Accounting

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in accounting.

Major in Accounting

The accounting major combines theory and practice to prepare students for analysis of and reporting on the economic activities of organizations and communication of that information to decision makers. Students develop skills in managerial accounting, budgeting, accounting systems, internal controls, financial analysis, financial reporting, internal and external auditing, taxation, and international accounting. The major prepares students for a range of accounting careers in profit, not-for-profit, and government organizations.

Intended Program Outcomes

The student who graduates with a major in accounting will be able to

  • Work effectively with interdisciplinary professionals and diverse stakeholders.
  • Communicate with financial and non-financial audiences in a clear and concise manner, by making appropriate decisions about relevancy, reliability, and medium.
  • Research, prepare, analyze, and review financial and business data by applying accounting and business management principles and standards to produce financial and business reports.
  • Proficiently use current technology and analytical tools to perform business functions, work collaboratively, and facilitate decision-making.
  • Employ analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving to identify, test, and validate processes, systems, and financial data to advise stakeholders.
  • Define, develop, and demonstrate ethical business practices and accountability by identifying and addressing current and emerging ethical and regulatory issues.
  • Develop professionally through collaborating, training, mentoring, negotiating, solving problems creatively, and participating in networking activities to demonstrate and develop leadership skills.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in accounting requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework including 54 credits for the major and mandatory minor in business administration (indicated by Required by major); 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 25 credits in electives and other requirements. At least 18 credits in the major and 9 credits in the minor must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Requirements for the Accounting Major

Coursework for a major in accounting with a mandatory minor in business administration includes the following:

  • Required courses (21 credits): ACCT 220, 221, 310, 311, 321, 323, and 422
  • Supplemental major courses (12 credits): any upper-level ACCT courses
  • Required capstone course (3 credits): ACCT 495
  • Required minor courses (18 credits): ACCT 411 (or BMGT 496); BMGT 364 and 380; FINC 330; MRKT 310; and STAT 230 (or STAT 200)
  • Required related courses (9 credits) which may be applied anywhere in the degree: ACCT 326 (or IFSM 300); and ECON 201 and 203

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all of the requirements for the BS in accounting. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an academic advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) may be found in the General Education Requirements.

Minor in Accounting

The accounting minor complements the skills the student gains in his or her major discipline by providing a study of how the accounting environment measures and communicates the economic activities of organizations to enable stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources.

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in accounting requires the completion of 15 credits in accounting (any ACCT course). Courses already applied toward other degree requirements (e.g., major or general education) may not be applied toward the minor. At least 9 credits must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above). Prerequisites apply for all courses.

For a listing of all the requirements for the bachelor's degree, students should refer to their major and the General Education Requirements.

Accounting Major Courses

First Courses

(to be taken within the first 18 credits)

LIBS 150 Introduction to Research (1)

WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 103 College Mathematics (3)

or MATH 107 College Algebra
or a higher-level math course

BMGT 110 Introduction to Business and Management 3 (strongly recommended elective for students with no prior business experience)

ACCT 220Required by major Principles of Accounting I (3)

Introductory Courses

ACCT 221Required by major Principles of Accounting II (3)

ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
(related requirement for the major; also fulfills the first general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)

and NSCI 101 Physical Science Laboratory (1)
or other course(s) to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences with related laboratory

WRTG 291 Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/writing

IFSM 201 Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (3)

or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software
(fulfills the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement)

Foundation Courses

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature, or foreign language course to fulfill the first general education requirement in arts and humanities

STAT 230Required by major Introductory Business Statistics (3)

or STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics

ECON 203 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
(related requirement for accounting major)

GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences
(discipline must differ from first)

BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)

or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences

ACCT 310Required by major Intermediate Accounting I (3)

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)

or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the general education requirement in arts and humanities for the historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)

ACCT 321Required by major Cost Accounting (3)

SPCH 100 Foundations of Oral Communication (3)

or SPCH 101 Introduction to Public Speaking
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/writing or speech

ACCT 326 Accounting Information Systems (3)

or IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations
(fulfills the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement; students should note prerequisites)

Additional Required Courses

BMGT 364Required by major Management and Organization Theory (3)

ACCT 311Required by major Intermediate Accounting II (3)

ACCT 323Required by major Federal Income Tax I (3)

ACCT 411Required by major Ethics and Professionalism in Accounting 3

or BMGT 496 Business Ethics

ACCT 422Required by major Auditing Theory and Practice (3)

WRTG 394 Advanced Business Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the upper-level advanced writing requirement

ACCT 410Required by major Accounting for Government and Not-for-Profit Organizations (3)
or other course to fulfill the major requirement for upper-level coursework
(See Requirements for the Major)

ACCT 425Required by major International Accounting (3)
or other supplemental major course
(See Requirements for the Major)

FINC 330Required by major Business Finance (3)

ACCT 433Required by major Audit and Control of Information Technology (3)
or other supplemental major course
(See Requirements for the Major)

BMGT 380Required by major Business Law I (3)

ACCT 427Required by major Advanced Auditing (3)
or other supplemental major course
(See Requirements for the Major)

MRKT 310Required by major Marketing Principles (3)

Capstone Course for the Major

ACCT 495Required by major Contemporary Issues in Accounting Practice (3)

Additional Elective Courses

(to be taken in last 60 credits along with required major courses) (19)

Total credits for BS in accounting 120


UMUC Europe Undergraduate Catalog


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Last updated: 30 June 2011