2014-15 Academic Catalog

Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Interim Director: Frances McNair
Office: 300 McCool Hall, 325-3710

Academic Coordinator: Krystle Dixon
Office: 300A McCool Hall, 325-1631

The Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy is a professional school whose mission is to prepare students for successful careers in accountancy. Such career preparation includes a wide range of professional accounting activities, general education, and broad training in business administration. This program of study gives students the basic preparation for positions in all areas of accounting including, but not limited to, public, private, and governmental accounting. It also (1) requires students to take a planned and coordinated non-business program designed to increase their cultural appreciation and give them a broad knowledge of world affairs and (2) permits the election of additional non-business courses according to the interests of the individual student.

The accountancy program is accredited by the AACSB (The International Association for Management Education) as part of the overall accreditation of the College of Business as well as the separate and additional accreditation of accounting programs.

Certification

The Bachelor of Accountancy Degree (BACC) from the Adkerson School of Accountancy, Mississippi State University, is recognized by those states requiring the baccalaureate degree as a minimum, as fulfilling all the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. It is also recognized as meeting educational requirements to sit for the Certificate in Management Accountant (CMA) and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examinations. Graduates are encouraged to seek professional certification in one or more areas by passing these examinations.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) which prepares and grades the CPA examination, has urged the requirement of five years of academic preparation and has reflected this in the CPA examination. Students who aspire to become certified public accountants should consider the Master of Professional Accountancy or Master of Taxation programs herein described, in addition to the BACC.

Admission

Pre-Accountancy (PACC) - All students desiring to major in accounting will be admitted into Pre-Accountancy in the Adkerson School of Accountancy at Mississippi State University. Admission to the University is equivalent to admission to Pre-Accountancy. International students need a 575 TOEFL score to be admitted to Pre-Accountancy.

Bachelor of Accountancy (BACC) Candidate - Requirements for admission as a candidate for the BACC degree are listed below. Students will not be allowed to take 4000-level accounting courses if they have not been admitted to the Adkerson School of Accountancy, as an Accounting major.

  1. A student must complete 60 hours or more of college credit earned toward the BACC degree.
  2. A student must complete the pre-accountancy core listed below with a 2.6 GPA on all college work attempted and a 2.6 GPA on the 18 hours of pre-accountancy core.
  3. A student must complete Principles of Financial Accounting and Principles of Managerial Accounting with at least a B in each of the two courses.
     

Graduation

Bachelor of Accountancy (BACC) - Requirements for a BACC Degree from the Adkerson School of Accountancy are listed below. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the requirements of the BACC curriculum before applying for a degree.

  1. A student must be a BACC candidate and complete the required curriculum and a minimum of 124 semester hours.
  2. A student must achieve at least a 2.5/4.00 GPA in upper-division business, economics, and statistics courses.
  3. A student must achieve at least a 2.5/4.00 GPA in upper-division accounting courses with at least a C in each upper-division accounting course. A student who makes less than a C in an upper-division accounting course must repeat that course the next regular semester that the student is enrolled and the course is offered. Students will be permitted to repeat an upper-division accounting course only once in an effort to make a C in the course. If they make less than a C in two attempts in a specific course, they will no longer be able to continue in the accounting program.
  4. A student must achieve an overall and MSU GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
     

BACC Program of Study

General Education Requirements

English Composition
EN 1103English Composition I3
or EN 1163 Accelerated Composition I
EN 1113English Composition II3
or EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II
Mathematics & Statistics
MA 1313College Algebra3
MA 1613Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I3
See Major Requirements3
Natural Science
2 courses with labs from General Education courses6
Humanities
See General Education6
Fine Arts
See General Education3
Social/Behavioral Sciences
PS 1113American Government3
See General Education (excluding: AEC and EC)3
Accounting Major Requirements
Oral Communication Requirement
CO 1003Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
or CO 1013 Introduction to Communication
Computer Literacy
BIS 1012Introduction to Business Information Systems2
International Elective
See Adkerson School of Accountancy for list3
Pre-Accounting Core
ACC 2013Principles of Financial Accounting 13
ACC 2023Principles of Managerial Accounting 13
BQA 2113Business Statistical Methods I3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 2123Principles of Microeconomics3
BL 2413The Legal Environment of Business3
Business Ethics
PHI 3013Business Ethics3
Writing/Communication Course
Choose one of the following:3
Creative Writing
Principles of Legal Writing
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
Small Group Communication
Upper-level Business Courses
MGT 3114Principles of Management and Production4
MGT 3213Organizational Communications3
BQA 3123Business Statistical Methods II3
BL 3223The Law of Commercial Transactions3
MKT 3013Principles of Marketing3
BIS 3233Management Information Systems3
FIN 3123Financial Management3
BUS 4853Business Policy3
Upper-level Accounting Courses 2
ACC 3003Accounting Information Systems I3
ACC 3013Cost Accounting3
ACC 3023Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 3033Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC 3053Accounting Information Systems II3
ACC 4013Income Tax I3
ACC 4033Auditing3
Accounting Elective
Choose one of the following:3
Advanced Accounting
Municipal and Governmental Accounting
International Accounting
Income Tax II
Free Electives (Consult Advisor)10
Total Hours124
1

A grade of B or better is required in these courses.

2

A grade of C or better in required in ALL upper-level Accounting courses.

Accounting Minor

Students may obtain a minor in accounting by completing 15 hours of upper-level accounting courses with a C or better as follows:

ACC 3023Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 3033Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC Electives9

Double Degree in Accounting and Another Field

Combined curricula leading to a BACC degree and a degree in another field are available in the Adkerson School of Accountancy and the other colleges of Mississippi State University. Such curricula may be designed with a major in accounting combined with a major in any non-accounting field. This program requires that a student satisfy the normal graduation requirements in the other major as well as meet the GPA and course requirements of the BACC Degree.

The BACC as a Second Baccalaureate Degree

The curriculum is available to students who hold a baccalaureate degree in any recognized field of study from a regionally accredited institution. The candidate’s combined undergraduate program must include the same course and GPA requirements as required of anyone who receives the BACC degree. A minimum or 30 semester hours of upper division work must be earned in residence at Mississippi State University after the first degree has been conferred. Consult the Academic Coordinator, Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy, P.O. Drawer EF, Mississippi State, MS 39762 or email: sac@business.msstate.edu for specific details.

Masters Programs in Accounting

John Rigsby, Graduate Coordinator (MPA)
Frances McNair, Graduate Coordinator (MTX)
Departmental Office : McCool 300
662-325-3710

The Adkerson School of Accountancy offers two graduate programs in Accounting - Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) and Master of Taxation (MTX). Additional information can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Admission

An applicant to the MPA program should hold a bachelor’s degree from a fully recognized four-year institution of higher learning that enjoys unconditional accreditation by appropriate regional accrediting agencies. In addition, the applicant for the MPA degree must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Generally, regular admission to the MPA program requires a 450 GMAT score, a GPA of 3.0/4.0 over the last 60 hours of baccalaureate work and acceptable recommendation letters. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student’s application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of the materials contained in the student’s application. However, reasonable minimum levels of performance must be achieved in both the applicant’s GPA and GMAT scores.

Graduation

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) and Master of Taxation (MTX) - Requirements for an MPA or MTX degree from the Adkerson School of Accountancy are listed below.

  1. A student must complete the required curriculum and a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours.
  2. A student must achieve an overall GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 on graduate work attempted with no more than 6 hours of “C” grades.
  3. A student must pass an end-of-program final examination.
     

MPA Program of Study

Master of Professional Accountancy Program (MPA) - Candidates must complete 30 hours of course work at the graduate level. At least 21 of the 30 hours must be taken from courses offered exclusively for graduate credit (8000 level).

Required courses
ACC 6023Advanced Accounting (If not taken as an undergraduate)3
ACC 6063Income Tax II (If not taken as an undergraduate)3
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8023Advanced Managerial Accounting3
ACC 8033Business Assurance Services3
Accounting Electives
Choose two of the following:6
Municipal and Governmental Accounting
International Accounting
Fraud Examination
Financial Accounting Policy
Research in Tax Practice and Procedures
Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates
Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management
Concentration in Systems
In lieu of the above accounting electives, a student may elect a concentration in systems by taking the following three courses:
ACC 8043Fraud Examination3
BIS 8213Advanced Systems Analysis and Design3
BIS 8313Advanced Database Design Administration3
Non-accounting Electives
Elect from Graduate non-accounting, business, and economic courses.9

MTX Program of Study

Master of Taxation (MTX) Program - Candidates for the MTX degree must complete 30 hours of course work at the graduate level including a core of 15 hours of taxation, as described below. At least 21 of the 30 hours must be taken from courses offered exclusively for graduate credit (8000 level).

Required Tax Courses
ACC 8063Research in Tax Practice and Procedures3
ACC 8073Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders3
ACC 8093Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates3
ACC 8113Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management3
Elective - any 8000 level tax course3
Other Required Courses
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8033Business Assurance Services3
Electives
Graduate level Business or Accounting courses9

Consult the Director, Adkerson School of Accountancy, P.O. Box EF, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 for further information or E-mail: sac@business.msstate.edu .

Courses

ACC 1001 First Year Seminar: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. First-year seminars explore a diverse arrary of topics that provide students with an opportunity to learn about a specific discipline from skilled faculty members

ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Financial accounting fundamentals including accounting cycle, accounting systems, cash flow, assets, liabilities, equity, and forms of business organizations.Honors section available

ACC 2023 Principles of Managerial Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2013;PACC majors must have a grade of B or better in ACC 2013).Three hours lecture. Managerial accounting fundamentals including interpretation and use of management reports, cost behavior, cost accumulation, budgeting, financial statement analysis, responsibility organizations.Honors section available

ACC 2203 Survey of Accounting: 3 hours.

Fundamentals of financial, managerial, and cost accounting for interpreting accounting reports. Primarily for engineering and pre-MBA students. (Not open to undergrad accounting or business majors)

ACC 2990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 3003 Accounting Information Systems I: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in ACC 2013 and 2023). Three hours lecture. Using computerized information systems, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, network, and Internet software. Documenting accounting information system processes and establishing internal controls

ACC 3013 Cost Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in ACC 2013 and 2023). Three hours lecture. Cost accounting principles and techniques as applied to job order and continuous process types of industry; determination of unit costs; preparation of cost reports

ACC 3023 Intermediate Accounting I: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in ACC 2013 and 2023). Three hours lecture. Financial accounting and reporting related to the development of accounting standards, financial statements, income measurement, cash, receivables, inventory, property, plant, and equipment, intangibles, and investments

ACC 3033 Intermediate Accounting II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in ACC 3023).Three hours lecture. Financial accounting and reporting related to liabilities, leases, pensions, income taxes, stockholder's equity, accounting changes, errors, cash flows, and earnings per share

ACC 3053 Accounting Information Systems II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 3003). Three hours lecture. Designing and using accounting information systems in both computerized general ledger and database processing environments

ACC 3203 Financial Statement Analysis: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023) . Three hours lecture. For non-accounting majors. A study of financial statements from an external users perspective; an analysis of statements for purposes of determining loan and investment potential. (Same as FIN 3203 )

ACC 4000 Directed Individual Study in Accounting: 1-6 hours.

(Prerequisites: ACC 2023 and consent of Director of School of Accountancy). Hours and credits to be arranged

ACC 4013 Income Tax I: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in ACC 3023; not open to PACC students) Three hours lecture. An analysis of the Federal Income Tax law with emphasis on its application to the individual taxpayer

ACC 4023 Advanced Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 3033). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Financial accounting and reporting related to consolidations, partnerships and international business issues

ACC 4033 Auditing: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in ACC 3003 and 3023; not open to PACC students.) Three hours lecture. Fundamentals of auditing, including evaluating controls, assessing risk, designing audit programs, statistical sampling, professional ethics, and collecting evidence for financial, internal, operational, and compliance audits

ACC 4043 Municipal and Governmental Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023) . (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Accounting theory and practice applied to governmental units, state operated schools and colleges; classification and use of funds; fiscal procedures; bugetary control; financial statements; reports

ACC 4053 International Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. A study of the international dimension of accounting as it relates to multinational corporations and the international environment

ACC 4063 Income Tax II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 4013). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Discussion of the Federal Income Tax treatment of taxpayers other than individuals and the treatment of property transfers which are subject to Federal and State gift and death taxes

ACC 4200 Accounting Internship: 6 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior Standing and approval by the internship director prior to the internship). Credit to be arranged based on time and circumstances of the internship providing professional experience in audit, tax and other accounting related areas

ACC 4990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 6023 Advanced Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 3033). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Financial accounting and reporting related to consolidations, partnerships and international business issues

ACC 6043 Municipal and Governmental Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023) . (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Accounting theory and practice applied to governmental units, state operated schools and colleges; classification and use of funds; fiscal procedures; bugetary control; financial statements; reports

ACC 6053 International Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. A study of the international dimension of accounting as it relates to multinational corporations and the international environment

ACC 6063 Income Tax II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 4013). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Discussion of the Federal Income Tax treatment of taxpayers other than individuals and the treatment of property transfers which are subject to Federal and State gift and death taxes

ACC 6200 Accounting Internship: 6 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior Standing and approval by the internship director prior to the internship). Credit to be arranged based on time and circumstances of the internship providing professional experience in audit, tax and other accounting related areas

ACC 6990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 7000 Directed Individual Study in Accounting: 1-6 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ACC 8013 Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 3033) . Examination of the theoretical concepts, definitions, and models espoused in the accounting literature and relevant to analyzing various contemporary issues in financial accounting and reporting

ACC 8023 Advanced Managerial Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 3013). Three hours lecture. The study of theoretical conceptual and technical issues in planning, control and decision making

ACC 8033 Business Assurance Services: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: ACC 4033) . Three hours lecture. Financial statement auditing practices, including professional stan- dards, ethical responsibilities, legal liability, and re- porting requirements

ACC 8043 Fraud Examination: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite ACC 3053 and ACC 4033). Three hours lecture. Developing and executing a program of procedures to detect errors and frauds using information generated by computerized accounting systems

ACC 8053 Financial Accounting Policy: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: ACC 3033). Three hours lecture. Integrative course examining recent trends and developments in public accounting. Various problems and cases in financial reporting issues, ethics, and other accounting topics

ACC 8063 Research in Tax Practice and Procedures: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013) . Three hours lecture. Preparation of tax protests, tax planning; use of tax services; client representation; structure of Internal Revenue Service; and research problems in taxation

ACC 8073 Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013) Examination of federal income tax laws as applied to corporations and shareholders with an emphasis of how research issues deal with these topics

ACC 8093 Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013). Three hours lecture. An exam- ination of the income taxation of partnerships, S corpor- ations, trusts, and estates with an emphasis on how to re- search issues dealing with these topics

ACC 8101 Analysis Accounting Data: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. The analysis of accounting data extracted from an enterprise resource planning system to monitor business activities and support managerial decision making

ACC 8112 Financial Statement and Management Accounting Report Analysis for Decision Making: 2 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 8303 or equivalent). Two hours lecture. Analysis of financial statements and internal accounting reports to help management make decisions

ACC 8113 Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. An in-depth analysis of taxation of individuals with an emphasis on how to research issues dealing with these topics

ACC 8123 Tax Topics: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:ACC 4013). Three hours lecture. An examination of specialized taxation topics such as real estate taxation, state and local taxation, and bank taxation

ACC 8203 Advanced Accounting Analysis for Decision Making: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023). Three hours lecture. Application of accounting principles and concepts to alternative business possibilities as an aid to management decision making

ACC 8990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 9000 Dissertation Research/ Dissertation in Accounting: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ACC 9013 Seminar in Financial Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 8013) . Review and analysis of historical and current research in financial accounting theory. Emphasis on developing critical analytical skills for evaluating financial accounting research

ACC 9033 Seminar in Accounting Research: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor) Evaluation and analysis of academic research strategies and methodologies, emphasis on (1) understanding and evaluating empirical research results and (2) formulating and writing research proposals