Each course offering may be a different topic related to accounting. Example Topics and descriptions include: Financial Reporting and Analysis – For students to become skilled preparers and informed consumers of financial statement information. Course will foster a “critical thinking” approach to learning the accounting subject matter. Students will develop an understanding of the environment in which financial reporting choices are made, what the options are, how accounting information is used for various type of decisions, and how to avoid misusing financial statement data. This approach will integrate perspectives of accounting, corporate finance, economics, and critical analysis to help students grasp how business transactions get reported and understand the decision implications of financial statement numbers. Students will analyze 10Ks of public companies to incorporate classroom material with real world application. IFRS – International Reporting Standards. As the economy continues to grow into a global economy, accountants need to be aware of the different standards of accounting around the world. One such standard is IFRS. This course will explore commonalities and differences of US GAAP, IFRS, and other predominant standards. Sustainability in Accounting and Business – Each company is looking to provide a more sustainable future for themselves and the Earth. How do we account for such transactions? What must be disclosed to our financial statement readers? These questions and more will be answered as this course covers what sustainability means in business and how we can account for it.
every other Spring, odd years
This course will introduce students to the development, operation, and auditing of accounting information systems. Future accounting and finance professionals will learn how to oversee accounting system functions, implement and review systems of internal controls, and understand how to ensure organizations have accurate financial information to support decision-making. Classes will include hands-on application with software packages. Students will be expected to become competent in applying their new knowledge to real world applications.
every other Fall, odd years
Managerial decision analysis is an integrative study of current and developing processes by which financial and operational information is prepared for management use, with an emphasis on information needs for planning, controlling, decision-making, and performance evaluation. Case studies will help students integrate functional disciplines that have been studied in the core undergraduate curriculum and understand and apply an emerging body of knowledge related to strategic decisions made by managers. Top management teams, boards of directors and supervisors require performance information to deal with complex and unstructured problems in dynamic, rapidly changing social, technological and economic environments.
every Fall and Spring
A study of the unique accounting standards applicable to state and local governments and non-profits. Students will explore the types of funds used by governmental entities, compare governmental financials to for-profit financials and discover the differences. Students will critically analyze cities across the United States using data from each city’s CAFR. The student will discover where their city is successful and the areas of concern. The second portion of the course will cover non-profits and how this type of accounting differs from governments and for profit entities. The students will use data from reports, 990’s, and financial statements to compare non-profit entities and identify differences and their causes.
every other Fall, even years
A study of tax accounting pertaining to entities. Corporations, partnerships, s-corporations, estates and trusts will all be discussed. The impact of book to tax differences, debt, and flow through status will all be examined. Students will utilize tax software to prepare returns of all entity types. Data analytics and analysis of the entity return will be utilized to develop tax planning strategies. Students will convey these strategies through written communication. Written communication will continue as students use the IRS code to research various situations.
every other Fall, odd years
This course will enable the student to understand and explain the accounting for business combinations. Students will utilize Excel to prepare consolidated financial statements. Students will study foreign currency transactions and hedging of foreign exchange risk. Lastly, the study of Partnerships from formation to liquidation will be completed. Students will analyze 10Ks of public companies who have completed a merger or acquisition in the last three years to incorporate classroom material with real world application.
every other Fall, odd years
This internship program provides an opportunity for students to participate in a learning experience away from the traditional classroom. Students will be part of an organization and will be participating in the managerial or financial aspects. Students will apply the concepts and theories learned in the classroom. The culminating assignment will be a research paper that connects the theories of the classroom, professional research, and application at the organization. The student will be under the direct supervision of a supervisor of the cooperating organization and progress will be monitored by the School’s internship coordinator.
every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer