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Concentrations in Accounting

Concentrations in Accounting are available in:

Accounting Financial Analysis Concentration

Financial analysis deals with the body of rules and procedures governing the preparation and analysis of general-purpose financial statements (e.g., balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows). These financial statements are designed to provide readers with information that will be useful in making decisions relevant to operating their businesses, managing their investments, and evaluating the performance of employees, managers, and executives.

Financial Analysis Curriculum

Students in the financial analysis concentration develop skills in the areas of financial accounting, financial statement analysis, and traditional topics in finance (e.g., investments, portfolio analysis, and capital budgeting). This skill set provides a foundation for graduate-level study in accounting or finance and prepares students for careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, and governmental or not-for-profit organizations.

The Financial Analysis concentration is designed to prepare students in the following areas:

  • Reasoning/problem solving capabilities
  • Thorough understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Preparation and analysis of data and information
  • Use of financial management decision tools
  • Ability to “get behind the numbers” and understand financial reports
  • Personal financial planning and management insight

Career Opportunities in Financial Analysis

  • financial analyst
  • financial planner
  • business consultant
  • bank loan officer
  • treasurer
  • controller/chief financial officer
  • asset manager
  • investment analyst
  • portfolio manager

Required Courses (BUS 320 is a pre-requisite for this concentration)

All students must complete:

  • ACC 411: Business Valuation

Plus, choose three from the list below:

  • BUS 420: Financial Management of Corporations
  • BUS 422: Investments and Portfolio Management
  • BUS 425: Advanced Personal Financial Management
  • BUS 426: International Financial Management
  • EC 404: Money, Financial Markets, and the Economy
  • EC 474: Economics of Financial Institutions and Markets
  • ACC 499: Internship in Accounting

Accounting Information Systems Concentration

The field of accounting information systems focuses on the flow of accounting information within a company and between a company and its external trading partners. Accounting is at the heart of a company's information system, supporting critical business processes.  Organizations use information systems and technology to process and analyze data, streamline activities, and manage resources and assets.

Information Systems Curriculum

The information systems concentration, in accounting, is designed to build an understanding of key business processes, the components of an effective entity-wide internal control structure, the process by which efficient database design can be used to improve accounting information, and contemporary issues involved in providing assurance services for systems and database reliability.  Topics of study include information systems-related internal controls, business processes, systems security and privacy, database management, e-commerce and enterprise resource planning systems theory.

The Information Systems concentration is designed to prepare students in the following areas:

  • Proficiency in accounting software
  • Knowledge and use of enterprise resource planning software
  • Database modeling and development
  • Understanding of business processes and information systems controls
  • Conceptual orientation of information for managerial and financial decisions

Career Opportunities in Information Systems

For graduates, knowledge of information systems will allow flexibility in terms of work in accounting or systems-related fields including:

  • information technology auditor
  • systems/technology consultant
  • data security analyst
  • business consultant
  • external/internal auditor
  • general/corporate accountant
  • chief information officer

Required Courses

(ACC 340 is a pre-requisite course for this concentration)

All students must complete:

  • ACC 440: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Plus, choose three from the list below:

  • BUS 440:  Database Management
  • BUS 441:  Business Data Communications and Networking
  • BUS 442:  Information Systems Development
  • BUS 443:  Decision Support Systems
  • BUS 444:  Systems Analysis and Design
  • BUS 449:  Information Technology Capstone
  • ACC 499: Internship in Accounting

Accounting Internal Audit Concentration

Internal Auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations.  It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate, monitor and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes (IPPF, Institute of Internal Auditors, 2009).

Internal Audit Curriculum

Students in the internal audit concentration learn practical knowledge of the role and the best practices of internal auditing in governance, risk management and control.  Students develop skills in planning and conducting internal audit assurance engagements.  The internal auditing concentration gives students an understanding of fraud risk management and computerized auditing techniques.  

The Internal Audit concentration is designed to prepare students in the following areas:

  • Understanding of business processes and controls
  • Ability to 'get behind the numbers'
  • Understanding of fraud risks and controls
  • Perspectives on conducting internal audit engagements
  • Proficiency in general auditing software ACL

Career Opportunities in Internal Auditing

  • internal auditor           
  • fraud examiner
  • external auditor
  • information technology auditor
  • risk management executive
  • chief auditing executive
  • In some companies, the entry point to many jobs in the organization is through the internal audit department

Required Courses

All students must complete:

  • ACC 451: Internal Auditing

Plus, one from list below:

  • ACC 440: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
  • BUS 440: Database Management
  • BUS 441: Business Data Communications and Networking

Plus, one from list below:

  • BUS 472: Operations Planning and Control Systems
  • BUS 478: Business Process Management
  • EC   474: Economics of Financial Institutions and Markets

Plus, one from list below:

  • COM 342: Interviewing
  • COM 442: Communication and Conflict Management
  • COM 456: Organizational Communication

Accounting Managerial Concentration

Managerial accounting is more than simply compiling and delivering financial data. Managerial accounting focuses on the implications of financial data in the broad context of managing an organization and how financial information impacts every aspect of the business.  Important aspects of managerial accounting include analyzing numbers to evaluate the supply chain and evaluating business processes and costs.

Managerial Curriculum

The managerial accounting concentration is designed for students who are interested in careers within business, government, or not-for-profit organizations. The concentration allows students to combine interests in both accounting and business. The coursework is designed to prepare students for the events that are shaping the future of the accounting and finance profession and to equip them with the skills and competencies crucial for career success.

The Managerial concentration is designed to prepare students in the following areas:

  • The ability to make insightful contributions to the strategic planning process
  • The knowledge to design measures that focus and motivate the organization’s employees and activities
  • The skills to develop information and analyses that provide insight into how value is being created and how progress is being matched to strategic initiatives
  • An integrated view of how accounting and finance interact with other business functions

Career Opportunities in Managerial Accounting

Strategic finance and planning skills and abilities are applicable in all forms of business, including service, manufacturing, merchandising, government, and non-for-profit organizations.  In these settings, professional careers can be:

  • cost manager
  • financial analyst
  • account manager
  • tax manager
  • product, process and services analyst
  • business consultant
  • project leader
  • controller
  • chief financial officer
  • resource planner manager

Required Courses (BUS 370 is a pre-requisite course for this concentration)

All students must complete:

  • ACC 420: Strategic Finance and Planning

Plus, choose three from the list below:

  • BUS 472: Operations Planning and Control Systems
  • BUS 474: Logistics Management
  • BUS 475: Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
  • BUS 478: Business Process Management
  • BUS 479: Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Practicum
  • MIE 435: Leadership and Management
  • ACC 499: Internship in Accounting