Schedule of Classes

The course covers financial and managerial accounting topics that will assist non-business students in understanding financial statements and key accounting decision-making tools and techniques.

Accounting as a system of communicating to owners, creditors, governmental bodies, and others the financial results of the operation of business entities. Concepts, theories, and conventions underlying measurement, processing of business activities, and reporting of the financial results of those activities.

An introduction to cost and management accounting concepts, practices and techniques needed to assist in decision making for typical business problems relating to planning, operating, and control. Key topics include: cost behavior, cost-volume-profit analysis, contribution margin analysis, relevant costs, standard and job costing concepts, fundamentals of budgeting, and related variance analysis.

Procedures and systems of modern accounting through case studies. (Should be taken the semester immediately preceding ATG 301, but may be taken concurrently with ATG 301.)

Understand and apply current research tools and methods available to investigate and resolve accounting issues. Topics include accessing and using information found in authoritative sources, academic indexes, and financial databases.

Use of accounting data to: identify cost/managerial accounting concepts; explain cost functions, cost classifications, relevant costs, cost-volume profit analysis, and cost allocations. The use of accounting data for cost control, profit planning, operational and capital budgeting, performance evaluation, and managerial decision making.

Investigate the basic ethical frameworks from which business decisions can be made. Application of the frameworks to practical problems which arise in normal business activities.

Theory and practice of accounting, emphasizing need for and use of accounting information in measuring and evaluating entity's business income and financial status.

Theory and practice of accounting, emphasizing need for and use of accounting information in measuring and evaluating entity's business income and financial status.

Basic concepts and problems in the consideration of accounting as an information system. Theoretical and pragmatic tools for analysis of accounting systems. Internal control and exposure to concepts of internal auditing.

In-depth study of selected topics in financial accounting and reporting, including business combinations and consolidated financial statements; foreign currency transactions and consolidation of foreign affiliates; fund accounting principles applied to state and local governmental units and not-for-profit organizations; a survey of SEC reporting requirements; and selected FASB standards.

Principles and procedures of external auditing. Auditing standards, ethics of the profession, risk assessment, internal control evaluation and testing, substantive testing, reporting. A simulated audit experience case performed by student teams.

Principles of federal income taxation, based upon the Internal Revenue Code. Measurement and reporting of taxable income of tax entities, including corporations, partnerships, and individuals.

Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for a maximum of three hours credit.

Planning and implementation of face-to-face encounters in order to achieve business objectives. Information interviews, interrogations, and other interviews used in business. Listening skills and analysis of non-verbal communication.

Internal audit activity's role in governance, risk, and control. Professional practices framework. Establishing a risk-based plan, conducting the internal audit engagement, reporting results, monitoring engagement outcomes.

Case studies of management accounting control systems and strategic cost analysis. Use of relevant costs for decision-making, planning, and evaluation of performance. Development of analytic tools drawn from cost accounting, managerial accounting, mathematics, and behavioral science.

Cooperative education or internship assignment. Credit applies to Department of Accounting MSA electives. Pass/Fail. Repeatable to a combined total of three credit hours.

Problems affecting the auditing profession. Evaluation of alternative solutions and their implications.

Individual readings for qualified students, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Repeatable to a maximum of 3 credit hours.

Research methods to identify accounting, auditing, and reporting issues; collect evidence from accounting/auditing literature; identify alternatives; develop recommendations; and communicate oral and written results.