MACC Curriculum and CPA Exam Passage Rates: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The growing popularity of Master of Accounting programs can be attributed to multiple factors, but the states' adoption of the 150-credit hour educational prerequisite for Certified Public Accountant licensure was clearly influential in stimulating enrollment growth. Despite the growth and importance of Master of Accounting programs, comparative data of program prerequisites and curriculum is scarce. Equally limited are empirical analyses of the effects of graduate curriculum upon CPA Exam passage rates. To address the paucity of information, we examined the program prerequisites and curriculum of 283 Master of Accounting programs, all of which are based in the United States and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This exploratory study examines (a) commonalities and differences among Master of Accounting program curriculum, (b) relationships between university resource levels and CPA Exam passage rates, and (c) whether programs with a flexible curriculum, providing greater student customization of elective coursework, report higher CPA Exam passage rates.

Does the Sequencing of Exam Sections Impact Candidate Success on the CPA Exam?

“…In addition, they noted that public accounting experience and the availability of an employer bonus for passing the CPA Exam on a timely basis were associated with attempting the CPA Exam, but not with passing the CPA Exam, passing in fewer attempts, or passing sooner after graduation. Shough et al (2018) examined the curricula of AACSB accredited Master of Accounting (MACC) programs and the impact curricula had on CPA Exam pass rates. Their study examined (a) commonalities and differences among MACC programs, (b) relationships between university resource levels and CPA Exam pass rates, and (c) whether programs with a flexible curriculum reported higher CPA Exam pass rates.…”