BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING

Michael University is proud to offer an MBA program with a concentration in Accounting. Our innovative online program prepares students for management positions in business with a strong focus on accounting. This degree program also develops students’ problem-solving skills as they relate to common and theoretical business practice. A key aspect of this program is the development of leadership skills, which prepare graduates to take on positions of responsibility within an organization. Graduates of this program may also attain the necessary credit hours to earn a CPA certification while also becoming more desirable to employers thanks to the skills developed and knowledge gained.

Many senior managements have a background in accounting. An ability to analyze and interpret financial data will be especially important as companies seek efficient, cost-effective means of operation. Earning your MBA in Accounting online at Michael University gives you the strong background you need to be successful in a wide variety of management-level positions in fields such as:

• Financial management
• Tax planning
• Banking
• Budget analysis
• Cost accounting and management
• Financial reporting and planning

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Michael University’s MBA of Accountancy Degree Program was developed with the accounting professional in mind. This intensive master’s program fosters independent learning, producing graduates who not only understand the industry but can contribute intellectually to the accounting profession.

If you’re ready to help create a shared vision of what accounting means to business, society, government and the world, this program is for you. Through it, you can deepen your accounting skills and start down the path to greater career success.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The curriculum focuses on both the basics of accounting theory and practice as well as higherorder skills such as aiding businesses in global advancement, pursuing ethical accounting practices, using professional communication and effectively integrating modern technology.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Occupations available to graduates of MBA in Accounting programs include accountant and auditors at a median salary of $63,550 per year and financial managers at a median salary of $109,740 per year. Graduates are also prepared to step into management roles in public accounting firms, which have a need for individuals who not only understand accounting, but can actively develop and improve relationships with clients in private industry. Private accounting companies and non-profit institutions also seek graduates for management positions. Graduates of MBA of Accountancy program can find opportunities in both the private and public sector in positions such as:

• Auditor
• Comptroller
• Consultant
• Educator
• Researcher

New financial regulations and changing tax codes require solid accounting skills. Our MBA with a concentration in Accounting can prepare you to step into this fast-paced field. In this MBA with a concentration in Accounting program, you’ll learn:

• Managerial accounting
• Financial accounting and reporting
• Auditing and taxation
• Forensic accounting

REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES

In order to gain admittance to this program, candidates must first have earned a bachelor’s degree. Many programs prefer that the undergraduate degree be related to either business or accounting, though students who majored in other subjects may be able to enroll in business and accounting courses to gain conditional acceptance.

You’ll need 48 credits to complete this program. These may be earned through a combination of required and elective courses. Required courses may vary based on previous experience, training or transferable credits.Course Descriptions

ACC541 Accounting Theory & Research

This is the first core course in the Executive MBA in Accounting. In this course, students apply accounting research tools to current accounting issues. Other topics include research of accounting questions related to inventory, fixed assets, leases, derivative instruments, debt, contingencies, segment reporting, pensions, business combinations, consolidations, stockholders’ equity, and a program overview.

ACC542 Accounting Information Systems

In this course, students examine the fundamentals of accounting systems design. Topics include business information systems, business processes and data flows, database concepts and tools, internal control and risks, auditing the information system, and using the information system to perform audit functions.

ACC543 Managerial Accounting & Legal Aspects of Business

In this course, students examine managerial accounting as part of the business accounting information system and legal aspects of the business enterprise. Topics include managerial accounting and capital budgeting; cost analysis; management planning and control; negotiable instruments; secured transactions; debtor/creditor relationships; property and insurance; and legal aspects of employment and environment.

ACC544 Internal Control Systems

In this course, students gain a broad perspective of the control environment and the role it plays in attainment of financial and operational goals of the organization. Topics include an overview of the control environment, risk management, internal control systems, control activities for business functions, controls for information technology systems, and reporting on internal controls.

ACC545 Financial Reporting

This course prepares students to address concepts of financial reporting for roles as CPAs. Students learn important criteria for calculating capital changes, applying concepts of fixed assets and cost determination, and preparing consolidated financial statements. Other topics include the professional responsibilities of CPAs, deferred taxes, cash flow statements, balance sheet preparation, restructuring of troubled debt, and the intricacies of comprehensive income.

ACC546 Auditing

In this course, students focus on the auditing practice performed by public accountants. Topics include the CPA profession and the auditor's role, planning the audit, audit reporting and required communications, evaluating internal controls, audit programs for current assets and liabilities, and audit programs for other business cycles.ACC547 Taxation In this course, students develop an understanding of the federal income tax law and its application to individuals, partnerships, and corporations. Topics include tax entities, property transactions, calculating basis, gains and losses, alternative minimum tax, S corporations, and partnerships.

ACC548 Not-for-profit & Government Accounting

In this course, students receive an overview of the budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and auditing required of government and not-for-profit organizations. Topics include the governmental accounting, accounting records in government, fund allocation, government-wide reporting, not-forprofit accounting, and governmental performance measures.

ACC556 Forensic Accounting

In this course, students are introduced to the conduct of fraud examinations, including a discussion of specific procedures used in forensic accounting examinations and the reasoning behind these procedures. Topics include an overview of fraud and abuse, forensic evidence, substantive procedures for cash outflow irregularities, substantive procedures for asset irregularities, financial statement fraud, and examination reporting.

ACC561 Accounting

This course covers both financial and managerial accounting and explores practices that can be used to evaluate and improve organizational performance. Students learn to analyze and evaluate financial accounting information to interpret and measure data for decision-making and performance evaluation purposes. Further, students learn to extract and develop accounting data for use in managerial decision-making. This course reviews financial accounting and reporting, accounting information systems, financial statement analysis, product costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, and operational budgeting and planning.

ETH557 Accounting Ethics

In this course, students focus on core values of the accounting profession such as ethical reasoning, integrity, objectivity, and independence. Topics include economics, price and consumer behavior, business and accounting issues, ethics and information technology, and professional standards.

FIN571 Corporate Finance

This course applies corporate finance concepts to make management decisions. Students learn methods to evaluate financial alternatives and create financial plans. Other topics include cash flows, business valuation, working capital, capital budgets, and long-term financing.

ECO561 Economics

This course applies economic concepts to make management decisions. Students employ the concepts of scarce resources and opportunity costs to perform economic analysis. Other topics include supply and demand, profit maximization, market structure, macroeconomic measurement, money, trade, and foreign exchange.

FIN572 Financial Accounting Theory

The subject aims to develop a critical understanding of the supporting theories and assumptions underpinning financial accounting and the analysis of contemporary financial accounting issues. This critical understanding is developed by exploring the current research thinking on how financial accounting information integrates with modern financial economies. Particular attention is paid to understanding how financial markets use financial accounting information as well as to the economic incentives that derive from its reporting.

FIN573 Financial Statement Analysis

Understanding how to interpret information in financial statements and related documents and adjusting financial statement information for use as inputs into business valuation and credit analysis models.

MBA 5999 Graduate Dissertation

This course is designed to guide students in developing and writing a dissertation. Students’ will learn the process of planning, writing and defending a dissertation. This seminar does not include detailed information on certain aspects of academic research, such as design and methodology, data analysis techniques, or writing style and mechanics.