Master’s Degree in Accounting

This course is going to be retired.

This course builds on introductory accounting courses by providing you with a deep understanding of the conceptual foundations and mechanics of financial reporting and accounting standards. The course focuses on the measurement and reporting of the asset side of the balance sheets as well as the measurement of revenues and expenses on income statements. The content of the course is particularly important for students seeking careers in accounting and finance, as well as professionals who want to increase their knowledge of financial accounting.

Before taking this course, you should be familiar with basic accounting terminology, T-accounts, and journal entries. Financial Reporting I will help you become more fluent in accounting and business discussions.

The course places emphasis on firms’ economic transactions and business activities, and the accounting measurements and journal entries we use to measure and report those transactions and activities. You will develop professional judgment and critical thinking skills. You will consider the economics of business activities and events and consider the degree to which financial reports capture the underlying economics. This will enable you to obtain the tools necessary to understand and execute accounting procedures with an increased appreciation of the broader business context in which accounting information is prepared and used in business decisions.

This course is going to be retired.

Success in any organization requires measurement systems to support decision making. This course focuses on preparing and analyzing accounting information for internal decisions that are often required to be made by both accounting and non-accounting professionals. In particular, the course will highlight how internal accounting information can be used (and often misused) when making complex business decisions. Managerial accounting is not constrained by the rules and regulations that surround financial accounting, which allows us to develop tailored measurement systems that provide a framework for planning and control, as well as costing products, services, and customers.

Students enrolled in this course will learn to prepare basic financial statements (e.g., balance sheet and income statement). In particular, they will understand how direct and overhead costs influence inventory and cost of goods sold calculations and are accounted for under financial reporting. Further, they will also learn to understand the importance of budgeting and how standard costing and variance analysis are used in evaluating managerial performance. In addition, students will learn how cost behavior and financial information are used in operational decision making and pricing. Finally, students will gain a basic understanding of how cash flows are used in capital budgeting decisions.

Verified Learners will need to purchase a textbook in order to successfully complete the course. See the FAQ for details.