Prerequisite Courses

Based on educational background and work experience, online students may be required to start in the Online Certificate program to complete their prerequisites before they will be accepted into the OMSA program. All online students must have completed the Introductory Financial Accounting prerequisite before beginning their program; the other prerequisites can be taken at the University of Arizona as part of the Online Certificate program or may be satisfied by taking comparable courses at an acceptable accredited U.S. institution.

*Not recommended for students taking coursework to meet CPA accounting unit requirements

Applications and Supporting Materials

Applicants are reviewed by the faculty and administrators in the Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy based upon their whole application. After a review of an applicant's profile a recommendation decision is submitted to the Graduate College. The Graduate College then reviews the application and submits a final admission decision to the applicant. Please note your admission is not official until you receive notification from the Graduate College.

A completed MSA application includes :

• Graduate College Application
  The UA Graduate College requires a fee to submit your application.
• Unofficial transcripts 
  Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended are required for your online application.
  • Note: Official transcripts will be requested by the UA Graduate College after admission. No official transcripts are required for the application.
• GMAT score 
  A GMAT is required for all applicants who do not meet the waiver discussed below.
  • The UA Institution Code is 4832.
  • Note: There is no minimum score requirement for the GMAT. However, on average, applicants accepted into the program score between 500 and 700. 
• Acceptable English proficiency test score (international applicants only)
• One Letter of Recommendation

GMAT and Letter of Recommendation Waiver Qualifications

If you are a student majoring in accounting at the University of Arizona (UA), Arizona State University (ASU) or Northern Arizona University (NAU) or if you have earned your degree in accounting at UA, ASU or NAU within the last four years you may qualify for a GMAT and Letter of Recommendation Waiver. Students that have completed the Summer Accounting Emphasis Program at UA may also qualify for the waiver.

Criteria for Waiver: 

1. The student is no more than one semester away from earning their undergraduate degree in accounting (or a non-Acct degree but has completed the UA Summer Accounting Emphasis Program) from UA, ASU or NAU or has earned their accounting degree from UA, ASU or NAU within the last four years AND 
2. The student achieved an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher, including courses taken at all institutions attended and an upper division accounting GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time the application is reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

If you meet the following criteria above, you will not need to submit the following materials:

• GMAT score
• Letter of recommendation

GMAT Only Waiver: 

For other applicants, a waiver for the GMAT may be requested if you meet the following criteria:

• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university AND
• A major in Business, Math, Statistics or another STEM-designated program

Please note, you will still need to submit a letter of recommendation if you meet this GMAT waiver criteria.