Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admission requirements?

When will I find out if I am admitted?

All admission decisions are made mid-May, and all students are notified of their admission decision by the end of May, regardless of when their application was submitted. Notifification will be sent in a letter from Graduate Studies. Applicants who are admitted to the MAcc program will receive an email from the department that includes instructions for accepting the admission offer, a proposed graduation plan to be submitted, and registration information.

How many students are admitted each year?

Approximately 160 students are admitted to the MAcc program to enter each Fall. Many of these students admitted are integrated students who have completed the Accounting Jr. Core at BYU.

How long will it take me to complete the MAcc degree?

The minimum amount of time in which to complete the MAcc program is one and a half years. There is not a part-time or evening track available in the MAcc program. Most students complete the MAcc program in two years.

What kind of a job will I be able to get when I graduate with a MAcc degree?

Graduates from the SOA find employment in private companies, public accounting firms, government and non-profit organizations. As part of the management teams in these organizations, the accountant provides information and advice for planning and controlling operations and strategies. Particularly in public accounting, professionally trained students provide audit, tax, systems, consulting, and financial service expertise. Many local, state, and federal governments and agencies, as well as several non-profit organizations, actively recruit students from the SOA.

The placement of the MAcc students from the SOA is very strong. Most MAcc students report at least two, and sometimes as many as eight job offers by the end of their job search. For the last several years, over 95% of the MAcc students have accepted employment before they finish school. The others are generally placed within two months of finishing, unless they choose not to enter the employment market. Over 70 different firms and agencies (including all of the major public accounting firms) recruit SOA graduates.

BYU offers recruiting help through the Steven and Georgia White Business Career Center, 446 TNRB and through the Career Placement Services Office, 2410 WSC. All of the public accounting firms recruit graduates through these offices and many private employers and other organizations seek accounting specialists. Students should pick up a registration packet from either the Business Career Center Office or the Career Placement Services Office and follow the instructions for establishing an online eRecruiting account. This is required before starting the interviewing process.

Public accounting firms have different hiring patterns than most other employers because of the seasonal nature of their work. The fall recruiting period is the time most commitments are made to new employees who then begin work during the following summer when the firms often conduct their training programs. However, some students may be hired to begin work at the end of December. Hiring patterns vary somewhat by specialization. Sometimes there is more opportunity for December hiring for tax students than for students in any areas of public accounting.