MBA in Professional Accounting Curriculum

Introduces the basic concepts of financial accounting beginning with the accounting cycle and ending with the statement of cash flows. Considerable emphasis is placed upon conceptual foundations, which are essential to accounting as an information system for both internal and external users. Major topics include the accounting cycle, income determination, financial reporting and the use of financial information for decision making by investors and creditors.

The goal of this course is to give students the opportunity to use various aspects of their analytical accounting skills to analyze real-world problems. It is an independent study in which teams address accounting issues and research authoritative literature to prepare suggested solutions to the issue. It is an excellent course for professionals who enter public accounting in that it helps students develop a methodology in researching the authoritative literature.

The course adds to the knowledge of future accounting and auditing professionals who have taken the prerequisite course, "Auditing," by becoming familiar with the technologies use in Accounting Information System and related IT audit methodology. The emphasis of this course is to assist students in (1) obtaining an understanding of the risks associated with key aspects of information systems including: operating systems security, databases, networks, and systems development; and the audit role of Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques (CAATTs); and (2) having a working command of ACL in performing standard attest function tests and fraud detection.

In-depth study of the theoretical and practical problems of accounting for partnerships, business combinations, and non-business organizations, including governmental fiduciaries.

*This course is online.

This course, is intended to students with the basics of the application of analytics in the (internal and external) audit process in current ubiquitous computer-based information systems and their application in organizations. The courses will be distance-based (online) but each will have 2 days of residency. A limited number of students that are not able to be physically present will be allowed to participate through virtual presence.  The course does not primarily focus on the technical aspects of analytic methods, though these topics will be discussed largely in the context of case examples: thus, the emphasis is on the usage of statistics and the interpretation of results rather than the mathematics of specific tools and techniques.

*This course is online.

Examines the principles and components governing management information systems with strong emphasis on the importance of internal control within the system. Illustrates the role of the computer in accounting and general information systems and accounting transactions processing, environment of information systems, designing new system controls, flowcharting, management, designing computer-oriented controls, systems analysis, design, implementation, and follow-up principles of systems design and standards of internal control.

This one-credit course builds upon the tax fundamentals covered in Income Taxation (22:835:603) in the area of corporate taxation. Topics covered include corporate formation, income determination, operating distributions, and liquidations.

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of selected topics and is not intended to be as comprehensive as the coverage offered in Corporate Income Taxation (22:835:605). This course is only offered to students in the MBA in Professional Accounting program who have completed Income Taxation (22:835:603).

The basic principles of fund accounting are covered, including the analysis of financial management systems applicable to local government units. This course also introduces students to major pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). An introduction to government auditing is also provided, including a review of Government Auditing Standards, promulgated by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). The Single Audit requirements for state and local governments are also covered. Coverage of accounting for not-for-profit entities is also included.

*This course is online.

Enables students to recognize and understand the impact of taxation as a major factor for both individual and business planning. Covers sources of federal tax law, the concept of income realization and recognition, timing of income recognition, timing and possibility of income tax deductions, tax accounting methods, and reporting periods.

Designed for both accounting and finance majors, this course combines a study of the theory, rationale, and objectives of corporate financial reporting with an examination of current reporting principles. The aim is to develop a realistic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of corporate financial reporting, particularly from the viewpoint of the consumer of such financial information. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and understanding of publicly available financial information, rather than on the mechanics of construction of financial statements. Nevertheless, there is still a great deal of mechanics and problem solving in this course.

Discusses many of the problems in financial accounting theory and practice. Instills an appreciation for the challenges and limitations of accounting. Prepares students for advanced study, professional examinations, and successful pursuit of accounting careers. Covers current and long-term liabilities, stockholders' equity, dilutive securities, investments, accounting for income taxes, pension costs and leases, and accounting changes and error analysis. Refers to pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Covers the problems of generating and utilizing cost data for the dual purpose of managerial control and product costing. Cost accounting principles and procedures are studied in relation to the accumulation and reporting of material, labor, and variable and fixed overhead costs. Actual, normal, and standard cost systems are examined in both a job order and process manufacturing setting. Cost control, cost planning, and cost analysis as used in assisting the managerial function are studied.

Sharpens the writing and speaking skills of MBA students so that they will be more effective communicators. Assignments progress from simple to increasingly complex reports and include abstracts, case analyses, statistical analyses, and library research. Class time is taken up with instruction on organizing written reports, analysis of samples of students' writing, and oral presentations by students.

Introduces the legal system and the way in which the law interacts with the accountant's function. Provides a basic understanding of the principles of law most commonly related to the practice of accountancy. Stimulates an awareness of the law as an expression of basic social, political, and economic forces. Covers the law in relation to contracts, agencies, and sales of goods.

*This course is online. 

Completes the academic requirements necessary to sit for the commercial law part of the CPA exam. Covers the law in relation to commercial paper, secured transactions, business organizations, and government regulation.

*This course is online.

Interpretation and in-depth analysis of reported financial data. The role of taxes and tax disclosures will be included in the class discussions. Some aspects of valuation will be discussed. Issues include reported numbers making sense; reporting choices made by the preparer/firm when other choices under GAAP are available; strategy of firms in their choice of financial information disclosures; comparison of financial information within and across industries; projection of key information variables like earnings or cash flows into the future; financial reporting information used to gauge the riskiness of firms; prediction of the probability of bankruptcy using financial data.

The objective of this course is to expose students to a broad range of ethical issues that they can expect to encounter as accounting professionals. A major priority of the course is to equip students to make thoughtful and effective arguments as to how to deal with business issues as to which there is no obvious, clear answer, and in which ethical, social, or political concerns are present. Students will learn to recognize and handle with confidence the ethical aspects of auditing (assurance), taxation and municipal accounting. This course examines the ethical issues facing policymakers and administrators, including deception and disclosure, client privacy corruption, and transparency in financial reporting.

*This course is online.

Provides a general survey of the field, including the basic principles of corporate finance, financial markets and institutions, and investment theory. Corporate finance topics covered include the objective of financial management, valuation of assets and associated problems in the valuation of the firm, acquisition of longtrimester assets (capital budgeting), management of short-trimester assets, capital structure, and financial statement analysis. Financial markets and institutions studied include money markets, stock and bond markets, derivatives, and the banking system. Investment analysis topics include portfolio theory and asset pricing models.

Information Technology in the Digital Era is a survey of the use and management of information technology in accounting and business. Students will acquire a basic familiarity with information technology, including database technology, telecommunications, the Internet, usage of technology in the accounting profession, basics of risk management, and applications to marketing. They will also study the dynamics of the information technology industry.

Exposes students to numerous challenges a firm faces as it attempts to internationalize its operations. At course end, student is expected to have a better understanding of the micro factors that make management of international businesses distinct from domestic businesses. The topics include entry strategies, site selection, world trade organization, and ethics in international business.

Introduces the aspects of economics that are most relevant to the operation of the individual firm or nonprofit organization. Covers theory of individual economic behavior, demand theory and demand estimation, cost and supply, price determination, production decisions, and industry structure.

The purpose of the course is to offer an understanding of the nature and role of marketing in the firm and in the society. Students will gain knowledge regarding the marketing decisions of price, place, promotion, product, develop an understanding of consumer behavior, market research, social and cultural factors affecting marketing. The course will expose students to a series of marketing principals, frameworks, and analyses. These techniques will be applied to a series of case studies to reinforce the concepts. At the end of the course the students should be able to develop effective marketing plans for products and services.

Covers fundamentals of performance analysis for various operational issues encountered in real life supply chain processes. The major topics include demand forecasting techniques, sales and operations planning (SOP), mathematical programming applications and spreadsheet solutions, supply chain inventory planning, uncertainty, and safety stock management, project resource allocation and risk analysis, network design and facility location selections, and computer simulation and quality management. Harvard Business Cases on developing cost-effective solutions for continuous improvement of a company's operational efficiency and strategic position in today's highly dynamic and competitive marketplace are used. The objective of the course is to help our students to develop analytical thinking skills and to build the knowledge of business performance optimization toward operational excellence of supply chains.

Explores human dynamics by examining the role of management and learning styles in the effective functioning of organizations.Topics include personality types, motivation, cognition and learning, communication, team development, and leadership. Through class discussions, case analyses, simulations, and group projects, students learn critical managerial skills such as communication, decision making, conflict resolution, and team building.

Discusses skills and concepts needed to manage an organization to compete effectively in its environment. Provides tools for identifying environmental opportunities and threats and organizational strengths and weaknesses. Serves as a basis for the inter-functional management team consulting project.

This course consists of two parts: methodology and practice. The first part of the course is intended to develop students’ understanding of statistical inference. Students will learn how to apply some basic statistical models to the business problems, how to interpret the results, and troubleshoot important analytical issues. The second part of the course covers some specialized business analytical techniques such as visualization, neural networks and continuity equations. This part of the course also discusses the impact of Big Data on business systems and decision making.

*This course is online.