Financial Analysis

An introduction to the field of accounting with emphasis on corporate financial statements. Financial statements are viewed as a communication device conveying the financial health of a business to interested parties. The objective of this first course is to teach students to read, analyze, and interpret these financial statements. The emphasis is on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills using accounting concepts. Students are exposed to the steps used by accountants to record, measure, and process financial information. Cash flow analysis is contrasted with the accrual basis of accounting; the concepts of asset valuation and income measurement are discussed. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C. Prerequisites: completion of the College Mathematics Course Requirement with minimum grade of C-, or instructor permission.

An introduction to the preparation, uses, and analysis of common management accounting information. Topics include cost-volume-profit analysis, capital budgeting and present value applications, cash budgets, financial statement analysis, taxes, and management decisions, plus a brief introduction to modern cost accounting, with emphasis on activity-based costing systems. The development of problem-solving and analytical abilities is given primary importance throughout the course. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C. Prerequisites: MATH 140, MATH 141, or MATH 151 with a minimum grade of C-; and ACC 201 with a minimum grade of C.

Rigorous and comprehensive study of the means by which generally accepted accounting principles are used to generate the publicly-available information disseminated by modern U.S. corporations. Theoretical and practical criticisms and alternatives to current accounting practice are also considered, as is the idea of accounting as an information feedback system that allows individuals and organizations to reshape their environment. In addition, students are exposed to the realities of the economic and political climate surrounding the accounting standard-setting process. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C.Prerequisites: MATH 140, MATH 141, or MATH 151 with a minimum grade of “C-“; and ACC 201 with a minimum grade of “C.”

Continuation of ACC 301. As the ACC 301-02 sequence progresses, increased emphasis is placed on the relationship of modern accounting and information theory to current accounting practice. In addition, students are expected to develop an insight into the behavioral and economic consequences of the financial reporting process. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C. Prerequisite: ACC 301.

A study of the information needed by managers for planning, control and decisionmaking. Both the tools needed to generate this information and the principles involved in evaluating the information are covered. Topics include: breakeven analysis; product and process costing, including activity-based costing,standard costing and joint costs; cash budgets and forecasting; relevant costs and nonroutine decisions; the direct vs. absorption costing tradeoff; and capital budgeting. The overall level of difficulty in this course is generally consistent with the level of difficulty encountered on typical management accounting problems found on the Uniform CPA Examination. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C. Prerequisites: ACC 202 and ACC 301.

An introduction to the federal income tax system. Emphasis is on the ways in which the U.S. income tax laws influence personal and business behavior and decision making, and how the tax laws can be used to accomplish various economic and social objectives. Topics covered include an introduction to tax research, principles of income and deduction, tax liability, and tax credits. Individual taxation is the primary focus, but the basic principles apply to most forms of business organization as well. Accounting majors must pass this class with a minimum grade of C. Prerequisite: minimum sophomore standing.

A continuation of federal income taxation, with emphasis on property transactions,corporations, partnerships, and fiduciaries. A primary objective is decision-making from an after-tax point of view, that is, how taxes affect behavior. Topics include the tax effects of organizing, operating, and liquidating partnerships and corporations. Tax research methodology and the federal estate and gift tax are also covered. Prerequisite: ACC 350.

Provides students an ability to sense the occasions when a lawyer should be consulted for guidance in avoiding legal mistakes. A study is made of the ordinary legal aspects of common business transactions, including the topics of social forces, contracts, personal property, and agency.

Students learn to utilize spreadsheets to organize, manipulate, analyze, and present data and information in business settings.

A study of the many investments available for individual portfolios. Emphasis is placed on the risks inherent in investments and the methods and techniques of analysis used in selecting securities for investments. Prerequisite: completion of Base Curriculum; BUAD 360; or instructor permission.

The formal analysis of an organization’s macro and industry environment; its mission and goals; and strategy formulation, implementation, and control. This is a capstone course which integrates the student’s knowledge from the areas of accounting, finance, marketing, and management. Students are encouraged to take this course during their last semester; graduating seniors are given priority in enrollment. Prerequisites: completion of Base Curriculum; BUAD 185; BUAD 333 or 350; BUAD 360; and senior standing.

A comprehensive study of the essentials of software used by professionals, emphasizing applications of spreadsheets to fundamental data organization, presentation, analysis and decision making applications.

An introduction to the methods, models, and approaches used by economists to analyze and interpret events and policies related to the overall operation of the economy. The course endeavors to make sense of unemployment, inflation, recessions, debt and deficits, economic growth, the expanding role of the Federal Reserve, and policies to provide stability to the economy. Additional attention is given to the making of economic policy in an era of globalization. Finally, students are exposed to multiple schools of thought regarding macroeconomic reasoning. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 19 or above; SAT math score of 500 or above; pass MATH 099; or Accuplacer Advanced Algebra and Functions test score of 235 or higher, or university-level math requirement with a minimum grade of “C-.” Prerequisite or corequisite: ENG 102. GT-SS1

The theory of microeconomics makes use of the tools of marginal cost-benefit analysis to provide a framework for the economic analysis of decision-making. The focus is on the choices of individual firms and consumers, and the resultant outcomes in individual markets. The social implications of the functioning of competitive markets are examined, as well as the causes of market failure and the potential roles of government in correcting them. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 19 or above; SAT math score of 500 or above; pass MATH 099; or Accuplacer Advanced Algebra and Functions test score of 235 or higher, or university-level math requirement with a minimum grade of “C-.”

An introduction to descriptive statistics and statistical inference, with application in business, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and simple regression analysis. Prerequisite: MATH 140, MATH 141, or MATH 151 with a minimum grade of “C-.”

An analysis of competing theories about the overall functioning of economies including both growth and stabilization policies. Alternative models are examined at the levels of assumptions, mechanics, dynamics, and policy implications. Theories are examined within their historical context and the sets of problems faced by the theorists. Students are asked to engage, analyze, interpret and provide a course of action for real-world cases. Prerequisites: ECON 201; ECON 202; and MATH 140, MATH 141, or MATH 151 with a minimum grade of C-.

The application of advanced statistical methods and modeling to an empirical understanding of economic issues. Combines elements of statistical reasoning with economic theory and provides an excellent opportunity to combine concepts learned in previous economics courses. Topics covered include multiple regression analysis, model specification, dummy variables, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, limited dependent variables, simultaneity, time series, forecasting, and methodological issues. Prerequisites: ECON 201or ECON 202; and ECON 216 or MATH 213.

A survey of the core topics relating to the monetary sector of the economy. This includes an examination of the role and nature of money, financial institutions and markets, banking structure and regulation, determinants of interest rates, central bank policy, exchange rates, and the international monetary system. Attention is also given to particular monetary episodes such as the Great Depression, the Latin American debt crisis, the collapse of the Mexican Peso, and the Asian monetary collapse. Prerequisites: MATH 140, MATH 141, or MATH 151 with a minimum grade of “C-”; ECON 201.

An integration of the essential algebraic manipulations, solving equations and inequalities, polynomial functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and techniques of graphing. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 21 or above; SAT math score of 540 or above; MATH 099; or Accuplacer Elementary Advanced Algebra and Functions test score of 245 or above; or co-requisite MATH 102 (SAI). GT-MA1

This course explores the theory and applications of trigonometry, and includes an introduction to vector and matrix analysis. Topics may include the unit circle, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, complex numbers, vector geometry, and applied matrix techniques. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 23 or above; SAT math score of 560 or above; MATH 140 with a minimum grade of C-; or Accuplacer Advanced Algebra and Functions test with a score of 280 or above. GT-MA1

A study of differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem. This course also introduces Integral calculus including anti-derivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 27 or above; SAT math score of 630 or above; or MATH 141 with a minimum grade of C-. GT-MA1

A course in the use of statistical techniques to draw knowledge from data. Topics include exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, t-procedures, ANOVA, chi squared procedures, regression, and non-parametric tests. Statistical software is used extensively to analyze real data sets. Prerequisite: ACT math score of 27 or above; or SAT math score of 630 or above; or MATH 141 with a minimum grade of C-; or instructor permission.