Master of Science in Accounting Curriculum
Completion of the M.S. in Accounting requires a minimum of 30 credits of approved coursework, composed of 21 credit hours of required courses and 9 credit hours of accounting or taxation electives. Prerequisite requirements may include two courses: BMBA 8008 that covers basic financial accounting as well as managerial accounting, and BMBA 8009 that serves as an introduction to business law. Students can be waived from these courses based on prior coursework or completion of challenge exams.
Required Courses (21 credits)
BAAC 7100 Financial Reporting (6)
BACC 7114 Cost Accounting (3)
BACC 7135 Essentials of Federal Taxation (3)
BACC 7123 Auditing Standards and Problems (3)
BACC 8001 Financial Accounting Seminar or BTAX 6003 Tax Research (3)
BLAW 7314 Commercial Law (3)
Elective Courses (9 credits)
BACC 7117 International Accounting (3)
BTAX 6003 Tax Research (3)
BACC 7127 Enterprise-Wide Accounting Information Systems II (3)
BACC 7101 Financial Statement Analysis (3)
BACC 7128 Advanced Accounting (3)
BACC 7210 Forensic Accounting (3)
BACC 7133 Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting (3)
Required Courses
BAAC 7100 Financial Reporting (6)
- This course provides a comprehensive overview of generally accepted accounting principles. Financial statements for going concerns will be covered, including measurement, recognition and disclosure requirements of financial reporting. Prerequisite: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
- This course explores cost systems used in business organizations, including topics such as valuation of assets and distribution costs, effective methods of cost analysis and control. Standard costs. Prerequisite: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
BACC 7135 Essentials of Federal Taxation (3)
- This course provides students with an overview and basic understanding of the federal income tax structure with respect to individuals, as well as corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts domiciled or engaging in business in the United States. The course is an introduction to the basic concepts of federal income taxation with particular emphasis on the concepts of gross income, deductions, exemptions, basis, recognition of gains and losses, and accounting methods and periods. Additional topics addressed include the formation, operation, and liquidation of business enterprises. Federal transfer taxes will also be explored.
BACC 7123 Auditing Standards and Problems (3)
- This course provides a case study of effective auditing procedures. It covers topics that include Detection of fraud by analysis of accounts, and current findings of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prerequisite: BACC 7100 or equivalent with a grade of C- or better.
BACC 8001 Financial Accounting Seminar or BTAX6003 Tax Research (3)
- A capstone accounting course designed to see how students handle somewhat ambiguous accounting problems. The course is largely a case-study course with students expected to do significant accounting research with many written reports. Prerequisite: BACC 7123 or the equivalent.
- This course will acquaint the advanced student of business and potential candidates who will sit for the CPA exam with certain advanced concepts in the study of law, mainly involving the Uniform Commercial Code and other aspects of commercial law. The course includes a thorough review of contract law; sales (Article 2); buyer's and seller's remedies under the Common Law and the Uniform Commercial Code; bailments (leases of commercial/personal property); a review of business organizations (liability and taxation); agency and employment issues (independent contractor); an introduction to securities law; bankruptcy; and security interests.
Elective Courses
BACC 7117 International Accounting (3)
- Explore diverse accounting practices employed by different countries, their causes - rooted in custom, law, tax practices and economics - and their effect on the interpretation of financial statements. Other topics include problems related to consolidation and the role of accounting in controlled economies. Prerequisites: BACC 6102, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
- Study of successful methodology of research in federal taxation applied to the solution of both routine and complex tax problems. Topics include research sources, materials and tools, including court reporters, government documents, IRS rulings professional periodicals, tax services and citators, and computerized tax research.
BACC 7127 Enterprise-Wide Accounting Information Systems II (3)
- This course will provide participants with a clear understanding of enterprise applications like accounting, materials management, sales and distribution, materials requirement planning and process manufacturing. Each of these applications will be covered through the use of the SAP enterprise systems. In addition, the course will cover security, auditing, evaluation and implementation as applied to information systems. Prerequisites: BITM 7724 or equivalent.
BACC 7101 Financial Statement Analysis (3)
- The objective of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary for analyzing financial statements. Topics covered include ratio analysis, cash flows, inventories and off-balance sheet activities. Valuation models, including asset-based as well as discounted cash flow models, are also discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the effect of accounting principles on the reported results of operations, cash flows and ratios. Prerequisites: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
BACC 7128 Advanced Accounting (3)
- This course focuses on accounting for investments, including business combinations, and foreign currency accounting. Topics include foreign currency financial statements, segment reporting and other advanced accounting topics. Prerequisite: BACC 7100 with a grade of C- or better.
BACC 7210 Forensic Accounting (3)
- Students will learn the twin towers of forensic accounting - litigation support and investigative auditing - through classroom lecture and discussion, case studies and stories about the latest financial crimes and schemes, and guest speakers' experiences in this rapidly developing field. We will discuss how the application of internal controls can deter people from committing fraud. Examine the fraud triangle (the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations) of occupational and management fraud. This, in turn, can proactively deter theft, concealment and conversion. Review how allegations of fraud should be investigated, evidenced, and resolved. Prerequisite: BACC 7100 or equivalent.
BACC 7133 Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting (3)
- This course is an introduction to accounting for governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The main focus of the course is on the development of a thorough understanding of the standards which govern the accounting and reporting for these organizations and on the structure of the financial statements themselves. Prerequisite: BACC 6101 or equivalent.