Accounting Degree Programs

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting is designed for graduates in areas other than accounting, who want to upgrade their educational qualifications to acquire professional accounting qualifications.

The Graduate Diploma consists of eight courses and builds on the four-course Graduate Certificate in Accounting. If you enrol in the Graduate Diploma you may exit after completing the first four courses with the Graduate Certificate, which allows you to achieve a recognised qualification, and, subject to certain time conditions, return to upgrade your qualification later.

Courses in the Graduate Diploma cover accounting, business finance, business and taxation law, auditing and accounting issues.

Admission requirements
It is expected that students entering the Graduate Diploma in Accounting will be business degree graduates in non-accounting disciplines and will have successfully completed the required prerequisite courses, or their equivalents, in their undergraduate program.

However, other qualifications and experience may be considered. In such cases, referee reports may be requested. Admission will be determined on an individual basis by the Dean of Business.

The program is currently offered to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents.

The programme covers the full range of accountancy subjects from financial and management accounting to financial management, taxation auditing and ancillary areas ensuring students acquire the necessary specialist and generic transferable skills relevant to a career in the field of accountancy.

The programme can be studied at either the Paisley Campus or the Hamilton Campus and is delivered by a core teaching staff of qualified professional accountants who are responsible for both module development and teaching. (You can also study part-time at the Hamilton campus). This ensures students achieve a good balance between practical and theoretical knowledge, thereby enhancing their employability.

Students will be strongly encouraged to obtain relevant experience through work placement with one of the many employers that the University has built up strong links with over the years. This will not only enhance students’ experience but also their employability as they gain key transferable skills. This enables students to boost their CV with work placement in blue chip companies, chartered accountancy firms and the like throughout the UK, where they are supervised by qualified accountants to ensure a good breadth of knowledge is obtained. This experience also involves useful participation in the interview skills and CV preparation processes which the University offers.

Accountancy is a great all-round business degree which opens up opportunities in finance and if you look at the top management in any organisation, accountants figure heavily.

Students admitted without a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (with a concentration in accounting) will be required to satisfy the following requirements either prior to or during their residency at CSUF:
All students admitted with a business degree with a concentration other than accounting must complete the following accounting prerequisite courses (Accounting 301A, 301B, 302, 307, and 308). These accounting prerequisite courses must be completed with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average, with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better for each individual course. Courses with grades lower than ‘C’ must be repeated. These requirements are in addition to the Study Plan as described below.
All students admitted with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Business Administration will be required to take (or demonstrate proficiency in) the following courses/academic topics either prior to or during their residency at CSUF: Mathematics 135 and InfoSys/DecSci 265; business foundation courses (Accounting 510, Economics 515, and Management 339); and accounting prerequisite courses (Accounting 301A, 301B, 302, 307, and 308). These courses must be completed with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average, with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better for each individual course. Courses with grades lower than ‘C’ must be repeated. These requirements are in addition to the Study Plan as described next.

Study Plan
The study plan requires 30 semester units of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree. At least 24 of the 30 units required for the degree must be at the graduate level. A 3.0 (“B”) GPA is required in study plan courses. Any study plan course with a grade lower than “C” (2.0) must be repeated.

Required Courses (9 units)
Accounting 502 Seminar in Accounting Theory (3)
Accounting 505 Seminar in Auditing (3)
OR Accounting 521 Seminar in Management Control Systems (3)
Accounting 506 Seminar in Professional Accounting Communications (3)

Electives in Accounting (9 units)**
Three courses (9 units) to be selected in consultation with and approved by the student’s program adviser. At least one course, but not more than two, must be tax-related (denoted by an asterisk in the list below) for a maximum of six units in tax-related courses.

Accounting 503 Seminar in Contemporary Accounting Problems (3)
Accounting 505 Seminar in Auditing (3)
Accounting 507 Seminar in Accounting Information Systems (3)
Accounting 508 Seminar in Tax Planning (3)*
Accounting 518 Seminar in International Accounting (3)
Accounting 521 Seminar in Management Control Systems (3)
Accounting 572 Seminar in Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders (3)*
Accounting 573 Seminar in Taxation of Property Transactions (3)*
Accounting 574 Seminar in Taxation of International Business Operations (3)*
Accounting 575 Seminar in Estate, Gift, Inheritance Taxes and Estate Planning (3)*
Accounting 576 Seminar in State and Local Taxation (3)*
Accounting 577 Seminar in Taxation of Employee Compensation (3)*
Accounting 578 Seminar in Taxation of Partnerships (3)*

The School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business
(B.S.B.) with majors in accounting, business administration,
finance, information systems, management and leadership,
marketing, and supply chain management. Each major consists
of the following components: general education courses, core
business classes, world area study, major courses, and advanced
business electives.
Degree requirements are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility
to stay informed of requirements. To receive the B.S.
in Business degree, a student must complete the degree requirements
in effect at the time the student is admitted to the school.
Undergraduate Enrollment Diagram. The chart below depicts
the preferred order for students to complete requirements for
the Bachelor of Science in Business.
General Education Requirements
English. Two courses, ENGL 101/ENGL 105 Composition and
ENGL 102 Critical Reading and Writing, are required. Students
must enroll in English immediately and continuously until they
have completed ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 or their equivalents.
See the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Requirements
chapter of this catalog.
Communication Studies. One course, COMS 130 Speaker-Audience
Communication (or an English course numbered 200 or
higher) is required.

Accounting careers have been staples in our economy. Even when markets have slowed over the years, accountants have remained in high demand. A business degree in accounting from Northern Michigan University provides basic competency in the functional areas of accounting and provides students with the minimum requirements to sit for professional examinations such as the CPA and CMA examinations.

There are four different accounting majors a student can choose.

Accounting Major
This major prepares students for such career opportunities as certified public accountant (CPA), cost analyst, controller, financial analyst, senior accountant and vice president for finance and accounting.
Accounting/Computer Information Systems Major
Expertise in accounting and computer information systems can lead to positions such as controller, cost analyst, director of information systems, computer programmer and systems analyst, to name a few.
Accounting/Corporate Finance Major
Expertise in accounting and corporate finance can lead to positions such as certified public accountant (CPA), auditing, controller, and cost analyst.
Accounting/Financial Planning Major
Expertise in accounting and financial planning prepares students for such career opportunities as certified public accountant (CPA), cost analyst, financial planning, and financial analyst.

Click on the above major to see the course descriptions and program requirements.

Why study accounting at NMU?
Personalized instruction from faculty
Small class size
Great local internship opportunities

Considering an accounting minor?
An accounting minor is a valuable minor intended to provide students with a good understanding of accountancy practices and principles. Students majoring in an area outside of the College of Business, but have an interest in taxation and accountancy often choose an accounting minor.