Bachelor of Science in Accountancy Online

What is information systems for business?

Information systems for business combine technology, processes, and people to manage organizational data, support decision-making, and enable effective communication across business functions. These systems help companies process information, automate workflows, and gain competitive advantages through technology.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Recognize information technology as it applies to today's complex business environment
• Identify IT systems required to support business processes, complex information flow, and organizational communication needs including managerial decision support approaches and tools
• Apply skills in managing group projects delivering business presentations and reports

What is financial management?

Financial management involves planning, organizing, and controlling financial resources to achieve business objectives. It encompasses analyzing financial statements, evaluating investment opportunities, managing corporate capital structure, and making strategic decisions about how to allocate resources to maximize shareholder value.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the major forms of businesses and markets, the process of value creation and corporate governance, and the inherent challenges
• Analyze the components of the financial statements to make business decisions
• Demonstrate the relationship between time, money, and interest rates, and the factors affecting the cost of money through computations
• Evaluate the types of stocks and bonds and their relevant characteristics and factors for intrinsic valuation
• Estimate the relationship between risk and return and assess the firm's cost of capital
• Estimate relevant cash flows, and appraise project value in order to allocate capital

What is professional career development in business?

Professional career development encompasses building essential skills for career success including ethical decision-making, professional branding, networking, and interview preparation. This foundational course helps students transition from academic learning to professional practice by developing their personal brand and career readiness skills.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify the basics of ethical behavior and decision making
• Prepare for a professional career search, which includes designing a profile for LinkedIn
• Prepare for a professional career search by practicing interview skills

What professional skills do business graduates need?

Successful business professionals need a combination of technical competencies and soft skills including financial literacy, business etiquette, networking abilities, and professional communication. This course develops the interpersonal and professional skills essential for navigating workplace environments and building successful careers.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Analyze professional business environment expectations and demonstrate understanding through case studies or discussions
• Develop personal financial management behaviors by creating and following a detailed financial plan
• Demonstrate growth in using interpersonal skills through role-playing and written assessments
• Perform successful interviewing techniques in mock interview sessions with feedback
• Exhibit proper dining etiquette in simulated job interviews and other business and social events
• Execute effective networking skills by attending networking events and reflecting on the experience

What does the business environment consist of?

The business environment encompasses all external and internal factors that affect how organizations operate, including economic conditions, competitive forces, ethical considerations, and stakeholder relationships. Understanding this environment enables managers to make informed decisions, identify opportunities and threats, and develop effective business strategies.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Analyze key management principles and apply them to business situations
• Demonstrate business writing skills with clear, organized, concise, and purposeful messages
• Assess differences in audience, situation, and purpose in a professional manner
• Prepare formal business presentations and written assignments
• Recognize issues in the business environment related to professionalism, personal ethics, and honesty
• Explain the information needed to address a business problem and make a decision

How to manage group projects?

Managing group projects involves applying fundamental techniques for successful collaboration, including task coordination, meeting facilitation, conflict management, and effective communication strategies. This course teaches students how to navigate individual differences, practice decision-making in team settings, and employ organizational behavior concepts to solve management problems collaboratively.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Employ fundamental techniques for successful group projects that will be integrated throughout the School of Business undergraduate curriculum
• Demonstrate effective practices in completing one's task assignments and cooperating with others
• Demonstrate best practices for effective meetings, in the role of meeting leader or meeting participant
• Model effective organizational behavior concepts (i.e. conflict management, effective communication strategies, accepting and managing individual differences, and decision making) in a group setting
• Evaluate management problems and apply organizational behavior concepts to solving them

What is strategic management?

Strategic management is the process of analyzing competitive environments, formulating long-term organizational strategies, and implementing plans to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. It integrates insights from all business functions to create coherent strategies that position organizations for success in dynamic markets.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Assess the business landscape facing the firm and the origin of competitive advantage
• Develop the capability to apply and evaluate analytical tools, concepts, and theories in strategic management so that students can formulate scientific and theoretically based strategies and recommendations
• Develop the ability to integrate knowledge across various business disciplines and apply it to real-world business problems
• Develop the capability to clearly and persuasively communicate ideas on business issues and problems through oral and written media

What is marketing?

Marketing is the process of creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers through strategic planning and execution of the marketing mix (product, price, place, and promotion). Effective marketing identifies customer needs, segments target markets, and develops integrated strategies to build lasting customer relationships and drive business growth.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Analyze of the concepts of marketing and how marketing works in today's business; also to identify the environmental forces affecting a marketer's business
• Identify the marketing concept and marketing mix utilized to build desire
• Identify/segment the target market(s) for a product, service or idea
• Define the key components of a distribution strategy for a product, service or idea
• Enumerate and apply a basic promotion mix for a product, service or idea
• Define the fundamental elements of a pricing strategy for a product, service or idea

What is operations management?

Operations management involves designing, overseeing, and improving the processes that create and deliver goods and services. It focuses on maximizing efficiency, maintaining quality standards, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring customer satisfaction through systematic management of production and service delivery systems.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain key concepts of operations management and their application in creating goods and services
• Analyze operational processes to identify areas for improvement in efficiency, quality, and resource use
• Apply operations management techniques to optimize performance in real-world business scenarios
• Evaluate the effectiveness of operational strategies to enhance cost, quality, and customer satisfaction

What is macroeconomics?

Macroeconomics is the study of economy-wide phenomena including inflation, unemployment, economic growth, and the impact of government policies on national economies. It examines how monetary and fiscal policies influence business cycles, international trade, and overall economic performance that affects all businesses and consumers.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Interpret unemployment and inflation data and how that data is collected and computed
• Derive and synthesize the components of the National Income Accounts, especially GDP
• Identify the frequency of business cycle phases
• Examine the roles of monetary policy and fiscal policies, their tools, and the advantages and drawback of each policy
• Understand the role of trade and international currency exchange in the world economy

What is microeconomics?

Microeconomics analyzes how individuals, households, and firms make decisions about allocating scarce resources. It examines supply and demand dynamics, pricing mechanisms, market structures, and how economic incentives influence behavior in specific markets, providing essential tools for business decision-making.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Describe how consumers and firms behave in a market economy
• Identify how prices, wages, and market structure impact decisions in everyday life
• Describe the relationship between incentives, prices, and economic costs
• Predict outcomes given a change in the market environment

What is college algebra used for in business?

College algebra provides the mathematical foundation for business analysis including solving equations, graphing functions, and understanding relationships between variables. These skills are essential for financial modeling, cost analysis, break-even calculations, and quantitative decision-making in accounting and business contexts.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Solve and apply linear, quadratic, polynomial, radical, and rational equations and inequalities
• Graph and interpret graphs of linear, power, root, absolute value, polynomial, and rational equations
• Graph functions using basic transformations
• Identify the sum, difference, product, quotient, composition, and inverse of functions
• Solve systems of linear equations using algebraic and matrix methods
• Use mathematical vocabulary and symbols in order to understand, interpret, and represent mathematical information

What are mathematical methods for business analytics?

Mathematical methods for business analytics apply quantitative techniques including linear functions, optimization, and exponential models to solve real-world business problems. These methods enable data-driven decision-making in areas such as demand forecasting, revenue optimization, investment analysis, and financial planning.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Analyze linear functions, especially as they relate to forming supply and demand functions
• Solve systems of linear equations, especially as they are related to a business problems involving unknown investment amounts
• Locate the vertex of a quadratic function and interpret it in terms of a business context
• Form and solve total revenue and profit functions. Emphasis will be placed on starting with a demand function
• Solve equations involving common and natural logarithms. Apply this knowledge to solve compound interest problems, sales decay problems and demand function problems

What is statistical analysis in business?

Statistical analysis in business involves collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data to support evidence-based decision-making. Using tools like Excel, business professionals apply statistical methods including hypothesis testing, probability distributions, and regression analysis to identify patterns, test assumptions, and forecast outcomes.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Use Excel to describe a business data set using appropriate numeric and graphical methods.
• Identify and use appropriate probability distributions to answer questions as part of a business application and present the answers in clear business language.
• Identify and perform appropriate parametric hypothesis tests using business data to answer questions as part of a business application and to present the results and implications of the results in clear business language.
• Identify and perform appropriate hypothesis tests for relationships between variables as part of a business application and to present the results and implications of the results in clear business language

What is business ethics and corporate social responsibility?

Business ethics and corporate social responsibility examine how organizations interact with stakeholders including employees, customers, communities, and society at large. This field addresses moral decision-making in business, the psychological and cultural factors influencing ethical behavior, and how companies balance profit objectives with social and environmental responsibilities.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Exhibit an understanding of business’s interaction with dynamic political, international, economic, legal, and social forces
• Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological and sociological factors affecting ethical organizational behavior
• Analyze morally relevant decisions
• Demonstrate an ability to reason through complex business cases
• Demonstrate an understanding of principle normative approaches to ethics
• Understand sub-cultural influences in the U.S. and international cultural influences on corporate social responsibility and ethical behavior

What is financial accounting?

Financial accounting is the process of recording, classifying, and reporting financial transactions to produce standardized financial statements for external users. Following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), financial accounting provides stakeholders with transparent information about a company's financial position, performance, and cash flows.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Prepare, analyze and comprehend the contents in the four basic financial statements (Income Statement, Statement of Retained Earnings, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows)
• Complete the accounting cycle (trial balance > journal entries > adjusted trial balance > adjusting entries > adjusted trial balance > financial statements > closing entries) for both a service and merchandising company
• Learn and apply GAAP inventory cost methods including FIFO, LIFO and weighted-average, GAAP rules related to Accounts Receivable, GAAP rules for fixed assets and depreciation, and GAAP for short and long-term liabilities including contingent liabilities and bonds
• Read, analyze and comprehend a company's financial statements by using ratio analyses

What is managerial accounting?

Managerial accounting provides internal financial information and analysis to help managers make informed business decisions. Unlike financial accounting, which focuses on external reporting, managerial accounting emphasizes cost analysis, budgeting, performance measurement, and planning tools that support operational and strategic decision-making within organizations.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Calculate product costs using job costing, process costing, absorption costing, and variable costing
• Calculate and interpret managerial accounting information and models
• Identify financial strengths and weaknesses within a company
• Prepare and interpret planning documents and information

What is intermediate accounting?

Intermediate accounting provides in-depth study of financial accounting theory and the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to complex business transactions. It bridges foundational and advanced accounting by examining technical accounting procedures, the conceptual framework underlying accounting standards, and the preparation of comprehensive financial statements.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Recall proper accounting procedures in 10-step accounting process
• Prepare correct and properly formatted financial statements
• Demonstrate proper accounting procedures for complex transactions
• Illustrate the use of time value of money concepts where applicable
• Calculate account balances reported on financial statements
• Explain relationships between account balances reported on financial statements

What accounting topics are covered in Intermediate Accounting II?

Intermediate Accounting II continues the study of GAAP by examining advanced topics including long-term liabilities, leases, pensions, income taxes, and complex financial instruments. Students learn to analyze the economic substance of transactions, evaluate alternative accounting treatments, and understand how accounting choices impact financial reporting and stakeholder decisions.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain various business transactions
• Apply accounting procedures appropriate to a given transaction
• Describe the reasons underlying the use of a specific procedure
• Analyze the economic implications of the GAAP treatment and/or alternative treatments

What is ASC 606 revenue recognition?

ASC 606 is the comprehensive revenue recognition standard that provides a five-step model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. This standard ensures consistent revenue reporting across industries by focusing on the transfer of control rather than the transfer of risks and rewards, requiring detailed analysis of performance obligations and transaction prices.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Record transactions to properly recognize revenue in compliance with ASC 606
• Create partial or full financial statements that communicate important information to shareholders regarding the proper recognition of revenue in compliance with ASC 606
• Record transactions to properly account for investments classified as Held-to-Maturity, Available-for-Sale, and Trading Securities
• Create partial or full financial statements that communicate important information to shareholders regarding the proper accounting for investments classified as Held-to-Maturity, Available-for-Sale, and Trading Securities
• Record transactions to properly account for differences between cash and accrual basis accounting that arise from differences between financial accounting standards and the IRS tax code
• Create partial or full financial statements that communicate important information to shareholders regarding the proper accounting for differences between cash and accrual basis accounting that arise from differences between financial accounting standards and the IRS tax code
• Record transactions to properly account for changes or error corrections
• Create partial or full financial statements and requisite disclosure notes that communicate important information to shareholders regarding the proper prospective or retrospective treatment of changes or error corrections

What is cost accounting?

Cost accounting is the process of analyzing, recording, and reporting all costs associated with producing goods or services. It provides detailed cost information for internal decision-making including product pricing, budgeting, cost control, and performance evaluation. Advanced cost accounting explores strategic costing methods and their application to complex business scenarios.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply and analyze managerial accounting terminology and concepts
• Evaluate different costing methods and budgeting processes
• Conduct relevant cost analyses and use performance evaluation tools
• Apply analytical skills effectively in managerial decision-making contexts

What is accounting information systems?

Accounting information systems (AIS) integrate technology, processes, and controls to capture, process, and report financial data. These systems support transaction processing across business cycles, ensure data integrity through internal controls, and transform raw data into meaningful information for decision-making using software tools and data analytics techniques.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify the data and information needs of accountants and other decision-makers in an organization
• Identify the flow of information through an organization in the various business transaction cycles
• Identify basic business processes and related risks and internal controls
• Identify key regulatory requirements affecting accountants and relevant frameworks, including COSO's Integrated Internal Control Framework
• Create and transform raw data into information useful for decision-making (employing a variety of data analytic and data mining techniques) in both manual and computerized contexts
• Utilize software to process data into reportable information, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access

What is tax accounting?

Tax accounting involves applying federal and state tax laws to determine taxable income and tax liability for individuals and businesses. It encompasses tax compliance (preparing accurate tax returns), tax planning (minimizing tax liability through legal strategies), and understanding how tax rules differ from financial accounting standards under GAAP.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify the types of taxation, sources of tax law, and compliance requirements
• Identify tax planning strategies and opportunities for taxpayers
• Calculate the taxable income and tax for business entities
• Calculate the differences between book income and taxable income for businesses
• Calculate the timing and amount of deductions for property transactions including cost recovery and disposal of fixed assets and intangibles
• Calculate the filing status, number of dependents and common deductions for individual taxpayers
• Calculate the amount of income tax, self-employment tax and credits for individual taxpayers
• Apply the tax concepts to complete a basic individual and business tax forms and communicate tax information to clients

What is auditing in accounting?

Auditing is the systematic examination of an organization's financial statements, records, and internal controls to provide independent assurance that financial information is presented fairly in accordance with applicable accounting standards. CPAs conduct audits following professional standards to enhance the credibility and reliability of financial information for investors, creditors, and other stakeholders.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Describe assurance services including the role of CPA firms and the regulatory agencies involved in performing audits of financial statements
• Compare and contrast the different types of audit reports
• Identify the ethical requirements and legal liability associated with being a CPA
• Differentiate between auditors' and management's responsibilities during the audit process, including the audit objectives and management assertions
• Plan an audit including performing risk assessments, understanding internal control, the auditors' responsibility for detecting fraud and design of audit procedures
• Evaluate the audit evidence obtained during the testing phase of the audit
• Identify the steps necessary in completing an audit including final review procedures, evaluation of results, issuing the audit report and communication to the audit committee and management

What is data analytics in accounting?

Data analytics in accounting applies statistical methods, data mining techniques, and visualization tools to analyze large volumes of financial and operational data. Accountants use data analytics to identify patterns, detect anomalies, support audit procedures, forecast trends, and provide data-driven insights that improve decision-making and business performance.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Develop an analytics mindset to recognize when and how analytics can address business questions
• Import and export data to prepare for analysis
• Identify attributes of data quality
• Perform data analysis and manipulation
• Draw conclusions and make recommendations based on the results of data analytics
• Report data and prepare data visualizations to communicate findings

What is business law for accountants?

Business law for accountants examines the legal framework governing business transactions, contracts, corporate entities, and professional responsibilities. Understanding business law enables accountants to recognize legal issues, ensure compliance with regulations, advise clients on legal implications of business decisions, and protect themselves from professional liability.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply U.S. law to a situation as it applies to accounting and business
• Analyze the U.S. legal system, its operations, and the reasons for constructing the legal system as it currently exists
• Practice utilizing U.S. statutes, as read, in their daily lives

What is advanced financial accounting?

Advanced financial accounting addresses complex topics beyond basic financial reporting including business combinations, consolidated financial statements, partnership accounting, foreign currency transactions, and governmental and not-for-profit accounting. These advanced topics are essential for accountants working with multi-entity organizations, international businesses, or specialized sectors.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply consolidation accounting for business combinations and prepare consolidated financial statements
• Account for intercompany transactions and equity method investments
• Prepare partnership financial statements and account for partnership changes
• Understand foreign currency translation and international accounting issues
• Apply accounting standards for governmental and not-for-profit entities

What is advanced individual taxation?

Advanced individual taxation explores complex federal income tax issues affecting high-income individuals including capital gains taxation, passive activity rules, alternative minimum tax (AMT), estate and gift tax planning, and sophisticated tax planning strategies. This course prepares students for advanced tax positions and CPA exam coverage of individual taxation.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Calculate complex individual tax scenarios including AMT and passive activity losses
• Apply capital gains and losses rules including Section 1231 property transactions
• Understand estate and gift tax planning strategies and wealth transfer techniques
• Prepare advanced individual tax returns with complex schedules and forms
• Develop tax planning strategies for high-income individuals and business owners
• Apply retirement planning rules and understand tax implications of various retirement vehicles