Accounting
The accounting area of emphasis is designed to prepare students for careers in accounting, business, not-for-profit, and government organizations. The areas of accounting study are financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, accounting systems, and auditing.
Course work in accounting conveys a comprehensive understanding of the theory and concepts that underlie accounting practice. Emphasis is placed on logical reasoning and the development, understanding, and use of information, which enable students to solve problems in accounting and management of organizations and to make sound accounting policy decisions.
Accounting students have two broad career options to consider after graduation. Those who aspire to pursue careers in public accounting must become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). The CPA designation is not as critical for other career paths in accounting, but becoming a CPA can be advantageous in any accounting career. Currently, an undergraduate degree, and 27 semester hours of accounting (including auditing), is required to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Colorado.
Students who wish to become CPAs should learn the status of the educational requirements of the state in which they hope to work following graduation. Each state has a board of accountancy that can provide this information.
Accounting students who are planning careers in business, government, or non-profit enterprises and wish to earn their undergraduate degree in accounting are strongly encouraged to take substantial course work outside of the required accounting courses, such as finance, information systems, and international business.
The accounting area of emphasis takes at least three semesters beyond the Business Core to complete, and requires 18 semester hours. Students should be aware of this requirement when planning their course schedules. Students in the accounting program are strongly advised to complete BCOR 1020 in their freshman year and 2000 and 2200 in their sophomore year.
Required Courses
These three required 3--- level courses are prerequisites for the 4--- level courses.
ACCT 3220 Corporate Financial Reporting I - 3 Credits
ACCT 3230 Corporate Financial Reporting II - 3 Credits
ACCT 3320 Cost Management - 3 Credits
Take 6 credit hours from the following 4--- level courses:
ACCT 4240/5240 Advanced Financial Accounting - 3 Credits
ACCT 4250/5250/6250 Financial Statement Analysis - 3 Credits
ACCT 4330/5330 Advanced Cost Management - 3 Credits
ACCT 4440/5440 Income Taxation – 3 Credits
ACCT 4540/5540 Accounting Information Systems - 3 Credits
ACCT 4620/5620 Auditing - 3 Credits
ACCT 4800/5800 Accounting for Government and Nonprofit Organizations - 3 Credits
ACCT 4820/5820 Experimental Seminar - variable credit
ACCT 4900-variable credit: Independent Study
ACCT 6000 – Accounting Internship – variable credit
ACCT 6350 Current Issues in Professional Accounting
ACCT 6620 Advanced Auditing: Business Risk and Decision Analysis
Required Senior Capstone Course
ACCT 4850-3. Senior Seminar in Accounting.- 3 Credits
The following course counts only as a business elective if taken SUMMER 2007 or LATER:
ACCT 4430 Personal Financial Planning,
Concurrent BSBA/MSBA in Accounting
The concurrent bachelor of science/master of science degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting or taxation best prepares the student for becoming a CPA. Although Colorado requires only 120 credit hours to become a CPA, most states required 150 credit hours.
The concurrent degree program in accounting is a 150 credit-hour program. Students earn a BSBA (120 credits) with an Area of Emphasis in accounting, finance, or information systems. The BSBA is awarded concurrently with the MSBA (30 credits) with an emphasis in accounting in either the financial or taxation tracks.
Admission
The annual application deadline is October 31.
The minimum admission criteria in order to be considered are a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 550.
Students usually apply in the fall of their 4th year. They must have completed ACCT 3220 and have completed or be currently enrolled in ACCT 3230.
Sample Degree Plan for the MSBA Financial Track (10 courses, 30 credits)
- Seven 5/6000 level accounting courses
- Advanced Business Law - BSLW 5120
- One business elective at the 4000 level
- Money and Banking - ECON 4111
Sample Degree plan for the MSBA Taxation Track (10 courses, 30 Credits)
- Eight 5/6000 level accounting courses, some at the Law School
- Advanced Business Law - BSLW 5120
- One business elective at the 4000 level
Contact Cathleen.Burns@colorado.edu for more information on this program.
For Details on Course Enrollment Policies, please see our website at Leeds.Colorado.edu > Academic Programs > Undergraduate Program > Curriculum Areas > Accounting
Course Descriptions
ACCT 2820-3: Introduction to Personal Financial Planning
Students learn the concepts, tools, and applications of personal finance and investments. Focuses on individual income taxation and development of a financial plan to achieve financial goals. Prerequisite 26 hours completed. Cannot be counted toward the Accounting major but counts as a Business Elective beginning summer 2007. Formerly ACCT 4430.
ACCT 3220-3: Corporate Financial Reporting I
First in a two-course sequence intended to provide students with increased fluency in the language of business. Focuses on accounting concepts and methods that underlie financial statements and related implications for interpreting financial accounting information.
Prerequisite: BCOR 2000, 2200 and 52 hours completed.
ACCT 3230-3: Corporate Financial Reporting II
Second in a two-course sequence, building and extending detailed knowledge of preparation, analysis, and use of financial statements. Prerequisite: ACCT 3220 and 52 hours completed.
ACCT 3320-3: Cost Management
Students review cost analysis to evaluate a firm’s control and decision making. Students review an analysis of activities, cost behavior, the role of accounting in planning and control, and managerial uses of cost data. Prerequisite: BCOR 2000, 2200 and 52 hours completed.
ACCT 4240/5240-3: Advanced Financial Accounting
Students learn advanced financial accounting theory and practice, with an emphasis on accounting for business combinations and consolidations. Prerequisite: ACCT 3230
ACCT 4250/5250/6250-3: Financial Statement Analysis
Focuses on the use of accounting information by decision makers external to the firm. Considers judgments made by investors, security analysts, bank lending officers, and auditors. Emphasizes equity valuation and risk analysis. Prerequisite: ACCT 3220.
ACCT 4330/5330-3: Advanced Cost Management
Students review critical analysis of advanced topics in managerial accounting. Current cases and readings are used to illustrate and examine the subject. Prerequisite: ACCT 3320.
ACCT 4440/5440-3: Income Taxation
Examines concepts and structure of the U.S. income tax system. Students focus on concepts affecting all taxpayers, with an emphasis on business entities. Prerequisite: ACCT 3220
ACCT 4540/5540-3: Accounting Information Systems
Considers the interaction of accountants with information systems and the role of accounting information systems in business processes. Focuses on the tools used by accountants and provides an understanding of accounting as an information system. Prerequisite: ACCT 3220.
ACCT 4620/5620-3: Auditing
Emphasizes the value of assurance services, including the market for financial-statement audits, and the audit decision process, from obtaining a client through planning and testing, to issuance of the audit report. Focuses on making judgments and decisions under conditions of uncertainty and continually evaluating the substance of business transactions over their form. Prerequisite: ACCT 3230.
ACCT 4800/5800-3: Accounting for Government and Nonprofit Organizations
Looks at planning and control of government and nonprofit organizations. Includes program budgets, responsibility accounting, and fund accounting. Prerequisite: ACCT 3220
ACCT 4820/5820-variable credit: Experimental Seminar
ACCT 4850-3. Senior Seminar in Accounting
This seminar examines the nature of accounting theory and practice from perspectives of economics law, globalization, accounting, ethics, and moral reasoning. This course also explores issues including implications of institutional factors, such as Sarbanes-Oxley, SEC, FASB, IFRS, and capital markets. Prereqs., BCOR 2000, ACCT 3230, one 4000-level ACCT course, and 102 hours completed. Restricted to graduating senior ACCT majors. Formerly BCOR 4001. Offered Fall and Spring ONLY
ACCT 4900/6900 – Independent Study
ACCT 6000 – variable credit: Accounting Internship
Prerequisite: 90 hours completed. Cannot be counted toward the Accounting major but counts as a Business Elective.
ACCT 6350 – 3: Current Issues in Professional Accounting
Focuses on application, integration, and extension of accounting theory and practice. Prerequisite: Concurrent or MS degree program only, ACCT 3230, and Director Consent.
ACCT 6620-3: Advanced Auditing : Business Risk and Decision Analysis
Explores contemporary issues, historical developments, and selected topics pertinent to business assurance services by independent accountants. Emphasizes improving both the decision behavior of decision makers and the quality of information, or its context, for decision makers. Prerequisite: Concurrent or MS degree program only, ACCT 4620/5620 and Director consent.
Updated 3/2009