Accountancy Degree Plan

Study of financial reporting concepts and preparation of general-purpose financial statements for external users based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Emphasis on income measurement and valuation of assets.

Continuation of ACCT 500. Covers more advanced financial reporting topics, with a continued focus on preparation of general-purpose financial statements for external users based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Emphasis on measurement and reporting of liabilities and stockholders’ equity.

Introduction to financial statement audits, which provide the credibility necessary for the financial markets to operate. Topics include professional standards, SEC requirements for auditors in planning, evidence gathering and accumulation, and reporting. Ethical and legal considerations are also discussed.

Development and use of cost information for strategic cost management. Common costing methods, variance analysis, lean accounting, and responsibility accounting. Emphasizes how costs affect managers’ decisions. Applies course topics to more realistic and less structured situations. Ethical and strategic aspects of cost accounting.

Theory and practice of federal income taxation, including concepts of taxation as they apply to businesses, individuals, flow-through entities and corporations. Specific topics include property transactions, individual tax rules, business revenue and expense issues, and state taxation. Emphasizes the social, political and ethical considerations of tax law.

The study of how organizations and accountants design, use, and control systems that provide decision-relevant information to meet their needs. Topics include modeling business processes and relevant databases, analytics in accounting, risk management and internal controls, and information security. Students complete projects using database and analytics tools along with enterprise-level accounting software.

In-depth study of auditing from an external auditor’s perspective. Topics include substantive testing, evidence, planning, reporting, documentation, and case studies. The course includes a major project in external auditing.

A critical analysis of the concepts and premises underlying financial reporting practices. Coverage includes the conceptual framework, current accounting standards and their origins, and other current topics in financial reporting.

Tax considerations in corporate formations, operations, distributions, redemptions, reorganizations, and liquidations. Includes a study of S corporations and an overview of financial accounting for income taxes.

Advanced coverage of data analytics techniques and software, with a focus on data sources and decision making relevant to a variety of accounting and financial topics.

Introduction to forensic accounting, with an emphasis on fraud auditing. Examines professional standards, licensure requirements, engagement planning, evidence collection, as well as reporting and other professional requirements. Includes the unique role of the forensic accountant as a litigation support specialist and related legal and ethical considerations.

Accounting for business combinations, including consolidated financial statements, and governmental accounting.

Apply frameworks for ethical reasoning, moral principles, and professional values to various scenarios. Examine the consequences of ethical and unethical action or inaction. Recognize, interpret, and react to ethical decision situations, and identify relevant stakeholders in such situations. Discussion of contexts specific to the accounting profession and the broader business environment, including the rules and regulations promulgated by national regulatory agencies, professional accounting organizations, and state boards of accountancy.

Advanced applications of managerial accounting information for strategic management decisions. Coverage includes specialized tools for planning, operating and control decisions such as strategic cost management, strategic performance measurement and incentive systems, and activity- and resource-based costing. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and use of state of the art managerial accounting techniques.

Study of the theory and practice of financial statement analysis and business valuation. Methods of fundamental analysis and business valuation are examined and applied in problems, cases and projects.

Contemporary accounting practices of the major national economies. Includes directives of the European Community affecting financial reporting and pronouncements and activities of the International Accounting Standards Board.

Instruction in all aspects of tax research including legislative, administrative and judicial sources; major tax services, and Internet-based tax research libraries. While the majority of the course focuses on tax research, the course also includes instruction in ethical issues in tax practice and instruction in financial accounting research resources, including the FASB Codification.

Overview of tax issues affecting nonprofits. Topics include: qualifying for and maintaining federal tax-exempt status, the unrelated business income tax, private foundations, and charitable deductions.

Focuses on the financial reporting (U.S. GAAP) related to income tax provisions under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 (ASC 740). Prepares students to calculate and report income tax amounts related to the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, income tax footnote, and related disclosures.

Multinational tax law for domestic corporations with operations abroad and nonresident citizens.

The course focuses on the tools to help individuals reach their personal financial goals. There will be five main areas of emphasis: investments, insurance coverage/asset protection, income tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning. The areas will be covered in the personal finance framework.

To earn graduate credit you must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA and no more than 12 credits may be applied toward a graduate degree or second undergraduate degree. Some graduate programs, however, accept only 3 internships credits. Practicum/Internship cannot be repeated improve a grade. Either graded or pass/fail. Notes: An undergraduate internship is an entry level employment experience related to the discipline. The graduate intern already has an undergraduate degree and is expected to perform with a higher level of responsibility, decision-making authority, and accomplishment.