Accounting at Houghton
Accounting is often called the "language of business.” Every manager, investor, and person active in the marketplace needs a clear understanding of accounting terms and concepts in order to participate effectively in the business community.
Accounting is a discipline which provides financial and managerial information essential to the efficient conduct and evaluation of an organization.
The accounting program at Houghton provides students three opportunities to prepare for work in this growing field:
1. The accounting minor for those who wish to strengthen their accounting preparation for business,
2. A recommended set of additional courses for those interested in public accounting and in preparing for the CPA (certified public accountant) exam, and
3. A recommended set of courses for students more interested in management accounting and in preparing for the CMA (certified management accountant) exam.
Minor in Accounting (18 hours)
Note: A student electing a Minor in Accounting with a major in business may not use accounting courses to fulfill elective requirements in the major.Complementary majors with this minor are Business, Computer Science, Mathematics, Communication, Foreign Languages, etc.
The Minor in Accounting is open to non-Business majors as well as students majoring in Business.
Financial Accounting ACCT 211 3 credits Managerial Accounting ACCT 212 3 credits Intermediate Accounting I ACCT 311 3 credits Intermediate Accounting II ACCT 312 3 credits Accounting Electives 6 credits
Additional Courses for Public Accounting
Through elective choices within the Business Administration major, a student can prepare to sit for the CPA exam in New York State. Students interested in eventual CPA certification must combine undergraduate and graduate coursework. Also 62 of the 124 undergraduate college credits must be in liberal arts courses. The following coursework is recommended but should be planned in consultation with your advisor, the requirements of your state, and your choice of graduate program.
Licensure as a Certified Public Accountant in New York State requires the equivalent of an additional year of undergraduate or graduate study (totaling 150 credits).
Recommended coursework: Five Years, Two Degrees.
Houghton has established an agreement with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) whereby qualified students who have earned a bachelor of science degree can accelerate their MBA degree program at RIT. RIT will waive certain MBA foundation courses, allowing Houghton graduates who major in business administration to complete an MBA in one year. A grade of “B” or better in the designated undergraduate courses is needed to have graduate level coursework waived. The courses must also be no older than five years upon matriculation into the MBA degree program.More information about New York's requirements can be found on their Office of the Professions page (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/).
Students from other states will need to discuss their desire to sit for the exam with their advisor as soon as possible, but can check the requirements (www.becker.com/accounting/cpaexamreview/state/index.cfm). The CPA track requires a major in business administration and a minor in accounting.
Major: BS in Business Administration (46 hours plus 6 in pre-co-requisites)—see courses in Business Administration section
Minor: Accounting (12 additional hours)—see above
Use the following additional course recommendations to complete the elective hours as needed. The rest of the hours below are part of the CPA exam preparation.
Additional course recommendations:
| Cost Accounting | ACCT 314 | 3 credits |
| Federal Income Tax | ACCT 316 | 4 credits |
| Tax Practicum | ACCT 323 | 1 credit |
| Management Information Systems | BADM 417 | 4 credits |
| Internship in Accounting | ACCT 421 | 2-6 credits |
Additional Courses for Management Accounting
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) designation – is preferred by some students who wish to focus on the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance. The CMA exam is designed specifically to validate mastery of the advanced skills required to manage finance functions within an organization, enabling you to deliver value in today’s complex business environment. It demonstrates competencies in accounting, finance, information management, and strategic planning skills necessary to drive business performance in the changing global economy. Further information on this certification is available at http://imanet.org/.
Recommended coursework: Students planning to pursue management accounting, major in business administration, minor in accounting, and take as many of the additional courses listed below as possible. Upon graduation students may sit for the CMA exam. Actual certification, however, is granted after obtaining two years of experience in the field.
Major: BS in Business Administration (46 hours plus 6 in pre-co-requisites)—see courses in Business Administration section
Minor: Accounting (12 additional hours)—see above
The rest of the hours below are part of the CMA exam preparation.
Additional course recommendations:
| Cost Accounting | ACCT 314 | 3 credits |
| Federal Income Tax | ACCT 316 | 4 credits |
| Tax Practicum | ACCT 323 | 1 credit |
| Operations Management | BADM 330 | 4 credits |
| Internship in Accounting | ACCT 421 | 2-6 credits |
