Undergraduate 3+1 Accounting Pathway

An accelerated program for accounting majors.

The 3+1 Accounting Pathway is an opportunity for qualified incoming freshmen interested in accounting to complete both the bachelor’s degree in accounting and the master of accounting degree in four years. Through an evaluation of college-ready credits (e.g., advanced placement and international baccalaureate), these high-achieving students are fast-tracked for admission to the Lundquist College of Business one full year before their contemporaries. Students in this program can complete their undergraduate degree in three years, with the fourth year used to complete the Master of Accounting program.

Highlights

  • The business college's most experienced and widely recognized faculty teach in the MAcc program.
  • Our students are highly sought after, and their placement is nearly 100 percent at graduation.
  • It completes the package of preparation for a career in accounting.

Application Deadline

Students must submit applications for admission to the 3+1 Accounting Pathway by midnight or October 31 of the fall term of their freshman year.

Apply to the 3+1 Pathway

Sample Timeline*

YEAR IN COLLEGE NUMBER OF CREDITS
Incoming Freshman 35-45 (AP/IB)
First (Sophomore) 45-50
Second (Junior) 45-50
Third (Senior) 45-50 (180 Total)
Fourth (MAcc) 45
Total 225

*The timeline is flexible, and this table does not reflect every scenario. Students must work with an advisor to map out an individual plan that is particular to her or his academic schedule.

See Sample Academic Plans

Criteria for Evaluation

  • Demonstration of academic excellence, maturity, and motivation
  • Courses taken in Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate courses
  • Leadership activities
  • Specific courses taken and grades earned
  • Mathematics and calculus background
  • GPA
  • Strength of high school curriculum

Application Materials

  • Copy of high school transcript
  • Essay (500 words or less, typed) describing why you would like to participate in the MAcc 3+1 program. Please also address and provide examples of how you:
    • Handle frustration and obstacles
    • Seek help and make changes when necessary
    • Manage time
    • Have demonstrated leadership skills

Criteria for Continuance in the Accounting Pathway

The following courses must be taken and completed at the University of Oregon with grades of B or better in each course:

  • ACTG 211: Introduction to Financial Accounting
  • ACTG 213: Introduction to Managerial Accounting

Qualifications for Admission to Pathway Candidacy

  • At least 30 credit hours of Advanced Placement and/or International Business or transfer credit upon admission to the UO.

Why Get Your Master's Degree in Accounting?

Accounting majors typically seek certified public accountant (CPA) licensure after college. The CPA credential distinguishes accounting professionals and opens many doors during a career.

225-Credit CPA Exam Educational Requirements Background

In the late 1990s, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants encouraged individual states to add 30 semester (45 quarter) hours beyond the usual 120 semester (180 quarter) hours that the undergraduate accounting degree provides, as part of the educational requirements to qualify for licensure as a CPA. This became known as the fifth-year requirement. The goal of these additional credits is to include curriculum that deepens knowledge and improves critical thinking and communication skills. Almost all states and territories of the United States require the fifth year in credits. However, states vary in the content of that fifth year.

UO's Response to the Fifth-Year Requirement

The University of Oregon's Master of Accounting program is a high-quality way to earn the additional credits. The MAcc program's curriculum broadens aspiring accountants' scope of knowledge and strengthens their critical thinking and communication skills, ultimately preparing them to enter the business world as professionals with a specialization in accounting. Moreover, people who have a specialized master’s degree are more likely to be promoted faster than those who do not have an advanced degree. The 3+1 Accounting Pathway is designed to fast-track students through the undergraduate curriculum and allow them to use the fourth year to pursue a master’s degree, effectively earning their fifth year in four years and maximizing the value to their careers while they are in college. It's a win-win.