Graduate School of Management & Technology – Programs

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Graduate School of Management and Technology

Graduate Degree Programs

Graduate Certificates

 

ACCT 608 Fraud Examination and Accounting Ethics (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 610. A study of the nature of fraud, elements of fraud, fraud prevention, fraud detection, fraud investigation, use of controls to prevent fraud, and methods of fraud resolution.

A critical competency for the 21st-century accountant is the ability to evaluate and analyze the various aspects of fraud prevention and detection in a strategic context. Emphasis is on the employment of forensic accounting techniques to analyze what is behind the data being generated by the accounting system, to detect internal control weaknesses, and to map out a fraud investigation program. The role of accounting ethics is explored in detail and considered in the context of laws, regulations, and the organization’s culture.

ACCT 610 Financial Accounting (3)

Prerequisite: 15 hours of undergraduate accounting. Accounting theory in a strategic framework. An overview of relevant theory, building upon undergraduate accounting studies, provides a foundation for other specialization courses. Critical thinking and the application of accounting concepts and principles are developed in the following areas: the preparation and interpretation of corporate financial statements in accordance with GAAP; accounting standards and the standard setting process; the use of electronic technology in financial accounting; effective communication; professional ethics; and current issues, debates and research in accounting. Current special interest topics include the impact of information technology on financial accounting and the valuation of and accounting for intellectual property.

ACCT 611 Management Accounting (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 610. An examination of the control and decision- making methodologies used by management accountants in solving strategic problems for business. Among the methodologies used are break-even analysis, regression analysis, the balanced scorecard, activity-based costing/management, value chain analysis, total quality management, and performance evaluation/assessment. The topics covered range from ethical issues to product costing. All the quantitative methods explained are used to help model business problems in a manner intended to provide the required insights for managers to make successful choices.

ACCT 612 Auditing Process (3)

(Only students enrolled in the accounting specialization may take this course.) Prerequisite: ACCT 610. An in-depth examination of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), as well as standards for attestation and other services. Alternative audit models are evaluated for both their practical relevance as well as their theoretical justification as informed by current research and emerging information technology. The use of Computer-Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT) and other computer-related technology for obtaining evidence is evaluated in terms of effectiveness and suitability in diverse audit environments. Methods of evaluating internal control are considered in light of the risks encountered in new ways of conducting business, such as e-commerce. Professional ethical and legal responsibilities, as shaped by the contemporary professional, legal, and regulatory environments, are examined as they relate to audit risk, risk assessment, and audit program planning. The use of audit reports and other services as tools to support management control and decision making are considered.

ACCT 613 Federal Income Taxation (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 610. A case-study-based, problem-oriented examination of fundamental federal income tax concepts. Tax issues and controversies are explored in-depth. The primary focus is on applying tax laws, as opposed to learning individual tax rules. For example, while an undergraduate tax course would teach that gifts are not included in the donee’s gross income, this course examines in detail the applicable criteria that determine when an item constitutes a gift. Methods of case analysis and research that are typically involved in tax planning and litigation are covered. Important definitions, judicially created rules, and other tax conventions are explored in great detail through the study of each one’s genesis and purpose. Prime cases and tax issues that concern gross income, identification of the proper taxpayer, deductions, timing, income and deduction characterization, and deferral and capital gains and losses are examined. The textbook includes many classic court cases, explanatory materials, and problems that examine the application of the federal tax laws to various taxpayer situations.

ACCT 614 Accounting Information Systems (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 610. A study of the use of information systems in the accounting process, with an emphasis on computer systems and internal controls. Focus is on the analytical tools necessary to evaluate users’ accounting information needs and to design, implement, and maintain an accounting information system to support business processes and cycles. Among the topics covered are the components of a contemporary accounting information systems (AIS); security and internal controls, particularly within Internet and e-commerce environments; traditional flowcharting and data-flow diagrams; computer networks; theory and application of relational databases; and relational database management systems (RDBMS). Assignments include designing an AIS using a commercial database software package.

ACCT 665 Special Topics in Accounting (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 610. A study of current topics in accounting. Discussion focuses on one of the following topics: government and nonprofit accounting (including financial accounting standards applicable to public-sector and nonprofit organizations in the United States); international accounting (including multiple currencies, reporting requirements and their harmonization, and the interplay between international operations, differing cultures, and the management of the resulting risk); and strategies and tools in accounting (including current issues and strategies in accounting, integration of the various areas of accounting, and the research tools that can be used).

ACCT 670 Accounting Capstone (3) (Formerly ACCT 615)

Prerequisite: Completion of five accounting track courses and all core courses except MGMT 670. A systematic review of components of the CPA examination as preparation for those who plan to take the exam. As preparation for work in the accounting field, earlier work is synthesized in the form of an end-of-specialization capstone project.