Spring Electives & Optional MAcc Winter Internship
Accounting Information Systems (1.5 credits)
The course provides a forum to discuss and apply the principles of Information Systems as applied to accounting systems. The course will cover how businesses use and develop databases to store, manipulate, and retrieve accounting information transactions. Both theoretical concepts and practical skills will be addressed within the scope of the class.
Accounting for Business Strategies (1.5 credits)
The course will cover the development and use of relevant cost information essential for formulation and execution of business strategies. It will focus on advanced costing concepts and practices used by businesses to foster world-class performance, and achieve strategic objectives in both manufacturing and service environments. Special emphasis will be given to activity-based costing, balanced scorecards, complex cost allocation, advanced inventory management techniques, capital budgeting, and performance management.
Business Law (3 credits) - offered in a blended format (online with some on-campus class meetings)
Following an introduction of the American legal system, Business Law will expose students to an in-depth look at contract law, commercial law, including the Uniform Commercial Code's Articles on Sales, Negotiable Instruments, Secured Transactions and Creditors Rights. Additional topics covered include bankruptcy, agency law, business organizations, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLC, and corporations.
Forensic Accounting (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to forensic accounting. Forensic accounting encompasses those services an accountant provides to assist a court or a client in settling a legal dispute and includes the following specialized knowledge and skills: 1) accounting, auditing, economics, finance, business law, quantitative methods, statistics, tax; 2) investigative skills to collect, analyze, and evaluate evidential matter; and 3) written and oral communication skills. The content of this court will include: 1) fraud and fraud investigation services; 2) commercial and individual litigations and litigation consulting services; 3) computer forensics; and 4) business valuation. To illustrate concepts, the class will discuss recent high profile cases (e.g., investment frauds such as Madoff, and financial statements frauds such as WorldCom, Enron, etc.). Guest speakers who possess specialized expertise will present on such topics as fraud investigation, interviewing and interrogation techniques, cybercrime and digital forensics analysis, and the legal environment.
International Financial Reporting Standards (3 credits)
The rapid pace of the globalization process along with the increasing importance of a single set of high quality global accounting standards have precipitated the need for incorporating a course on International Financial Reporting Standards into the academic curriculum. The purpose of the course is to enhance students' knowledge and understanding of the conceptual similarities and differences between IFRS and US GAAP in several areas. In addition, the course will provide numerous opportunities for students to research the original IFRS pronouncements and identify solutions for resolving the accounting issues in a wide variety of cases.
The Influence of Taxation on Business Decisions (3 credits)
The purpose of the course is to provide the accountant and the manager with the ability to recognize tax factors that influence business decisions and to integrate them into the business decision-making process. This will include the development of a tax foundation, the ability to read and apply the Code and Regulations, the ability to conduct tax research using both online and offline tax research data bases, the ability to engage in effective tax planning, and the ability to present the identified tax consequences in both oral and written presentations. Ethical influences will be identified and discussed as related to taxation and the related business decision.
Estate and Financial Planning (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the principles of estate and financial planning, with an emphasis on tax planning opportunities. Topics include a study of the estate and gift tax laws, effective use of trusts and life insurance, valuation techniques, integrated family tax and financial planning, succession planning for the closely-held business, and elections available to taxpayers. Also featured are debt management, retirement planning and investment planning, with an emphasis on issues facing both younger professionals as well as high net worth individuals
Key Business Taxation Topics and Related Planning (3 credits)
The intended audience for this course is both MAcc and MBA students. The course is not intended to be strictly a technical tax class, but contains more of an issues-identification and tax planning approach for business people. Topics will include Comparative Forms of Doing Business, Compensation and Benefits, Cross-Border Transactions (International and Multistate Taxation), and Corporate Reorganizations (Mergers, Acquisitions, etc.). There are no prerequisites for the course, although a basic introduction to taxation course would be helpful.
Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions (3 credits) -- offered in conjunction with the Law School
This course focuses on the tax law and business considerations of various corporate mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. The outcomes of both taxable and tax-free transactions will be explored, including the tax consequences to the parties to the reorganizations. Tax planning through all stages of alternative transactions will be emphasized.
Small Business Planning (3 credits) -- offered in conjunction with the Law School
The students will explore alternative solutions to planning issues encountered by small businesses, including formation, compensation to labor and capital and retirements. The course emphasizes income tax planning but requires the synthesis of state partnership of state partnership and corporate law, securities law and other non-tax rules with tax planning.
Professional Values, Accounting Behavior & Corporate Governance, Part II (1.5 credits)
The goal of this class is to create an environment in which students can critically examine their values and commitments. Together, students will explore how these values and commitments have impacts upon them as individuals and upon the organizations for which they might work, upon accounting and business decisions and upon larger society.
MBA Spring Electives
Please note that not all electives are offered each year or every semester.
Database Management (3 credits)
Topics in E-Commerce (3 credits)
Corporate Financial Policy (3 credits)
Securities Analysis (3 credits)
Portfolio Management (3 credits)
International Financial Management (3 credits)
Marketing Strategy (3 credits)
Global Marketing (3 credits)
Leadership & Planned Change (3 credits)
Principles of Negotiation (3 credits)
Decision Processes Under Uncertainty (3 credits)
Management Science (3 credits)
International Business Practicum (1.5 or 3 credits)
Non-Profit Organizations (3 credits)
Private Equity & Venture Capital (3 credits)
Applied Decision Theory (3 credits)
Business Ethics (3 credits)
Internet Law for Business (3 credits)
Pre-Merger: M&A-Strategy (1.5 credits)
Post -Integration: Making the Merger Work (1.5 credits)
Retailing & Etailing Strategy & Management (3 credits)
Stock Market Trends (1.5 credits)
Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
Information on courses offered in the Marshall-Wythe School of Law can be viewed at:
http://law.wm.edu/academics/programs/jd/requirements/.
Optional MAcc Winter Internships - Pilot program to be offered Winter 2011:
In the winter of 2011, MAcc students may opt to complete a full-time winter internship between the beginning of January through Spring break. This program is designed to provide students with experiential learning. Upon completing the internship, students will return to campus to complete the final courses in the MAcc program during the remainder of the spring semester. Please continue to check this website to see whether this program will be offered during the 2011-2012 academic year as well.
