MPA Program Frequently Asked Questions
MPA Program Questions
1. How many credit hours are required in the MPA program?
2. What are the pre-requisites to the MPA program?
3. How long does it take to complete the MPA degree?
4. How many students are in the MPA program?
5. By completing the MPA program, will I meet the educational requirements to become a CPA in the State of Georgia?
6. Who should I contact regarding MPA program questions?
Admission Questions
7. Do I need to take the GMAT to apply to the MPA program?
8. What are the other admission requirements?
9. What is the average undergraduate GPA of Robinson MPA students?
10. Do I need to have work experience to apply to the MPA program?
11. Who should I contact regarding admission and registration questions?
Career Services Questions
12. Will I have an opportunity to do an internship while in the MPA program?
13. What is the placement rate for MPA students?
14. When is the recruiting process for MPA students?
15. Are there any student organizations that I can join to increase my networking and job opportunities?
16. Do you have an online job posting system that MPA students can use?
Georgia CPA Licensure Requirements
17. What are the educational requirements to take the CPA exam in the state of Georgia?
18. What are the educational requirements to become a CPA in the state of Georgia?
19. What is the experience requirement to become a CPA in the state of Georgia?
20. Where can I find more information about become a CPA in Georgia and the CPA Exam?
MPA Program Questions
1. How many credit hours are required in the MPA program?
You must complete 30 credits hours to graduate with an MPA.
2. What are the pre-requisites to the MPA program?
All students must have completed the following courses before beginning the MPA program.
Accounting: Acct 2101and Acct 2102, or MBA 8025 and MBA 8115; Acct 4020, Acct 4030, Acct 4110, Acct 4210, Acct 4310, Acct 4410, Acct 4510 and Acct 4610
Behavioral Science: MBA 8165 Leadership and Organizational Behavior or
Management Principles (MGS 3400)
Programming: Visual BASIC (CIS 3210) or C/C++ (CIS 3260): required if ACCT 8630 (Information Technology Auditing) is taken as an elective
Economics: MBA 7035 Economics for Managers or both Macroeconomic Principles (Econ 2105) and Microeconomic Principles (ECON 2106)
Mathematics: College Algebra (MATH 1111) and either Calculus (MATH 1220) or Discrete Math (MATH 2420); MATH 2420 has Precalculus as the minimum prerequisite
Statistics: MBA 7025 Statistical Business Analysis or Math 1070 Elementary Statistics
Management Science: MGS 3100
Finance: Corporate Finance Principles (Fi 3300).
Your academic advisor in the Graduate Admissions and Student Services office will help you determine which pre-requisites you have fulfilled.
3. How long does it take to complete the MPA degree?
If you have completed all of your pre-requisites, the MPA program can be completed in 3 semesters assuming you go full time. If you go part-time, you have 5 years to complete the degree.
4. How many students are in the MPA program?
We have approximately 150 students in the MPA program at any given time. Approximately 50 students enter the program each semester.
5. By completing the MPA program, will I meet the educational requirements to become a CPA in the State of Georgia?
Yes, you will complete 30 credit hours of upper level accounting courses in the MPA program. The overall requirements in the state of GA to become a CPA is 150 total credit hours and 30 of upper lever accounting courses.
6. Who should I contact regarding MPA program questions?
Contact Allison Jacobs at ajacobs@gsu.edu or 404-413-7238.
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Admission Questions
7. Do I need to take the GMAT to apply to the MPA program?
Yes, the GMAT is required. The average GMAT score of Robinson MPA students is 625.
8. What are the other admission requirements?
We require that you complete a Robinson Admissions packet that is located at http://www.robinson.gsu.edu/apply/index.html. Make sure to select the Flexible MBA and Specialized Masters admissions link. You will need to submit your GMAT scores, undergraduate transcripts, two essays, a resume and two letters of recommendation.
9. What is the average undergraduate GPA of Robinson MPA students?
3.25
10. Do I need to have work experience to apply to the MPA program?
While the majority of our students (80%) do have work experience, we do not require it to enter our program.
11. Who should I contact regarding admission and registration questions?
Contact the Graduate Admissions and Student Services at http://www.robinson.gsu.edu/academic/gass/advisement/index.html.
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Career Services Questions
12. Will I have an opportunity to do an internship while in the MPA program?
Yes, Robinson has over 50 accounting firms and corporations recruiting out students for full time jobs and internships each fall. If you are interested in doing an internship, please meet with Allison Jacobs (ajacobs@gsu.edu) so she can inform you of the process.
13. What is the placement rate for MPA students?
The placement rate for MPA students is very high. Many of our students already have full time job offers before starting the program.
14. When is the recruiting process for MPA students?
All recruiting activities take place in the fall semester. Make sure to meet with Allison Jacobs to make sure you understand the process.
15. Are there any student organizations that I can join to increase my networking and job opportunities?
Yes, our students generally join Beta Alpha Psi, NABA or ALFPA. More information about these organizations can be found at http://www.robinson.gsu.edu/accountancy/students/organizations.html
16. Do you have an online job posting system that MPA students can use?
Yes, all of our MPA students have access to the Robinson Career Connection, our on-line job and recruiting database for Robinson students. Once you are enrolled in the program, you may access this database.
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Georgia CPA Licensure Requirements
17. What are the educational requirements to take the CPA exam in the state of Georgia?
In order to be eligible for examination, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree conferred by a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization recognized by the Board with a concentration in accounting or, with a non-accounting concentration, supplemented by what the Board determines to be the substantial equivalent to an accounting concentration. Applicants must have completed 30 quarter hours or 20 semester hours in accounting subjects above the elementary level at a four-year accredited college or university which offers a baccalaureate degree.
18. What are the educational requirements to become a CPA in the state of Georgia?
Presented to the Board evidence that the candidate has received a baccalaureate degree or completed the requirements therefore, conferred by a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization recognized by the Board, with a concentration in accounting or what the Board determines to be the substantial equivalent of an accounting concentration, or with a nonaccounting concentration supplemented by what the Board determines to be the substantial equivalent of an accounting concentration, including related courses in other areas of business administration; and after January 1, 1998, any person who has not previously sat for the uniform written examination for the certificate of certified public accountant must have completed a total of 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours of college education, including a baccalaureate degree awarded by a college or university accredited by either a national or regional accrediting organization recognized by the Board. The total educational program shall include an undergraduate accounting concentration and related courses in other areas of business administration or the substantial equivalent of the foregoing. An applicant who has completed 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours in accounting subjects above the elementary level and 35 quarter hours or 24 semester hours in general business subjects at a four year accredited college or university which offers a baccalaureate degree will be deemed to have satisfied the accounting concentration and related business course requirements.
19. What is the experience requirement to become a CPA in the state of Georgia?
An applicant who meets the general, educational, and examination requirements will be issued a CPA certificate upon presenting evidence that such applicant has attained two years, including 4,000 hours, of continuous experience in public accounting, under the supervision of a person licensed to practice public accounting, immediately preceding the date of application for the certificate. Five years, including 10,000 hours, of continuous employment in the accounting field in business or industry, under the supervision of a person licensed to practice public accounting, or in government or college teaching, may be accepted in lieu of the aforementioned experience requirement. If experience is in government or college teaching, you are required to be supervised but not by someone licensed. For qualifying experience in government, the candidate must have been employed by a federal, state, or local government agency which is appropriated public funds and whose employees are considered public employees and which is recognized by the Board as having the responsibility and organizational structure for performing auditing and accounting functions. For qualifying teaching experience, the candidate must have taught courses primarily in the accounting discipline for academic credit at an accredited four year college or university in at least two different areas of accounting above the introductory or elementary level. Part-time experience is permitted if it is continuous.
20. Where can I find more information about become a CPA in Georgia and the CPA Exam?
Please contact the State Board of Accountancy at http://www.sos.ga.gov/plb/accountancy/.
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