Philadelphia University’s rigorous, full-time program is designed so you can earn an MBA degree and successfully complete the four parts of the CPA exam all within one year. In Pennsylvania you are required to have an undergraduate degree to sit for the CPA exam and 150 college credits in order to become a CPA. This program is structured to provide both the education required to prepare students to pass the exam within one year and the necessary credits to meet the 150-hour requirement for certification.

By taking the MBA courses during the day or evening and participating in the CPA review in the evenings, the pass rate for the graduates of this program is expected to be extremely high.

Unique aspects of the program:

• The accounting curriculum portion of program is geared specifically to the CPA exam.
• CPA review is provided as a complete package by Becker CPA review, a nationally ranked CPA review, with scholarship funding for the Becker course included along with tuition for the program through Philadelphia University.
• Students will sit for the CPA exam before graduating, all within one year
• PhilaU provides a scholarship that pays for all or part of the review and exam awards up to $5,000 based on undergraduate GPA and/or GMAT score). Note: In addition, the University also provides Dean’s Scholarships based on academic achievement that can further reduce graduate tuition cost.
•  The ‘Big Four’ accounting firms often expect that new hires take and pass at least some portion of the CPA exam. Our program positions students very competitively with students from other programs.

Curriculum (33-34 total credits)

MBA Core Courses (24 credits)

• Management Communications and Negotiations

• Global Managing in the 21st Century

• Management of Information Through Technology

• Accounting for Management Decisions

• Financial Policy and Planning

• Quantitative Methods in Decisions

• Strategic Marketing Management

• Strategic Planning in a Global Environment

Accounting Option (10 credits)             OR         Taxation Option (9 credits)

• Financial Accounting & Reporting I                   • Individual Taxation

• Financial Accounting & Reporting II                  • Corporate Taxation

• Auditing and Attestation                                      • Tax Research

NOTE: This program has been designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting. However, students with an undergraduate accounting minor or who have completed significant undergraduate accounting coursework are encouraged to contact the Graduate Admissions Office for further advice.

Admission Requirements:

Completed graduate application

Official transcripts

Official GMAT results

Please note that conditional admission can be granted without submitting GMAT scores provided you do so by the end of your first semester. At that time, you will be considered for full admission status.