Accounting Major
The program in accounting offers the bachelor of science degree in accounting. Majors
receive an excellent foundation for seeking professional certification as a Certified
Public Accountant (C.P.A.) or Certified Management Accountant (C.M.A.). The accounting curriculum
prepares students for careers in public accounting, government, industry, or finance.
The curriculum includes an array of introductory, intermediate, and advanced accounting
topics integrated with courses in business and other supporting fields.
Many accounting majors use their free electives to complete a second major in business
administration, complete professional internships with one of the numerous public
accounting firms or corporations in the area, or study abroad. Working diligently
with department faculty serving as their academic advisor, all three of these
enhancements to a typical college experience can be accomplished without delaying
graduation.
Accounting Course Selection Recommendations Packet This is a four-page "Getting Started" packet that includes program degree requirements, general education requirements, suggested courses for first semester freshmen, and suggested course sequencing. A valuable tool to assist those interested in majoring in accounting.
Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science with a major in accounting
Foundation courses:
ACT 161 Financial Accounting| Basic concepts of accounting including: accounting for business transactions, preparation and use of financial statements, and measurement of owners' equity. 3 credits. |
| Cost-volume-profit relationships, cost analysis, business segment contribution, profit planning and budgeting as a basis for managerial decision making. Prerequisite: ACT 161 with a minimum grade of C- or better. 3 credits. |
| The course focuses on understanding the composition of modern business organizations with respect to the value chain they are a part of, relationships with other organizations in the value chain, and the functions and processes organizations use to create and deliver value to customers, stakeholders, and society. The course includes an introduction to key business communication software. Prerequisites: freshman or sophomore standing only or by permission. 3 credits. |
| An extensive introduction to spreadsheet, database, and Internet applications software as used in business. Through hands-on classroom instruction, computer-aided learning, and course project assignments, students learn the use of the major analytical software packages that are commonly used in business. The class teaches the basic principles of using this software to solve problems and to enhance critical thinking skills. 3 credits. |
| The course examines how individuals and firms make choices within the institution of free-market capitalism. Individuals decide how much of their time to spend working and what to buy with the earnings of their labor. Firms decide how much to produce and in some cases what price to charge for their goods. Together these choices determine what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced in our economic system. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits. |
| This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variables of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits. |
One of the following:
MAS 111 Analysis I| A calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 4 (Mathematics). 4 credits. |
| Introduction to mathematical techniques used in quantitative analysis in business and economics. Topics include sets, linear relations, matrices, linear programming, probability and interest. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 4 (Mathematics). 3 credits. |
| A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 4 (Mathematics). 3 credits. |
One of the following:
MAS 170 Elementary Statistics| An introduction to elementary descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 4 (Mathematics). A student may not receive credit for MAS 170 after completing MAS 372. A student may not receive credit for both MAS 170 and MAS 270. 3 credits. |
| A more advanced version of MAS 170 intended for students with some calculus background. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 4 (Mathematics). A student may not receive credit for both MAS 170 and MAS 270. 3 credits. |
| An introduction to the mathematical foundations of statistics including sampling distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, linear models and multivariate distributions. Prerequisite: MAS 371. 3 credits. |
Core courses:
ACT 251 Intermediate Accounting I| Study of the theory and development of generally accepted accounting principles as they relate to financial reporting; the application of these principles to the preparation of financial statements; special emphasis on revenue recognition as well as valuation, classification and disclosure of current assets. Prerequisite: ACT 162. 3 credits. |
| Study of the application of accounting principles for noncurrent assets, long-term liabilities and stockholder's equity, including analysis of financial statements. Prerequisite: ACT 251 with a minimum grade of C- or better. 3 credits. |
| A study of the principles of management and leadership as they apply to the effective and efficient operation of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations regardless of their size. Emphasizes the organization's structure, leadership, interpersonal relationships, managerial functions, and methods for assessment and control. Prerequisite: BUS 130 or MBS 371 (or concurrent registration in MBS 371), or, for returning adult, degree completion students, and health care management students, significant work experience. Accounting, business administration, and health care management majors need a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater in all foundation courses completed to date. 3 credits. |
| The development of writing, speaking, and listening skills for business management. Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisite: ENG 111 and 112. Majors in accounting, business administration, and health care management need a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater in all foundation courses completed to date. 3 credits. |
| An overview of marketing from the management perspective. Topics include marketing strategies, marketing research, consumer behavior, selecting target markets, developing, pricing, distributing and promoting products and services and non-profit marketing. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission. 3 credits. |
| A study of financial management covering analysis of asset, liability and capital relationships and operations; management of current assets and working capital; capital planning and budgeting; capital structure and dividend policy; short and intermediate term financing; internal and external long term financing; and other financial topics. Prerequisites: ACT 162; ECN 101,102. 3 credits. |
| Elementary principles of law relating to the field of business. The course covers contracts, government regulation of business, consumer protection, bankruptcy, personal property, real estate, bailments, insurance and estates. 3 credits. |
| Examines data sources and the role of information in management planning, operations and control in various types of business environments. Treats information as a key organization resource parallel to people, money, materials and technology. Prerequisite: BUS 130, ACT 162 3 credits. |
| A capstone course to study administrative processes under conditions of uncertainty, integrating prior studies in management, accounting and economics. Uses case method and computer simulation. Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisite: BUS 130, 340, 361 and senior standing. Designed for last semester seniors. Course requires business casual or business professional dress at all class sessions. Underclassmen admitted with permission of instructor and Chair. 3 credits. |
One of the following:
ACT 353 Cost Accounting| Analysis and use of techniques for cost management and control; the accumulation and recording of the costs including job-order, process and standard cost systems, joint and by-product costing; contemporary topics such as activity based costing and just-in-time manufacturing. Prerequisite: ACT 162. 3 credits. |
| A study of the process of evaluation of internal controls and interpretation of financial information to permit an auditor to express a professional opinion on financial reports. Prerequisite: ACT 252. 3 credits. |
Two additional ACT courses (not to include ACT 400)