The Orfalea College of Business ("OCOB") Master of Science in Accounting — Taxation Program ("MSA — Taxation" or "Program") is designed so that students holding an undergraduate degree in Accounting, or, who hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline and who: (i) have successfully completed a minimum of (i) one (1) course in federal taxation in undergraduate school; plus (ii) either a minimum of eight (8) quarter units in accounting (in addition to the federal taxation course) or two (2) years of full-time work experience in accounting**), may qualify for admission provided the applicant successfully completed the undergraduate program/degree (or will finish that degree/program) by June.

**If you are an applicant with two years of full-time work experience in accounting, see No. 7 below for what you need to do.

The University requires that you have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above to be accepted into any graduate program on campus. Applicants admitted into the Program will collectively have a mid 80% range GPA of 3.0 to 3.7. The GPA is calculated using the last 90 quarter units (or last 60 semester units) of study. GPA requirements vary with the undergraduate degree, and the OCOB Graduate Programs Office will consider and make adjustments for students coming from programs/schools without grade inflation or with a reputation for academic rigor. We will also evaluate the GPA in conjunction with your GMAT score, i.e., the higher the GMAT score, the more latitude available for the GPA.

Our mid 80% range GMAT is 540 to 680.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is administered by Pearson VUE. The test dates, times, and location can be found at this web site. In addition, free tutorial and test preparation downloads are available. Note this exam costs approximately $250 and can be taken once per calendar month. Please take these factors into account as you prepare for the GMAT. View GMAT study tips.

An official copy of your scores must be sent to Cal Poly (Program Code: JQL-CM-82).

If the testing service offers an unofficial copy of your score, you can fax it to us for a preliminary review. Graduate Program fax number: (805) 756-0110.

The application for admission is completed and submitted via the CSU Mentor's web site.

A non-refundable $55* fee is required for the admissions office to process your application. The fee may be paid online or sent directly to the Admission Office at the following address:

Admission Office
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0031

* The amount of this fee is subject to change. Verify the current fee amounts on the CSU Mentor web site.

If you are an applicant who's firm is sponsoring your education:

• Include the firm name and location (in CAPITAL LETTERS) within your "Statement of Purpose" on the CSUMentor application.

Do NOT send your transcripts until you have submitted your application. Unsolicited transcripts will not be processed by the Admissions Office.

We require official transcripts from every college you've attended so that your degree status can be verified, and your GPA calculated. Send transcripts directly to:

Admission Office
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0031

Note: Transcripts are not needed from students who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly and have not attended any other colleges or universities since their graduation from Cal Poly.

A current resume provides additional information about our applicants that we would not otherwise get from the regular application. Your resume should include all relevant experiences you would like us to consider and it should be mailed directly to:

Graduate Programs Office
The Orfalea College of Business
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0712

If you are an applicant with two (2) years of full-time work experience in accounting in lieu of a degree in Accounting, submit the following items:

• A statement explaining the details of how and why the items listed in your resume equate to two years of full-time work experience in accounting
• A letter from your employer confirming the foregoing

 

Mail to:

Graduate Programs Office
The Orfalea College of Business
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0712

Letters of recommendation can be from an academic source or your employer. Select individuals with whom you have had considerable professional or academic interaction such as your supervisor, a major client or a professor who has worked closely with you.

The letter of recommendation should include the name of the recommender, their position/title, organization and address, how long they have known the applicant and under what circumstances. Topics of discussion recommended as useful in our admission decision include your:

• Drive, persistence and initiative
• Intellectual and leadership ability
• Maturity
• Ethics and character, in both an academic and professional context
• Major professional and/or academic accomplishments
• Motivation to pursue a graduate degree
• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical ability
• Planning and resource management skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• General strengths and weaknesses

RECOMMENDER SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR RECOMMENDATION DIRECTLY TO:

Graduate Programs Office
The Orfalea College of Business
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0712

Recommendations are not subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The applicant will not have access to recommendations under that law.