Degree: Master of Science
Major: Professional Accounting
Hours: 30
Accounting is the underlying foundation of business and provides information to all stakeholders (e.g. management, investors, lendors and regulators) in their evaluation of the financial performance of corporate, governmental and non-profit organizations. The Master of Science in Professional Accounting is designed for students majoring in accounting at LU or other accredited colleges or universities, as well as students who did not major in accounting. The program can be completed in as little as nine months (fall and spring).
The Master of Science in Professional Accounting is designed to provide students with the necessary technical knowledge, communication skills and critical thinking abilities for successful careers in accounting and can satisfy all educational requirements adopted by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Texas. Lamar University's College of Business is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Advanced Auditing: Advanced study of the role of auditors as a profession. In depth discussion of professional ethics and liability to clients and other third parties. Study of audit failures, employing the case method. Also, the use of statistical sampling methods in auditing.
Business Ethics: This course covers any right/wrong actions taken by corporations. It covers areas such as: business law (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley); public policy (e.g. SEC guidelines); organizational ethics (e.g. corporate governance) and corporate social responsibility (e.g. obligations to community and stakeholders). Both descriptive and normative models of unethical and ethical decision making in business are analyzed to assist the student as a potential business person in an effect to make more informed ethical decisions. Additional reading and cases relevant to the accounting profession are also included.
Oil and Gas Accounting: This elective course focuses on accounting principles related to the oil and gas industry.
Fraud Examination & Forensic Accounting Principles: Survey of the field of forensic accounting and fraud examination focusing on the skills required by accounting professionals to identify, detect and prevent fraud. On a daily basis, businesses are subject to fraud. This course will prepare students to answer the questions most frequently associated with fraud including: Who committed the fraud? Why was the fraud perpetrated? How was the fraud executed and concealed? The topics covered include: fraud detection and investigation techniques, types of fraud, sources of evidence, risk factors, deterrence, whistleblowers, legal concepts and ethnics.
Accountants are viewed as integral in the global economy and are required to not only have knowledge of accounting principles and practices in preparing and reporting financial information to stakeholders, but are required to possess analytical, research and communication skills.
Public and corporate accounting, information systems and analysis, taxation
