Business: Accounting MAC

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 theprogram 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.

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.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: