Terri L. Herron, Chair
The Department of Accounting and Finance prepares ethical and informed decision-makers with effective analytical and decision making skills to become leaders in their respective professions. The department offers the Master of Accountancy degree and two undergraduate majors within the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree: accounting and finance.
The Master of Accountancy program is designed to prepare ethical and informed decision-makers with the potential to become leaders in the profession of accountancy. This program has achieved national recognition due to the outstanding performance of graduates on the uniform CPA examinations. Graduates hold positions in some of the most prestigious accounting firms in the world.
Accounting Major
The undergraduate accounting major develops competence in the broad range of accounting practices. The curriculum strives to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are prepared to enter professional positions in accounting with business, nonprofit, or government organizations. In addition, they can continue their education in the Master of Accountancy program and/or pursue a variety of professional certifications.
Basic Requirements for the Accounting Major
| Required | Credits |
|---|---|
| ACCT 310 Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 311 Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT 312 Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACCT 421 Cost Management I | 3 |
| ACCT 431 Income Tax | 3 |
| ACCT 441 Auditing | 3 |
| ACCT 451 Governmental/Non-Profit Accounting | 3 |
| Plus three (3) credits from the following: | |
| ACCT 313 Advanced Accounting Topics | 3 |
| ACCT 422 Cost Management II | 3 |
| ACCT 495 Special Topics | 3 |
Note: Students should select, in consultation with their faculty advisor, the accounting courses from the above list that best fit their individual career goals. Some of these courses may be taught once a year–see advisor for the schedule each academic year.
Basic Accounting Prerequisites for the Master of Accountancy
| Required: The following courses must be completed with a C or better: | Credits |
|---|---|
| ACCT 310 Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACCT 311 Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT 312 Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACCT 313 Advanced Accounting Topics | 3 |
| ACCT 421 Cost Management I | 3 |
| ACCT 431 Income Tax | 3 |
| ACCT 441 Auditing | 3 |
| ACCT 451 Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting | 3 |
Note: One 400-level class listed in the Masters requirements above can be taken in the Masters program for graduate credit if it was not taken at the undergraduate level and if taken after admission to the Masters program. In order to complete the Masters program in a timely fashion, it is strongly recommended that only ACCT 451 be taken at the graduate level.
Finance Major
The finance curriculum is designed to equip students with a comprehensive foundation in financial management, financial markets and investments. Students will gain competence in effective decision-making, performing complex analyses, providing expert financial advice and utilizing current technology tools and data sources.
Basic Requirements for Finance Major
All students must complete a plan of study during their sophomore year or the first semester of their junior year. The plan of study is available from a finance faculty advisor and must be completed and signed by the faculty advisor. Failure to implement and adhere to a program of study may delay graduation.
| Required: | Credits |
|---|---|
| FIN 420 Investments | 3 |
| FIN 424 Financial Markets | 3 |
| FIN 429 Financial Management I Theory and Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 439 Financial Management II Analysis and Problems | 3 |
| MATH 150 Applied Calculus (instead of MATH 117) | 4 |
| Plus one (1) of the following courses*: | |
| ACCT 311 Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT 421 Cost Management I | 3 |
| FIN 301 Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 495 Special Topics | 3 |
| ECON 311 Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 460 Econometrics | 3 |
*Any substitution must be approved by the advisor and the department chair. Other finance courses may be offered that may be substituted when appropriate. In addition to the above required courses, finance students must take three (3) additional courses at the 300- or 400-level from a career track selected in consultation with their advisor and incorporated into their program of study. Suggested career tracks include Banking/Investment, Financial Planning/Services, Accounting/Corporate, Economics, Information Sciences, and International Finance. Details are available from advisors.
FIN 228 (Personal Financial Planning and Investment) is a recommended course and will normally be taken before FIN 322. It may be taken concurrently with FIN 322. No student may receive University credit for FIN 228 after FIN 322 is taken. Students who transfer to the University with credit for FIN 322 can not take FIN 228.