledge required for successful completion of the core courses. The foundation courses must be taken before the core and elective courses and students must earn a “B” or better in each of these courses. Candidates with a B.S./B.A. in Business Administration or Accounting may receive waivers for some of the foundation courses if they earned a B or higher in those courses.

The MBA in Public Accountancy includes eleven core courses and one elective. Core courses are designed to provide students with key concepts and strategies that pervade the functional areas of business management today. They constitute the major common body of knowledge with which students develop critical thinking and analytical abilities in the business world. The courses in the core reflect our commitment to a well-rounded business background. 
The elective courses provide flexibility in customizing the degree program to suit career goals. Electives are offered in the areas of accounting, project management, finance, international business, marketing, and management. Students may also participate in an internship, independent study, or the Business Plan Contest to fulfill one elective course requirement.

In addition, all MBA students must take a zero-credit Business Workshop at the beginning of the first semester at SUNY New Paltz, which consists of a general orientation, business writing session, and an ethics test.

Program Learning Objectives