The accountancy program at Rocky Mountain College is designed to prepare students for careers in public, governmental, not-for-profit, or industrial accounting. The program is designed to allow students to build on skills and knowledge developed through undergraduate coursework to become skilled, entry-level professional accountants upon graduation. The curriculum is based on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) core competencies and prepares students to sit for the certified public accountant exam. In its entirety, the program is comprised of both undergraduate and graduate study, which leads, ultimately, to the master of accountancy degree.

Students who begin the accountancy program as undergraduates will graduate, upon completion of all requirements, with both a bachelor of science in business administration and accountancy and a master of accountancy. The entire curriculum consists of 150 semester hours, and students are required to meet all Rocky Mountain College degree requirements.

Master of Accountancy with a BS in Business Management

Required courses include:
BSA201 Principles of Accounting I
BSA202 Principles of Accounting II
BSA311 Principles of Finance
BSA343 Principles of Marketing
BSA450 Internship
ECO201 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO202 Principles of Microeconomics
ENG325 Professional Writing
MAT210 Probability and Statistics

Choose one of the following:
BSA321 Principles of Management
BSA422 Production and Operations Management

Plus nine semester hours of undergraduate electives.
For course descriptions, see the "Business Administration and Accountancy" section of this catalog.

Master of Accountancy

BSA505 Cost Accounting
BSA507 Taxation of Individuals
BSA521 Advanced Financial Management
BSA522 Accounting Information Systems
BSA553 Financial Reporting III
BSA608 Taxation of Partnerships, Corporations, Estates and Trust
BSA653 Financial Reporting IV
BSA672 Auditing
BSA673 Not-for-Profit Accounting

BSA352 is a prerequisite for the master-level courses.

To ensure CPA Exam eligibility, candidates should take care to select electives in business administration and accountancy disciplines other than accounting. BSA331 is highly recommended as one of these electives. In addition to the requirements noted above, candidates should also complete BSA371. In all cases, CPA exam eligibility requirements for the state in which the candidate intends to sit for the exam should be consulted to ensure that the candidate's educational program satisfies exam eligibility requirements.

Students who enter the accountancy program as baccalaureate degree holders from an institution other than Rocky Mountain College must meet only the master of accountancy requirements and will graduate only with the master of accountancy. These students should consult with their academic advisor to ensure that, in total, their academic preparation makes them eligible for the CPA exam. Depending upon the student's academic background, additional courses may be necessary to become eligible for the CPA exam.

BSA505 - Cost Accounting

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course introduces the primary principle of cost management – costs do not just happen; they are the results of management decisions. Topics of study include cost concepts and applications, costing methods, the value chain, costprofit-volume analysis, best cost management practices and other techniques to aid management in planning and controlling business activities.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA507 - Taxation of Individuals

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
A study of federal income tax law as it applies to individual taxpayers, including sole-proprietorship business entities. The course also includes an introduction to the tax research process. Cases will be used to apply the tax research process.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA521 - Advanced Financial Management

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
An advanced study of financial management issues as they pertain to public and private corporations. Topics include capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure, financing strategy, dividend policy and business valuation.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA522 - Accounting Information Systems

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
Students explore the elements of both manual and computerized accounting information systems. Topics include system development, internal control, and the role of database and network technology in accounting information systems.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA553 - Financial Reporting III

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Students examine advanced topics in the financial reporting process including leases, post-retirement benefits, deferred taxes, revenue recognition, and investments. The FASB standard setting process will also be discussed, and accounting research processes will be introduced.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA608 - Taxation of Partnerships, Corporations, Estates and Trusts

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
A study of federal income tax law as it applies to partnerships, corporations, estates and trusts. Further application of the tax research process through case analysis is also addressed.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA653 - Financial Reporting IV

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course introduces the theory and practice relative to business combinations, mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions. Other topics include partnerships, foreign operations, financial reporting and the Securities and Exchange Commission, segment and interim reporting, legal reorganizations and liquidations, estates and trusts, and governmental and not-for-profit accounting.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA672 - Auditing

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course addresses the many changes implemented in the corporate sector and the auditing profession since the passage of the Sarbannes-Oxley Act and the implementation of the Public Company Accounting oversight Board (PCAOB). Areas of study include professional ethics, auditor's legal liability, the auditing environment, internal controls, working papers, the auditor's report, and the accounting profession's credibility crisis.
Prerequisite: BSA 352

BSA673 - Not-For-Profit Accounting

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to learn about the operation of governments, universities, hospitals, and other nonprofits. The specific accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices and standards used by these entities will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: BSA 352