Program Overview

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Introduction to the Graduate School of Management

The Graduate School of Management at Marquette University offers a range of programs designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to succeed in today's fast-paced business environment. With a strong focus on academic excellence and the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, the school provides an immersive business education that prepares students for leadership roles in various industries.

Undergraduate Programs

The school offers several undergraduate programs, including:

• Majors in various business disciplines
• Minors to complement major courses of study
• Current Student Resources for support and guidance
• Advising Central for academic advising
• Student Organizations for professional development and networking

Graduate School of Management Programs

The Graduate School of Management offers the following programs:

• MBA | Executive MBA for working professionals
• MS Accounting & Accounting Analytics for careers in public accounting, audit, or tax
• MS Applied Economics for careers in government, non-profit, or private sectors
• MA Corporate Communication for careers in corporate communication, public relations, or human resources
• MS Finance for careers in investment banking, corporate finance, or financial management
• Master in Management for careers in management, consulting, or entrepreneurship
• Current Students resources for support and guidance

Business from Day One

The school's approach to business education emphasizes real-world experience and innovative curriculum design. Students are immersed in a business education that combines academic excellence with practical skills, preparing them for careers in various industries.

Real-World Experience

The school's applied programs provide students with opportunities to develop real-world skills and gain practical experience in their chosen field. This approach enables students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems, making them more competitive in the job market.

Departments

The school is organized into several departments, each with its own area of specialization:

• Accounting
• Management and Human Resources
• Economics
• International Business
• Finance
• Marketing
• Supply Chain and Systems Intelligence

Accounting Department

The Accounting Department offers programs in:

• Accounting Major
• MS in Accounting
• MS in Accounting Analytics
• Accounting Faculty Directory

Management and Human Resources Department

The Management and Human Resources Department offers programs in:

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Human Resources

Economics Department

The Economics Department offers programs in:

• Business Econ Major Course Requirements
• BA Econ Major Course Requirements
• Business Analytics Major
• Minor Course Requirements

International Business Department

The International Business Department offers programs in:

• International Business Major
• Study Abroad
• International Business Faculty

Finance Department

The Finance Department offers programs in:

• Finance Major
• Real Estate Major
• Finance Faculty Directory
• Career Resources & Networking Events

Marketing Department

The Marketing Department offers programs in:

• Major Course Requirements
• Marketing Faculty Directory
• Minor Course Requirements
• Center for Professional Selling

Supply Chain and Systems Intelligence Department

The Supply Chain and Systems Intelligence Department offers programs in:

• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Business Analytics
• Information Systems
• Artificial Intelligence

Career Center

The Career Center provides resources and support for students, including:

• Exploring majors and careers
• Cover letters, resumes & other documents
• Building a network
• Job & internship search strategies
• Interviews and offers
• Internship for academic credit

Centers/Programs

The school has several centers and programs that provide additional resources and opportunities for students, including:

• Center for Applied Economics
• AIM
• Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership
• Commercial Banking Program
• Center for Supply Chain Management
• Center for Professional Selling
• Executive Education
• Sustainability Lab
• Artificial Intelligence
• Insurance Leadership

Faculty

The school's faculty are experienced professionals and scholars who provide guidance and support to students. The faculty directory is available online, and students can also access the Dean's Office Directory and Faculty Experts for Media.

MS in Accounting Program

The MS in Accounting program is designed to provide students with the technical expertise to become a Certified Public Accountant and experiences to obtain a position with a professional services firm or well-recognized corporation.

Nationally Ranked

The program is ranked #15 in Best Accounting Programs by U.S. News & World Report, Best Graduate Programs, 2025.

Making a Difference

Graduate accounting students pursue justice for fraud victims, and the program provides opportunities for graduate assistant positions to work with the accounting faculty.

Program Details

• Credits minimum: 30
• Months to complete: 12
• 5-year program available

A Marquette MSA Provides

• Opportunities to complete coursework with business professionals from the MBA program
• Advanced financial accounting knowledge about corporations and not-for-profits
• An understanding of fraudulent schemes and fraud examinations or advanced auditing topics
• The 150-hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam in most states
• Knowledge of taxation for corporations

Curriculum

The MSA degree is typically a one calendar year (summer, fall and spring terms) graduate program for students who have earned an undergraduate business degree with a major, or equivalent, in accounting from an accredited school in the United States.

Required Core

• ACCO 6511 - Taxation - Corporations, Partnerships (3 credits)
• ACCO 6520 - Advanced Corporate Issues
• ACCO 6535 - Fraud Examination Analytics OR ACCO 6065 - Advanced Auditing and Analytics

Elective Business Courses (6-9 credit hours required)

Select 6-9 credits from other graduate level business courses, or with the written permission of the accounting program director, other graduate program, non-business courses, EXCLUDING ACCO 6200, ACCO 6180 and MANA 6170.

Accounting Elective Courses (12-15 credit hours required)

• ACCO 5040/6040 - International Accounting
• ACCO 5045/6045 - International Taxation
• ACCO 5080/6080 - Analysis of Corporate Financial Statements
• ACCO 5119/6119 - Tax Research Seminar
• ACCO 5050/6050 - Accounting Information Systems
• ACCO 6525 - Government and Nonprofit Accounting and Analytics
• ACCO 6535 - Fraud Examination and Analytics
• ACCO 6065 - Advanced Auditing and Analytics
• ACCO 6931 - Topics in Accounting
• ACCO 6935 - Seminar in Accounting

Application Details

• This program has rolling admission
• Summer 2025 May 5
• Fall 2025 August 14
• International students should apply by the following deadlines due to the need to allow enough time to secure proper visa requirements.
• Fall semester May 1
• Spring semester October 1

Application Requirements

• A completed or nearly-completed baccalaureate degree in accounting (or equivalent accounting course work which is typically 24 hours of U.S. GAAP based accounting courses)
• A completed online application form and $50 fee, waived if you attend an online info session
• Official transcripts from all current and previous colleges except Marquette
• Minimum 2.750 GPA
• For applicants with a GPA below 3.000, official test scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Exam (GRE)
• Essay questions on the application form
• Resume or job profile
• Two letters of recommendation if applying for financial aid
• Possible interview

Additional Requirements for International Students

• GMAT or GRE test score if the applicant's undergraduate institution is not AACSB accredited
• Official TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency
• Two letters of recommendation
• Possible interview
• Transcript evaluated by a transcript evaluation service

Tuition and Financial Aid

• Tuition: $1,400 per credit
• For a comprehensive listing of merit-based aid (graduate assistantships/fellowships), visit the financial aid webpage
• Private scholarships may also be available
• U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for need-based federal aid (loans) to help fund their educational expenses

Learning Outcomes

The following are the current learning outcomes for the Master of Science in Accounting:

• Apply critical thinking to accounting issues
• Demonstrate Effective Written Business Communication
• Demonstrate effective Verbal Communication skills for Business
• Apply professional knowledge skills of accounting
• Apply ethical reasoning to accounting/business issues
• Analyze the international environment

Measurable Learning Outcomes

For each goal, the following are the measurable learning outcomes that are assessed on a regular cycle for assurance of learning:

• For the goal --- Apply critical thinking to accounting issues:
  • Identify the critical elements of an accounting problem/issue
  • Analyze the data/information of the accounting problem/issue
  • Derive relevant conclusions about the accounting problem/issue
• For the goal --- Demonstrate Effective Written Business Communication:
  • Organize the correct information for an accounting/business report
  • Develop the appropriate content for an accounting/business report
  • Use appropriate writing mechanics
• For the goal --- Demonstrate effective Verbal Communication skills for Business:
  • Communicate effectively with business professionals
  • Deliver an organized accounting/business presentation
  • Speak in an organized manner on an accounting/business topic
• For the goal --- Apply professional knowledge skills of accounting:
  • Demonstrate competence in fundamental skills in financial accounting
  • Demonstrate competence in fundamental skills in income tax accounting
  • Demonstrate competence in fundamental skills in auditing
  • Demonstrate competence in government accounting
• For the goal --- Apply ethical reasoning to accounting/business issues:
  • Identify ethical issues in accounting/business context
  • Critically apply ethical reasoning to an accounting/business situation
  • Choose an appropriate course of action based on ethical standards
  • Evaluate multiple stakeholders' perspective in the accounting/business situation
• For the goal --- Analyze the international environment:
  • Identify international accounting standards essential to the preparation of international accounting reports
  • Differentiate US accounting, auditing and tax standards and international accounting, auditing and tax standards

FAQs

• What is the 150 credit rule?
• Can I attend the MSA program on a part-time basis?
• How long will it take?
• Are there any graduate assistant positions available?
• What type of job can I get when I graduate?
• My undergraduate degree was not in accounting. Can I still participate in the MSA program?
• Will I have an advisor?