Master of Accounting Curriculum


You can complete your accounting master’s degree in two or three semesters with a minimum of 33 credits of required courses and graduate-level electives.

33 credits; 16.5 core credits, 16.5 elective credits

Core coursework includes:

  • Business Analysis Using Financial Statements
  • Advanced Business Analysis Using Financial Statements
  • Professional Business Communication
  • Auditing
  • Financial Accounting III – Advanced Accounting
  • Taxation of Business Entities
  • Accounting Policy & Research

Electives include, but are not limited to:

  • Taxation of Individuals
  • International Taxation
  • Strategic Cost Analysis
  • Introduction to Python & Data Science
  • Financial Reporting & Assurance in a Blockchain World
  • Managerial Control Systems
  • Fraud Prevention & Internal Controls

Experiential learning requirement: Choose one of the following electives below to apply your classroom knowledge to real-world business practice. Olin’s Center for Experiential Learning and the Wells Fargo Advisors Center for Finance  and Accounting Research facilitate collaboration with faculty and consulting projects.

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
  • Taylor Community Consulting Projects
  • Internship, Business & Application
  • CEL Practicum
  • Earning a Certified Public Accountant License (CPA)

    The CPA certification distinguishes you from other accounting professionals and may afford you more opportunity and financial rewards at an earlier stage in your career. WashU Olin's Master of Accounting program fulfills the education requirements for most states (see below) to sit for a Uniform CPA Exam; however, state laws for licensure and certification vary.

  • Disclosure on Educational Requirements

    Olin MACC students who took the CPA Exam for the first time in 2019 had a 78.4% pass rate. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy will publish updated pass rates in 2025.

    Per U.S. Federal Regulations, Washington University’s Olin Business School (WashU Olin) provides the following disclosure related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification. WashU Olin is an AACSB-accredited business school, and a Master of Accounting meets the accounting educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the CPA examination in the following states and jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

    This disclosure does not guarantee that any particular state licensure or certification entity will approve or deny your application. Furthermore, this disclosure does not account for changes in state laws or regulations that occur after matriculation to the Master of Accounting program that may impact your application. Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.

    Learn more on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website.

    Additionally, the American Institute of CPAs’ This Way to CPA provides details and contact information for state and territory requirements.

Olin emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings through internships, case competitions and consulting projects.

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Yuan Wang

Master of Accounting

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Olin Business School - Knight Hall
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

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