UT Arlington > College of Business > Accounting > Programs

Master's admission criteria

Overview

The Department of Accounting's (the Department) admission criteria for its master's programs have been developed to conform to State of Texas requirements and are based on the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants are encouraged to include a resume that highlights professional and personal accomplishments with their application.

All applications for admission are reviewed individually. Admission decisions are based on factors associated with academic success in graduate study and may include any of the following criteria: (1) undergraduate grade point average, (2) graduate grade point average,(3) GMAT scores, (4) professional work experience, (5) professional certification or licensure, (6) letters of reference, (7) the applicant's personal statement, (8) prior successful completion of a baccalaureate degree, (9) prior successful completion of a post-baccalaureate degree, and (10) general and specific program accreditation status of the applicant's degree granting institution(s). Standardized test scores are not used as the sole criterion for admitting applicants or denying admission to applicants.

Depending on the circumstances applicants may:

        (1) Have their application denied or deferred; or

        (2) Receive unconditional, probationary, or provisional admittance.

Applicants whose documentation does not satisfactorily demonstrate readiness for graduate study may be denied admission. A deferred decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Unconditional admission is granted to applicants whose documentation clearly demonstrates a readiness for graduate study. Probationary admission may be granted to individuals who do not meet the Department's admission requirements but who nevertheless show promise for successful graduate study. Students admitted on this basis must meet certain academic requirements to remain in the program (such as no grade less than B for first 12 hours of graduate study). An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.  Provisional status lasts through the initial semester of admission.
 

Admission Criteria

The Department has four alternative sets of conditions that allow applicants to be unconditionally admitted without review by the Department's Petition Committee. The Departmental graduate advisor reviews all applications and determines if they qualify for admission under one of these four sets of criteria.

Applicants who do not satisfy any of the following sets of conditions for unconditional admission are referred to the Departmental Admission and Petition Committee for consideration.

These applicants should provide a statement to the advisor addressing any conditions in which he or she is deficient.

Unconditional Admission without Committee Review:
Applicants qualify for unconditional admission without the need for review by the Departmental Admission and Petition Committee if they meet any one of the following four sets of unconditional admission criteria:

Unconditional Admission Set #1: Admission Index Condition
This unconditional admission set #1 focuses on two factors: grade point average (GPA) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work as calculated by the UTA Graduate School and performance on the GMAT examination.

Individuals who meet each of the following five conditions are given unconditional admission:

• GPA on last 60 hours of undergraduate work is at least 3.0;
• GMAT total score is at least 500;
• GMAT verbal score at the 30th percentile or higher;  
• GMAT quantitative score at the 30th percentile or higher; and
• Applicant holds an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Unconditional Admission Set #2: GMAT Waiver Condition 

This unconditional admission set #2 focuses on the applicant's performance in UTA's undergraduate accounting program. Individuals who meet all of the following 7 conditions are given unconditional admission.

• Graduated from UTA (with a bachelor's degree) within three years of expected entrance into the graduate program;
• Completed at least 60 semester hours at UTA;
• Majored in accounting at UTA;
• Has a 3.25 overall GPA at UTA;
• Has a 3.25 accounting GPA at UTA;
• Has a 3.25 GPA in all advanced work at UTA; and
• Has a 3.25 GPA in the last 60 semester hours completed at UTA.

Applicants may receive provisional admission under this set if they have not yet completed their last undergraduate semester at UTA. The provision is removed when they are awarded their undergraduate degree.

Applicants should be aware that this waiver applies for admission only to the Department's graduate programs. Other UTA graduate programs (such as the College of Business MBA program) may require submission of a GMAT score before admission or transfer into their program. The Department will not accept GMAT waivers given to students in other graduate programs unless the student meets all the requirements specified above.

Unconditional Admission Set #3: Professional Credential Condition
This unconditional admission set #3 focuses on the applicant's undergraduate grade point average and possession of a recognized professional accounting credential or license. Individuals who meet each of the following four (4) conditions are given unconditional admission.

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with an earned bachelor�s degree;
• Has an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0;
• Has an overall undergraduate major GPA of at least 3.0; and
• Holds a current and recognized professional accounting credential or license, including but not limited to:
  • Certified Public Accountant,
  • Certified Management Accountant,
  • Certified Internal Auditor,
  • Certified Financial Analyst,
  • Certified Fraud Examiner,
  • Chartered Accountant, or
  • Certified Valuation Analyst.

Unconditional Admission Set #4: Successful Postbaccalaureate Education Condition
This unconditional admission set #4 focuses on the applicant's previous successful completion of a postbaccalaureate degree with an acceptable graduate grade point average. Individuals who meet each of the following 3 conditions are given unconditional admission.

• Graduated from an AACSB accredited college or university with a postbaccalaureate degree (e.g., master's degree, JD degree, LLM degree, MD degree, Ph.D. degree);
• Has an overall graduate GPA of at least 3.0; and
• Has a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the major area.

Admission with Committee Review
Applicants who require committee review are considered for admission using the following factors, with no single factor used as the primary criterion for making admission decisions.

• Undergraduate GPA (overall, major, and last 60 hours) and program accreditation status of the applicant's degree granting institution;
• Score on the GMAT (including separate scores on the verbal and quantitative portions);
• Applicant's professional work experience and professional certification/licensure;
• Letters of reference; and
• Personal statement provided by the applicant.

To qualify for unconditional admission with committee review, applicants must hold an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and are expected to show significant strength in at least three of the four areas listed above. The Admission and Petition Committee may also grant probationary admission to applicants who demonstrate significant strength in at least two of the four areas listed above.

By considering the totality of the applicant's circumstances, including the factors listed above, the Admission and Petition Committee will evaluate an applicant's readiness to successfully complete one of the Department's graduate programs. Depending on the judgment of the committee, the decision may be to grant unconditional admission, probationary admission, provisional admission, deferred admission, or to deny admission. The decision of the committee is final.

International applicants must submit a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a score of at least 213 on the computer based TOEFL, a minimum of 40 on the TSE, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 16 for the listening section to meet this requirement.