Master of Accountancy (MAcc) | CPA Pathway | Goodman School of Business (2024)

This program is designed for those in the CPA pathway and encourages the development of critical thinking, analysis and communication skills and prepare students to write the CPA Common Final Exam (CFE). By facilitating personal growth and the ability to adapt and respond to a complex and changing environment, the program helps you acquire advanced knowledge in accounting and related aspects of business.

Currently accepting applications for:

Winter (January) 2025

Upon successful graduation from the Goodman MAcc CPA pathway program:

  • You will have completed the CPA PEP program in 7 months of full-time study, instead of 2 years of part-time study.
  • You will have completed all four CPA elective modules (Assurance, Tax, Finance and Performance Management) and have exceeded the elective requirements of CPA Ontario.
  • You will have completed two integrated capstone modules designed to prepare you for the CFE.
  • You will proceed to write the Common Final Evaluation (CFE) in the September immediately following your graduate program.
  • You may have chosen to complete a four-month co-op work term which will count toward your CPA practical work experience requirement.

Goodman MAcc program at-a-glance

Full-time MAcc
Available entry pointsJanuary (Winter term) only
Study optionsOn-campus, full-time only
Duration of the programSeven months
PEP Elective modules coveredAssurance, Tax, Finance and Performance Management
Preparation for CFEProgram covers CPA PEP Capstone 1 and 2
Earliest point eligible for writing CFESeptember
Co-op available?Yes, optional four-month paid work experience
Deadline to applyThere is no deadline to apply. See below for more details.
Average time for review of completed applicationsTwo to three weeks

For more information, please see below.

Admission Requirements

CANDIDATE SELECTION

Due to the competitive nature of the Goodman MAcc program, the admission averages for successful MAcc applicants will vary from year to year. The averages listed below are the minimum required for admission consideration and do not guarantee admission.

Minimum requirementNotes:
Degree typeFour-year Goodman bachelor’s degree in accounting (BAcc)
GPAB / 75%GPA is calculated based on the equivalent of the last two academic years of study in the undergraduate degree.
Accounting GPAB / 75%Academic average in key accounting prerequisite courses (ACTG courses + FNCE 2P91 and 3P93.)
Prerequisite Courses≥ 60% in eachMicroeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Canadian Business Law, Business Ethics, Business Strategy, Corporate Finance I & II, Intro. Financial Accounting, Intro. Management Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Accounting for External Reporting I, II, III & IV Cost and Managerial Accounting I & II, Taxation I & II, Assurance I & II, Accounting and Technology, Accounting Analytics, Accounting Theory, & Integration and Problem Solving
English Language Proficiency*Academic IELTS - 7.5 overallMinimum of 6.5 in each section is recommended.
orTOEFL iBT - 105 overallMinimum of 21 in Reading, Listening and Speaking. Minimum of 24 in Writing is recommended.
orPearson Test of English (Academic) - 72 overallMinimum of 60 in each section is required.
Work experienceNot required.

*If applicable. The Graduate Programs Office reserves the right to request English Language Proficiency scores from any applicant.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE MACC?

Request a FREE pre-assessment.*

It can be an expensive risk to complete the application process for the MAcc, only to discover that you don’t qualify for admission. At Goodman, we don’t want you to waste your time or money. Send us a pre-assessment request through the Goodman Graduate Portal and we will conduct a free pre-assessment to let you know, not only if you are eligible for one of our programs, but if we thinkyour application may be competitive enough for admission.

Goodman Graduate Portal

*Please note that a pre-assessment does not guarantee admission to the university. Students must submit an official application for admissions consideration.

Deadline to Apply

There is no set deadline for applications, however, due to the competitive nature of the program, students are strongly encouraged to apply early. BAcc students will need to complete a minimum of 15 credits prior to applying for admission to the MAcc.

Please note that the MAcc program begins in January of each year only.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning in February, until the program is full.Offers of admission will be issued on a competitive basis.

How to Apply

STEPS TO APPLY

  1. Complete the online OUAC application.
  2. Upload the required documents to your my.brocku.ca account.
  3. Monitor your application status through your my.brocku.ca account.

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

All applications and application documents for the MAcc program must be submitted electronically. Hard copy application documents will not be accepted.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE:

  • Online OUAC Application
  • Non Refundable Application Fee ($140 CAD)
    • The application fee can be paid by credit card or online banking. All application fees are received by OUAC, not by the Goodman School of Business at Brock University.
  • Required Documents
    • Within three business days of your application payment being processed you will be contacted via email by Brock University. The email will include instructions to activate your my.brocku.ca account and to upload your required application documents.
    • Please visit the document upload instructions and document types page for more information.
  • Copies of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
    • Allpost-secondary institutions attended, including short term/exchange term/LOP/transfer institutions, must be declared on your OUAC application.
    • Applicants will order any Ontario university transcripts through the OUAC application system. These transcripts will be uploaded to the application by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Office at Brock University. All other transcripts must be obtained, scanned and uploaded by the applicant to their my.brocku.ca account after submission of the OUAC application.
    • Scanned transcript documents must be up-to-date copies of official transcripts, not your unofficial, student/self-serve version.
    • Each transcript must also include the official institution grading scale/grading system explanation.
    • Any documents that are not in English or French must be translated into English and notarized before they are accepted. Both the translated and the original language version must be scanned and uploaded.
  • Two electronic reference reports
    • Both reference reports MUST be provided by business faculty members using a valid institutional email address.
    • Reference reports can only be submitted using the Brock University electronic reference system.
    • Your referees will be emailed automatically with instructions to complete the electronic reference report once your application has been received by Brock University. Please visit the referee FAQ webpage for more information.
  • Statement of interest
    • Your statement of interest should be one page (single or double spaced).
    • Your statement of interest should address the following: Why you are applying to the MAcc program specifically, why you are applying to Brock/Goodman specifically, and why you would be an ideal MAcc candidate.
  • Resume
  • Graduate Studies Internal Scholarship/Award Application
    • Completion of this form will ensure that you are considered for any awards/scholarships for which you may be eligible.
    • Ensure that you have pop-ups enabled in your web browser, then use the “Go To Form” button next to the “Graduate Student Internal Entrance Scholarship/Award Application” document on your portal account, to complete the required form (you must have pop-ups enabled for the form to open).
  • Scan of official IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score (if applicable)
    • Do you need this? Please contact the Graduate Programs Office for an assessment.
    • Please note that the Goodman School of Business may request an English language score from any applicant.
    • Please have IELTS/TOEFL scores sent electronically to Brock University – Goodman School of Business in addition to uploading a scan of your official score report to your my.brocku.ca account.
  • A personal interview may be required.

If you are offered admission to our program and you are not already a Brock student, you will be required to send in official transcripts and official proof of degree completion. International students will also be required to provide proof of immigration status. Please visit the document types page for further details.Once submitted, all documents become the property of Brock University and will not be returned.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION?

Admissions

References

Documents

Fees

TUITION 2024-2025

MAcc tuition is charged on a per course basis. Each 5PXX course is equal to one half (.5) credit. Tuition and student fees are due at the beginning of each semester.

  • Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents: $1,043.61 per half credit course
  • International Students: $3,403.29 per half credit course

We have broken down the costs for you as a new MAcc student based on the following charts (estimates are based on current 2024-2025 fees and may be subject to change).

TOTAL TUITION AND RELATED FEES (FULL-TIME, WITH CO-OP)

This chart reflects approximately how much you will be paying to attend the Goodman MAcc program as a full-time student with co-op.

Canadian Citizens and Permanent ResidentsInternational Students
Tuition for 10 courses$10,436$34,033
Total student fees and bus pass$679$679
Total UHIP health coverageNot applicable$1,512*
Total international recovery feeNot applicable$1,500
Total health and dental plan$1,130$1,130
Total co-op term fees (optional - Spring term)$1,676 + $204 ancillary fees for 4 month co-op term$1,676 + $204 ancillary fees for 4 month co-op term
Total estimated costs of the MAcc program$14,125$40,734

TOTAL TUITION AND RELATED FEES (FULL-TIME, WITHOUT CO-OP)

This chart reflects approximately how much you will be paying to attend the Goodman MAcc program as a full-time student without co-op.

Canadian Citizens and Permanent ResidentsInternational Students
Tuition for 10 courses$10,436$34,033
Total student fees and bus pass$679$679
Total UHIP health coverageNot applicable$756*
Total international recovery feeNot applicable$750
Total health and dental plan$575$575
Total estimated costs of the MAcc program$11,690$36,793

*UHIP fee will be adjusted for international students who have already paid for UHIP as part of their undergraduate fees in the preceding Fall term.

For a full breakdown of tuition fees, please visit the . In case of any minor differences, your tuition charged on your my.brocku.ca account will be considered correct.

LIVING EXPENSES AND BOOKS

Living expenses and books are extra. We recommend that you budget approximately $17,250-$28,300 per year for living expenses and books, depending on your lifestyle.

Learn more about living in Niagara

Financial Aid

Financial aid is limited, as we prefer to keep overall tuition costs affordable.

All applicants are automatically considered for any available scholarships at the time of their application.

GOODMAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Goodman Scholarship Program is exclusive to the Goodman School of Business. Exceptional incoming students can earn a prestigious scholarship worth $3,000. Students must demonstrate at least two of the following:

  • Leadership in university and community life or evidence of entrepreneurial talent
  • Exceptionally high academic grades
  • Financial need

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MERIT ENTRANCE AWARD
These entrance scholarships are worth $1,000 and are awarded to full-time domestic and international students admitted to the MAcc program with an admission average of 87% (Canadian equivalent) or higher at the time of admission.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
Students may also apply for Research Assistant (RA), Teaching Assistant (TA), part-time instructor or marker/grader positions. Students must be legally permitted to work in Canada in order to hold a Teaching Assistantship position.

Each year, the Goodman School of Business provides over $250,000 of support to its graduate students. Scholarships and awards are subject to change based on available funding each year.

Contact us to learn more

Visit the Graduate Studies Scholarships and Awards website

Curriculum

The integrated and innovative coursework in the MAcc ensures that you receive an unparalleled accounting education. Throughout the program, critical thinking, analysis and communication skills are developed through the use of case study analysis, student discussion, presentations and research papers.

MACC WITH CPA PATHWAY
Goodman’s MAcc CPA Pathway will allow you to complete all of the required courses and modules for the CPA designation. Upon graduation from the MAcc CPA Pathway, graduates will proceed directly to the CFE.

In the first term of the MAcc, you will take four courses that map to all of the CPA electives (Assurance, Finance, Tax & Performance Management). In the second term of the MAcc, you will be required to complete two program specific graduate accounting courses and two CPA Capstone courses (Integration and Team Management & Integration and Analysis) which focus on CFE examination preparation.

The MAcc CPA pathway program will be completed over seven months (January to July).

MAcc Program Plan

Co-op

Co-op is paid work experience that you can add to your resume upon graduation from our MAcc program. All full-time students who are at Goodman for at least two semesters of study and that maintain an average of 75% are eligible for our co-op program. Students enrolled in the co-op program attend workshops, seminars and speaker series that are designed to help them discover the opportunities and industries that await them during their co-op work placement and post-MAcc.

Most co-op placements are four months in length; however, co-op placements can be extended to eight or 12 months. International and domestic students are eligible for co-op.

There are no separate application requirements for the co-op program. There is an average requirement to stay in the co-op program.

Co-op Education Website

Career Ready

You need to be career ready when you finish your MAcc. At Goodman, we have a team of career experts, ready to help you land the career of your dreams.

SERVICES OFFERED TO STUDENTS

  • Comprehensive resumé and cover letter review
  • LinkedIn profile review
  • Industry-specific mock interviews
  • Career consulting and coaching
  • Employer information sessions
  • Innovative networking events
  • Designation specific sessions

AFTER GRADUATION
Goodman alumni have access to CareerZone indefinitely upon graduation and exclusive opportunities will also be shared with alumni in the Goodman Alumni Network on LinkedIn. Other services such as employment documents review, career consulting and mock interviews will be available for one year after graduation.

Career Education Website

Graduate Diploma in Accountancy (GDAC)

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY (GDAC)

Students who have secured full-time employment for the Spring/Summer term and who wish to complete the four CPA electives in the winter, can apply for our Graduate Diploma in Accountancy (GDAC).In the Diploma program, you will take four courses that map to all of the CPA electives (Assurance, Finance, Tax, and Performance Management).

The GDAC will be completed on a full-time basis over one four month term (January – April). You will not be eligible to write the CFE upon completion of the GDAC, as you will still need to complete Capstone 1 and 2 from the CPA PEP program.

Students who achieve a final overall average of 75%, with no grade below 70%, in the Graduate Diploma in Accountancy program may transfer directly to the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) with the approval of the Goodman Graduate Programs Office.

Those students who opt to transfer to the MAcc will not receive or will relinquish the Graduate Diploma in Accountancy and instead may use the credits earned in the Diploma to fulfill half of the MAcc degree requirements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The admission requirements for the GDAC are the same as the MAcc.Due to the competitive nature of the Goodman Diploma in Accounting (GDAC) program, the admission averages for successful GDAC applicants will vary from year-to-year. The averages listed are the minimum required for admission consideration and do not guarantee admission.

FEES

Tuition 2024-2025
Tuition is charged on a per course basis. Each 5PXX course is equal to one half (.5) credit.

  • Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents: $1,043.61 per half credit course
  • International Students: $3,403.29 per half credit course

This chart reflects approximately how much you will be paying to attend the Goodman Diploma in Accountancy (estimates are based on current 2024-2025 fees and may be subject to change).

Canadian Citizens and Permanent ResidentsInternational Students
Tuition for 5 Courses$5218$17,016
International Recovery FeeNot applicable$750
Student Fees and Bus Pass$535$535
UHIP Health CoverageNot applicable$756*
Health and Dental Plan$575$575
Total Estimated Costs$6,328$19,632

*UHIP fee will be adjusted for international students who have already paid for UHIP as part of their undergraduate fees in the preceding Fall term.

For a full breakdown of tuition fees, please visit Student Accounts and Financial Aid. In case of any minor differences, your tuition charged on your my.brocku.ca account will be considered correct.

Curriculum

GDAC Program Plan

HOW TO APPLY

Application instructions for the GDAC are the same as the MAcc (see above).

Master of Accountancy (MAcc) |  CPA Pathway | Goodman School of Business (2024)

FAQs

Is Masters in accounting enough for CPA? ›

Preparation for accounting certification: A Master's in Accounting program is designed to fulfill the educational requirements to become a CPA and ensures you have the necessary background in accounting and related subjects. High return on investment: Advanced degrees can lead to higher salaries.

Is a MAcc better than an MBA? ›

While the general MBA covers more business territory than a MAcc does, it lacks the in-depth financial skills that you'll need as a CPA. So while it's hard to say that one degree is better than the other, if you're an undergraduate accounting major, there's a clear first step.

What is the difference between MS in accounting and MAcc? ›

As you embark on your journey to obtain a master's degree in accounting, choosing between an MSA and MACC is an important decision. The MSA offers a broader and deeper exploration of accounting principles, while the MACC focuses on enhancing existing skills for advanced roles.

How many years does it take to complete the MAcc program? ›

MAcc students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in accounting. Those with an accounting degree will finish the MAcc program in two semesters. Those without an accounting degree will finish in three to four semesters.

Is a master of accountancy worth it? ›

In summary, pursuing a Master's degree in Accounting can be a significant investment in your career that provides benefits such as increased earning potential, career advancement opportunities, and technical expertise.

What percentage of accountants have a master's degree? ›

Nearly 90 percent of all new hires at CPA firms hold a master's in accounting degree.

How much does a CPA make vs MBA? ›

The average starting salary for an MBA graduate is $73,417. Starting salaries often range between $40,000 and $98,500 depending on the state that you work in. For an entry-level CPA, the average starting salary is $60,697. A majority of base starting salaries for new CPAs ranges between $43,000 and $72,500.

What can you do with a MAcc degree? ›

The Master of Accounting program (MAcc) prepares graduates for careers in public accounting, industry, consulting, financial services, and government.

Is MAcc a stem degree? ›

A MAcc program is not a STEM program. However, some institutions like Miles Education have worked with US university partners to integrate Business Analytics into Master in Finance/Accounting courses so that these programs are now recognized as STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Why get a MAcc? ›

3. Develop an area of expertise. Accounting is such a vast field with ample opportunities that an undergraduate education alone cannot expose you to it all or prepare you for them. A MACC program will help you explore different areas of expertise, whether its non-profits, government, or healthcare.

What is the MAcc after a name? ›

The Master of Accountancy (MAcc, MAcy, or MAccy), alternatively Master of Science in Accounting (MSA or MSAcy) or Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcy, MPAcc, MPA or MPAc), is a graduate professional degree designed to prepare students for public accounting; academic-focused variants are also offered.

What do you call a Masters in Accounting? ›

You have degree options at the master's level, including the Master of Accounting (MAC) or the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in accounting.

What is MAcc credentials? ›

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree program is a fast-paced, two semester, cohort-based graduate program designed to help you achieve your career goals and certification requirements. Our 2 in 2 program allows you to complete both your graduate degree and the CPA Exam in two semesters.

What does MAcc stand for in accounting? ›

Depending on the school, graduates may receive a Master of Accounting or Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Science in Accounting (MSAcc or MS in Accounting) or Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcc).

How much is the Penn State MAcc program? ›

The tuition for the Class of 2024 is $37,639. Textbooks and supplies are additional costs to be paid by the student. The same program tuition is charged to all applicants regardless of residency. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to accept an offer of admission to the MAcc program.

Which degree is best before CPA? ›

The most direct path is to complete a bachelor's degree in Accounting and to continue with a Master's of Accountancy.

Is MBA enough for CPA? ›

For your CPA, most states, if not all now, require 150 college credit hours, so either a 1 year masters in accountancy or your MBA are two options there, but you can actually sit for your CPA before your have the credit hours requirement.

Can I get my masters and CPA at the same time? ›

You have the ability to line up your graduate courses in accounting with which CPA Exam you are taking. For example, I elected to take the Audit CPA Exam at the same time as I was taking an audit course in my masters in accounting – which helped big time with studying efficiently!

Is an accounting degree the same as a CPA? ›

Typically, an accountant has achieved a bachelor's degree in accounting. A certified public accountant earns this designation after completing specific educational and work requirements and passing a CPA exam. These requirements are specific to each state.

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