MPS in Management: Accounting Specialization FAQs

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 MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization is a two semester, 30 credit hour program.

The MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization program offers the rigorous business management curriculum you’d expect to find in a top MBA program, but with a focus on accounting. As the core requirements in accounting are completed, students have the availability to take a variety of graduate level management classes in the SC Johnson College of Business which include the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. In many classes, students will be integrated with students from our top-tier MBA program. The business schools at Cornell are accredited by AACSB International.

The Master of Professional Studies in Management- Accounting Specialization and the Master of Science- Accounting are similar in content, but may differ in purpose. In some states, the MS- Accounting 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 objective. Many will choose to pursue the CPA. We will help advise each student through the process of having their record reviewed by the State Board of Accountancy in the state they choose to become licensed which is not an onerous burden. Students choosing the corporate or advisory services or other career route will receive similar help in designing a program customized to meet their needs.

Please see our Careers page for more information on outcomes, compensation, industry sectors, job functions, locations, and employers of recent graduates.

Yes. Cornell University, the 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 advisement will help our graduates to be successful in the accounting industry.

STEM designation is a reflection of the emphasis throughout the curriculum on analytics and data-driven decision making. For international students, the STEM designation offers an additional benefit. If approved by the USCIS, optional practical training (OPT) provides many F-1 visa students with the opportunity to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months, gaining valuable experience related to their field of study. Students graduating from STEM designated programs may apply for a 24-month extension to their post-completion OPT, potentially providing up to 36 months of temporary employment in the U.S.

No. Your undergraduate degree can be in any field, provided you excelled in your studies. We expect you to have the equivalent of a “minor” in business, meaning you have taken the introductory classes in economics, statistics, financial accounting, finance, marketing and management, although these classes do NOT have to be 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 Johnson Graduate School of Management programs is typically about 3.4.

Note: The GMAT/GRE is optional for the fall 2023 admission cycle. Please see the Application Guide page for additional details.

All applicants are required to submit either the GMAT or GRE taken in the last 5 years. If you have graduated from Cornell University in the last 2 years with a GPA of 3.3 or greater, please submit your transcript and request a waiver. Please note that we reserve the right to use our discretion for granting or refusing waivers.

No. We have no set minimum, but competitive GMAT scores will certainly make an application more attractive.

No. Students who have had internships in the accounting industry will be attractive candidates for our MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization program.

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

No.

Yes. If you have completed some of our required curriculum, graduate electives from any of the three schools in the 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.

The deadlines for the next MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization class can be found on our Application Guide. You must complete your application prior to the admission deadline. You may be invited to conduct a personal interview prior to receiving your admissions decision.

Yes. Information about financial aid opportunities including loans and scholarships, can be found on the Tuition & Funding Opportunities page.

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: Postpone applying to the program until the application year you intend to enroll
• If you are an applicant: Withdraw your application from consideration and apply again in the application year you intend to enroll
• If you have been admitted: Do not submit the non-refundable enrollment deposit and notify the Admissions Office that you are not able to accept the offer of admission

The MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization program is time intensive and your studies will require your full attention. Teaching assistantships may be available to particularly well-qualified candidates or perhaps other on-campus part-time employment. 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’s distance from campus. Please visit the graduate website for more information on Housing & Living in Ithaca.

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 requirements that may be found at their webpage. The Admissions Committee for the MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization believes it is essential that applicants have excellent fluency of the English language to be successful in the accounting industry.