UT Arlington > College of Business > Accounting > Programs

PPIA admission criteria

Overview

The Department of Accounting's (the Department) admission criteria for its PPIA program 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 to the PPIA program 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) performance in accounting courses at UTA, (3) GMAT scores, (4) professional work experience, (5) personal accomplishments, (6) letters of reference, and (7) the applicant's personal statement. 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, 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. 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 specified two sets of criteria that allow applicants to be unconditionally admitted to the PPIA program without review by the Departmental Admission and Petition Committee. The Departmental Graduate Advisor reviews all applications and determines if they qualify for admission under these conditions. Applicants who do not satisfy either of these conditions are referred to the Departmental Admission and Petition Committee for consideration.

Option #1 Unconditional Admission without Committee Review:

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

> Overall undergraduate GPA is at least 3.0;
> UTA undergraduate GPA is at least 3.0;
> UTA accounting GPA is at least 3.0;
> Have completed at least 9 semester hours of accounting study
   (beyond principles) at UTA;
> Have completed at least 45 semester hours of coursework at UTA;
> GMAT total score is at least 500;
> GMAT verbal score at the 30th percentile or higher; and
> GMAT quantitative score at the 30th percentile or higher.

  Option #2:  Unconditional Admission with GMAT Waiver

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

> Majoring in accounting at UTA
> Have completed at least 9 semester hours of accounting study
   (beyond principles) at UTA;
> Overall UTA undergraduate GPA is at least 3.25;
> UTA accounting GPA is at least 3.25;
> Have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours at UTA; and
> Have a GPA of at least 3.25 in the most recent 60 semester hours of
   courses completed at UTA.

Those interested students not qualifying under the criteria above should contact the graduate adviser for more information.

Admission with Committee Review

PPIA 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, UTA undergraduate) and performance in accounting courses at UTA;
• Score on the GMAT (including separate scores on the verbal and quantitative sections);
• Applicant's professional work experience and personal accomplishments; and
• Letters of reference and personal statement provided by the applicant.

To qualify for unconditional admission with committee review, applicants are expected to show significant strength in at least three 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, provisional admission, deferred admission, or to deny admission. The decision of the Committee is final.