Accounting Courses (ACCT)

If a student takes noncore, upper-level business courses before acceptance to the School of Management, those courses will not count on an undergraduate degree application for any major in the school (except as general elective credit). A grade of C or higher must be presented on the graduation application for each upper-level course in the major. Course prerequisites are strictly enforced. Degree status is defined as formal admission to the university as a degree-seeking student.

Related Catalog Entry: School of Management

Related Mason Website: School of Management (http://gbi-sba.gmu.edu/)

201 Financial Accounting (3:3:0). Survey of financial accounting. The accounting model, transaction analysis, and the accounting cycle are introduced. Special attention is directed to statement preparation.

202 Managerial Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in ACCT 201. Survey of managerial accounting. Manufacturing cost systems, budgets, and cost-volume-profit analysis are introduced. Special attention is directed to the use of accounting information in managerial decision making.

310 Accounting Systems and Concepts (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Completion of at least 48 credits including a grade of C or better in ACCT 202, MIS 201. This course may be taken in the semester of application to SOM. An introductory, practical approach to understanding and creating efficient accounting information systems that focuses on a conceptual basis for transaction processing. Manual handling and processing of transactions in revenue, expenditure, payroll, and inventory cycles serves as a platform for developing and manipulating accounting information within a computerized transaction-processing and electronic database environment. Practical application of accounting knowledge is a significant aspect of course requirements.

311 Cost Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ACCT 310, admission to SOM, permission of instructor for nonaccounting major; corequisite: FNAN 301. Accumulation, allocation, analysis, and reporting of cost information for external reporting and internal management. Discussion of the uses of cost information in inventory valuation, income determination, planning, controlling, and decision making.

330 Intermediate Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ACCT 310, admission to SOM. An intensive study of financial accounting and disclosure requirements of selected topics including current and noncurrent assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity. A consideration of professional pronouncements and their impact on financial statements.

334 Topics in Financial Accounting (1:1:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 330. A consideration of specialized topics in financial accounting with special emphasis on recent and complex accounting standards.

351 Federal Taxation (3:3:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 330. An introduction to federal income taxation of individuals. Examination of tax laws and procedures through the use of illustrative examples and problems.

411 Advanced Managerial Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 311. Managerial uses of accounting data in planning, controlling, performance evaluation, and decision making.

432 Financial Accounting Theory (2:2:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 334, may be taken in same semester. Preparation of consolidated financial statement and a consideration of international and multinational accounting standards.

452 Essential of Corporate Taxation (1:1:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 351. An introduction to the subject of business taxation that provides an overview of the fundamentals of corporate income taxation. Coverage includes tax aspects of the creation, operation, reorganization, and partial liquidation of corporations.

461 Auditing for Public Accountants (3:3:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 330. An introduction to the public accounting profession with emphasis on the attest function and auditor's report. Includes an examination of auditing standards and procedures, the impact of internal controls, professional ethics and responsibilities, and an introduction to statistical auditing and the audit of computerized accounting systems.

462 Auditing for Corporate Accountants (2:2:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 330. An overview of external and internal auditing functions. Topics include types of services offered by external auditors, auditory and management responsibilities, professional standards for external auditors, audit reports, internal auditing, and assessment of the internal control system.

472 Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting and Auditing (1:1:0). Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACCT 461 or 462. An introduction to the theory and practice of financial reporting and auditing in the governmental and not-for-profit sectors. Special emphasis on reporting by colleges and universities, voluntary hospitals, and voluntary health and welfare organizations. An introduction to governmental auditing standards is also provided.

491 Accounting Seminar (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 90 credits, ACCT 334, and degree status. Discussion of selected current topics in the theory and practice of accounting and auditing.

492 Field Experience in Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisites: Senior standing and degree status. Faculty-governed field experience in a Northern Virginia business. Teams of students, matched with client firms through the Entrepreneurship Center, propose action plans relating to a major problem or opportunity faced by the company.

499 Independent Study (1-3:0:0). Prerequisites: Nine credits in upper-level accounting courses and degree status. Research and analysis of selected problems or topics in accounting. Must be arranged with an instructor and student must receive written approval from the undergraduate program director before registration. Written report required. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits if topics vary.

600 Financial Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. All aspects of accounting from the basic concept of a transaction through financial statements and their interpretation.

650 Managerial Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisites: ACCT 600, DESC 600, and FNAN 601. Topics include profit planning, relevant costing, budgeting, measurement of performance, and product costing.

712 Accounting Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Accounting systems design and integration with other information systems.

713 Managerial Accounting Theory (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Controllership function in public or private organizations, particularly in regard to development of policy and evaluation of performance.

732 Financial Accounting Theory (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Current literature and theories to cover postulates, assumptions, and standards underlying measurement criteria and practices of financial accounting.

733 Corporate Financial Reporting (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Corporate financial reporting practices and principles, including pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Analysis and interpretation of corporate financial reports.

762 Advanced Auditing Theory and Practice (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Auditing standards and supporting theory. Application of techniques including statistical sampling. Legal liability of the auditor in securities regulation and the practice of auditing in a computerized environment.

792 Seminar in Accounting (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate degree status. Selective analysis of current accounting topics addressing important issues in contemporary accounting practice. Discussion of two or three major topics. Consult the Schedule of Classes. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

796 Independent Study and Directed Readings (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ACCT 650. By special arrangement with professor and approval from the graduate program director.