Master of Professional Accounting

2017 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2017 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2017 course information
Award granted	Master of Professional Accounting
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2017. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2017. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2017. If you require a course map from a previous year, please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	073435B Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	M720
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Quality Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Students who commenced this course prior to 2012 should discuss unit selections with their enrolment officer.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin's Master of Professional Accounting covers engaging areas such as corporate and management accounting, commercial law, corporations law, accounting theory, economics, and finance.

Open to graduates from both accounting and non-accounting background, you’ll be given the opportunity to become associate members of CPA Australia or to enter the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand to undertake the CA program.

The accounting profession has recently seen a fundamental shift from a role that was seen as providing financial information and number crunching towards a wide-ranging advisory role. Graduating with a Master of Professional Accounting from Deakin opens the door to a huge variety of business careers.

Today’s accountants are now seen as providers of business management information – a role perfectly suited to graduates of this professional accounting course.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Completion of the appropriate selection of units within the Master of Professional Accounting grants eligibility for entry as an associate member of CPA Australia, and meets the educational requirements for entry into the CA program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), Professional Accounting Program (PEP). Upon completion of appropriate program units, it is also possible to receive exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) towards the ACCA qualification.

Students should carefully note the trimesters when units are offered to ensure that all required units can be completed in the appropriate time frame.

Students who wish to enter the CA, CPA programs or exemptions to the ACCA program are advised that it is their responsibility to ensure that they take the appropriate units required for entry.

Students who have completed prior undergraduate or graduate units in accounting or other core knowledge areas are advised to have their qualifications assessed by their preferred professional organisation to ensure they complete the correct units.

Please note: The eligibility of students for membership of any of the accounting accrediting bodies is subject to meeting the requirements of that body and that Deakin makes no representations that individuals will meet those requirements.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcome	Course Learning Outcome
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of current and emerging accounting concepts and practices in contemporary business.
Communication	Use advanced communication skills to justify and communicate complex accounting concepts and ideas to both accountants and non-accountants
Digital literacy	Select and apply appropriate digital technologies to find, use, manage and disseminate complex accounting and business data, information and ideas.
Critical thinking	Use a specialised set of high order cognitive and critical analysis skills expected of accounting professionals in contemporary business to evaluate, synthesise and justify complex ideas and recommendations.
Problem solving	Develop solutions to real world and ill-defined problems faced by accounting professionals in business.
Self-management	Use acquired skills to undertake own work and learning and conduct independent research.
Teamwork	Collaborate and communicate in teams to interpret decision-relevant information and develop accounting and business advice and ideas.
Global citizenship	Engage ethically, professionally and productively in a professional accounting and business context in light of changing global perspectives.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Professional Accounting, students must attain a total of 12 credit points, consisting of 8 credit points of core units and 4 credit points of elective units. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.

Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application of those skills in professional contexts. They must also complete advanced level units and a capstone unit that require them to integrate the skills learnt over their course of study and produce applied pieces of research with reference to prevailing literature.

Course structure

Core units

MAA703

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA716

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2}

MAA725

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2}

MAA753

Unit description is currently unavailable

MAA763

Unit description is currently unavailable

MLC707

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2, 4}

MPA701

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2}

MPF753

Unit description is currently unavailable ^{1, 2, 4}

Notes:
¹ Required by CPA Australia for Associate (foundation level) Membership.
² Required by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand for entry to the CA Program.
³For candidates who have completed an accredited degree in Australia, this unit may be taken as part of the CPA program. Other students must complete the unit before becoming an Associate Member of CPA Australia.
⁴For candidates who would like to obtain exemptions to the ACCA program.