Professional Accounting Certificate
Degree: Certificate
Major: Professional Accounting
Hours: 15
Professional Accounting Certificate Overview
The Professional Accounting Certificate graduate program allows you to take advanced accounting and other coursework which helps you satisfy the requirements of the CPA examination established by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
You must meet the general university requirements for admission. In addition, this program is only available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting from a domestic accredited university, or students currently enrolled as an undergraduate accounting student at Â鶹AV.
This program is another way to help further you in your pursuit of a career in accounting. The program will provide you with the necessary critical thinking abilities, communication and team skills, and knowledge of ethics and professionalism for successful careers in public accounting, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations.
Professional Accounting Courses You May Take
Financial Accounting Research and Procedures: This course is a study of advanced topics in financial accounting and reporting. It focuses on complex corporate reporting issues. This course will emphasize the development of skills and knowledge necessary to conduct professional research and to identify appropriate accounting treatment of complex issues. This will not only entail the study of current financial reporting and disclosure requirements, but will include controversial and emerging practices.
Tax Research: An extensive examination of the methods employed to determine defensible solutions to problems in federal taxation. Emphasis is placed upon research methodology, proper documentation of research findings and effective communication of research findings to interested parties. The text is supplemented with outside readings and case studies. Significant oral and written reports are required.
Financial Statement Analysis: This course provides a basis for determining firm value. Students are introduced to fundamental analysis concepts and techniques that can be used to critique and interpret the financial health of the firm. The course integrates research in the areas of accounting, finance, and management which has proved useful in the financial analysis of organizations.
Business Ethics: This course covers any right/wrong actions taken by corporations. It covers areas such as: business law (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley); public policy (e.g. SEC guidelines); organizational ethics (e.g. corporate governance) and corporate social responsibility (e.g. obligations to community and stakeholders). Both descriptive and normative models of unethical and ethical decision making in business are analyzed to assist the student as a potential business person in an effect to make more informed ethical decisions. Additional reading and cases relevant to the accounting profession are also included.
Emerging Technology in Accounting: This course is primarily focused on hands-on access to innovation and how to optimize or automate existing accounting, auditing and tax tasks. Students will be introduced to a range of technology tools used by professionals. Inefficiencies in business processes ad problems with manual tasks are explored for automation.
Career Paths for Professional Accounting
After receiving your certificate, you will achieve the depth and breadth of accounting knowledge needed in today’s marketplace. Â鶹AV strives to recruit the best instructors and students from around the world, so you can count on our program and faculty to prepare you for a diverse landscape.
Primary Careers
Public and corporate accounting, information systems and analysis, taxation
- CPA
- Taxation consulting
- Analyst
- Corporate accounting
- Government accounting
- Industry accounting
- Local government and industry
- State government
- Federal government
- Corporations
- Non-profit organizations
- Small business
