Prepare for a strong start as an accounting professional

The Wisconsin School of Business offers two paths to the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree, both designed to develop the technical and professional skills essential to success in the accounting profession. This degree program qualifies you to become a certified public accountant. You can also choose to pursue an emphasis in taxation. Our individualized internship program, grounding in professionalism and ethics, and active employer network position you to start the career of your choice—whether you are interested in a position in industry, government, the non-profit sector, or public accounting.

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98%

Placement rate within three months of graduation

Top 5

In the United states for CPA exam pass rates*

#4

$4 in Top MAcc Tax Programs in the United States
- TaxTalent, 2018

*2017 Candidate Performance on the Uniform CPA Examination, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

Choose Your Path to the MAcc Degree

The MAcc degree is a master’s-level program that incorporates an internship opportunity for all students. The curriculum is completed in either one or two years depending upon your background when you enter the program.

Integrated Master of Accountancy (IMAcc)

This program is designed for undergraduate students majoring in accounting at the Wisconsin School of Business. Integrated with the accounting curriculum, the IMAcc adds a fifth year of study, including a paid internship in the spring of the senior year. Students graduate with both a BBA degree in accounting and a Master of Accountancy.

Graduate Master of Accountancy (GMAcc)

The GMAcc is generally completed in two years, with a paid internship during the summer between years one and two. This program is ideal for students with little or no accounting background, and is open to students who are not currently pursuing an undergraduate accounting degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The Comprehensive Preparation and Flexibility You Need

The MAcc degree program at the Wisconsin School of Business has been carefully constructed to provide you with an effective combination of technical knowledge, professional insights, and actual industry experience through a paid internship. We combine this approach with a flexibility that makes the program accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds. The program is adaptable to those who wish to study abroad as a UW–Madison undergraduate, transfer into the IMAcc program from another institution, or arrange for other special circumstances. If you bring a commitment to an accounting career and believe the program may be a good fit, we welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Relevant, High-Impact Internships

Students in both the IMAcc program and the GMAcc program have an opportunity to complete a paid internship. By providing you with hands-on experience, the internship adds real-world insights to the knowledge you gain in the classroom. The Wisconsin MAcc degree program has ongoing relationships with preferred employers, including public accounting firms and corporations with in-house accounting functions. We use these relationships to establish connections between employers and students.

Professionalism Sets Our Students Apart

Employers value graduates who demonstrate professionalism and a well-rounded understanding of ethical issues. The Wisconsin MAcc degree program puts considerable emphasis in these areas, offering a professional development conference delivered by program alumni, and a three-week professional issues course in which IMAcc students examine relevant audit, tax, and financial reporting issues. High-profile industry speakers join students in the classroom to share their professional experiences and discuss challenges they have faced. The Accounting Department also maintains an Ethics and Professionalism program that invites regular student engagement.

People talking at an Accounting Department awards banquet

Connect with a Network of Industry Professionals

As a student in the Wisconsin MAcc degree program, you’ll have significant opportunities to interact one-on-one with industry employers and alumni. The program hosts accounting-specific receptions with leading professionals every semester, and career fairs connect you with prospective employers. Alumni and other corporate partners engage with the program on a regular basis, helping to plan and deliver co-curricular program elements such as case competitions, student organization events, symposiums, and more.

A Well-Respected Accounting Department Welcomes You

The Accounting Department provides the expertise and vision behind the MAcc degree program at the Wisconsin School of Business. Our faculty are dedicated teachers and highly regarded researchers who are advancing scholarship in the accounting discipline. In the Public Accounting Report’s 35th Annual Professors Survey (2016), our master’s and undergraduate programs ranked 14th and 13th, respectively, in the U.S. overall, while both programs ranked number one for schools with 15 or fewer full-time accounting faculty.

Accounting faculty member talking with alumnus and guest

Frequently Asked Questions