Department of Accounting

Contact Information:
Campus Location: 2303 University Hall (UH), Undergraduate Programs: 1118 University Hall
(312) 996-2700

Administration:
Professor and Department Head, Michael Kirschenheiter, mkirsch@uic.edu

Mission Statement

Consistent with the Mission of the College of Business Administration and the University of Illinois Chicago, the Department of Accounting is committed to the production and delivery of quality educational programs, discipline-based as well as interdisciplinary research, and service to the community.

Educational Mission

Students majoring in Accounting learn how to integrate conceptual and technical knowledge with practical application. The program prepares students for careers in financial, managerial, governmental/nonprofit, and international accounting, as well as auditing, information systems, taxation, and business law. Graduates are prepared to sit for certification examinations for the CPA, CMA, and similar certifications.

We deliver quality educational programs in accounting in the Chicago metropolitan area. The curriculum is designed with the goal of ensuring that the undergraduate students who major in accounting are well prepared for professional careers and certification candidacy. Students are encouraged to complete all degree requirements in a timely fashion through a coordinated program of faculty and academic advising. Internships are frequently used as an additional vehicle to prepare students for the professional settings. The department provides advanced programs of study through its graduate offerings including the MSA, joint MSA/MBA, and Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting. Students may apply for the Guaranteed Admission to Master of Science in Accounting (GAMSA) program which allows students who meet criteria to be automatically accepted into the program, which will provide them with the 150-academic-hour requirement of the Illinois CPA examination.

Accreditation

The accounting department and its associated degree programs are separately accredited (in addition to the College of Business Administration accreditation) by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

BS in Accounting

Accounting is a system for identifying, measuring, and communicating to interested parties, the aggregate effects of a sequence of transactions engaged in by any entity over a specified period.

These entities include but are not limited to business firms, governmental units, and nonprofit organizations. Users of financial information include management, stockholders, and creditors. The scope of the accounting discipline is broad and varied. There are several specific functional areas within the field of accounting such as: financial accounting, managerial accounting, governmental and nonprofit accounting, international accounting, auditing, information systems, and taxation. The department also offers courses in business law and ethical issues in accounting.

CPA Exam in Illinois

The UIC Bachelor of Science in Accounting program satisfies all the educational course requirements for taking the CPA exam in Illinois. It includes 30 hours of accounting, 24 hours of business, and the required specific courses.

The only additional requirement needed is a total 150 hours of college credit. For more information check the Illinois Board of Examiners website.

Degree Program

BS in Accounting

ACTG 210. Introduction to Financial Accounting. 3 hours.

Concepts and standards underlying the preparation and analysis of external reports; alternative effects and role of accounting in the business environment and capital markets. Course Information: Previously listed as ACTG 110. Extensive computer use required.

ACTG 211. Introduction to Managerial Accounting. 3 hours.

Management planning and control; cost concepts and measurement; cost accounting systems; analysis of cost and volume-profit relationships; standard costs and variances; and budget preparation. Course Information: Previously listed as ACTG 111. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ACTG 210. Accounting majors need a grade of C or better in ACTG 210.

ACTG 315. Intermediate Financial Accounting I. 3 hours.

Theory and standards related to asset valuation, revenue recognition, gain and loss recognition, and their impact on income measurement and financial position. Course Information: For satisfactory progress in the Accounting major, students must receive a grade of C or better in ACTG 315. ACTG 315 may be repeated only once. Transfer credit from another College or University is not accepted for ACTG 315. Prerequisite(s): Average grade of B or higher in ACTG 210 and ACTG 211.

ACTG 316. Intermediate Financial Accounting II. 3 hours.

Selected topics in accounting and financial reporting including: cash flow statements, income taxes, long-term debt and leases, investments, derivative securities, and contingencies and employee retirement benefits and stockholders' equity. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C in ACTG 315.

ACTG 326. Cost Accounting. 3 hours.

Design of cost accounting systems; alternate costing methods; costing for decision making; budgeting and performance evaluation. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 210 and grade of C or better in ACTG 211.

ACTG 355. Business Law I: Commercial Transactions. 3 hours.

Commercial transactions including: contracts, sales of goods, negotiable instruments, and secured transactions. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 211 or the equivalent.

ACTG 392. Data Analytics for Accountants. 3 hours.

Provides students with experience in accounting data analytics thinking, key terminology, and hands on experience with analytics tools and techniques. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 210 and Grade of C or better in ACTG 211 and IDS 270.

ACTG 394. Special Topics in Accounting - Undergraduate. 3 hours.

Investigates selected contemporary accounting topics using readings in both academic and professional journals as well as cases for analysis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in both ACTG 316 and ACTG 326.

ACTG 396. Independent Study in Accounting - Undergraduate. 1-3 hours.

Independent study in approved topics; written report prepared under the guidance of a faculty member is required. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 316; and Grade of C or better in ACTG 326; and declaration of a major and submission of form of approval to the department head one week before the beginning of the semester.

ACTG 417. Advanced Financial Accounting. 3 or 4 hours.

Financial accounting theory for business combinations, consolidated financial statements, international transactions and investments, and partnership accounting. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of D or better in ACTG 316.

ACTG 435. Auditing. 3 or 4 hours.

Introduction to the audit function; ethical and legal environment; audit standards; objectives and procedures; materiality and audit risk; sampling; auditing in a computer environment; reporting. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 315.

ACTG 444. Federal Income Tax for Financial Planning. 3 hours.

Concepts and provisions of federal income taxation applicable to individual taxpayers, partnerships, individuals and trusts as it relates to certified financial planning careers. Course Information: Credit is not given for ACTG 444 if the student has credit in ACTG 445. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 210.

ACTG 445. Federal Income Tax I. 3 or 4 hours.

Concepts and provisions of federal income taxation as applicable to individual taxpayers, partnerships, individuals and trusts. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Credit is not given for ACTG 445 if the student has credit for ACTG 508. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 315.

ACTG 446. Federal Income Tax II. 3 or 4 hours.

Concepts and provisions of federal income taxation on corporations and partnerships; special problems in reorganization, liquidations, and personal holding companies. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 445 or the equivalent.

ACTG 456. Business Law II: Business Organizations. 3 or 4 hours.

Business organizaions, including: agency, general partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, securities regulations, bankruptcy, suretyship, bailments, real property, wills and trusts, accounting liability. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 355 or the equivalent.

ACTG 465. Governmental and Non-Profit Accounting. 3 or 4 hours.

Financial transaction analysis and recording system; budget preparation and control; concepts and principles underlying the financial reports of governmental and non-profit organizations. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 316.

ACTG 470. Ethical Environment of Business. 3 or 4 hours.

An examination of the decision making process on both the individual and organizational levels. The effect of moral, legal, and economic factors on the decision making process. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 211.

ACTG 474. Accounting Information Systems. 3 or 4 hours.

Skills and concepts that enable the documentation, design and use of accounting information systems, understanding transaction cycles, sound internal controls, accounting software and the electronic business environment. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ACTG 210 and Grade of C or better in ACTG 211; and IDS 200.

ACTG 475. Database Accounting Systems. 3 or 4 hours.

Concepts and principles of designing database systems to perform accounting functions, applications of microcomputer accounting software packages systems design tools, and computerized transaction cycles. Course Information: Same as IDS 475. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in both ACTG 211 and IDS 200.

ACTG 476. Enterprise Accounting Systems. 3 or 4 hours.

Uses ERP software and analytics to teach transaction processing, internal controls, dashboard design, analytical tools and visual presentation of accounting data used to manage large organizations. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ACTG 475 or equivalent database experience. Recommended Background: Good Excel skills are very helpful; IDS 331 would be an excellent background course.

ACTG 484. International Accounting. 3 or 4 hours.

Financial accounting for international operations, multinational managerial accounting and control, comparative international accounting, international reporting issues and international taxation. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of D or better in ACTG 316.

ACTG 485. Valuation and Analysis. 3 or 4 hours.

Financial analysis and valuation of firms. Corporate strategies, financial reporting issues and market perceptions. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ACTG 315 and FIN 300 for undergraduate students. One accounting and one finance class or consent of the instructor for graduate students.

ACTG 492. Accounting Data Analytics. 3 or 4 hours.

Accounting professionals look at huge financial and transactional data available from multitude of corporate and external sources. Businesses can use information and analytics tools to improve their performance metrics and generate valuable insights. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ACTG 315 and ACTG 326 and ACTG 474; or ACTG 500. Recommended background: Grade of C or better in ACTG 435 and Grade of C or better in ACTG 476.

ACTG 493. Accounting Cases, Research and Analysis. 3 or 4 hours.

Examines US GAAP, alternatives, SEC filings and company financial statements, through cases and research projects using various research methodologies. Satisfies research requirements for CPA candidacy. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): A passing grade in ACTG 316.

ACTG 494. Special Topics in Accounting. 1-4 hours.

Topics rotate in various areas of accounting, including but not restricted to financial, managerial, governmental and nonprofit accounting, law and business ethics. Explores current issues and proposed alternatives. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Two courses in accounting or finance beyond ACTG 211 and FIN 300 or the equivalent.

ACTG 495. Competitive Strategy. 4 hours.

Multidisciplinary analysis of organization strategy and policy, using case method and/or business simulation. Assignments involve extensive library research and oral and written reports. Course Information: Credit is not given for ACTG 495 if the student has credit in IDS 495 or MGMT 495 or FIN 495. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing in the College of Business Administration and completion of all other core courses; or consent of the instructor.

ACTG 499. Research Experience. 1-3 hours.

Research experience under the supervision of a faculty member. The faculty member and student will determine the research project. Each student must submit a report and each student must participate at a research event on campus. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department.

Academic Catalog

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog