Management Accounting (MGA)

The first course in accounting presents the underlying framework and concepts of financial accounting systems essential to the preparation, understanding, and interpretation of accounting information in the contemporary business environment. Topics examined include those related to recording business transactions, reporting corporate financial position, operating results, and cash flows, and analyzing financial strength. The impact on financial markets and society due to limitations of financial statements and lapses in ethical reporting are also covered.

The second course in accounting introduces concepts and theories in management accounting. Topics include product costing methods (e.g., job-order costing, process costing, and activity-based costing); the use of accounting information for management decisions (e.g., cost-volume-profit analysis and variance analysis); operating budgeting and performance evaluation; and capital budgeting decisions.

An examination of the theory of business income recognition and asset valuation with emphasis upon the application of accounting theory. The course covers both GAAP and IFRS standards along with reporting practices of income and assets in financial statements.

A continued examination of the theory of financial accounting with emphasis upon the valuation of equity and long term liabilities; preparation, analysis, and interpretation of financial statements. The course also includes computation, presentation and analysis of earnings per share. The course covers both GAAP and IFRS standards.

An intermediate course in financial accounting for non-accounting majors. Topics include (1) the format and content of financial statements prepared under generally accepted accounting principles, (2) problems in disclosure and income measurement, and (3) analysis of financial statements from the users perspective.

An examination of the accounting information systems, both manual and computer based, for service, merchandising, and manufacturing firms. Emphasis is placed on key business processes, internal controls and risks, flowcharting, and information provided to management. Experience using Microsoft Excel and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is also provided.

In today¿s fast-paced digital world, analytic professionals with the skills to transform data into the kind of actionable intelligence that can drive business decisions are in high demand. Organizations across different business sectors are using data, whether to improve the efficiency of their operations, for more strategic purposes, or even as the basis of their business model. A management accountant is ideally positioned to help an organization focus on gaining insight from data. Therefore, it is important for management accounting students to expand their horizons to include data analytics. Introduction to Data Analytics for Accountants provides students with an overview of instruments and tools utilized in the field to understand, model and make practical use of the very large quantity of data that most businesses are currently collecting. By definition, data analytics is the science of analyzing data to convert information to useful knowledge. This knowledge can help us understand and enable us to make better business decisions. The last 20 years has seen steeply decreasing costs to gather, store, and process data, creating an even stronger motivation for the use of evidence-based approaches to problem solving. This course seeks to present a wide range of data analytic tools and techniques including Excel, Alteryx Designer, and Tableau Desktop and is structured around the broad contours of the different types of data analytics, namely, descriptive, inferential, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. When management accountants combine their accounting and data analysis skills with an understanding of the business, they gain professional credibility and a seat at the decision-making table as trusted providers of management information.

An examination of the principles and methods of accounting used in reporting to management concerning cost classification, behavior, and measurement in various types of enterprises, and budgeting and performance evaluation with an emphasis on cost and data analysis in support of management decision making.

An examination of scope and limitation of audits; qualifications and responsibilities of auditors; auditing standards and ethical rules for both US and international auditors; roles of internal control, accounting information systems, technology, evidence, objectives, materiality, and risk assessment as applied to financial statement accounts; expressions of opinion related to financial statements; and, auditor's legal liability.

An examination of the concepts of the federal and income tax law as it applies to individuals, business entities and property transactions. Emphasis is on gaining an understanding of the principles of tax law and using that knowledge for better decision making. The course also includes an overview of corporate tax provisions and income tax treatment of partners and partnerships is provided.

An examination of reporting for mergers and acquisitions, consolidation of financial statements, international transactions, hedge investments, state and local governments, and not-for-profit organizations. Coverage of IFRS requirements as appropriate. Emphasis is on conceptual understanding, with applications to current reporting issues. Extensive coverage of practice, using actual financial statements.

Provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom theories to real-life situations. Students choose their own placement from a listing available from the Internship Program Office. The placement process is similar to that of a job search. Thus, students have the opportunity to send their resumes to sites of their choosing and interview for placement. Each site assigns a specific project to the student to be completed within 150 hours during the course of the semester. Accounting students work under the supervision of an accounting professional and receive exposure to the day-to-day operations within a professional setting.

Provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom theories to real-life situations. Students choose their own placement from a listing available from the Internship Program Office. The placement process is similar to that of a job search. Thus, students have the opportunity to send their resumes to sites of their choosing and interview for placement. Each site assigns a specific project to the student to be completed within 150 hours during the course of the semester. Accounting students work under the supervision of an accounting professional and receive exposure to the day-to-day operations within a professional setting.

Instructional and practical experience in the skills and techniques of research through association with a faculty member actively engaged in research. Credit up to 6 hours, depending on the type and amount of research activity. May be taken for credit more than once.