The purpose of the accounting major is to help prepare the student for a career within the accounting profession. In order to satisfy the needs of an extremely diverse profession, the major in accounting consists of three separate tracks. Track I is designed for students with an interest in accounting for the informational needs of managers including business entities, non-profit entities and internal auditing.

This track will provide excellent preparation for the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) exam. Track II is a 128 semester hour program and is designed to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy for those students whose goal is to become Certified Public Accountants in Pennsylvania. Track III is a 150 semester hour program designed to meet the 150 hour requirement of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts for those students whose goal is to become a member of the AICPA in Pennsylvania or any other state.
Students planning to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Examination are advised to check with their State Board of Accounting to assure that they have completed all courses required for C.P.A. licensure.

ACCT 110, 223, 344, 345, 440, 443;
BUS 223, 228, 235, 244, 312, 320, 338, 441; ECON 110 or 111; MATH 123

The following courses, when scheduled as W courses, count toward the writing intensive requirement: ACCT 223, 224, and 442.

A minor in the Department of Accounting consists of ACCT 110 and four other accounting courses as determined by the student's interests.

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING

This course prepares students to make better informed financial decisions in a complicated world. A practical, relatively non-technical course designed to help the student identify and plan to meet their financial goals.

ELEMENTARY ACCOUNTING THEORY

An introductory course in recording, classifying, summarizing, and interpreting the basic business transaction. Problems of classification and interpretation of accounts and preparation of financial statements are studied.

ACCOUNTING FOR MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING

An introduction to the various components of managerial accounting. Emphasis is placed on managerial problem-solving techniques and the analysis of the results. Accounting systems, costing procedures, cost-volume profit relationships, managerial control processes and the use of computers as aids to decision-making are studied. Students will gain hands-on experience with various computer applications of managerial accounting. Prerequisite: ACCT 110.

Methods of accounting for material, labor and factory overhead expenses consumed in manufacturing using job order, process, and standard costing techniques. Prerequisite: ACCT 110.

Application of cost accounting and budgetary theory to decision making in the area of make or buy, expansion of production and sales, break even analysis, decision modeling, internal control and information systems. Prerequisite: ACCT 223 and MATH 123.

INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING THEORY I

An in-depth examination of the environment within which financial accounting theory exists. An examination of the basic postulates that underlie financial statements and a critique of what financial reporting means. Prerequisite: ACCT 223 or consent of instructor.

An examination of the various accounting and reporting issues affecting assets. Prerequisite: ACCT 344.

An examination of the various accounting and reporting issues affecting liabilities, stockholder equity, earnings per share, cash flows and accounting changes. Prerequisite: ACCT 345 with a minimum grade of C or consent of instructor.

AUDITING THEORY

A study of the science or art of verifying, analyzing, and interpreting accounts and reports. The goal of the course is to emphasize concepts which will enable students to understand the philosophy and environment of auditing. Special attention is given to the public accounting profession, studying auditing standards, professional ethics, the legal liability inherent in the attest function, the study and evaluation of internal control, the nature of evidence, the growing use of statistical sampling, the impact of electronic data processing, and the basic approach to planning an audit. Finally, various audit reports expressing independent expert opinions on the fairness of financial statements are studied. Prerequisite: ACCT 344, MATH 123, BUS 320, and senior status or consent of instructor.

Analysis of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to income, deductions, inventories, and accounting methods. Practical problems involving determination of income and deductions, capital gains and losses, computation and payment of taxes through withholding at the source and through declaration are considered. Planning transactions so that a minimum amount of tax will result is emphasized. Prerequisite: ACCT 110 or consent of instructor.

An analysis of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to partnerships, estates, trusts, and corporations. An extensive series of problems is considered, and effective tax planning is emphasized. Prerequisite: ACCT 110, or consent of instructor.

443 ACCOUNTING FOR BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Recommended courses include: ACCT 223, 224, 226, 344; BUS 339, 342; CPTR 108; ECON 220, 229, 332, 337; MATH 106, 231, 432, 434. It is also strongly recommended that the student complete as many of the actuarial examinations as possible prior to graduation.