School of Professional Programs Accounting Bachelor of Science Completion Twin Cities Rochester Accounting is considered the language of business; it is the analysis and recording of economic data and the subsequent preparation of reports and information used in the decision-making process in the management of a company. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is designed to prepare individuals for careers in corporations, public accounting firms, government, and not-for-profit organizations. The program develops the technical competencies, communication skills, and ethical frameworks which are valued by today s employers and necessary to succeed in the professional accounting environment. Students complete courses which provide a foundation for the CMA and CPA exams. Additional courses necessary to fulfill the 150 semester hour requirement for CPA certification are available at the undergraduate level or in graduate programs offered at the university. Program Outcomes Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program are expected to be able to do the following: 1. Record, analyze, interpret, and report financial information using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). 2. Analyze and interpret financial and non-financial information to aid decision-makers within an organization. 3. Understand and follow the laws and regulations applicable to accounting practice. 4. Apply internal control procedures based on auditing principles and risk analysis. 5. Prepare tax returns based on accurate understanding of tax laws. 6. Understand the global and economic business environment in which an organization operates. 7. Incorporate an ethical perspective into the accounting environment. 8. Use appropriate technology to maintain systems, analyze data, and communicate results. 9. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 10. Work effectively with diverse populations and groups. 11. Demonstrate critical thinking skills. 12. Develop strategies for learning new skills and updating knowledge. 13. Demonstrate the general education competencies required for graduation.
Degree Requirements A minimum of 122 credits is required for graduation with a bachelor of science degree from Saint Mary s University. All students must meet the 10 general education competencies. A minimum of 54 credits is required to complete the B.S. in Accounting. Required Accounting Courses or Transfer courses... 6 cr. Required Accounting Courses... 24 cr. Required Management Courses... 15 cr. Required Communications Courses... 6 cr. Capstone... 3 cr. TOTAL... 54 cr. Students who transfer in AC200 and AC205 can complete the program with 48 program credits. Required Accounting Courses: 27 cr. AC200 Financial Accounting Principles 3 cr. AC205 Managerial Accounting Principles 3 cr. AC300 Intermediate Accounting I 3 cr. AC305 Intermediate Accounting II 3 cr. AC310 Business Taxation 3 cr. AC315 Cost Accounting 3 cr. AC400 Advanced Accounting 3 cr. AC405 Auditing 3 cr. AC410 Corporate Finance 3 cr. Electives: 3 cr. AC308 Individual Taxation 3 cr. AC415 International Accounting 3 cr. AC420 Forensic Accounting And Forensic Auditing 3 cr. Required Management Courses: 15 cr. MG305 Managerial Ethics 3 cr. MG311 Economics for Managers 3 cr. BU400 Business Law 3 cr. MG401 Principles of Management 3 cr. OR MG307 Principles of Leadership 3 cr. BU403 Applied Statistics 3 cr. Faculty The faculty members for the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program have earned doctorate or master s degrees. Faculty are selected for their combination of educational and professional experience and expertise. Course Descriptions Required Accounting Courses AC200 Financial Accounting Principles (3 cr.) Students may transfer equivalent coursework. This course is an introduction to the accounting principles and procedures used to maintain an organization s financial records and to prepare its financial statements for use by its stakeholders. Topics include an introduction to the accounting profession, the accounting cycle and process of analyzing and recording transactions, and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) used in the preparation and analysis of financial statements. AC205 Managerial Accounting Principles (3 cr.) Students may transfer equivalent coursework This course is an introduction to the managerial accounting and reporting systems used for decisionmaking purposes. Topics include cost accounting and variances, cost-volume-profit relationships, job order and process cost systems, budgeting and measuring performance, and an introduction to the time value of money and the capital budgeting process. AC300 Intermediate Accounting I (3 cr.) This course is a comprehensive study of financial accounting theory. Topics include the formation of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), financial statement presentation and valuation, revenue recognition concepts, time value of money, cash and marketable securities, accounts receivable, and inventories. Required Communications Courses: 6 cr. CM309 Professional Writing 3 cr. CM310 Oral Communications 3 cr. Required Capstone: 3 cr. AC490 Accounting Capstone 3 cr.
AC305 Intermediate Accounting II (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC300 This course is a continuation of the comprehensive study of financial accounting theory. Topics include fixed assets and depreciation, long-term investments, current and contingent liabilities, long-term liabilities, contributed capital, leases, accounting for income taxes, earnings per share, and post-retirement benefits. AC310 Business Taxation (3 cr.) This course provides an introduction to corporate federal income tax law. Tax provisions and administrative rules pertaining to corporations and alternative organizational structures are examined. AC315 Cost Accounting (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC205 This course covers cost accounting as it applies to both manufacturing and service organizations. Topics include job order and process cost systems, budgeting, standard costing, and other selected accounting topics which are used in management decision making. AC400 Advanced Accounting (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC305 This course examines advanced accounting problems, theory, and financial statement presentations. Topics include consolidations, business combinations, governmental and non-profit reporting, partnership accounting, and foreign exchange transactions. AC405 Auditing (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC300 This course covers audit theory and practice. It emphasizes applying audit theories and procedures in the examination of a company s financial statements by a certified public accountant. Auditing standards, professional ethics, legal responsibilities, and current auditing trends are discussed. AC410 Corporate Finance (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC205 This course is an in-depth study of corporate financial management strategies. It focuses on decisions regarding risk and return, the management of current assets and current liabilities, capital budgeting using the time value of money concepts, and the maximization of shareholder wealth in a global economy. It also examines organizational use of the stock market and other financial institutions and systems. Electives AC308 Individual Taxation (3 cr.) This course provides an introduction to federal income tax law and regulations for individuals. Topics include determination of gross income and taxable income for individuals, the impact of divorce, estates and trusts, and other ways of minimizing individual taxes. AC415 International Accounting (3 cr.) Prerequisite: AC400 This course examines the accounting and reporting issues of foreign owned operations faced by large international firms. Topics include the differences in the accounting principles followed in various countries, determination of the appropriate method to be used in translating and consolidating foreign owned entities with the parent organization, and the harmonization of accounting principles around the globe. AC420 Forensic Accounting and Forensic Auditing (3 cr.) This course examines forensic accounting and the procedures used to review and identify fraudulent transactions. Topics include fraud audit techniques, policies and safeguards for the prevention of fraud, and the use of technology in the forensic audit process. Required Management Courses MG305 Managerial Ethics (3 cr.) This course introduces students to the important moral issues that arise in various organizational contexts. It examines the social, political, and economic environments within which moral issues occur. The ethical concepts and reasoning skills relevant for resolving moral dilemmas are presented.
MG311 Economics for Managers (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of the macro and microeconomics theories used by individuals in various management and business professions. The economic decisions made by households and organizations in various markets are examined. Also examined are the laws of supply and demand, the macroeconomic indicators of the economy, business cycle analysis, the forces of production and consumption, labor market theory, and consumer choice. The impact of government economic policies on organizations is also examined. MG401 Principles of Management (3 cr.) This course explores the concepts and theories of management and their application in today s managerial environment. It examines the essential functions of management: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Required Communications Courses CM309 Professional Writing (3 cr.) This course provides strategies for developing a clear, concise professional writing style. A variety of writing formats, including business letters and memos, formal research proposals, and reports are addressed. Voice, style, audience, purpose and the writing process, including strategies for editing and revision, are examined in the context of interpersonal and ethical dimensions. CM310 Oral Communications (3 cr.) Communication skills pertinent to organizational settings form the foundation of this course. Effective methods for design and delivery of oral communication are examined. Other topics include communication styles, interpersonal communication skills, dynamics of small group communication and persuasive speaking. MG307 Principles of Leadership (3 cr.) This course presents a broad survey of theory and research on leadership. It examines classical and scientific management perspectives and considers contemporary theories and practices of organizational leadership. BU400 Business Law (3 cr.) This introductory course examines the legal context for business, including the legal and regulatory system, the law of contracts, property laws and torts, and forms of business organization, including partnerships and corporations. The course also introduces areas of law and regulation which affect business activities, including employment law, securities, antitrust, bankruptcy, consumer protections, and environmental laws. Required Capstone Course AC490 Accounting Capstone (3 cr.) Prerequisite: All other requirements of the program This course integrates knowledge and skills developed in previous accounting and related courses and provides the student opportunity to apply accounting principles and various rules to an area of interest. Each student selects a particular area of interest in the accounting area to be addresses in a final paper and presentation. BU403 Applied Statistics (3 cr.) This course presents the theory and procedures of data analysis. It focuses on measures of central tendency and dispersion, simple probability, data analysis and an overview of statistical inference.
Admission Requirements Applicants may apply for admission to undergraduate certificate and degree programs at any time during the year and, if accepted, begin the program during any one of the three semesters. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful undergraduate coursework. Applicants must provide evidence of at least 30 transferable semester credits upon acceptance including completion of a basic English composition course. Application Process Applicants must submit: 1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel) and, 2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary s University of Minnesota from the institution with a minimum of 30 semester credits with one basic English composition course. (An official transcript is one that is sent or carried to the university in an envelope sealed by the granting university. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated by a university accepted evaluation source, such as World Education Services, www.wes.org, or Educational Credential Evaluators, www.ece.org, and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.) and, 3. Complete an interview with a program administrator. Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Twin Cities campus. Application Criteria for Students with International Transcripts All applicants whose native language is not English and/ or who submit a transcript from a country other than the U.S. must provide evidence of successfully completing a university approved English Language Assessment exam. This includes the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 79 for the Internet based test or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 80. An English Language Assessment exam is not required if the applicant has a bachelor degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or has successfully completed the appropriate graduate preparatory English Language Academy (ELA) coursework at Saint Mary s University as determined through the ELA placement exams. Minimum requirements include completion of courses ELA400 and ELA401, with a grade of B or higher. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards. Students are responsible for having their transcripts evaluated, as well as associated costs. Accreditation Saint Mary s University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, (312) 263-0456 or http://www. ncahlc.org. Student Conduct Students are expected to comply with the legal and ethical standards of Saint Mary s University. Academic dishonesty and non-academic misconduct are subject to disciplinary action. Specific instances of misconduct include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the university, and forging or altering university documents or academic credentials.
Statement of Nondiscrimination Saint Mary s University of Minnesota adheres to the principle that all persons have equal opportunity and access to admission, employment, facilities, and all programs and activities of the university regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or disability. Address questions to: Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, (507) 457-1587. University Policy Saint Mary s University reserves the right to revise, supplement, and otherwise amend the policies, procedures, or fees contained in this brochure and the university catalog. The university further reserves the right to cancel programs and courses for any reason. The university also reserves the right to change the curriculum and may make such changes without notice to students. This brochure should not be read as a guarantee of the classes or courses set out herein. About Saint Mary s University of Minnesota Saint Mary s University of Minnesota is dedicated to advancing the educational and career goals of today s students. Saint Mary s has more than 5,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs in Winona, the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nairobi, Kenya. At Saint Mary s residential campus in Winona, the undergraduate College curriculum combines traditional liberal arts and sciences with career preparation in a student-centered environment. The Schools of Graduate & Professional Programs is one of the largest graduate schools in Minnesota. A pioneer in outreach education since 1984, it creates communities of learning when and where they are needed, serving both adult learners and the educational needs of society. Bachelor of Science Completion Accounting Schools of Graduate & Professional Programs Twin Cities Campus 2500 Park Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403 (612) 728-5100 Toll-free: (866) 437-2788 Fax: (612) 728-5121 Email: tc-admission@smumn.edu Rochester Center 1926 Collegeview Drive S.E. Rochester, MN 55904-4999 (507) 285-1410 Toll-free: (877) 768-4545 Fax: (507) 285-1086 Email: rc-admission@smumn.edu To learn more about Saint Mary s, its programs and locations, go online to: www.smumn.edu. Copyright 2009 by Saint Mary s University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Rev. 10/09