Program Description
Accounting is the one degree that gives you the education needed to succeed in every aspect of the business world. You’ll be prepared to earn your certification in public accounting, management accounting and internal auditing after graduation. At the same time, because accounting is the international language of business, it also gives you a wide range of career opportunities beyond those certifications.
Points of Pride
The School of Accounting at Central Michigan University is one of just 180 in the country (one of five in Michigan) to have earned prestigious accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This accreditation assures you that CMU provides a top-quality education. It tells employers that CMU students graduate ready and qualified to perform.
Through CMU’s CPA Fast Track program, you can choose to study and sit for the CPA exam during the summer – while earning credit toward the 150-hour state licensing requirement. You also can leverage CMU’s SAP University Alliance to mix technical accounting and information systems knowledge, with the opportunity for TERP10 certification. Accountants with IT knowledge are in high demand, so you’ll stand out among peers from across the nation.
If you’re an ambitious, hard-working undergrad, be sure to check out CMU’s accelerated MBA program for accounting students. It positions you to graduate in five years with your MBA, TERP 10 certification and CPA. Employment opportunities for such accounting graduates are almost endless.
Put Your Degree to Work
Accountants have titles such as chief executive officer, chief financial officer, managing partner and controller. They work for national and international business firms, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and in their own companies. Many work in certified public accounting firms providing management consulting services, auditing services, personal and financial planning, and tax services. Others work in finance and operations for corporations or manage the revenues of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data
Below is a list of potential careers, median salary over the course of the career and projected job growth.
| Job | Median Pay | Job Growth through 2026 |
|---|
| Accountant/auditor | $69,350 per year | 10% (139,900 more jobs) |
| Budget analyst | $75,240 per year | 7% (3,800 more jobs) |
| Top executive (CEO/CFO) | $106,700 per year | 8% (193,100 more jobs) |
| Management analyst | $82,450 per year | 14% (115,200 more jobs) |
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
Accounting Major
Total: 39 semester hours
Note: Accounting and business electives depend on the student's career objectives and should be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.
Common Body of Knowledge Courses I
(6 hours)
BUS 100
Essential Business Skills
3
Introduces students to the concept of a business, its disciplines, and essential business skills including decision making, team work, and oral and written communication. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
MGT 499
Integrated Capstone-Strategic Management
3
An integrative capstone course applying and analyzing financial, marketing, supply chain and other business functions within a global strategic management perspective. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: 86 semester hours completed; BUS 300, 301; MGT/MKT 303; FIN 302; MKT 304; Tier 2 Admission to Professional Business Studies. Preference given to graduating seniors.
Common Body of Knowledge Courses II
(3 hours)
Select one of the following:
BUS 300QR
Applied Business Statistics
3
Applications of statistical analysis to support business decision making. Covers collection of business data, analysis of business datasets, and presentation of results. This course may be taught in an online format. Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 26 hours completed.
BUS 503
Business Process Improvement
3
This course applies principles and practices of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and other operations improvements that have been demonstrated to bring value to business. LSS builds on a business statistics foundation. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 56 semester hours completed.
Accounting Core
(21 hours)
Note: ACC 311, 321, 370, 501, and 531 are required to take the CPA exam.
ACC 301
Intermediate Accounting I
3
Study of financial accounting processes, theory and principles. Includes analysis of financial statements and financial reporting issues. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. Pre/Co-Requisites: ACC 202 or ACC 255.
ACC 302
Intermediate Accounting II
3
Continuation of ACC 301. Course includes in-depth study of special reporting issues related to financial accounting. Prerequisites: ACC 301; and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 311
Federal Income Taxation I
3
Basic concepts of federal income taxation, emphasizing individual taxpayers. Tax law covering taxable and excludable income, deductions, basis, tax-free exchanges, capital gains and losses, tax credits, deferral of tax, and depreciation. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor. Recommended: ACC 202 or 255.
ACC 321
Managerial Cost Accounting
3
Accumulation and use of cost accounting information for planning and controlling. Process, job order, and standard cost systems. Prerequisites: ACC 202 or 255; STA 282 or 382; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 370
Accounting Systems and Controls
3
The use of internal accounting control theory to evaluate and improve accounting systems. Enterprise resource planning and electronic commerce topics are also addressed. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor. Pre/Co-Requisites: ACC 302 and 321.
ACC 501
Advanced Accounting
3
Incorporate investments and consolidated statements, purchases, and goodwill, segment reporting, interim reporting, partnerships, foreign operations, and fund accounting. Prerequisites: ACC 301, 302; 56 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor; or graduate status.
ACC 531
Auditing and Assurance Services
3
A study of assurance services offered by professional services firms with major emphasis on the traditional auditing concepts and procedures. Prerequisites: signed major authorization in accounting; completion or concurrent enrollment in ACC 370; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
Electives I
(6-9 hours)
Select 2 or 3 courses from the following:
ACC 511
Federal Income Tax II
3
Formation, operation, distributions, redemption, dissolution, and liquidation of corporations, partnerships, Subchapter S corporations and personal holding companies; accumulated earnings tax; tax shelter investments. Prerequisites: ACC 311; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 512
Tax Research and Administration
3
A study of the sources of tax law, professional tax research techniques, IRS procedures used to administer the tax system, and professional tax practice standards. Prerequisites: ACC 311; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 517
Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
3
Concentrated study of federal taxation of death transfers and gratuitous lifetime transfers including preparation of decedent's final income tax return. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 521
Managerial Cost Control Analysis
3
Principles and techniques of accounting data analysis and profit planning, measurement, evaluation, and control for management. Prerequisites: ACC 321; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor. Recommended: MGT 340.
ACC 536
Forensic Accounting
3
The study of financial fraud and the methods of fraud detection, investigation, and prevention. Prerequisites: 75 semester hours completed; admission to professional Business Studies or graduate status.
ACC 543
Fund Accounting
3
Accounting principles and procedures for governmental units and various non-profit organizations. Prerequisites: ACC 302; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 570
Strategic Accounting System Development and Implementation
3
The strategic design and implementation of accounting systems for competitive advantage. Topics include enterprise resource planning, business process re-engineering, change management and semantic object modeling. Prerequisites: ACC 301, ACC 302, ACC 321, ACC 370; 56 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies; or listed on signed major or minor; or graduate students, permission of the MBA Director.
Electives II
(0-3 hours)
If only 2 courses are selected from group I above, select one course from the following list:
ACC 489
Accounting Internship/Co-Op
1-3
Full time, on-the-job work experience for one or more semesters in industry, government, or public accounting arranged through departmental internship/co-op supervisor. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: 6-12 hours of accounting depending upon the program entered; overall GPA of 3.0; accounting GPA of 3.2; acceptance by program supervisor; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 491
Independent Studies
1-3
Directed reading or research on an approved topic. Not more than 3 credits for ACC 491 may count toward accounting major. Prerequisites: permission of instructor; 86 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 492/FIN 492/MGT 492/MKT 492
Practicum in Small Business
3
Provides the student an opportunity to analyze the accounting, finance, marketing, management, and production system of an ongoing small business. Identical to FIN/MGT/MKT/492. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; permission of instructor; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 597
Special Topics in Accounting
1-3
Advanced topics in accounting. Not more than 3 credits for 597 count toward accounting major, minor, or concentration. Prerequisites: permission of instructor; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
BIS 323
Spreadsheet-Based Modeling for Business
3
The course focuses on the use of spreadsheets in business analytics. Students gain modeling/analysis skills necessary to address a wide variety of business problems. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: BIS 255.
BIS 420
Systems Analysis and Design
3
Fundamentals of business systems analysis and design; study of present system, developing system alternatives. Prerequisites: BIS 221 or BIS 255; 56 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor or with approval from the Office of Undergraduate Business Studies.
BLR 302
Law of Agreements
3
Topics include common law contracts, sales, commercial paper, secured transactions. Special emphasis upon the economic setting and modern development of the legal doctrines. Prerequisites: BLR 202 or BLR 235; 56 semester hours.
BLR 390
Law of Enterprise Organization
3
Survey of laws regulating the creation, operation, and termination of agencies, partnerships, and corporations. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: BLR 202 or BLR 235; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
FIN 442
Intermediate Financial Management
3
In-depth examination of financial management building on introductory level course. Application of current theory and practices are discussed including simulation, comprehensive cases, and term project. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or 332; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
MGT 335
Introduction to Management Science
3
Basic concepts and applications of quantitative methods in management decisions. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major.
MKT 350
Marketing Analysis
3
Analysis of marketing data: marketing research, statistics, marketing cost/revenue analysis and sales and market forecasting. Prerequisites: MKT 300 or MKT 304; STA 282; ACC 202 or ACC 255; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
