MPA Bridge Program Now Available to UT Students in All Majors

For undergraduates at UT, the fast track to an advanced degree in accounting has never been more accessible

When Patrick Dies, MPA ’10, was working toward his undergraduate degree in economics at UT during a global recession, he was drawn to accounting as a solid industry. 

So, Dies applied to UT’s Economics-to-MPA program, established in 2002 in partnership with the Department of Economics. Through this program, he could work toward a graduate degree in accounting from McCombs while completing his undergraduate degree in the College of Liberal Arts. 

And as of Fall 2023, economics majors are not the only students with this unparalleled opportunity: The program, renamed MPA Bridge, has been extended to students in all majors across The University of Texas at Austin. Admitted students from any major who apply during their junior year may complete graduate-level accounting courses during their senior year, and then complete their fifth year to earn a Master in Professional Accounting degree. 

MPA Program Director Kristina Zvinakis says, “Reenvisioning this program is consistent with a belief held by our faculty members that accounting knowledge benefits numerous careers.” 

Among the 12 students starting the Bridge Program this fall are majors in biology and family sciences. MPA Program Director of Admissions Keri Ledezma says, “More students can level up their careers, and the MPA program can add high-quality UT students. 

“It’s a clear win-win.” 

That was certainly Dies’ experience. “The program boosted my confidence and made me more knowledgeable, more professional, and more focused coming out of school,” he says, adding that the single year of tuition for a graduate degree was especially appealing. 

Dies says the foundational knowledge of accounting practices and procedures the program provided him, along with valuable problem-solving skills, served him well during his studies at the UT School of Law. 

Today, he works for The University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), an external investment corporation that oversees investments on behalf of these universities, as a senior director in its legal department. He reviews and negotiates investments, highlighting risk and structuring transactions — work for which his MPA has been invaluable, he says. 

For Zoey Rasch, MPA ’21, the program’s case studies helped prepare her well for her current role as an audit and assurance senior at Deloitte. 

“There’s a job security that comes with accounting — it’s something all businesses need,” says Rasch, who originally thought she might pursue a career in sales. 

She manages all aspects of her client audits and enjoys the client interaction. “People often think accountants sit behind a desk and don’t talk to anyone, but that’s really not the case,” Rasch says.