Graduate Bulletin

Courses in Accounting

Acc 512 Theory of Financial Accounting I (3)

General theory and concepts of financial accounting and the generally accepted principles as applied to assets and related income items. Exposure to related official financial accounting pronouncements. Prerequisite: 3 credits of Financial Accounting.

Acc 513 Theory of Financial Accounting II (3)

General theory and concepts of financial accounting and the generally accepted principles as applied to liabilities and related income items. Emphasizes official financial accounting pronouncements. Prerequisite: Acc 512 or equivalent.

Acc 514 Theory of Financial Accounting III (3)

General theory and concepts of financial accounting and the generally accepted principles as applied to entities and in respect to financial reporting disclosures. Emphasizes official accounting pronouncements. Prerequisite: Acc 513 or equivalent.

Acc 518 Accounting for Managers (3)

Focuses on understanding financial statements and accounting information and how this information is useful to the manager. Managers must understand cost concepts and how they relate to a variety of environmental and operational variables. Such understanding leads to the ability to analyze profitability and interpret the information supplied by various performance measurement systems. Emphasis is placed on the meaning and value of accounting information to the manager. For MBA students only.

Acc 522 Statistical Analysis for Business Decisions (3)

Extensive coverage of sampling techniques for decision making. Includes simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, treating unequal clusters, area sampling, imperfect frames, questionnaire design, and field operations. Prerequisite: Msi 220 or Mat 108 or equivalent.

Acc 531 Introduction to Cost Analysis (3)

Analysis of cost behavior, cost-profit volume analysis, budgeting, standard cost, cost control, and process cost accounting. Not open to students with credit in Acc 331 or equivalent. Prerequisite: Acc 512 or equivalent.

Acc 540 Survey of Taxation (3)

This course is a comprehensive introduction to the federal income tax system. It provides a conceptual approach to many tax topics and emphasizes the role that income taxes play in the business decision-making process. The course explores the federal tax law as it relates to individuals and businesses and covers the basic gross income rules, the basic deduction rules, and certain property transaction rules.

Acc 541 Income Tax Accounting I (3)

Concepts of taxation and of taxable income. Interpretation and application of present tax laws as they pertain to taxpayers. Tax savings and planning.

Acc 542 Income Taxation of Corporations, Partnerships and Estates, and Trusts (3)

Various dimensions of corporate taxation, and the theory and practice of taxation as applied to partnerships and fiduciaries. Prerequisite: 3 credits of tax accounting.

Acc 561 Auditing (3)

The independent auditor's attest function. Topical coverage includes audit objectives and planning, evidence gathering, internal control (achieving and evaluating) and audit procedures, all set against the backdrop of generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards. Problems of independence, ethics, and legal liability are introduced. The application of various audit tools is integrated throughout the course. Prerequisite: Acc 512 or equivalent .

Acc 581 Internal Controls and Financial Information Systems (3)

This course addresses the design and evaluation of computer-based accounting information systems with a focus on the recognition and identification of information technology risks. General and application internal controls for information systems environments are examined across client/server, end-user computing, and service bureau internal control environments. Both computerized auditing techniques as well as techniques for auditing computerized systems are analyzed. Risks of emerging technologies and computer-based business models for planning and control are considered.

Acc 611 Contemporary Developments in Accounting Thought (3)

Contemporary accounting theory. Structures accounting thought and interrelates the pronouncements of the AICPA and American Accounting Association with authoritative writings in the journals. Prerequisite: Acc 312 or equivalent.

Acc 615 Financial Statement Analysis (3)

Analysis and interpretation of financial statements, including profitability and ratio analysis, statistical analyses of financial statements, cash flow analysis, accounting-based equity valuation, accounting issues related to firm valuation, earnings quality, earnings management, mergers and acquisitions, intangibles, and international accounting.

Acc 630 Advanced Cost Management (3)

This course focuses on the design of modern cost systems and the use of accounting data for managerial planning, control, strategic decision-making, and costing. Topics covered include activity-based costing/management, kaizen, target costing, quality costing, benchmarking, life cycle costing, the balanced scorecard and new performance measures, business strategy and competitive positioning, the value chain and competitor analysis, and throughput accounting.

Acc 631 Principles of Tax Research (3)

A study of the principles of research emphasizing practical research projects and case studies. Topics include: basic research techniques, primary and secondary tax reference materials, computer research, code structure, Treasury Department and judicial interpretation, IRS organization and procedures, accounting periods and methods, determination letters, and technical advice memoranda. Prerequisite: Three credits of tax accounting.

Acc 633 Corporate Taxation (3)

Various dimensions of corporate taxation, including but not limited to the following: formation, distribution, redemption, liquidation, reorganization, and subchapter "S" corporations. Emphasizes reading and interpreting Internal Revenue Code and Revenue Regulations. Prerequisite: Three credits of tax accounting.

Acc 642 Taxation of Partnerships (3)

Federal income taxation of partnerships: formation, operation, and liquidation; partnerships versus corporation and limited partnerships. Topics include transfer of partnership interests, partner's tax basis, accounting methods/periods, at-risk limitation, partnership distributions, and allocations of deductions and credits. Prerequisite: 3 credits of tax accounting.

Acc 643 Deferred Compensation and Profit Sharing (3)

Tax considerations of compensation planning for executives and employees of corporations are studied along with recent legislation. Topics covered are pension and profit-sharing plans, termination, liability of fiduciaries, reporting requirements, stock option plans, restricted stock, employee stock ownership plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and salary continuation plans. Prerequisite: Acc 633 or concurrent enrollment.

Acc 644 Taxation of Estates and Trusts (3)

A study of the income taxation of estates and trusts, including grantor trusts, with emphasis on the integration of estate, gift, and income taxes. Problems involved in estate planning and post-mortem questions arising in estate administration are also considered. Prerequisite: 3 credits of tax accounting.

Acc 645 Corporate Taxation II: Reorganization (3)

Covers the scope, nature, and purpose of reorganizations in alternative forms. Topics include parties to reorganization, triangular, reverse triangular and divisive reorganizations, failure to qualify for tax free treatment, carryover of tax attributes (operating losses and earnings and profits, accounting methods) and their limitations, taxable mergers, and other special topics. Prerequisites: Acc 631 and 633.

Acc 646 State and Interstate Taxation (3)

Review of New York taxation, corporate franchise, personal income, and sales and use tax. Major aspects of personal income taxes sales and compliance use taxes are studied. Domestic and foreign corporations; doing business, maintaining an office, nexus, allocation formula; entire net income; alternative tax base; S-corporations. Prerequisite: Acc 633.

Acc 647 Taxation of Non-Profit Entities (3)

Covers the various categories or organizations which are exempt (or treated for certain purposes as exempt) from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code 501(c). Exemption for religious, charitable, scientific, educational, labor unions, business leagues, social clubs, and other organizations. Procedures governing the modification or relocation of an organization's exempt status. Prerequisite: Acc 633.

Acc 648 Corporate Taxation III: Consolidations (3)

Provides a thorough understanding of the advantages and potential pitfalls of filing consolidated returns. Subjects include reverse acquisitions, consolidated return change of ownership, separate return limitation years (SRLY), deferred intercompany transactions, excess loss accounts, annual investment adjustments, allocation of the consolidated tax liability, and administrative provisions. Prerequisites: Acc 631 and 633.

Acc 649 International Taxation (3)

Provides a basic understanding of the various facets of international taxation at the individual and corporate levels. The role of treaties is emphasized. Recent tax acts are examined. Topics also include controlled foreign corporations, foreign tax credit rules, and benefits of possession corporations. Prerequisite: Acc 633.

Acc 650 Tax Practice and Procedure (3)

This course provides students with a practical, working knowledge of tax administrative and litigation practice and procedure. It will focus on the duties of the taxpayer, internal processes at the Internal Revenue Service, taxpayer interactions with the IRS leading up to a final determination of taxes owed, the avenues for challenging a final determination and collection practices.

Acc 659 Contemporary Developments in Taxation (1-3)

Various current topics in taxation. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of nine credits. Prerequisite: Acc 631 or consent of instructor.

Acc 661 Auditing of Advanced Accounting Systems (3)

Auditing of modern complex accounting information systems. General & application controls and the design & development of generalized audit software. Auditing of operating systems and database management systems. Privacy & security of data in accounting systems. Audit of on-line systems, management systems. Prerequisite: Acc 681 and Acc 512 or equivalent.

Acc 680 Research Seminar in Accounting (3)

Intensive reading and research on an approved topic of special interest in the student's field of concentration; a comprehensive report and an oral presentation required.

Acc 681 Accounting Information Systems (3)

Transaction cycles and structured analysis & design of accounting information systems. Object-oriented analysis & design of accounting systems with emphasis on internal controls. The course will involve designing & programming of an accounting system using CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) tools. Prerequisites: Acc 512 or equivalent.

Acc 682 Analysis & Design of Accounting Databases (3)

Basics of relational database theory in the accounting contest. Semantic modeling of accounting data including the REA model. Use of CASE tools for the analysis, design & documentation of accounting databases. Languages for retrieval of information from accounting databases. Controls in accounting databases. Prerequisites: Acc 681 and Acc 512 or equivalent. Intended to be taken concurrently with Acc 681.

Acc 683 Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems (3)

Topics relating to emerging technologies that affect accounting and auditing practice, including topics such as expert systems in accounting & auditing, groupware systems for auditing, retrieval of audit data. Prerequisites: Acc 681 and Acc 682.

Acc 694 Seminar in Tax and Financial Planning (3)

Designed to plan effectively for the tax and financial issues confronting individuals, corporate executives, owners, and others relative to understanding and evaluating tax shelters. Covers security transactions, closely held businesses, lifetime and estate planning, and the advantages and risks associated with tax shelters. Prerequisites: Acc 633 and 642. Completion of Acc 644 recommended.

Acc 695 Independent Study in Accounting (1-3)

The student and instructor jointly develop a plan of independent study on an advanced topic in accounting. The student is usually required to prepare a report or paper. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and department chairperson.