Accountancy
The B.S. in Accountancy gives students the accounting foundation needed for effective decision-making in an organization. Today’s accountants must be able to communicate, synthesize, and innovate. They not only provide the information upon which the business world depends, but also make crucial decisions and act as trusted advisors. The Accountancy major builds upon the foundations learned through completion of the general education (Ethos) curriculum as it helps students develop the business and accounting competency needed for success in the field. Students planning to work in the accounting field will receive the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue the CMA and CFM professional designations and be prepared for the fifth year of study for the CPA.
Recent graduates have earned positions in local, regional, and Big 4 accounting firms, and served in audit assurance, as cost accountants, equity senior fund accountants, and financial advisors. Students who earn the B.S. in Accountancy will have satisfied the following student learning outcomes.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of general business concepts (including finance, marketing, accounting, economics, management, and information systems) by creatively and critically solving complex problems in a dynamic global environment.
- Students will demonstrate the capacity to be ethical leaders who engage in innovative, sustainable business and social enterprises.
- Students will conduct research, analyze data, and communicate results in a professional manner, using appropriate technology.
- Students will show an enhanced ability to work in teams within diverse environments.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the technical knowledge of accounting and tax and apply that knowledge to the preparation and assessment of appropriate data and reports.
To declare a major in Accountancy, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Have an overall GPA of 2.50/4.00 or better or permission of program faculty;
- Complete MGMT 2200, ACCT 2211, and ECON 2200 with a grade of “C-” or better;
- Normally, a student desiring to major in Accountancy will complete ACCT 2211 with a grade of “B” or better.
To remain a major in Accountancy in good standing, the student must meet complete all other major requirements with a grade of “C-” or better and maintain an overall and major GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.
If a student's major or overall college GPA falls below a 2.5, the advisor will work closely with the student to help develop strategies to raise performance to the expected level.
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
B.S. in Accountancy Minor in AccountancyCourses
This is a foundation-level accounting course that introduces the terminology, principles, and practices of financial accounting for corporations. The course’s major focus is the accounting cycle and preparation of financial statements. Note: students should complete MATH 1101 before registering for this course.
The course covers the uses of accounting for planning and control, including analysis and interpretation of data, and use of cost information for business policy implementation.
(1-6 Hours) An opportunity for students to gain added early applied experience and insight in approved off-campus settings. Internships consist of at least 40 working hours per credit hour in areas related to the discipline. Assignments may include selected readings, public presentation, and a final portfolio containing essays, weekly journal, and supporting material. Advisors, program coordinators, department chairs, and the internship coordinator (or designee) must approve the internship before a student begins their work. Internships will be taken as pass/no credit.
This course focuses on the decision-making implications of information provided to external stakeholders, including investors, creditors, customers, and regulators, and regulation theory and practice as applied to accountancy. Topics include regulation of accountancy procedures for external reporting, current problems in reporting financial position, income determination, and an integration of current professional pronouncements.
Continuation of Intermediate Financial Accounting I.
This course involves an exploration of ethics and professional behavior for accountants involved in various fields of practice, including auditing. Topics included in the study of ethics for the discipline include reasoning, decision-making, corporate governance, leadership, professional judgment, fraud, and earnings management.
This course focuses on the legal and ethical environment in which the accounting professional practices and in which financial statements are prepared and presented. Students will consider the conflict between profit motive and accurate and complete financial reporting, examining the participation in the financial reporting process by internal accountants, internal auditors, other business managers, and the independent auditors engaged to attest to the accuracy and completeness of management's financial statements. These conflicts will be discussed in relation to the business's responsibility to employees, investors, and other stakeholders. Traditional auditing practices will also be studied to determine the efficiency and the effectiveness of such methods.
This course introduces students to U.S. federal income tax concepts and principles and the application of such concepts to business operating, investing, and financing activities. Ethical and legal issues confronting tax practitioners are discussed throughout the course. Students engage in tax research utilizing professional databases and gain expertise in technical writing.
This course focuses on the decision-making implications of information provided to organization managers. Concepts from economics, statistics, and psychological science emphasize the use of quantitative techniques to manage uncertainty and risk. Topics include planning and control techniques, construction of static and flexible budgeting, and product costing mechanisms.
This course examines federal income taxation and addresses primarily taxation of individuals. This course incorporates IRS training modules and requires participation in the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).
This is an intensive course that integrates the disciplines of accounting, finance, and taxation with respect to selected complex business transactions. Topics will include business combinations, goodwill, inventory costing, property exchanges and advanced stockholders’ equity transactions.
This course is an introduction to the systems, procedures, and processes that management employs to control operating activities and information reporting systems.
In this course, students will perform accounting research using a variety of professional sources. Students will also use Excel to analyze public company financial data and conduct financial analysis.
A series of “special topic” courses will provide students with exposure to issues and concepts not covered in their regular coursework. Most topics will include work with “real-world” organizations.
This course represents a unique opportunity for accountancy majors to expand their knowledge of the practical applications of accounting concepts by entering into a learning contract with a cooperating business for a semester, or during the summer term. The contract, developed in cooperation with the site supervisor, will specify obligations and duties, what the student expects to learn, and the basis on which the student’s learning accomplishments will be measured. A three-hour internship may be repeated for academic credit in the same, or in a different work setting, with the approval of the grading faculty member. Note: Students are normally awarded 3 credit hours for the internship, but seniors may request up to 9 hours for an internship, upon verification by the internship site that the additional hours are warranted, and upon approval by the Program Coordinator.
