Accounting
Program Description
Accounting is a degree with lots of possibilities. Every business needs accounting expertise, whether it’s a Wall Street law firm, a professional sports team, a movie production company or a rock band. With the proper accounting education, employment options are endless.
The Public Accounting concentration provides students with basic business skills as well as the accounting knowledge needed to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Graduates of CMU’s program have a very high CPA exam pass rate and are heavily recruited by local and regional CPA firms.
The General Accounting concentration is designed for undergraduate students who do not wish to pursue CPA certification. This program provides students with basic business skills as well as accounting knowledge needed to work in an accounting department in private industry or government.
The Accounting minor offers students majoring in other areas the opportunity to enhance their degrees with basic accounting knowledge. Since all businesses rely heavily on accounting functions, graduates with an accounting minor have a competitive advantage, particularly in the area of decision-making. Accounting knowledge is critical for business and, independent of major, the more accounting knowledge students have, the better prepared students will be for management positions.
The Accounting program also offers an option of a five year (3+2) program which allows students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. This combination prepares students to earn the hours needed to sit for the CPA exam. Through careful planning and coordination, students can complete their four-year degree and begin their graduate degree, finishing both simultaneously.
Contact Information
Davis School of Business
Dominguez Hall 301
970.248.1580
ACCT 201 Principles of Financial Accounting3 Credits
Introduction to bookkeeping, generally accepted accounting principles, and financial statements.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
ACCT 202 Principles of Managerial Accounting3 Credits
A basic course that introduces the use of accounting information in managerial decision making, control, and planning.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201.
ACCT 311 Advanced Managerial Accounting3 Credits
An advanced course primarily for non-accounting majors that provides in-depth coverage on the applications of accounting information in decision-making, organization, control and planning.
Prerequisites: ACCT 202.
ACCT 321 Intermediate Accounting I3 Credits
Development of an intermediate understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their application to external financial statements.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
ACCT 322 Intermediate Accounting II3 Credits
Continued exploration of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their application to more advanced financial statement components.
Prerequisites: ACCT 321.
Terms Typically Offered: Spring.
ACCT 331 Cost Accounting3 Credits
Costs and their relationship to planning, controlling, inventory valuation, and decision making.
Prerequisites: ACCT 202.
ACCT 350 Ethics for Accounting Professionals3 Credits
The field of ethics as applied to the accounting and finance professions. Ethical standards of the profession, accounting and finance scandals in recent history, and methods to overcome ethical dilemmas encountered as professionals.
Prerequisites: ACCT 321.
ACCT 360 Professional Preparation I1 Credit
Communication skills and other soft skills needed to be successful as an accounting professional, including higher order thinking, written and oral communication, effective and responsible use of social and other electronic media, and ethical considerations of the communication process.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201, ACCT 202, and ACCT 321.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
ACCT 392 Accounting Information Systems3 Credits
A study of the concepts and design of the Accounting Information System with emphasis on the internal control structures, requirements, and professional standards.
Prerequisites: ACCT 321.
ACCT 393 Cooperative Education3-12 Credits
Cooperative Education provides students an opportunity to put their education to practical use in the workplace under the joint supervision of an employer participating in the Cooperative Education program and a faculty member designated by the institution. (See "Cooperative Education" in this catalog).
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 395 Independent Study1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.
ACCT 396 Topics1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 399 Internship1-10 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 401 Governmental Accounting3 Credits
Accounting principles as they apply to governmental and non-profit units.
Prerequisites: ACCT 322.
ACCT 402 Advanced Accounting3 Credits
Consolidated financial statements, partnership accounting, bankruptcy, and international operations.
Prerequisites: ACCT 322.
ACCT 411 Auditing I3 Credits
Scope and purposes of the attestation work of a certified public accountant focusing on generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS). Includes theory of auditing, professional ethics, legal liability of the auditor, and internal control.
Prerequisites: ACCT 322.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
ACCT 412 Auditing II3 Credits
Continuation of ACCT 411. This course provides coverage of the application of auditing theory to financial statements, including examination of the audit programs, procedures, and work papers used in each phase of an audit.
Prerequisites: ACCT 411; and CISB 241 or STAT 241.
Terms Typically Offered: Spring.
ACCT 441 Individual Income Tax4 Credits
In-depth treatment of federal income tax law as it relates to individual taxpayers. Introduction to basic tax research.
Prerequisites: ACCT 322, and senior standing.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
ACCT 442 Advanced Tax and Tax Research5 Credits
Federal income tax law for C corporations, S corporations, and partnerships. Introduction to federal gift transfer tax. Required participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to acquire practical experience in communication with taxpayers and preparation of tax returns.
Prerequisites: ACCT 441.
Terms Typically Offered: Spring.
ACCT 460 Professional Preparation II1 Credit
This course is a concentrated review of accounting subjects in preparation for the CPA exam using self-study techniques and professor-led discussions and review.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201, ACCT 202, ACCT 321, ACCT 322, ACCT 360, ACCT 401, and ACCT 441.
ACCT 470 Fraud and Forensic Accounting3 Credits
Exploration of investigative techniques, interviewing techniques, and reporting processes at different levels of judicial and prosecutorial environments. Specific skills in detecting and investigating fraud developed and various reporting methodologies explored. Includes presentations and speakers from fraud investigative environments.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201.
ACCT 471 Data Analytics for Accounting3 Credits
Study of the use of big data and analytics for accounting, including its history and current trends. Application of data analysis techniques to transform raw data into useful decision-making information and communicate those results in a meaningful way for stakeholders.
Prerequisites: ACCT 322; CISB 241 or STAT 241.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
ACCT 473 Fraud Legalities3 Credits
Study of both civil and criminal systems, procedures, laws, as well as related areas that pertain to criminal financial activity and fraud.
Prerequisites: BUGB 349 or BUGB 351.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
ACCT 475 Fraud Examination3 Credits
Study of financial transactions and schemes, law, investigations, as well as fraud prevention and deterrence in preparation for the Certified Fraud Examination (CFE) administered through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Prerequisites: BUGB 349 or BUGB 351; ACCT 470; ACCT 471; and Senior Standing.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
ACCT 480 Accounting Externship1-12 Credits
Practical, staff-level experience creating accounting work products for an employer. Further development of skills learned in completed accounting baccalaureate coursework.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Professional Certificate in Accounting Practice program.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 12 credit hours.
ACCT 493 Cooperative Education3-12 Credits
See description of ACCT 393.
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 495 Independent Study1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.
ACCT 496 Topics1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 499 Internship1-9 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
ACCT 500 Managerial Accounting3 Credits
Provides students with an understanding of management information systems which are used in the decision-making process. The class is designed with a "hands-on" approach. It will encourage student participation and interaction through the use of computer projects, case studies, and classroom discussion. Topics covered include basic cost accounting concepts and terminology, product costing and pricing, planning and controlling a business operation through budgets and variance analysis, and managerial decision-making using such techniques as cost-volume-profit analysis and variable costing.
ACCT 505 Advanced Fraud and Forensic Accounting3 Credits
Exploration of investigative techniques, interviewing techniques, and reporting processes at different levels of judicial and prosecutorial environments. Specific skills in detecting and investigating fraud developed and various reporting methodologies explored. Includes presentations and speakers from fraud investigative environments. Demonstration of mastery of material through graduate level projects, writing, and presentations.
Prerequisites: ACCT 201, ACCT 322, and permission of instructor.