Accounting

Richard J. Proctor, Department Chair
proctorr@wcsu.edu
Westside Classroom Building 386, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8744
(203) 837- 8527 (fax)

TBD, Department Secretary
Westside Classroom Building 249, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8342
(203) 837- 8527 (fax)

Faculty

R. Proctor, Chair	J. Donegan	M. Ganon
D. Moser	S. McGregor	T. Monks
G. Skiba

Overview

The accounting curriculum is divided into three closely coordinated areas: the liberal arts and sciences foundation; a common body of business courses; and an in-depth study in accounting. To assure a proper common body of knowledge for the business student, the curriculum provides for the study of the legal, social, political, and economic environments; the development of a professional understanding of the concepts and methods of accounting, quantitative methods, production, distribution, and finance; and contains a study of organization theory, including interpersonal relationships, control, and motivation.

Mission

The accounting department seeks to provide students with an education that focuses on the common body of knowledge of accounting and the development and application of skills needed for entry into the professions.

Degree Programs in Accounting

The accounting program consists of the following academic areas of study:

Liberal Arts & Sciences	42 semester hours
Business Common Core courses**	30 semester hours
Accounting Major Core courses	27 semester hours
Financial or Managerial Accounting option	6 semester hours
Free electives	17 semester hours*
Total credit hours	122 semester hours

* At least 16 semester hours of the free electives must be non-business courses. Prospective students should request an accounting departmental program sheet which details the current requirements for graduation.

** Business Common Core Courses:

FIN 230	Business Statistics
ACC 201	Financial Accounting
ACC 202	Managerial Accounting
MGT 250	Organizational Behavior
MGT 320	Operations Management
MIS 260	Information Systems Concepts
MKT 301	Principles of Marketing
FIN 310	Principles of Finance
JLA 240	Commercial Law or ACC 340 Business Law I (for accounting majors)
MGT 415	Strategic Management
FIN 310	Principles of Finance

Bachelor of Business Administration In Accounting (B.B.A.)

Requirements:

All undergraduate accounting students take a common accounting curriculum of 27 semester hours beyond the nine semester hours included in the business common core.

The following courses are required for the B.B.A.:
     ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
     ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
     ACC 303 Intermediate Financial Accounting III
   ACC 361 Cost Accounting
     ACC 403 Federal Taxation
     ACC 404 Advanced Taxation
     ACC 405 Auditing
     ACC 407 Consolidation, Governmental and Not-For-Profit Accounting
     ACC 410 Fraud Examination

In addition, an accounting student must choose either the financial accounting option or the managerial accounting option by taking an additional six semester hours of courses specified below.

Financial Accounting Option

Students wishing to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam should select this option and take the following additional courses:

ACC 341 Business Law II

Plus one of the following:

ACC 411 Valuation of Closely Held Businesses
ACC 412 Valuation of Damages and Lost Profits

Managerial Accounting Option

Students primarily interested in careers in corporate or non-profit organizations and planning to sit for the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) exam should select this option and take the following additional courses:

FIN 320 Financial Management

Plus one of the following:

     MGT 340 Total Quality Management
     MIS 311 Business Models
     MIS 405 Business Applications Using Microcomputers
     ACC 411 Valuation of Closely Held Businesses
     ACC 412 Valuation of Damages and Lost Profits

Course Restrictions

For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Graduation Requirement:

To graduate, a student must:

Obtain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.3 or better in all courses completed;
Obtain a C+ or better in ACC 201 and;
Obtain a 2.0 GPA in all accounting courses.

Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Accounting Department should be able to:

Utilize critical thinking and data analysis skills to prepare and analyze financial statements.
Effectively communicate and convey accounting information orally and in writing.
Work in a group setting to solve complex financial and accounting problems.
Identify and resolve ethical issues related to the practice of accounting.
Demonstrate a broad understanding of accounting standards and an ability to resolve problems in the following areas: GAAP-US/IFRS accounting standards, tax rules and regulations, legal issues, fraud principles and standards, and business valuation standards.

Certification Examinations

A student may wish to sit for one of the primary certification exams: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Certificate in Management Accounting (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) or Accreditation in Business Valuation (ABV).

In Connecticut, the State Board of Accountancy in Hartford, Conn., administers the CPA exam. The Institute of Management Accountants in Montvale, N.J., administers the CMA exam.

Each certification has specific work experience requirements. Information concerning these requirements can be obtained by contacting the accounting department chair. Graduates wishing to take the CPA exam in Connecticut are required to have completed 120 credit hours of college education in order to sit for this exam, but must complete 150 hours to receive the certificate.

Students interested in satisfying the 150-hour requirement might want to pursue options, such as earning a B.B.A. in accounting followed by a second B.B.A. in Management Information Systems. Or, they may earn a B.B.A. in Accounting followed by a master’s degree in health care administration, business, or justice and law administration. Contact the accounting chair to inquire about other methods of satisfying the 150–hour requirement.

Placement and Work Experience Accounting Internships

Accounting Internships
Students majoring in accounting are strongly advised to obtain practical work experience in the field of public or corporate accounting during their junior and senior years. Many internships and part-time work opportunities in the accounting field are available to students.

Placement
The accounting department works closely with the Career Development Center to provide guidance to students seeking employment upon graduation. An active on-campus job interview program begins in the fall semester of the senior year.

Minor in Accounting

A minor in accounting is offered to non-accounting students wishing to develop additional competence in accounting. This requires a total of 18 credit hours in accounting. Students wishing to undertake a minor should consult with the accounting department chair.

For further information on the accounting program, please contact the department chair, Richard Proctor at proctorr@wcsu.edu or (203) 837-8744.