This is a named option within the Business: Accounting, M.Acc.
The M.Acc. in Business: Accounting degree has an available named option in Accounting, Assurance, Advisory (AAA) which is designed to prepare students for a variety of accounting focused career opportunities. This option requires students to complete a minimum of four advanced accounting courses from a rich set of accounting electives. Students can then select from a variety of non-accounting business electives to complete the credit requirements of the degree. Students may choose a broad set of electives across different disciplines, or they may choose to pursue a deeper set of knowledge in one area (i.e., finance, risk management, analytics, etc.)
The admissions process begins during December each year for the following fall semester admission. The M.Acc. program does not require previous work experience. Students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in accounting at the School of Business and wish to earn a master of accountancy degree should consider applying to the Integrated Master of Accountancy (IMAcc) program. Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in something other than accounting, at any institution, may wish to consider applying to the Graduate Master of Accountancy (GMacc) program.
All applicants are required to have two recommendations completed via the online application system. In addition, applicants must submit a GMAT score to be considered for admission. The School of Business GMAT code is 79K-2S-23. The school does not share minimum GMAT score requirements. GRE scores will not be accepted in lieu of GMAT scores.
A Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for applicants whose native language is not English or whose full undergraduate instruction was not in English. Applicants who completed three or more years in an institution where the primary mode of instruction was English do not need to complete this requirement and may request a waiver on the application.
Students should direct the Educational Testing Service to forward their test results, taken within two years of the intended start term, to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (institution code: 1846). A minimum TOEFL score of 104 is required for consideration of admission into the program. International Financial Statements are only required of students admitted to the program.
It is not necessary to send official transcripts if applicants are unable to scan and upload transcripts to the online system. Applicants later admitted to the program will be asked to send the official transcripts.
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.
Named Option Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments. Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments. Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus. Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information. Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format. |
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 (https://registrar.wisc.edu/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 next enrolled semester. |
| Assessments and Examinations | No assessments or final examinations. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
M.Acc. students seek advanced preparation for careers in various aspects of accounting. The degree stresses in-depth study of accounting theory, auditing, taxation, information systems, applications, policy, and decision making. The program can be undertaken by students possessing an undergraduate accounting degree from UW–Madison or an undergraduate degree in a non-accounting field from any school.
The first year of the M.Acc. program emphasizes accounting and core business knowledge necessary to work in the accounting profession.
Students are encouraged to complete a paid internship during the summer between the first and second year of the program. The second year of the program is designed to build on the internship experience through in-depth study of accounting issues. The second-year curriculum for students pursuing the standard M.Acc. plan is as follows (30 total credits).
The M.Acc. program requires a minimum of 54 credits over two years.
The second year also provides students with some flexibility to promote breadth of knowledge across a number of business disciplines.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACCT I S 340 | Accounting Systems | 3 |
| ACCT I S 620 | Fundamentals of Taxation | 3 |
| ACCT I S 701 | Financial Reporting I | 3 |
| ACCT I S 710 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| Spring | ||
| ACCT I S 630 | Audit and Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT I S 702 | Financial Reporting II | 3 |
| GEN BUS 301 | Business Law | 3 |
| Business Elective | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Select a minimum of 4 from the following: | 12 | |
| Financial Statement Analysis | ||
| Corporate and Advanced Taxation | ||
| Advanced Assurance Services | ||
| Advanced Financial Reporting | ||
| Seminar in Financial Reporting Theory | ||
| Seminar in Strategic Cost Management and Performance Measurement | ||
| Contemporary Topics | ||
| Complete a minimum of four and a maximum of six elective graduate courses | 12-18 | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
No credits of graduate coursework from other institutions are allowed to satisfy requirements.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
Up to 6 credits from courses numbered 300 or above will be allowed to apply toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement. Courses numbered 700 or above will be allowed to apply toward the minimum graduate coursework requirement. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
UW–Madison University Special
No credits from the UW–Madison University Special student career are allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
The Graduate School regularly reviews the record of any student who earned grades of BC, C, D, F, or Incomplete in a graduate course (300 or above), or grade of U in research credits. This review could result in academic probation with a hold on future enrollment or in being suspended from the Graduate School.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
Every graduate student is required to have an advisor. To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, the Graduate School expects them to meet with their advisor on a regular basis.
An advisor generally serves as the thesis advisor. In many cases, an advisor is assigned to incoming students. Students can be suspended from the Graduate School if they do not have an advisor. An advisor is a faculty member, or sometimes a committee, from the major department responsible for providing advice regarding graduate studies.
A committee often accomplishes advising for the students in the early stages of their studies.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
15 credits
Time Constraints
Master’s degree students who have been absent for five or more consecutive years lose all credits that they have earned before their absence. Individual programs may count the coursework students completed prior to their absence for meeting program requirements; that coursework may not count toward Graduate School credit requirements.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances.
Other
Department-sponsored funding is available on a competitive basis to all M.Acc. students. Students must have completed one year with the department before applying for an assistantship.
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.