WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 : Ancell School of Business

Accounting

Michele Ganon, Department Chair
ganonm@wcsu.edu
Westside Classroom Building 303, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8742
(203) 837- 8955 (fax)

Judy McGee, Department Secretary
mcgeej@wcsu.edu
Westside Classroom Building 249, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8342
(203) 837- 8955 (fax)


Faculty

M. Ganon, Chair J. Ahn J. Donegan
X. Jiang Y. Kim G. Rotondo


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.


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.


Degree Programs in Accounting

B.B.A. Accounting
Financial option
Managerial option

Liberal Arts & Sciences 40 semester hours
Business Common Core courses** 34 semester hours
Accounting Major Core courses 18 semester hours
Financial or Managerial Accounting option 15 semester hours
General electives 13 semester hours
Total credit hours 120 semester hours

 

Minor
Accounting


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

BBA Accounting – Financial Option

Description: 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. The Financial Accounting Option is the best choice for students planning to sit for the CPA exam. 

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 67 SH.  

BBA CORE   
MKT 101 Orientation to Ancell Undergraduate Programs  1 SH 
ACC 201 Financial Accounting  3 SH 
ACC 202 Managerial Accounting  3 SH 
FIN 230 Business Statistics  3 SH 
FIN 310 Principles of Finance  3 SH 
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior (CT)  3 SH 
MGT 320 Operations Management  3 SH 
MIS 260 Information Systems Concepts (IL)  3 SH 
MKT 200 Principles of Marketing  3 SH 
MKT 305 Global Environment of Business (IC)  3 SH 
JLA 240 Commercial Law OR ACC 340 Business Law I  3 SH 
MGT 415 Strategic Management (CE, W3)  3 SH 
ACCOUNTING CORE 
ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I  3 SH 
ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II  3 SH 
ACC 303 Accounting Theory and Topics  3 SH 
ACC 306 Accounting Information Systems 3 SH
ACC 361 Cost Accounting  3 SH 
ACC 403 Federal Taxation  3 SH 
ACC 405 Auditing  3 SH 
Financial Accounting Option
Select four 400-level ACC courses or ACC 341 Business Law II  12 SH 
COGNATES 
WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)  3 SH 
COM 160 Public Speaking (OC); COM 161 Decision Making in Groups (OC); OR COM 163 Intro to Human Communication (OC)  3 SH 
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (CT) pre-req MAT 118 or higher  3 SH 
ECO 213 Principles of Microeconomics (CT) pre-req MAT 118 or higher  3 SH 
MAT 118 Elem. Applied Math; MAT 133 Pre-calc; MAT 135 Diff Bus Calc & Apps; OR MAT 181 Calc I (QR)   3-4 SH 
Minimum GPA for the BBA in Accounting = 2.0.


General Education
: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.  


Sample Four Year Plan: BBA Accounting – Financial Option:
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1  SH  Semester 2  SH 
MKT 101 Orientation to Ancell (FY)  1  WRT 101 Composition I (W1)  3 
MIS 260 Info. Sys. Concepts (IL)  3  Gen Ed: Health and Wellness (HW)  2
Gen Ed: Intercultural Comp. (IC)  3  MAT 118/MAT 133/MAT 135/MAT 181 (QR)   3-4 
MAT 100 Intermediate Math (if required) OR Gen Ed: Breadth   3  Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) COM 160, 161 or 163 OR Creative Process (CP)
Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) COM 160, 161, or 163 OR Creative Process (CP) 3  Gen Ed: Breadth 3 
Gen Ed: Breadth  3    
Semester 3  SH  Semester 4  SH 
ACC 201 Financial Accounting  3  ACC 202 Managerial Accounting 3 
FIN 230 Business Statistics (QR, Rp.t 1)  3  ACC 301 Intermediate Fin. Accounting I 3 
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior (CT)  3  MKT 200 Principles of Marketing  3 
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (CT)  3  ECO 213 Principles of Microeconomics (CT), Rpt 2)  3 
WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)  3  Gen Ed: Breadth 3 
       
Semester 5  SH Semester 6  SH
ACC 302 Intermediate Fin Acc II  3  ACC 303 Accounting Theory  3 
ACC 306 Accounting Info Systems 3  FIN 310 Princ. of Finance 3 
ACC 361 Cost Accounting  3  ACC Elective 1 3 
JLA 240 Commercial Law  3  MGT 320 Operations Management  3 
Gen Ed: Breadth  3  Gen Ed Scientific Inquiry (SI)  4 
  SH   SH
Semester 7    Semester 8   
ACC 403 Federal Taxation  3  ACC Elective 3  3 
ACC Elective 2 3  ACC Elective 4  3 
ACC 405 Auditing  3  MGT 415 Strategic Mgmt (CE, W3)  3 
MKT 305 Global Env. Bus. (IC, Rpt. 3) 3  Free Electives  5-6
Free electives/ Gen Ed Breadth  3 
 
Total Credits Required for the BBA in Accounting = 120; Minimum GPA 2.0. 

 


BBA Accounting
– Managerial Option

Description: 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. Students have the option to focus on Financial or Managerial Accounting.  

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 67 SH.  

BBA CORE   
MKT 101 Orientation to Ancell Undergraduate Programs  1 SH 
ACC 201 Financial Accounting  3 SH 
ACC 202 Managerial Accounting  3 SH 
FIN 230 Business Statistics  3 SH 
FIN 310 Principles of Finance  3 SH 
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior (CT)  3 SH 
MGT 320 Operations Management  3 SH 
MIS 260 Information Systems Concepts (IL)  3 SH 
MKT 200 Principles of Marketing  3 SH 
MKT 305 Global Environment of Business (IC)  3 SH 
JLA 240 Commercial Law OR ACC 340 Business Law I  3 SH 
MGT 415 Strategic Management (CE, W3)  3 SH 
ACCOUNTING CORE 
ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I  3 SH 
ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II  3 SH 
ACC 303 Accounting Theory and Topics  3 SH 
ACC 306 Accounting Information Systems 3 SH
ACC 361 Cost Accounting  3 SH 
ACC 403 Federal Taxation  3 SH 
ACC 405 Auditing  3 SH 
Managerial Accounting Option
FIN 320 Financial Management  3 SH 
Select three (3) from the following: MGT 340 Total Quality Management; MIS 311 Business Models; or any 400 level ACC elective courses  9 SH 
COGNATES 
WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)  3 SH 
COM 160 Public Speaking (OC); COM 161 Decision Making in Groups (OC); OR COM 163 Intro to Human Comm (OC)  3 SH 
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (CT) pre-req MAT 118 or higher  3 SH 
ECO 213 Principles of Microeconomics (CT) pre-req MAT 118 or higher  3 SH 
MAT 118 Elem. Applied Math; MAT 133 Pre-Calc; MAT 135 Diff Bus Calc & Apps; OR MAT 181 Calc I (QR)  3-4 SH 
Minimum GPA for the BBA in Accounting = 2.0.


General Education
: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.  


Sample Four Year Plan: BBA Accounting – Managerial Option:

Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1  SH  Semester 2  SH 
MKT 101 Orientation to Ancell (FY)  1  WRT 101 Composition I (W1)  3 
MIS 260 Info. Systems Concepts (IL)  3  Gen Ed: Health and Wellness (HW)  2
MAT 100 Intermediate Math (if required) OR Gen Ed: Breadth  3  MAT 118/MAT 133/MAT 135/MAT 181 (QR)   3-4 
Gen Ed: Intercultural Comp. (IC)  3  Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) COM 160, 161, or 163 OR Creative Process (CP) 3
Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) COM 160, 161, or 163 OR Creative Process (CP) 3  Gen Ed: Breadth 3 
Gen Ed: Breadth  3     
       
Semester 3  SH  Semester 4  SH 
ACC 201 Financial Accounting 3  ACC 301 Interm Fin. Accounting I  3 
FIN 230 Business Statistics (QR, Rp.t 1)  3  MKT 200 Principles of Marketing  3 
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior (CT)  3  Gen Ed: Breadth 3 
ECO 211 Principles of. Macroeconomics (CT, Rpt. 2)  3  ECO 213 Principles. Microeconomics (CT)  3 
WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)  3  ACC 202 Managerial Accounting 3 
       
Semester 5  SH Semester 6   
ACC 302 Interm. Fin Acc II  3  Gen Ed Scientific Inquiry (SI)  4 
ACC 306 Accounting Information Systems 3  ACC 303 Accounting Theory  3 
ACC 361 Cost Accounting  3  FIN 310 Princ. of Finance 3 
JLA 240 Commercial Law 3  Option Course I  3 
Gen Ed: Breadth  3  MGT 320 Operations Management  3 
       
Semester 7  SH Semester 8  SH
ACC 403 Federal Taxation  3  Option Course III 3 
Option Course II  3  FIN 320 Financial Management 3 
ACC 405 Auditing  3  MGT 415 Strategic Mgt. (CE, W3)  3 
MKT 305 Global Env. Bus. (IC, Rpt. 3) 3  Free Electives/ Gen Ed. Breadth 5-6
Free electives/ Gen Ed Breadth  3     
Total Credits Required for the BBA in Accounting = 120; Minimum GPA 2.0. 

 

Certification Examinations

A student may wish to sit for one of the primary certification exams: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Certificate in Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

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 and a WCSU Accounting Degree fulfills the requirements to sit for the CPA exam.  Licensing requires an additional 30 credits (i.e. 150 credits).

Students interested in satisfying the 150-hour requirement might want to pursue a double-major in accounting and Finance or MIS.  Some students meet the 150 hour requirement by earning an MBA at WCSU. 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 Success 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
18 SH

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.

Required Courses (12 SH):
ACC 201 Financial Accounting
ACC 202 Managerial Accounting
ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II

Select two course (6 SH) from the following:
ACC 303 Intermediate Financial Accounting III
ACC 306 Accounting Information Systems
ACC 361 Cost Accounting
ACC 402 Government and Non-Profit Accounting
ACC 403 Federal Taxation
ACC 404 Advanced Taxation
ACC 405 Auditing
ACC 407 Advanced Accounting
ACC 410 Fraud Examination
ACC 413 Financial Statement Analysis
ACC 420 Data Analytics in Accounting

For further information on the accounting program, please contact the department chair, Michele Ganon at ganonm@wcsu.edu or (203) 837-8742.