Fifth Year

OPTIONS for students who want to become CPAs and therefore need additional college credits (225 quarter credits) include:

· Study for your master’s degree at Western. The College of Business and Economics offers two such opportunities: Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

MPAcc: The Master of Professional Accounting is a 48-credit graduate degree to be completed in three quarters. It includes four advanced seminars during the fall quarter, an internship and an on-line seminar during the winter, and four more advanced seminars during spring quarter. The Western program is designed for one year (3 quarters) of integrated, full-time study. Students begin in September and receive their master degree the following June.

MBA: The "fast track" full-time Master of Business Administration program (for people with a bachelor's degree in business) is 52 credits and takes one calendar year (summer, fall, winter, & spring). Western also offers a regular full-time MBA (84 credits) and an evening part-time MBA (52-68 credits).

· Study for an MPAcc or MBA at another university.

· Earn a second major within the College of Business and Economics or another college within Western Washington University.

· Count your extra community college credits. While only 105 community college credits may "count" toward your Western degree, the Washington State Board of Accountancy will allow you to count additional college-level credits that were earned beyond the 105, but not allowed to transfer to Western because of the limit.

· If you are not sure that you want to be a CPA, you may choose to wait to get the additional education.

More information on professional examinations:

· Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination information is available from the Washington State Board of Accountancy at: www.cpaboard.wa.gov and from the AICPA at: www.aicpa.org. The Washington State Board of Accountancy Website also provides information on CPA education and experience requirements.

· Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination information is available from the Institute of Management Accountants at: www.imanet.org.

· Corporate Financial Management (CFM) examination information is available from the Institute of Management Accountants at: www.imanet.org.

· Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examination information is available from the Institute of Internal Auditors at: www.theiia.org.

This information is also available on the WWU Department of Accounting Website at: www.cbe.wwu.edu/acct.