
Chairperson: Dr. Michael Akers, Ph.D.
business.marquette.edu/academics/msa
Degree Offered
Master of Science in Accounting, Plan B Non-Thesis option only.
Program Description
The master of science in accounting (M.S.A.) program is designed to provide students with the broad range of skills that successful accounting professionals need in today's complex and changing business environment. Courses emphasize technical knowledge in the functional areas of accounting, stress communication skills and promote awareness of the accountant's ethical and social responsibilities. The M.S.A. program meets the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) requirement for individual membership in that organization, and eligibility to take the CPA examination. The M.S.A. program is accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB-International) and reflects the high standards and expectations of that accreditation.
Prerequisites for Admission
Admission to the M.S.A. program requires: a) a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting or equivalent undergraduate course work; b) an acceptable record of academic achievement at the bachelor's level and in any previous graduate course work; c) acceptable scores on required admission tests; and d) an overall composite profile of admission data (including an evaluation of previous work experience) that predicts success in the program.
Application Requirements
Students may apply for Regular Degree, Temporary Non-degree or Non-degree status. It is recommended that students apply for Regular Degree Status when possible. The application is online via our website at marquette.edu/gsm. Then click on Apply Now.
- A completed application form and fee.
- Essay questions on the application form.
- Official transcripts from all current and previous colleges/universities except Marquette.
- Official test scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
- Resume or job profile.
- (For international applicants or applicants applying for Graduate School financial aid, i.e. assistantship positions) three letters of recommendation.
- (For international applicants only) an official TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
Note: Temporary non-degree applicants (admission valid for one term only) must submit all of the above, except the GMAT scores. Temporary non-degree status is not available to international students. International applicants must apply for regular degree admission status.
Students are encouraged to complete all application materials and apply for degree status. Temporary non-degree status is valid for one semester only. Temporary non-degree status students are not eligible to continue taking M.S.A. classes beyond one semester without degree admissions. Typically, non-degree admission is not recommended in the M.S.A. program.
All application material should be sent to:
Graduate School of Management
David A. Straz, Jr., Hall Executive Center, Suite 275
Marquette University
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881


Accounting
The M.S.A. program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours: 18 hours of accounting courses (nine hours required and 9-12 hours of electives) and 9-12 hours of non-accounting courses.
The course work involves six functional areas of accounting: financial, managerial, taxation, systems, auditing and governmental/not-for-profit.
Accounting Required course work
ACCO 6511 | Taxation of Corporations and Partnerships | 3 |
ACCO 6520 | Advanced Corporate Issues | 3 |
ACCO 6570 | Auditing: Ethical, Legal, Professional and Reporting Responsibilities | 3 |
or ACCO 6535 | Fraud Examination | |
Total Credit Hours | 9 |
Accounting Elective course work (9-12 credit hours required)
ACCO 5040 | International Accounting | 3 |
or ACCO 6040 | International Accounting | |
ACCO 5045 | International Taxation | 3 |
or ACCO 6045 | International Taxation | |
ACCO 5050 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
or ACCO 5050 | Accounting Information Systems | |
ACCO 5080 | Analysis of Corporate Financial Statements | 3 |
or ACCO 5080 | Analysis of Corporate Financial Statements | |
ACCO 5119 | Tax Research | 3 |
or ACCO 6119 | Tax Research | |
ACCO 5931 | Topics in Accounting | 1-3 |
or ACCO 6931 | Topics in Accounting | |
ACCO 6512 | State and Local Taxation | 3 |
ACCO 6525 | Governmental Accounting | 3 |
ACCO 6530 | Advanced Cost Management | 3 |
ACCO 6535 | Fraud Examination | 3 |
ACCO 6590 | Accounting Theory | 3 |
ACCO 6953 | Seminar in Accounting: | 2-3 |
Business Elective course work (9-12 credit hours required)
Select from other graduate-level business/GSM courses or, with the permission of the program director, other graduate-level non-business courses excluding:
ACCO 6000 | Accounting Foundations | 2 |
ECON 6000 | Economics Foundations | 2 |
MANA 6000 | Mathematics Foundations | 2 |
MANA 6001 | Statistics Foundations | 2 |
ACCO 6100 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
ACCO 6180 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
BULA 6110 | Legal Issues in Business and Technology | 3 |
MANA 6170 | Global Environment of Business | 3 |
Bachelor's-Master's Program
This five-year program allows students to earn both their master of science in accounting (M.S.A.) and an undergraduate degree from the College of Business Administration. Undergraduate students begin their graduate work in their senior year by taking two graduate level courses.
These graduate courses double-count toward the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Should a student be denied admission to the M.S.A. program, the courses will be counted toward the undergraduate degree only. A minimum grade of "B" is required for courses taken as a undergraduate student for graduate credit to apply toward graduate program requirements. Upon completion of the first term as a master's candidate, the student must petition the appropriate Graduate School of Management program director to transfer the courses taken as an undergraduate to the master's degree.
To be considered for admission to the five-year program, applicants must formally apply to the Graduate School of Management during their senior year at Marquette University, complete all of the application requirements as listed above and indicate on their application that they are applying for the five-year program. For information, contact the Accounting Department at (414) 288-7340, or send an e-mail to james.trebby@marquette.edu.
On this page
- Degree Offered
- Program Description
- Prerequisites for Admission
- Application Requirements
- Accounting
- Bachelor's-Master's Program
- Courses
Graduate School of Management
- Admission and Readmission
- Academic Calendar
- Academic Regulations
- Student Resources and Facilities
- Student Financial Aid
- Tuition Fees and Housing
- Degree/Certificate Programs
- Faculty and Administrators