LONG BEACH, Miss. – The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast will offer the Master of Professional Accountancy degree program beginning in the fall 2008 semester.

During each fall, spring and summer semester, there will be a Master of Professional Accountancy course and a Master of Business Administration course offered back-to-back. These courses are arranged in order to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Classes will be offered in the evening during the week and students can expect to finish the required courses in two years.

“Having the Masters of Professional Accountancy degree on the coast offered by the only accredited School of Accountancy in south Mississippi allows students to better prepare for the Certified Public Accountant exam and advance their careers,” said Dr. Steve Jackson, associate professor and interim director in the School of Accountancy and Information Systems.

Jackson added that he wants students to understand that the faculty members are knowledgeable and experienced. The faculty members in the School of Accountancy and Information Systems have had their work published in a variety of journals, such as the Journal of Applied Business Research, the CPA Journal, Practical Tax Strategies, the Journal of Accountancy and the Business Ethics Quarterly.

The School of Accountancy at Southern Miss is one of 168 schools worldwide with accreditation from AACSB International, the American Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Students will be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test before officially enrolling as a graduate student. The State of Mississippi requires 150 credit hours in order to take the Certified Public Accountant exam. By completing the MPA program at Southern Miss, together with an accredited undergraduate accounting degree, students will have the required hours in order to take the CPA exam.

For more information on the Master of Professional Accountancy degree, please call 228.865.4505 or visit www.usm.edu/business.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu/gulfcoast .