What will I study as a Master of Professional Accountancy student?

The Master of Professional Accountancy program consists of prerequisite coursework (for those without a bachelor’s degree in business), a common core of graduate courses, a theology course and a few accounting electives. Core graduate course topics and electives include:

• Issues in financial accounting
• Advanced taxation of business entities
• Accounting research and communication
• Ethics in accounting
• Government and nonprofit accounting
• Advanced taxation of individuals
• International accounting
• Financial statement analysis and valuation
• Advanced topics in California industries
• Accounting analytics
• Advanced auditing

As a Christian institution, Biola seeks to admit applicants whose backgrounds clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, and a positive service-oriented motivation toward their field of study. Biola does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant's race, color, sex, socio-economic status, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

1. Complete and submit the online application

2. Submit a non-refundable $65 application fee

   • Note: If you attend an information session, we will waive your application fee.

3. Submit supplemental application materials through your online application portal

Current Biola Students (Accounting or Business Administration Majors):

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
• Note for International Students: All international transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies noted (i.e. GPA on a 4.0 scale). If your transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, you must have them evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like SpanTran (Biola Discount), World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services (FIS). Be sure to choose "course by course report" and have SpanTran/WES/FIS send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.

Two Reference Letters

• Pastor or church leader reference (from the current church you attend)
• Academic or character reference (from a Crowell School of Business faculty member)
• Note: Additional instructions can be found in the online application.

One Essay

• Christian testimony
  • The circumstances surrounding your decision to become a follower of Christ
  • The scriptural basis for your salvation
  • Your contribution to a local church community
  • A description of how you display attributes of a mature Christian faith
• Note: The essay prompt can be found in the online application.

Current Biola Students (Other Majors):

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
• Note for International Students: All international transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies noted (i.e. GPA on a 4.0 scale). If your transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, you must have them evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like SpanTran (Biola Discount), World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services (FIS). Be sure to choose "course by course report" and have SpanTran/WES/FIS send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.

GMAT Scores

• Submit an official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Two Reference Letters

• Pastor or church leader reference (from the current church you attend)
• Academic or character reference (from a Biola faculty member)
• Note: Additional instructions can be found in the online application.

Two Essays

• Christian testimony
  • The circumstances surrounding your decision to become a follower of Christ
  • The scriptural basis for your salvation
  • Your contribution to a local church community
  • A description of how you display attributes of a mature Christian faith
• Vocational objectives
  • Provide a statement (no more than two pages) addressing your qualifications for acceptance to the MPAcc program (leadership potential, creative abilities, motivational aptitude) and your career goals, including a description of how participation in the MPAcc program will contribute to your growth and development toward those goals. This is included in the online application but must be submitted separately if you are completing the PDF application.
• Note: The essay prompts can be found in the online application.

All Other Applicants:

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
• Note for International Students: All international transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies noted (i.e. GPA on a 4.0 scale). If your transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, you must have them evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like SpanTran (Biola Discount), World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services (FIS). Be sure to choose "course by course report" and have SpanTran/WES/FIS send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.

GMAT Scores

• Submit an official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Three Reference Letters

• Pastor or church leader reference (from the current church you attend)
• Academic reference
• Employer or character reference
• Note: Additional instructions can be found in the online application.

Two Essays

• Christian testimony
  • The circumstances surrounding your decision to become a follower of Christ
  • The scriptural basis for your salvation
  • Your contribution to a local church community
  • A description of how you display attributes of a mature Christian faith
• Vocational objectives
  • Provide a statement (no more than two pages) addressing your qualifications for acceptance to the MPAcc program (leadership potential, creative abilities, motivational aptitude) and your career goals, including a description of how participation in the MPAcc program will contribute to your growth and development toward those goals. This is included in the online application but must be submitted separately if you are completing the PDF application.
• Note: The essay prompts can be found in the online application.

English Proficiency (required for non-native English speakers)

• Evidence of English proficiency is required for all students to support student success. Proficiency must be shown through one of the methods described below:
  • Minimum test score on a qualifying standardized test
    • TOEFL: minimum score of 100 iBT
    • IELTS: minimum score of 7.5
    • Duolingo: minimum score of 125
  • A degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) issued by an institution where English is the medium of instruction.
    • Official written communication from the institution (Registrar, Controller of Examinations Office, or Undergraduate College)
    • Official degree statements or transcripts may be accepted given English is stated as the medium of instruction
    • Official catalog verification
    • Note: For universities from non-Anglophone countries, further language assessment may be required.
  • Completion of the English Language Scholars (ELS) with passing status on the ELS's final exit exam, which must be approved by the ELS Director in collaboration with the academic program committee. An updated TOEFL or IELTS score may be used at the end of a term to test directly into the graduate program for the following term.
  • Qualify for English Language Scholars (ELS), which allows students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores to still enroll in their graduate degree program. Students would be taking academic English courses concurrently with the graduate degree program courses. 
    • Students eligible for ELS will be assessed by the ELS Director to determine the total number of academic English courses to take while enrolled in their graduate program courses. The following are the scores needed to qualify for ELS: TOEFL iBT 90 / IELTS 7.0 / Duolingo 110–124.
    • Note: Students must be admitted to the graduate program first to be considered for ELS.

4. Interview with a faculty member

• After your application and supplemental application requirements are submitted and approved, you will be scheduled to have an interview with a faculty member.

 

Things to Note

• Track your application status at any time. You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. You can complete a portion and finish at a later time. Your information will be saved. When you apply, to guarantee confidentiality, you will be asked to create a user name and a password, and will receive a personalized identification number. Track your application status by logging in to the online application.
• Transfer credits. Students transferring from a regionally accredited graduate program may transfer a maximum of six (6) credits. The courses transferred must be equivalent, have direct applicability to the student’s program, and be approved by the program director. Only courses with a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher will be considered for transfer toward the MPAcc degree. Credits considered for transfer must have been taken within five years prior to the date of admission.
• Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
• International students who will be studying on campus are required to apply for an F-1 student visa. For more information, visit biola.edu/international/admitted-students.