The objective of the program is to develop students’ academic and intellectual abilities in all fields of professional accountancy practice. The program recognizes that the increased demand for accounting expertise in widening fields of practice calls for the development of accounting practitioners with a diversity of disciplinary backgrounds. The program, therefore, is designed for all holders of four-year undergraduate degrees but is especially attractive for candidates with non-business undergraduate degrees (such as social sciences, science or other types of professional studies) who are attracted to the field of accountancy. It is firmly grounded in the view that today, more than ever before, the widest variety of perspectives is needed when making financial and business decisions. Developing accounting practitioners with non-traditional academic backgrounds is seen, therefore, as an appropriate response to an urgent need to expand the range of perspectives within Canada’s financial services community. Such individuals will be valued highly in the workplace for their ability to bring more socio-culturally-environmentally informed frameworks into business settings.

The program offers a choice of two fields of study: Management Accounting and Financial Accounting. The Financial Accounting stream has been accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO), with the result that those graduates will qualify for immediate entry into the ICAO Professional Program. The MAcc program will only be available on a full-time basis and will span three consecutive terms, starting in May.