Gannon University

JAMES MILLER, CPA, MBA, Program Director
FACULTY: Assistant Professors: James Miller, CPA, Scott Miller, CPA, J.D., Michael O'Neill, J.D.

Within the framework of the objectives of Gannon University as evidenced by its Core of Discovery requirements, the accounting program is as much concerned with the personal development of the individual as a member of today's society as with his/her technical competence. The program places emphasis on the concept that the business decision making process is not just a mere application of accounting theory and techniques but rather is a blending of this technical ability with sound Christian ethical principles.

The faculty is student oriented. Faculty are readily available and eager for student contact both within and outside the classroom. The faculty is interested in the students as individuals and is vitally concerned with their development. The aim of the program is to develop a sound basic understanding of accounting theory and practice, as well as the ethical principles necessary to prepare students for professional careers in public accounting, business, or government. The accounting program prides itself on bringing practical knowledge into the classroom based on personal professional experience. This experience has resulted in all of our faculty attaining professional certification prior to teaching at Gannon. Applicants to the Accounting program are strongly encouraged to consider enrolling in the Advanced Business Technology Certificate Program. See the Advanced Business Technology Program under Dahlkemper School of Business Administration.

Two, four and five year programs are offered. The five year MBA program in accounting meets the needs of the public accounting profession on a national basis in support of the 150 hour education requirement initiated by the American Institute of CPA's and many state boards of accountancy. Students electing this track will be required to complete a five year 159 hour program in accounting and business. All students are given the opportunity to complete a BS in accounting in four years. The students who have elected the five year track can then proceed to complete their MBA over a fifth year.

A measure of the success of the department is evidenced by the placement in the career opportunities available to its graduates. Large public accounting firms, the Naval Audit Service and other federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and many industrial firms regularly recruit our graduates on campus. Presently, substantial numbers of our graduates are not only advancing their own careers in these organizations but are returning to Gannon as recruiters for these companies. Comments from these recruiters give more than adequate testimony to the quality of the preparation for our students in accounting.

Some students choose not to enter the business world immediately upon graduation but rather elect to further their education in graduate studies. Our program provides an excellent base for graduate work in Accounting, Business Administration, Law, or related fields.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

BCOR 201: Financial Accounting and BCOR 202: Managerial Accounting
See the course descriptions under the Business Core.
3 credits

ACCT 210 and ACCT 310: Intermediate Financial Accounting I & II
An in-depth investigation of accounting theory and practice through an examination of major financial statement accounts. Specific topics include a study of the conceptual framework of accounting, income determination, reporting, accounting for leases and pensions, financial statement presentation, and evaluation of sustainable and transitory earnings components.
Prerequisites: BCOR 201 Financial Accounting for ACCT 210                            3 credits for ACCT 210, Spring
Prerequisites: ACCT 210 Intermediate Financial Accounting I for ACCT 310      3 credits for ACCT 310, Fall

ACCT 302: Intermediate Managerial Accounting
A course devoted primarily to understanding accounting concepts related to creating and interpreting information in manufacturing and service organizations to facilitate management decisions and control. Topical coverage includes: job order costing, standard costing, costs of spoilage, scrap, and rework, cost of quality, operations and project costing, and cost allocation techniques.
Prerequisites: BCOR 202
3 credits, Fall

ACCT 331: Income Taxes
A detailed study of the Federal Income taxation of individuals. This course includes an introduction to income tax research and places an emphasis on effective tax planning.
Prerequisite: BCOR 201
3 credits, Fall

ACCT 350: Accounting Information Systems
A theoretical and practical discussion of the process and procedures for accounting information systems analysis, design, and implementation with emphasis on the organizational decision-making inherent in a broad range of computerized systems applications. A computer lab is included to examine an automated accounting system.
Prerequisite: BCOR 202 Managerial Accounting or permission of instructor.
3 credits, Spring

ACCT 360: Legal Environment of Business II
A study of the nature and sources of law; a study of agencies, partnerships, corporations, uniform commercial code topics including sales contracts, negotiable instruments and secured transactions as well as other areas of the law related to business transactions, bankruptcy, trusts, and estates.
Prerequisite: BCOR 203
3 credits, Fall

ACCT 370: Applied Ethical Reasoning in Accounting
This course is a study of ethical and moral reasoning in the accounting profession, with attention both to law and personal choice.  Using the notion of "virtue", it explains how the code of ethics for accountants follows from the distinctive role that accountants play in society.  It illustrates these ideas through case studies.
Prerequisite: MGMT 360
3 credits, Spring

ACCT 375: Organizational Internship
Selected students will be able to spend a period of time (50 hours per credit hour) working as an Intern with a local organization. During this period the student will maintain a journal, will meet regularly with a faculty member, and with a supervisor to provide continuing evaluation of quality and progress of the student's work. At the conclusion of the experience the student will submit a paper to the supervisor and faculty member and make an oral presentation.
Prerequisite: Junior who has permission of the department and the cooperating organization.
1-3 credits

ACCT 385: Accounting Information Systems Technology
This session includes computer exercises that complement ACCT 350.
1 credit

ACCT 402: Advanced Managerial Accounting
An expanded view of managerial accounting, designed primarily to meet the needs of students who intend to pursue a career in management accounting. The course will cover planning and control of business operations with strong emphasis on management decision making. Coverage will include both quantitative and non-quantitative aspects of decision making. The course will focus on the interrelationship of employee incentives, motivation, behavior, and business ethics.
Prerequisite: ACCT 302
3 credits, Spring

ACCT 410: Advanced Financial Accounting
Accounting for partnerships, home office and branch accounting, parent and subsidiary accounting, consolidation and mergers, foreign transactions and translations, and government and non-profit accounting.
Prerequisite: ACCT 310 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
3 credits, Spring

ACCT 422: Financial Auditing
An introduction to the theory and practice of auditing, duties and responsibilities of the auditor and standards, procedures, internal control and management services performed by public accountants.
Prerequisites: ACCT 310 Intermediate Financial Accounting II, ACCT 350 Accounting Information Systems, and BCOR 221 Business Statistics
3 credits, Fall

ACCT 431: Advanced Taxes
Taxation of corporations, partnerships, S corporations, estates and trusts, and tax accounting issues. Additional coverage includes an examination of the sources of tax laws and related tax research and planning. This course involves a service learning component in which students participate in the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and prepare individual tax returns at a local community center. This component is required and may, at the option of the student, be used for one credit under ACCT 375 Organizational Internship.
Prerequisite: ACCT 331 Income Taxes
3 credits, Spring

ACCT 490: Special Topics
Prerequisite: ACCT 310
1-3 credits

Accounting Majors
Accounting majors are strongly encouraged to seek admission to the Advanced Business Technology Certificate program. All core business courses are computer intensive for these students. The computer is an essential day-to-day tool in the accounting profession. In addition, the student will find that continuous use of the computer will substantially ease the burden of the day-to-day learning and completion of assignments throughout the accounting curriculum. Sample curriculums for the four-year and five-year programs are listed below.

Accounting Curriculum — 4 year BS

(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)

129 Total credits

* Fulfills Philosophy II Series

** Fulfills Senior Seminar LBST 383

*** An additional 3 credits of Experiential Learning may be taken on an elective basis during the junior or senior year under ACCT 375.

The Gannon University - Duquesne School of Law, 3 + 3 Early Admissions Program has been designed for qualifed students to earn an undergraduate and a law degree in six years rather than seven. Under the early admissions program students may receive a Bachelors Degree in Political Science after three years of undergraduate work and the successful completion of the first year of full time study at Duquesne School of Law. The student would then receive their Law Degree after successful completion of the second year at Duquesne School of Law. Qualified students may wish to pursue this Accounting option.

Accounting / Duquesne Law School 3/3 Program

159 Total Credits

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