Description of Program

Westfield State College offers two program tracks in Accounting. Students may choose a non-CPA Track or a CPA Track program. The non-CPA Track program offers a 120-hour Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in accounting. The CPA Track program is a five-year combined program offering a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in accounting and a Master of Science in Accountancy. The CPA Track Program is a 150-hour program providing students the opportunity to fulfill the requirements for the Certified Public Accountancy license in Massachusetts, pending program approval from the Massachusetts State Board of Accountancy.

Program Objectives

The objective of the Master of Science in Accountancy program is to prepare accounting students for management positions in accounting. The program will build on the knowledge and tools from the students’ undergraduate education allowing them to achieve a greater degree of sophistication in accounting and auditing. This will provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful careers in public and private accounting. The program will:

• strengthen students’ theoretical foundation in multiple areas of accounting and auditing,
• expand the students’ critical thinking and research skills in accounting, auditing, and business,
• develop the students’ oral and written communication skills,
• aid the student in developing interpersonal skills such as leadership and teamwork,
• enhance students’ understanding of ethical and professional issues in accounting and auditing, and their ability to respond to ethical dilemmas in the profession, and
• fulfill the 150-hour requirement for professional certification as a public accountant in Massachusetts and several other states.

This program will enable students to satisfy the requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts, pending program approval from the Massachusetts State Board of Accountancy. Students will also be better prepared for examinations required for the Certified Management Accountant, the Certified Internal Auditor, or the Certified Fraud Examiner designations.

Admission Requirements

Minimum entrance requirements for the M.S. in Accountancy program include:

• A Bachelor of Science degree with either a major or concentration in Accounting from an accredited institution. Other degrees may be acceptable, however students would likely need to take additional courses to meet the requirements for the CPA examination and subsequent licensing.
• An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and minimum grades of B in undergraduate accounting courses.
• Three letters of recommendation, including a minimum of one academic reference.
• Submission of GMAT scores.
• A written statement of purpose and intent to complete the Master of Science in Accountancy.

Specific Degree Requirements

Program Summary (30 credits)
Requirements include completion of the Core Curriculum (15 credits) and elective courses (15 credits). Students may choose an internship experience as one elective. All students must complete a comprehensive examination near the end of their program of study. The curriculum is designed to substantially advance students in their knowledge and skill level beyond the existing baccalaureate program. Class/team participation is included in each course and the curriculum demands group work and fosters leadership skills. Particularly, one elective area (Social Sciences) has been designed to provide awareness and professional development in interpersonal skills, management skills, and understanding organizational culture. This aspect of training is highly coveted by employers.

Core Curriculum (15 credits)
MGMT 0630: Foundations in Ethics: Applications to Business and the CPA Profession 3 s.h.
MGMT 0633: Advanced Auditing (3 credits), or MGMT 0628: Fraud Examination 3 s.h.
MGMT 0632: Business Law for Accountants 3 s.h.
MGMT 0635: Contemporary Professional Accounting Problems 3 s.h.
MGMT 0636: Federal Income Taxation II 3 s.h.

Elective Courses (15 credits)
3-6 credits in Social Sciences from one or two of the following:
PADM 0610: Human Resource Management Skills
3 s.h.
MGMT 0608: Organizational Behavior for Non-Profit and Public Organizations 3 s.h.
MGMT 0620: Operations Management for Non-Profit and Public Organizations 3 s.h.
PSYC 0504: Social Psychology 3 s.h.
PSYC 0518: Psychology of Interpersonal Relations and Communications 3 s.h.
PSYC 0554: Psychology – Special Topics (Current relevant issues in the discipline) 3 s.h.

3 credits in area of Research and Analysis in Business from one of the following:
MGMT 0622: Cost-Based Decision Making 3 s.h.
MGMT 0623: Decision Support Systems 3 s.h.
MGMT 0624: Advanced Cost Accounting 3 s.h.

3 credits in area of Communications in Accounting from one of the following:
MGMT 0625: Financial Statement Disclosure and Analysis 3 s.h.
MGMT 0626: Business Data Communications 3 s.h.

3-6 credits in Accounting/Business from one or two of the following:
MGMT 0627: Issues in Accounting for Public Companies 3 s.h.
MGMT 0631: Municipal and Fund Accounting 3 s.h.
MGMT 0634: IT Auditing 3 s.h.
MGMT 0637: E Commerce, or MGMT 0638: E Business 3 s.h.
MGMT 0640: Internship in Accounting 3-6 s.h.

Comprehensive Examination

The candidate for the Master of Accountancy will have to successfully complete a comprehensive examination in their last semester. The comprehensive examination will test the candidate’s knowledge in the four subject areas of the Certified Public Accountancy Examination including Financial Accounting and Reporting, Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, and Regulation.

MGMT 0608 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR FOR NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS 3 s.h.
This course looks at human behavior within the context of the formal organization in order to gain a better understanding of the actual human organization and how best to organize, lead, motivate, and make decisions in the unique organization. Other topics include effective communication, small group dynamics, and effective human resource management. Students will be asked to observe in a non-profit organization and to write an ethnographic analysis of the human behavior vs. required behavior in that organization.

MGMT 0620 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT FOR NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS 3 s.h.
Provides a basic understanding of operations management for efficient functioning of non-profit and public organizations, mastery of selected theories and concepts of operations management particularly applicable to the management of services operations, and an examination of current issues. Topics will include Internet strategies, new services development, service quality, capacity planning, project management, and performance evaluation.

MGMT 0622 COST-BASED DECISION MAKING 3 s.h.
Course employs quantitative methods in the use of costing information in accounting applications. Topics may include the application of capital budgeting, use of cost allocation models in planning and control activities of an organization, performance evaluation, the balanced score card, target costing, contract pricing, and transfer pricing.

MGMT 0623 DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS 3 s.h.
Course explores various theories of control and measurement relative to an organization’s resources and the planned objectives and requirements of information systems. Production Operations Research models will be used in problem solving. Students will analyze business decisions including interpreting the outcomes from the models used.

MGMT 0624 ADVANCED COST ACCOUNTING 3 s.h.
Course covers advanced treatment of cost accounting topics. Topics may include activity-based costing and management, statistical estimation of cost and revenue behavior, capital budgeting, linear programming, inventory control methods, transfer pricing, performance measurement in decentralized operations, and the impact of technology changes on the managerial structure.

MGMT 0625 FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURE AND ANALYSIS 3 s.h.
This course exposes students to the financial reporting and disclosure practices of U.S. companies in the contemporary operating environment. Topics may include current issues in asset valuation, and measurement of liabilities and stockholders’ equity including the measurement of comprehensive income. Student’s skills in analyzing accounting information to make investment, credit, solvency, and other management decisions will be developed through the use of actual companies’ financial information.

MGMT 0626 BUSINESS DATA COMMUNICATIONS 3 s.h.
This course will explore the various methods of business data communication necessary to do business in the modern technological environment. Topics may include the effect of emerging technologies on information systems and business processes, basic communication concepts used, secure electronic commerce, use of computer networks and their related risks, privacy issues, corporate policies on the use of electronic media, related managerial and technical issues associated with Internet business, technical aspects of data transmission, computer security, and the implications of emerging technologies for both management and the public accountant.

MGMT 0627 ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING FOR PUBLIC COMPANIES 3 s.h.
This course explores the recent developments in U.S. and international accounting for public companies. Topics may include issues associated with the globalization of business, consolidations and business combinations, pension plans, financial regulation and financial reporting standards for selected foreign operations, and recent standards set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Companies’ Accounting Oversight Board.

MGMT 0628 FRAUD EXAMINATION 3 s.h.
A basic course introducing the concepts of asset misappropriation, fraudulent financial statements, corruption schemes, and tax fraud. Topics include the motivations behind fraud, methods for detecting and preventing fraud, the CPA’s responsibilities regarding the detection of fraud, and ways accountants and managers can prevent, detect, and report fraudulent schemes. Examines the forensic accountant’s role in the investigation and resolution of various types of fraud. Guest speakers and videos with commentary by those who have perpetrated frauds will be included.

MGMT 0630 FOUNDATIONS IN ETHICS: APPLICATIONS TO BUSINESS AND THE CPA PROFESSION 3 s.h
This course covers the basic tenets of ethical and professional conduct including an introduction to the psychology of moral development, judgment and values, and the role of rules of ethics. Focus is on the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, AICPA and SEC independence rules, as well as current developments in the ethics environment for CPAs. Course provides a basis for aiding business professionals in effectively managing situations involving ethical behavior and in developing corporate policies regarding business ethics. An examination of the ethical dilemmas and conflicts involved in recent corporate scandals will be included.

MGMT 0631 MUNICIPAL AND FUND ACCOUNTING 3 s.h.
An overview of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for non-for-profit and government agencies including FASB statements numbers 116 and 117, which have a significant impact on financial reporting for non-profit organizations. The goal is to come to a clear understanding of the accounting and financial principles required by GAAP, the limitations of GAAP financial statements, and what the implications are for the non-profit organization.

MGMT 0632 BUSINESS LAW FOR ACCOUNTANTS 3 s.h.
Focuses on the law surrounding commercial transactions, particularly those relevant to accountants and auditors. Topics include contract law, the Uniform Commercial Code, agency law, the major forms of doing business including partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies, securities regulations, bankruptcy, property laws, and accountant/auditor liability. Recent developments in law and relevant cases are discussed.

MGMT 0633 ADVANCED AUDITING 3 s.h.
This advanced course in auditing will further develop the student’s skills and research abilities in assurance services. Numerous case studies will be used to further develop the student’s audit and assurance skills. Emphasis will be on risk analysis, development of research skills in accounting and auditing, audit documentation, and development of leadership, teamwork and communication skills including effective report writing. An introduction to fraud examination and the impact of information technology on the audit process will be included.

MGMT 0634 IT AUDITING 3 s.h.
This course covers the auditing techniques applicable to computer-based information systems. Topics include review of transaction cycles, analysis and design of accounting information systems with emphasis on security and internal control issues specific to information technology (IT), assessing risks of IT, and the impact of IT on the audit process including retrieval of audit information from accounting databases. Students will learn to plan, conduct, and report on IT audits. Issues specific to different IT environments will be explored.

MGMT 0635 CONTEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS 3 s.h.
Examines current professional accountancy problems and current accounting theory with primary topics changing from semester to semester. The course may include review of recent professional standards, ethics, auditor independence, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, legal liability of the accountant, tax compliance, C.P.A. and C.M.A. examination problems, and the information technology environment of the accountant

MGMT 0636 FEDERAL INCOME TAX II 3 s.h.
Course emphasizes the federal income taxation of corporations and partnerships with an introduction to the income taxation of estates and trusts. Topics include the implications of tax policy, income determination, deductions and credits, acquisition and disposition of property and resulting implications for gains and losses. Tax planning and tax research will be included. The skills to prepare reasonably complex tax returns are developed.

MGMT 0637 E COMMERCE 3 s.h.
The Internet has emerged as one of the most significant forces to affect business since the advent of mass media. This course explores the technologies and applications of the Internet with a focus on developing effective global e-business models. E-marketplaces, retailing in EC, online consumer behavior, electronic payment, order support services, Website development, and the implementation of effective marketing strategies are explored in depth. The major opportunities, limitations, issues, and risks of e-commerce are assessed from a managerial perspective.

MGMT 0638 E BUSINESS 3 s.h.
The Internet has emerged as one of the most significant forces to affect businesses since the advent of mass media. This course delves into the technologies and applications of the Internet with a focus on developing effective global e-business models. Website development; attracting and managing website traffic; use of email to promote and support business objectives; Internet regulatory and cultural issues; and development of effective e-business strategies are explored in depth. Students will have hands-on exercise visiting and critiquing Internet-based business models and cases.

MGMT 0640 INTERNSHIP IN ACCOUNTING 3 s.h.
The internship will provide the student with a valuable learning experience enabling them to apply prior classroom study to an experience in professional employment in either public, corporate, or government accounting. Each student is required to develop a term project related to the work experience under the supervision of an internship coordinator.

PADM 0610 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SKILLS 3 s.h.
This course is an advanced examination of skills necessary for managing personnel in the public sector. The course uses theory, case studies, and practical applications to examine the variety of skills needed for successful public administration. The course considers the significance of changes in the workforce, in the structure of the workplace, and in the nature of supervision, and examines changing styles of leadership, including more collaborative, facilitative styles.

PSYC 0504 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 s.h.
Prerequisite: PSYC 0101 Introduction to Psychology
The individual’s behavior and cognition in the social setting. Social psychology includes the processes of interaction, enculturation, prejudice, attitudes, and a psychological analysis of social institutions such as church, family, and school.

PSYC 0518 PSYCHOLOGY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION 3s.h.
Prerequisite: PSYC 0101 Introduction to Psychology
The major focus is on the nature of interpersonal relationships and how communication influences the formation, destruction or improvement of our relationships. We will bring together the current thinking of major theorists and research findings in many areas dealing with interpersonal relations and communications.

PSYC 0554 PSYCHOLOGY-SPECIAL TOPICS 3 s.h.
Current relevant issues in the discipline offered at a graduate level. Appropriate topics relevant to those in the Masters of Science in Accountancy program might include social psychology in the work environment, leadership styles, interpersonal relationships, communication in the work environment, among others.