MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization Program

No, our MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization is a residential program intended to facilitate interaction between our students and faculty. It is focused on the necessary courses and skill sets needed for successful entry into the accounting industry.

The Master of Professional Studies in Management – Accounting Specialization and the Master of Science in Accountancy are similar in content but may differ in purpose. In some states, the accounting MS is aimed exclusively at meeting the educational requirements of licensing as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The MPS in Management–Accounting Specialization program offers a more flexible approach that allows students to choose a curriculum that meets their educational objectives. Many decide to pursue the CPA. We advise each student through the process of having their record reviewed by the state board(s) of accountancy in the state(s) they choose to become licensed. Students choosing corporate or advisory services or other career routes will receive similar help in designing a program customized to their needs.

Yes. Cornell University, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and the accounting program have long-established relationships with many major employers, including professional service firms, consulting firms, banks, and Fortune 500 companies. These relationships, combined with our academic and career advising, help our graduates succeed in the accounting industry.

No. Your undergraduate degree can be in any field, provided you excelled in your studies. We expect you to have at least the equivalent of a minor in business, meaning you have taken introductory classes in economics, statistics, financial accounting, finance, marketing, and management, although these classes do NOT need to have been taken at Cornell University.

No. There is no minimum GPA required for admission to the MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization program; however, we expect applicants to demonstrate their potential to excel in our rigorous academic environment. The average undergraduate GPA for admitted students in other Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management programs is typically about 3.4.

All applicants are required to submit either the GMAT or GRE taken in the last five years. Please note that waivers are granted at our discretion; they are not guaranteed.

No. All students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework at Cornell University.

Yes. If you have completed some of our required curriculum, appropriate graduate management electives from any of the three schools in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business may be substituted. Those with appropriate prior undergraduate coursework may substitute appropriate graduate management electives. Please visit our Curriculum page for more information.

Deferrals are rarely granted. In most cases, requests to defer enrollment result in an invitation for a candidate to reapply.

If you are not an applicant but are thinking about applying: Postpone applying to the program until the application year you intend to enroll.

If you are a current applicant: Withdraw your application from consideration and apply again in the application year you intend to enroll.

If you have been admitted: Please email gradadmissions@business.cornell.edu with your request. Please include an explanation of why you are requesting a deferral. Deferrals are rarely granted. In most cases, requests to defer enrollment result in an invitation for a candidate to reapply. While your request is being considered, do not submit the nonrefundable enrollment deposit. If your deferral request is denied, your deposit will not be refunded to you.

The MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization program is time intensive, and your studies will require your full attention. Teaching assistantships or perhaps other on-campus part-time employment may be available to particularly well-qualified candidates. We do not recommend off-campus work during the program.

Yes. You may take graduate-level elective courses within the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, provided the program director approves your schedule and the course is available.

Graduate student housing is available on and off campus within walking, biking, or a bus ride distance from campus. Please visit the graduate website for more information on housing and living in Ithaca, NY.

Yes. Cornell’s International Students and Scholars Office assists international students with student visa applications.

The Cornell University Graduate School has minimum requirements for English language proficiency. The Admissions Committee for the MPS in Management–Accounting Specialization believes it is essential that applicants have excellent fluency in the English language to be successful in the accounting industry.