Catalog - University of Maryland University College

MASTER’S DEGREE ANDCERTIFICATE PROGRAMSMASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING ANDINFORMATION SYSTEMS■■Evaluate the effects of technology on an organization’s accountingsystem.Evaluate issues and innovations in accounting and in informationsystems and their effects on managerial decision making.Evaluate and design accounting and information systems to meetorganizational goals.Develop and evaluate alternative solutions to organizationalproblems.DUAL DEGREEMS inAccounting andInformation SystemsSEE P. 63 FOR DETAILS ABOUT DUAL DEGREES.+Master of Science inAccounting and FinancialManagement■■■■■■Program DescriptionInformation systems have become ubiquitous in the world ofaccounting, and expertise in both areas sets employees apart fromtheir peers. The Master of Science (MS) in accounting and informationsystems is designed for students who have backgroundsin finance or accounting and want to improve their knowledgeof accounting and information systems to advance their careersto either chief financial officer or chief information officer or toserve as liaisons between their organization’s information technologydepartment and executive leadership. It is also an appropriatetrack for professionals not currently in accounting or informationtechnology who want to develop the skills they need to make acareer change. The curriculum focuses on business processes witha broad business outlook and includes fraud examination, federalincome taxation, accounting ethics, auditing, systems analysis anddesign, computer security, and more. The goal of the programis to give students the tools they need to bridge the gap betweenaccounting and information systems in their organization and todevelop ways to enhance that relationship.Program ObjectivesGraduates of this program will be able to■■■■Successfully apply accounting and information systems concepts,principles, and techniques in the analysis and resolutionof accounting systems problems and opportunities within theirorganizations.Effectively communicate accounting and information systemsideas, concepts, and solutions.Program OverviewThe curriculum requires 36 credits of coursework, including18 credits in accounting core courses, 15 credits in informationsystems core courses, and one 3-credit program capstone course.Academic PreparationStudents must have completed 15 credits of undergraduateaccounting coursework, with a grade of C or better in eachcourse, before enrolling in any graduate accounting course.Students without recent coursework in accounting are stronglyadvised to complete UCSP 620 before enrolling in ACCT 610.Professional CertificationSuccessful completion of the program may satisfy the educationalrequirement for candidacy for the Certified PublicAccountant (CPA) exam. Educational requirements to sit forthe CPA exam vary among states. Students are responsible forstaying abreast of the current requirements of the state in whichthey will sit for the exam or practice professionally.Career Paths■■■■■■■■■■Liaison between the chief financial officer and chief informationofficerPublic accountant or auditorGovernment accountant or auditorManagement or systems analystFraud examiner or internal auditorCourse descriptions are found on pp. 83–121.28G R A D U A T E C A T A L O G | 2 0 1 0 – 2 0 1 1