Accounting Curriculum Overview
Charles A. Dana Professor Michael Puddicombe; Associate Professors David Blythe, Nasim Hosein and Sethuram Soman; Visiting Associate Professor Peter Appleton; Assistant Professor Jacqueline Strenio; Lecturers Bruce Faulkner, James Rogler and Cathlin Upton. Adjunct Instructors Daniel Alcorn, Nelson Anderson, Barry Bender, Joseph Bosley, Duncan Currier, John Dellapriscoli, Cam Ellsworth, Renato Merolli and Clare O’Shaughnessy.
Accounting is the language of business in that it captures, organizes, and presents financial information in a standardized way. The accounting program focuses on the process of analyzing, recording, communicating, and interpreting financial information about economic entities for the purpose of external and internal reporting and decision making. Our students integrate knowledge from other disciplines within the school: management, economics and computer information systems, to enter into organizations with both a functional and enterprise perspective.
Accreditation: The Accounting major is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Goals:
Build a solid foundation of accounting concepts, skills, and practical applications to prepare yourself for a wide array of professional opportunities.
This major provides students with the ability to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and application of accounting principles and procedures,
- Employ technology tools related to the area of accounting,
- Analyze alternatives to complex accounting problems,
- Utilize and integrate accounting information in business decision-making.
Outcomes:
- Able to prepare and interpret a set of general-purpose financial statements.
- Understand the external audit process including planning, risk assessment, evidence, audit procedures, and reporting, as well as its inherent limitations, all within the context of ethical behavior and legal liability.
- Able to prepare a comprehensive and complex personal income tax return using appropriate software.
- Possess an integrated understanding of the other major areas of business: management, economics, finance, marketing, etc.
Careers for this Major:
Accountants are employed in a wide variety of positions in public practice, business, industry, not-for-profits (hospitals, colleges and universities, charitable organizations, and voluntary health and welfare entities), education, and governmental units from the federal to the local level.
Accountants employed by public accounting firms may be employed as:
- Auditors
- Tax preparers, consultants, and planners
- Management consultants
- Forensic accountants
Accountants in business, industry, not-for-profit may be employed as:
- Financial accountants
- Managerial and cost accountants
- Tax accountants
- Financial and budget analysts
- Internal and EDP auditors
Accountants in government may be employed as:
- Tax auditors
- Regulatory compliance auditors
- Regulatory and contract analysts
- Budget analysts
- Law enforcement officers in cases of fraud or other white-collar crime
Professional Credentials:
Credentials are awarded based upon meeting specific educational, examination, and experiential requirements. Certified Public Accountants (CPA) are licensed by a state to provide accounting services to the public (see CPA requirements below). Accountants engaged in business, industry, or not-for-profit entities may obtain the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Global Chartered, Management Accountant (CGMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designations granted by professional associations for those fields.
CPA Requirements :
In addition to successfully completing the CPA examination, licensing requirements address specific educational, experiential, and/or residential requirements. See the requirements of the State Board of Accountancy or other licensing body for the correct state or the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (https://nasba.org/stateboards/).
Generally, students are required to have completed 150 credits to be qualified to sit for the CPA examination. State educational requirements may be general or highly specific as to the number and nature of courses and credits required in accounting and in other business or business-related disciplines to meet that state’s particular educational requirement for the exam; some states may even address the method and locations of course delivery.
Although the completion of the requirements of the Norwich University accounting major, either singly or in combination with a double major in management, provides a solid foundation in preparation for the CPA examination, it may not fully meet a particular state’s requirements. In such cases, students are encouraged to complete graduate-level education in accounting, taxation, or business to fulfill the necessary requirements.
Accounting (B.S.) – Curriculum Map 2021-2022 Catalog
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| CS 120 Business Applications & Problem Solving Techniques | 3 | EC 106 The Structure and Operation of the World Economy 1 | 3 | ||
| EN 110 Writing and Inquiry in Public Contexts | 3 | EN 111 Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts | 3 | ||
| MA 107 Precalculus Mathematics 2 | 4 | EN 112 Public Speaking | 3 | ||
| MG 101 Introduction to Business 1 | 3 | MA 108 Applied Calculus (General Education Math) | 4 | ||
| General Education Leadership | 1-3 | General Education Lab Science | 4 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 14-16 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| AC 205 Principles of Accounting-Financial c | 4 | AC 206 Principles of Accounting-Managerial c | 4 | ||
| MA 212 Finite Mathematics (General Education Math) | 3 | EC 202 Principles of Economics (Micro) | 3 | ||
| EC 201 Principles of Economics (Macro) (General Education Social Science) | 3 | EN 204 Professional and Technical Writing | 3 | ||
| General Education History | 3 | PH 322 Money, Meaning and Morality (General Education Ethics) | 3 | ||
| General Education Lab Science | 4 | QM 213 Business and Economic Statistics I | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 17 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| AC 335 Intermediate Accounting I | 3 | AC 336 Intermediate Accounting II | 3 | ||
| CS 300 Management Information Systems | 3 | AC 441 Cost Accounting | 3 | ||
| FN 311 Corporate Finance | 3 | EC 310 Money and Banking | 3 | ||
| MG 310 Production/Operations Management | 3 | MG 309 Management of Organizations | 3 | ||
| MG 314 Marketing Management | 3 | General Education Arts & Humanities | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| AC 442 Advanced Accounting | 4 | AC 419 Taxation I | 3 | ||
| MG 319 International Dimensions of Business | 3 | AC 428 Auditing | 3 | ||
| MG 341 Business Law I (General Education Ethics) | 3 | MG 346 Business Law II | 3 | ||
| General Education Literature | 3 | MG 449 Administrative Policy and Strategy (General Education Capstone) | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 16 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIS MAJOR: 125-127 | |||||
| c | Grade of C or higher required. |
| 1 | Must be taken Freshman year. Upper-level students without credit for these courses will substitute with an Elective Course from a School of Business & Management subject area. |
| 2 | Requires math placement score of 2. Students with a score below 2 must complete required prerequisite math course(s). MA107 requirement may be waived and the credit hours replaced with a Free Elective credits with a math placement score of 3. |
Accounting Minor 2021-2022 Catalog
Students seeking a minor in Accounting must obtain the approval of the School Director. An Accounting major is ineligible to declare the minor. Each course requires a grade of C or higher.
| AC 205 | Principles of Accounting-Financial | 4 |
| AC 206 | Principles of Accounting-Managerial | 4 |
| AC 335 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| AC 336 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| Any two of the following courses | 6-7 | |
| Business Law I | 3 | |
or FN 311 | Corporate Finance | |
| Taxation I | 3 | |
| Auditing | 3 | |
| Cost Accounting | 3 | |
| Advanced Accounting | 4 | |
| Total Cr. | 20-21 | |
Courses
AC 188 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
AC 199 Pilot Course 3 Cr.
This course number is used for trying new Accounting courses the first time they are offered prior to approval by the University's Curriculum Committee.
AC 201 Introduction to Accounting and Financial World 3 Cr.
A survey course of the basics of accounting and financial reporting and its use in communicating and evaluating a business entity's financial condition and performance. Commencing with the basic accounting equation, students learn how the financial transactions entered into by a business entity are captured, organized and summarized to reflect their impact on the financial position of the entity. Students also learn the contents and structure of the basic financial statements used to communicate the financial position, results of operation, and cash flows of the entity to both internal and external stakeholders. In addition, students will learn about available optional choices in the accounting treatment of certain items and the ramifications of those choices on financial reporting. Finally, student are exposed to basic financial statement analysis tools used to determine relative financial strengths and weaknesses of the entity. 3 Lecture hours. Not open to Management and Accounting majors. Offered: Fall, Spring.
AC 205 Principles of Accounting-Financial 4 Cr.
Introduction to accounting principles and theory for the sole proprietorship. The recording of business transactions through the accounting cycle, from journal entry, posting, adjusting, and closing entries through work papers and preparation of financial statements, is studied. Related topics include: internal control, receivables and payables, the control of cash transactions, inventories, depreciation, intangible assets, and payroll accounting. Ethical business practices and client privacy issues are stressed throughout all phases of the course.
AC 206 Principles of Accounting-Managerial 4 Cr.
The completion of the study of financial accounting and an introduction to and emphasis on managerial accounting. Topics covered include: partnerships, corporations, earnings per share, dividends, bonds payable, the Statement of Cash Flows, the analysis and interpretation of financial statements, the budgeting process and cost accounting concepts. Protection of proprietary information and information security is re-enforced throughout the course. Prerequisite: AC 205.
AC 288 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
AC 335 Intermediate Accounting I 3 Cr.
Building on the foundations of Principles of Accounting the course provides a more in-depth study of accounting theory and practice. Beginning with a brief review of the accounting process, the course delves into the conceptual framework for accounting, the accounting standards setting process, and the hierarchy of accounting pronouncements. The course then explores the components of the financial statement package including such issues as the quality of earnings and the measurement and reporting of unusual, infrequent, and non-operating items; the Statement of Cash flows is also studied in depth. Accounting, reporting, and valuation issues surrounding cash, receivables, inventory and long-term assets are also covered including the impairment of tangible and intangible assets. Prerequisite: AC 205 and AC 206, grade of C or higher.
AC 336 Intermediate Accounting II 3 Cr.
A continuation of the in-depth study of accounting theory and practice begun in Intermediate Accounting I. The course addresses the valuation, accounting, and reporting of both short and long-term investment securities, current and contingent liabilities, notes and bonds payable, and shareholders' equity. In addition, the accounting for leases, income taxes, pensions, stock-based compensation, earning per share, and accounting changes are also studied. Prerequisite: AC 335 or AC 205 and AC 206, grade of C or higher.
AC 388 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
AC 419 Taxation I 3 Cr.
Designed to introduce the student to certain elementary tax concepts: tax rate structure, exemptions, deductible versus non-deductible expenses, depreciation basis, capital gains and losses, tax credits, withholding, and computation of the personal income tax. Within the context of the personal income tax, planning considerations will be stressed as well as legal and ethical issues concerning client confidentiality. Prerequisites: AC 205 and AC 206, grade of C or higher.
AC 428 Auditing 3 Cr.
A study of the auditing environment, including legal liability and professional ethics begins with the concept of auditing and the auditing profession. Additional topics concerning the audit process, including internal control, evidence, sampling and EDP auditing and specific audit procedures are examined. In addition the nature and types of auditors' reports are studied. 3 Lecture hours. Prerequisite: AC 336.
AC 441 Cost Accounting 3 Cr.
A study of the basic elements of cost accounting concepts and procedures. Emphasis is on how cost data can be used as management tools. Cost behavior and control, cost-volume-profit relationships, job and process costing, activity-based accounting, budgeting and responsibility accounting, flexible budgeting and standards, income effects of alternative costing methods and cost behavior, costs and the decision process, and philosophy and organization of the master budget are analyzed. Prerequisite: AC 206.
AC 442 Advanced Accounting 4 Cr.
An advanced course emphasizing accounting theory and practical applications in selected areas. Such areas include: partnerships, branches, business combinations, consolidated financial statements, segment reporting, forecasts, multinational companies, bankruptcy, and accounting for governmental units and other non-profit entities. Prerequisite: AC 336.
AC 450 Internship in Accounting 3 Cr.
The internship program is designed for students who want to apply their studies by working in a public accounting firm or in private accounting within a business, industry, or public agency. The student will be required to work closely with a faculty supervisor to develop and implement a structured experience tailored to the career goals of the student. Prerequisites: Junior or higher standing. Permission of Department Chair and Internship Committee.
AC 488 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.