Bachelor of Science in Accounting
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The Bachelor of Science in Accounting is one of Caldwell University’s signature business programs, providing an essential platform for students to find employment in a variety of accounting and business arenas. Students who graduate from the Caldwell Accounting program are equipped to readily find employment and are well on their way to preparing for the CPA exam. Caldwell Accounting majors are recruited by accounting firms of all sizes, as well as by industry and government agencies. A five-year BS/MS Accounting option is available.
Earning an Accounting degree opens doors to a myriad of exciting and rewarding career opportunities in various sectors. Graduates are well-equipped to enter the workforce with a strong foundation in financial principles, analytical skills, and ethical standards. Here are some potential career paths and opportunities for further education that accounting graduates can pursue:
Career Opportunities:
- Public Accountant: Assist individuals and businesses with tax preparation, auditing, and financial consulting. Positions can range from entry-level to senior roles within accounting firms.
- Corporate Accountant: Work within corporations to manage financial records, prepare financial statements, and ensure regulatory compliance. Opportunities exist in various industries including technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Forensic Accountant: Investigate financial discrepancies and fraud, working with law enforcement agencies or private firms to provide expert testimony and analysis.
- Auditor: Conduct internal or external audits to assess the accuracy of financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls.
- Financial Analyst: Analyze financial data, create reports, and provide recommendations to help businesses make informed financial decisions.
- Management Accountant: Focus on budgeting, performance evaluation, and cost management within organizations to enhance financial planning and strategy.
With an Accounting degree, the possibilities are vast and varied. Whether entering the workforce immediately or pursuing further education, graduates are well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the financial world and beyond.
Why Caldwell?
Caldwell University’s Accounting program is accredited, and taught by experienced professionals who bring real-world expertise into the classroom. We have smaller class sizes, so students receive personalized attention and support from professors. Our department has strong connections with local businesses and firms, providing students with valuable internship opportunities. Students benefit from our Bloomberg Lab, enhancing their learning experience. Lastly, Caldwell University is located in northern New Jersey and offers access to major financial hubs, which increases career opportunities in the field of Accounting.
In addition to the outcomes achieved in the Business Administration program, the accounting program develops effective analytical and qualitative business knowledge and skills to become accounting professionals and ethically-aware decision makers who can apply accounting and business knowledge in organizations. Students complete advanced courses in auditing, cost accounting, intermediate accounting, federal taxation, and “Advanced Topics in Accounting” to obtain an in-depth study of accounting principles, professional accounting standards, and current topics in the accounting community. Students engage in active learning exercises that are captured in a portfolio and program assessment activities, pre- and post-testing, CPA exam simulations, case studies, and experiential learning.
STUDENTS WHO MAJOR IN ACCOUNTING MUST COMPLETE:
Course Code : BU 105
Course Description :
Surveys the various fields of business. The student will be introduced to the different forms of business ownership, managerial skills, marketing principles, accounting, financial analysis, computer terminology, money and banking, business law and international trade.
Credit : 3 – 3
Course Code : BU 110
Course Group(s) : GE DIV
Active Term : Fall
Course Description :
Emphasizes models of management-oriented modern business communications in the digital age: letters, reports, memoranda, emails, blogs and digital résumés. Develops oral communication skills: interviews, presentations, listening techniques. Includes use of computer lab and relevant presentation, writing and report generating technologies.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
CS 115, CS 125, or CS 195
Course Code : BU 205
Active Term : Fall
Course Description :
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of microeconomic theory. It deals with the behavior of individual economic units that are small relative to the national economy. The course explains how consumers, workers, investors, owners of land, and business firms make their decisions, and how they interact to form larger units of markets and industries. A thorough survey of market failure and government failure also will be covered.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA 130 or higher
Course Code : BU 208
Course Description :
Analyzes the economic, cultural, political, and legal context in which International Business is conducted. It reviews the major factors linked to the development of International Business. The course considers globalization, the economic and political aspects of trade, how countries differ, the global monetary system and foreign exchange.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU105
Course Code : BU 210
Course Description :
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of macroeconomic theory. It deals with aggregate economic quantities, such as the level and growth rate of national output, interest rates, unemployment, and inflation. The course explains how the aggregate markets for goods and services, for labor, and for corporate stocks and bonds are formed, what the trade-off is between inflation and unemployment, and how the government develops and implements its monetary and fiscal policies.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU205
Course Code : BU 211
Course Description :
This course introduces fundamental principles in financial accounting. It provides a basic understanding of accounting theory, practices, and procedures through the accounting cycle as well as recording transactions in journals and ledgers. The course introduces the basic financial statements of balance sheet, income statement, and statement of owner's equity, explaining their purpose and composition.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA 130 or higher
Course Code : BU 212
Course Description :
This course covers the measurement and reporting of claims by creditors and equity investors; explains business structures of partnerships and corporations; and covers topics such as income taxes and financial analysis. The course introduces the statement of cash flows, its purpose and composition.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU211
Course Code : CS 219
Course Description :
This course emphasizes analysis and solutions to contemporary business problems through the use of the current version of Microsoft Excel. Students are introduced to business decision modeling processes to strengthen logical reasoning and analytical skills. Microsoft Excel is used as the basis for managerial decision support through analysis of contemporary business case problems. Students apply the appropriate functions and features of Microsoft Excel to solve business cases. The course also emphasizes oral presentation and written reports on business processes used in case solutions to further strengthen students’ communication skills.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
CS 115, CS 125, or CS 195 AND MA 130 or higher
Course Code : BU 221
Course Description :
Marketing is an organizational philosophy and a set of guiding principles for interfacing with customers, competitors, collaborators, and the environment. The class will cover the fundamental theories and concepts of marketing as well as real life applications including digital and social media strategies. Students will create a marketing plan for a real business at the end of the course.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
CS 115, CS 125, or CS 195
Course Code : BU 260
Course Description :
This course focuses on the basic management skills of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, with additional emphasis on ethics, social responsibility, and management skills for the future. This course deals with understanding the manager’s job, decision-making, motivation, leading change, and innovation.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
BU 101, BU 105, or BU 110
Course Code : CS 285
Course Description :
The course will teach students about the use of computers and business data networks to solve management and corporate problems. The course examines the components and concepts of management information systems in managing information in business environments. The evolution and future direction of current corporate and institutional computing environments will be analyzed. The impact of emerging e-commerce marketplaces on corporate strategies and infrastructure will also be examined. The ways in which businesses develop or procure information technology resources and systems will be discussed. Case studies will be used for illustrate key concepts in systems development, implementation and management. In addition, students will learn how businesses manage and protect critical information and data.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
CS219
Course Code : BU 305
Course Description :
Studies the collection, classification, presentation, and analysis of statistical data with an emphasis on business applications.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
CS 219
OR
Course Code : MA 311
Course Description :
An introduction to the theory of probability and statistics utilizing methods from calculus. Topics include the axioms and rules of probability, Bayes Theorem, discrete and continuous random variables, univariate probability distributions, expectation, variance, and generating functions.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA 220 or MA 140
Course Code : BU 321
Discipline: Disciplines
Course Description :
Includes financial reporting, present value analysis, cash and short-term investments, receivable and inventories (cost and cost flow assumptions and special valuation methods). Emphasis on applying accounting principles to more complex accounting topics.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU212
Course Code : BU 322
Course Description :
Studies long-term plant assets, current liabilities and contingencies, long-term debt and investments, corporations and accounting for leases. Includes an analysis of current topics in accounting. Reviews C.P.A. exam questions as they relate to the above topics of study.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU321
Course Code : BU 323
Course Description :
This course introduces fundamental principles in managerial accounting and its application to private industry. It includes basis cost accounting terms and processes and explains various costing systems for materials, labor, and overhead. It introduces analysis such as cost-volume-profit and break-even analysis as well as budgeting techniques, variance analysis, and benchmarking.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU212
Course Code : BU 325
Course Description :
This course presents generally accepted auditing standards and procedures employed by accountants in the examination of financial statements. Discussions of the auditor’s reports, planning the audit, and specific procedures applied to assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. It discusses the ethical framework governing auditors including Sarbanes Oxley legislation.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU322
Course Code : BU 332
Course Description :
Introduces the fundamentals of income tax laws and procedures affecting individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates and trust.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU212
Course Code : BU 337
Course Description :
Introduces the techniques employed by firms in raising and allocating funds. Describes analytical tools used by financial managers.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU 210, BU 212, AND BU 305 or MA 311
Course Code : BU 350
Course Description :
This course examines the legal environment of business including legal liability and ethical issues in the context of the business and economic environments and in e-commerce applications. The course provides an overview of the American legal system and the legal rights, duties, and obligations of the individual, with emphasis on contract law.
Credit : 3
Course Code : BU 420
Course Description :
Applies analytical techniques and managerial concepts to operations of large-scale business. Within that context, it will highlight ethical business practices and ethical sensitivity in the decision-making process.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
Senior status with at least 105 credits and BU 337, BU537
Course Code : BU 430
Course Description :
Provides an in-depth study of accounting principles for partnerships, business combinations, and consolidated financial statements. Discusses upto-date thinking on controversial topics presently facing the accounting profession.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
BU322
Course Code : BU 436
Course Description :
Individuals and businesses need to manage the processes that drive success, including the processes that bring goods and services to market, as well as the individual projects that are needed in every functioning area of business. This process-management course introduces students to essential concepts in operations management and project management to drive the success of individuals and businesses. Operations management focuses on converting resources and materials into finished products and services and methods for improving process operations to enhance competitive advantage in the growing global economy. Project management includes organizing and managing project teams, project selection, project planning, project scheduling, and project cost management, all in the context of costs/budgeting and risk management.
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
CS 285 AND BU 251, BU 260, or CS 260
NOTE: Accounting majors are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship (BU 487).
This program is ACBSP-accredited
Your degree includes credits from Liberal Arts and Sciences Core, Major, and Electives.
