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Founded in 1900, the School of Business established one of the first five business programs in the nation. That entrepreneurial spirit remains strong. 

As a student in the School of Business, you will find yourself inspired by peers, staff, alumni, business leaders, and world-renowned faculty who are focused, collaborative, and engaged in every aspect of the student experience. You will join a highly ranked program that equips you to meet both academic and career challenges. Employers value School of Business graduates because of the comprehensive preparation this learning environment provides. Graduates possess highly sought-after general management and specialized expertise in business. 

Joining collaborative, inspiring, trustworthy, and progressive WSB alumni, Business Badgers graduate prepared to lead their organizations to success and transform the world of business. Together Forward!

Master's Programs in Accounting

The Master of Accountancy in Business: Accounting (M.Acc.) degree helps students develop strong technical and professional accounting skills that qualify them to sit for the CPA exam. Careers as professional accountants in public accounting, financial institutions, government, industry, or nonprofit organizations are possible upon graduation. For additional information see the program website.

This program is open to any student who has earned a four-year undergraduate degree, in any discipline, from an accredited institution. 

Most students pursuing this program will complete a relevant internship in public or corporate accounting.  No prior professional work experience is required for admission to the program.

In addition to building strong, technical accounting skills, this program focuses on overall professional development.  Curricular and co-curricular elements incorporate the development of critical thinking and analysis, research, writing and presentation skills.  Additionally, all students are required to engage an ethics and professionalism program aimed at preparing students to enter a profession where strong ethical standards are paramount.

Students apply to the Master of Accountancy in Business: Accounting through one of the named options:

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

All students in the Business: Accounting, M.Acc. program are eligible to compete for program-level financial support in the form of teaching assistantships, scholarships and project work.  The Professional Programs Committee evaluates applications from existing students each spring for opportunities the following academic year.  

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Credit Requirement 54 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 24 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement Half of degree coursework (27 credits out of 54 total credits) must be completed graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Other Grade Requirements The Graduate School requires an average grade of B or better in all coursework (300 or above, not including research credits) taken as a graduate student unless conditions for probationary status require higher grades. Grades of Incomplete are considered to be unsatisfactory if they are not removed during the first four weeks of the following semester. Students may be required to retake a course in which they receive a grade lower than a C.
Assessments and Examinations No required assessments or examinations beyond course requirements.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

Select a Named Option for courses required.

Named Options

A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the Master of Accountancy in Business: Accounting must select one of the following named options:

Students should refer to one of the named options for policy information:

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

  1. Understand the conceptual and technical knowledge foundations of financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, business law, and auditing.
  2. Apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (and relevant assumptions, principles, and constraints) to prepare financial statements.
  3. Understand that management accounting and control systems, providing financial and nonfinancial performance information, are integral to the successful design and implementation of an organizational strategy.
  4. Interpret and validate business events and transactions through the lens of business processes and systems.
  5. Demonstrate technical competence in income taxation of individuals, partnerships, corporations, and international organizations.
  6. Identify the legal implications of their choices and how the law impacts their interactions with others in a business setting.
  7. Understand how earning trust and demonstrating integrity as successful accounting professionals impacts businesses, contracts, and capital markets, as well as society at large.
  8. Understand that leadership in the field of accounting is the consistent display and communication of respect, trust, expertise and adaptability within various business relationships and contexts.
  9. Explain how to complete an audit from beginning to end, applying auditing standards, assessing risk, and gathering evidence.
  10. Engage in effective written communication practices by crafting professional memos and reports that integrate research and analysis skills, technical information, and expert writing proficiency.
  11. Understand how accounting is a global practice requiring knowledge of national and international standards, the examination of sociocultural impacts within business contexts, and the ability to leverage the advantages that diversity brings to an organization.

For more information about the faculty and their research interests, please visit the directory.

Accreditation

AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Accreditation status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2026–2027.

The MAcc program meets the licensing requirements is most jurisdictions, though students pursuing their license in California, Texas and Colorado are required to take a board-approved accounting ethics course (reflected on their transcript).  Most graduate students complete this requirement post-graduation via an online course through a community college.  While the MAcc curriculum integrates ethics throughout the curriculum (as validated by program accreditation), ethics is not reflected on a student’s transcript. Students are strongly encouraged to seek out advising early regarding CPA qualifications as they range by state/jurisdiction.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE DISCLOSURE (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

The requirements of this program meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

The requirements of this program do not meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

California, Colorado, Texas

The requirements of this program have not been determined if they meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Not applicable

Note: 

American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are not CPA-granting jurisdictions.