Department of Accounting
Professors: Yongtae Kim (Robert and Barbara McCullough Professor and Department Chair), Susan Parker
Associate Professors: Michael J. Calegari, Michael J. Eames, Haidan Li, Siqi Li, Suzanne M. Luttman, Jane A. Ou, Hyungshin Park, James F. Sepe, Neal L. Ushman
The Department of Accounting strives to provide high-quality accounting instruction, conduct research that contributes to the understanding of accounting issues, and provide superior service to students and alumni, the profession, the University, and the business community. In addition to the major in accounting, the Accounting and Operations Management and Information Systems departments offer a joint major in accounting and information systems.
Requirements for the Majors
In addition to fulfilling Undergraduate Core Curriculum and Leavey School of Business requirements for the bachelor of science in commerce, students majoring in accounting or accounting and information systems must complete the following departmental requirements:
Major in Accounting
- ACTG 20, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, and 138
Note: Accounting majors may use ACTG 134 to satisfy both the information systems requirement in the Leavey School of Business curriculum and the Science, Technology & Society requirement in the 2009 University Core.
Major in Accounting and Information Systems
- ACTG 20, 130, 131, 132, 135, 136, and 138
- OMIS 30 or 31
- OMIS 105, 106, and 150 (or ACTG 155)
- One course from OMIS 107, 111, 113, 120, 135, 137
Accounting and information systems majors may use either OMIS 30 or 31 to satisfy the information systems requirement in the Leavey School of Business curriculum. OMIS 150 is cross-listed with ACTG 155. Accounting and information systems majors may enroll in OMIS 150 or ACTG 155.
Lower-Division Courses
- Personal Financial Planning
Overview of the tools and information necessary for personal business decision making. Includes analysis of financial services, credit and borrowing, taxes, compensation planning, consumer purchases, housing decisions, the time value of money, savings, and investments. (4 units)
11. Introduction to Financial Accounting
Overview of the role of financial information in economic decision making. Includes topics such as the dissemination of accounting information and its impact on capital markets, and the analysis of corporate annual reports. Coverage of financial statements and their use in determining profitability and the financial condition of a business entity. Prerequisites: Must be a second- year student and have completed BUSN 70 or 170. Seniors who have not completed BUSN 70 may take this class with department permission on a space-available basis. (4 units)
12. Introduction to Managerial Accounting
Introduction to the role of financial information in the decision making of business managers. The objective is to investigate the use of business data in typical managerial functions such as planning, control, and making operational decisions. Prerequisite: ACTG 11. (4 units)
20. Recording Financial Transactions
Insight into the basic principles and mechanics behind the preparation of financial statements. Focus is on the accounting model, accrual versus cash accounting, and the accounting processing cycle. Prerequisites: ACTG 11 and must have 70 completed units or department's permission prior to enrollment. Course may not be taken before spring quarter of the sophomore year. For fall and winter enrollment, students must be concurrently enrolled in ACTG 130. (2 units)
Upper-Division Courses
130. Intermediate Financial Accounting I
An in-depth study of the concepts underlying external financial reporting, along with expanded coverage of basic financial statements. Detailed analysis of the measurement and reporting of current assets, operational assets, and investments, including the treatment of related revenues and expenses. Significant attention is given to income statement presentation and revenue recognition. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 12 and 20, and must have 96 completed units or department's permission prior to enrollment. (ACTG 20 may be taken concurrently.) (5 units)
131. Intermediate Financial Accounting II
Intensive analysis of generally accepted accounting principles as applied to accounting for liabilities, stockholders' equity, and the statement of cash flows. Accounting for income taxes, pensions, leases, and the reporting of corporate earnings per share. Prerequisite: Open to business majors only. ACTG 130. (5 units)
132. Advanced Financial Accounting
The main subject is accounting for business combinations, and the consolidation of financial statements of a parent company and its subsidiaries. A broad spectrum of financial reporting issues in the context of consolidated financial statements is examined. The course also covers partnership accounting and other advanced financial accounting topics. Prerequisite: Open to business majors only. ACTG 131. (5 units)
134. Accounting Information Systems
Introduction to procedures by which accounting data is captured, processed, and communicated in computerized information systems. The course describes the ways that accounting information systems are designed, used, and maintained by accounting professionals with an emphasis on the internal controls over such systems. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 11 and 12. (ACTG 12 may be taken concurrently.) (5 units)
135. Auditing
Introduction to the basic concepts of auditing. Discussion of applicable regulations, the audit risk model, and client risk assessment. Focus is on an overview of the audit process. Auditors' professional and ethical responsibilities, sampling, and historical cases will also be discussed. Prerequisite: Open to business majors only. ACTG 131. (ACTG 131 may be taken concurrently.) (5 units)
136. Cost Accounting
Analysis of cost accounting with a strategic emphasis. Selected topics include process costing, activity-based costing, variance analysis, joint cost allocations, and the Theory of Constraints. Prerequisite: Open to business majors only. ACTG 130. (5 units)
138. Tax Planning and Business Decisions
A basic introduction to the tax treatment of transactions and events affecting both individuals and businesses and the conceptual framework underlying taxation. Includes issues of importance for successful tax planning with an emphasis on income and expense recognition, individual taxation, and property transactions. Assumes no prior knowledge of the tax law. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 11 and 12. (ACTG 12 may be taken concurrently.) (5 units)
140. Government and Nonprofit Accounting
Accounting and reporting requirements used by government and not-for-profit (NPO) entities. For governmental accounting, the class focuses on the categorization of the major government fund types and the terminology associated with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). For NPO accounting, the class focuses on the provisions of FAS 116 and FAS 117. Recommended for students taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 131. (3 units)
142. Business Law for Accountants
Legal theory and mechanisms designed to facilitate commercial transactions within our society. Areas covered include those dealing with integral aspects of business transactions: business organizations; contract and sales law; commercial paper; and secured transactions. Recommended for students taking the CPA Exam. Prerequisite: ACTG 131. Restricted to junior- and senior-declared accounting majors. (5 units)
144. Accounting Ethics
This course is designed with a particular focus on the roles and ethical responsibilities of the accounting, auditing, and tax professions; ethical behavior by management; and the legal guidelines that address behavior in a business setting. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 11 and 12, and either PHIL 26 or MGMT 6. This course must be taken for a letter grade. (5 units)
148. Taxation of Business Entities
An advanced tax course covering the income tax treatment of transactions involving various types of business entities. Topics include the taxation of corporate entities (both C and S corporations) as well as partnerships. Addresses tax issues related to estates and trusts. Includes calculation of current and deferred taxes and the study of common tax issues arising in multinational transactions. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 131 and 138. (5 units)
150. Financial Fraud: Detection and Investigation
Forensic accounting deals with the application of accounting methods to legal problems, and comprises investigative accounting and litigation support activities. Investigative accounting (usually referred to as fraud accounting) refers to the role of the accountant in determining the existence and extent of asset misappropriation and/or financial statement fraud. Litigation support activities include those professional services provided by accountants to attorneys in support of civil or criminal litigation. In addition to examining both aspects of forensic accounting, the legal system and the role of the forensic accountant as an expert witness will be discussed. Prerequisite: Open to business majors only. ACTG 131. (5 units)
151. Financial Statement Analysis
Provides a framework for analyzing financial statements and develops skills useful in evaluating company performance, liquidity, solvency, and valuation in the context of the company's strategy and competitive environment from a user perspective. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 11 and FNCE 121 or 121S. (5 units)
152. International Accounting and Financial Reporting
Understanding similarities and differences in financial reporting practices globally is vital for all organizations involved in international business. The course takes a user perspective to international financial reporting. It examines economic and social factors that affect financial reporting practices, classifies global patterns in financial reporting, and studies the effect of the diversity in financial reporting on corporate investment and financing decisions. Technical issues covered include accounting for foreign currency transactions, accounting for the effects of inflation, international transfer pricing, and international financial statement analysis. Prerequisites: Open to business majors only. ACTG 130 and MGMT 80. (5 units)
155. Financial Information Systems
Course focuses on computer-based financial information systems that allow finance and accounting professionals to acquire and manage a company's financial system. Topics include the business functions of a financial information system, the technical aspects of the system, and the management issues of implementing such a system. Students will acquire hands-on experience using ERP systems. Students who receive credit for OMIS 150 may not take this course for credit. Also listed as OMIS 150. Prerequisites: OMIS 30 or 31, and OMIS 105. (5 units)
161. Junior Contemporary Business Seminar Series I
A series of seminars covering topics pertinent to those pursuing a professional accounting career. Students are required to attend sessions with the course instructor, attend seminars sponsored by the Department of Accounting, or choose additional acceptable seminars and presentations offered throughout the University. Prerequisites: Open to accounting and accounting and information systems majors only. ACTG 12 and 20. (ACTG 20 may be taken concurrently.) (2 units)
162. Junior Contemporary Seminar Series II
A series of seminars covering topics pertinent to those pursuing a professional accounting career. Students are required to attend sessions with the course instructor, attend seminars sponsored by the Department of Accounting, or choose additional acceptable seminars and presentations offered throughout the University. Prerequisites: Open to accounting and accounting and information systems majors only. ACTG 12 and 20. (ACTG 20 may be taken concurrently.) (2 units)
171. Senior Contemporary Business Seminar Series I
A series of seminars covering topics pertinent to those pursuing a professional accounting career. Students are required to attend sessions with the course instructor, attend seminars sponsored by the Department of Accounting, or choose additional acceptable seminars and presentations offered throughout the University. Prerequisite: Open only to senior-declared accounting and accounting and information systems majors. (2 units)
172. Senior Contemporary Business Seminar Series II
A series of seminars covering topics pertinent to those pursuing a professional accounting career. Students are required to attend sessions with the course instructor, attend seminars sponsored by the Department of Accounting, or choose additional acceptable seminars and presentations offered throughout the University. Prerequisite: Open only to senior-declared accounting and accounting and information systems majors. (2 units)
191. Peer Educator in Accounting
Work closely with the department to help students in core accounting classes, understand course material, think more deeply about the material, and feel less anxious about testing situations. Prerequisites: Declared accounting major and permission of instructor and chair required prior to enrollment. (1 or 2 units)
194. Accounting Case Analysis
A practicum in which students form teams, research accounting issues, present the results of their research, and explain their research recommendations before a panel of judges. This course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Enrollment is by permission of the department chair. (1 or 2 units)
197. Special Topics in Accounting
Offered occasionally to introduce new topics not covered by existing electives. Consult quarterly schedule of classes for description. Prerequisite: ACTG 131. (2-5 units)
198. Accounting Internship
Opportunity for upper-division students to work in local accounting or corporate firms. Two written reports and the employer's evaluation of the student's work will be required. This course may be repeated for credit depending on nature of assignment. Prerequisites: Declared accounting major and permission of instructor and chair. (2-5 units per quarter, up to a maximum of 10 units)
199. Directed Reading/Directed Research
Independent projects undertaken by upper- division students with a faculty sponsor. Prerequisites: Declared accounting major and permission of instructor and chair. (1-5 units)