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 (MAcc) 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 and analytical skills, this program will focus on overall professional development. Students will gain experience in public speaking and further develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, research, and writing.
All students are required to engage in an ethics and professionalism program aimed at preparing students to enter a profession where strong ethical standards are paramount.
Admissions
Students apply to the Master of Accountancy in Business: Accounting through one of the named options:
Funding
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, MAcc 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 | 27 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | 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:
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the conceptual and technical knowledge foundations of financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, business law, and auditing.
- Apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (and relevant assumptions, principles, and constraints) to prepare financial statements.
- 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.
- Interpret and validate business events and transactions through the lens of business processes and systems.
- Demonstrate technical competence in income taxation of individuals, partnerships, corporations, and international organizations.
- Identify the legal implications of their choices and how the law impacts their interactions with others in a business setting.
- Understand how earning trust and demonstrating integrity as successful accounting professionals impacts businesses, contracts, and capital markets, as well as society at large.
- 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.
- Explain how to complete an audit from beginning to end, applying auditing standards, assessing risk, and gathering evidence.
- Engage in effective written communication practices by crafting professional memos and reports that integrate research and analysis skills, technical information, and expert writing proficiency.
- 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.
People
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.
Certification/Licensure
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 (via 34 CFR Part 668) requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure. The expectation is that institutions will determine whether each applicable academic program meets state professional licensure requirements and provide a general disclosure of such on an official university website.
Professional licensure requirements vary from state-to-state and can change year-to-year; they are established in a variety of state statutes, regulations, rules, and policies; and they center on a range of educational requirements, including degree type, specialized accreditation, total credits, specific courses, and examinations.
UW-Madison has taken reasonable efforts to determine whether this program satisfies the educational requirements for certification/licensure in states where prospective and enrolled students are located and is disclosing that information as follows.
Disclaimer: This information is based on the most recent annual review of state agency certification/licensure data and is subject to change. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with the individual/office listed in the Contact Information box on this page and with the applicable state agency for specific information.
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
Note: American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are not CPA-granting jurisdictions.
Updated: 1 June