PDF version of this chapterCourses of Instruction
ACCOUNTING (ACCT)
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
370ab External Financial Reporting Issues (2-2, FaSp) a: Understanding of decision-making, problem solving, and research skills as a supplement to financial accounting knowledge for accounting professionals. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 360.) Prerequisite: BUAD 250b or BUAD 305. b: Continuation of understanding of decision-making, problem solving, and research skills as a supplement to financial accounting knowledge for accounting professionals. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 360.) Prerequisite: ACCT 370a.
371ab Introduction to Accounting Systems (2-2, FaSp) a: Understanding of technology used to support accounting professionals in financial and managerial accounting, auditing, and taxation. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 362.) Prerequisite: BUAD 250b or BUAD 305. b: Understanding the fundamental processes that capture the corporate data and the controls needed to assure that these processes will operate in an acceptable manner. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 362.) Prerequisite: ACCT 371a.
372 Internal Reporting Issues (2, FaSp) Understanding of decision-making, problem solving, and research skills as a supplement to managerial accounting knowledge for accounting professionals. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 361.) Prerequisite: BUAD 250b or BUAD 305.
373 Introduction to Assurance Services (2, FaSp) Explores the requisite skills and knowledge needed to offer services in assurance, attestation or auditing engagements. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 456.) Prerequisite: ACCT 370a, ACCT 371a.
374 Introduction to Tax Issues (2, FaSp) Basic tax principles, introduction to U.S. federal, state and local tax systems, income and expense definitions, property transactions, and fundamentals of individual taxation. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 451.) Prerequisite: BUAD 250b or BUAD 305.
390 Special Problems (1-4, FaSpSm) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
410x Accounting for Non-Business Majors (4, FaSpSm) Non-technical presentation of accounting for users of accounting information; introduction to financial and managerial accounting. Not open to students with course credits in accounting. Not available for unit or course credit toward a degree in Accounting or Business Administration.
415x Intermediate Financial Accounting for Non-Accounting Majors (4, FaSp) In-depth study of balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement issued from the perspective of a user (not preparer) of corporate financial reports. Not available for credit to accounting majors. (Duplicates credit in former FBE 442x.) Prerequisite: BUAD 250b.
470ab Advanced External Financial Reporting Issues (2-2, FaSp) a: Developing capabilities to identify and articulate current external financial reporting problems and issues, concentrating on operating, financing and investing activities of business organizations. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 450ab.) Prerequisite: ACCT 370b. b: Continuation in developing capabilities to identify and articulate current external financial reporting problems and issues, concentrating on operating, financing and investing activities of business organizations. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 450b.) Prerequisite: ACCT 470a.
471 Accounting Information Systems (2, FaSp) Issues related to the design, control, and implementation of accounting information systems. Prerequisite: ACCT 371b.
472 Managerial Accounting (2, FaSp) Understanding of systems providing cost information useful in management decision-making and problem solving. Prerequisite: ACCT 372.
473 Financial Statement Auditing (2, FaSp) Course builds on the background developed in ACCT 373, specifically the process used by external auditors to conduct financial statement audits. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 456.) Prerequisite: ACCT 371b, ACCT 373.
474 Tax Issues for Business (2, FaSp) Capabilities to identify and articulate tax issues related to a business entity's life: formation, investing, financing and operations, and change of form. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 451.) Prerequisite: ACCT 374.
475 Systems Security and Audit (2) Issues related to the security, control, and auditing of accounting information systems. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 471b.) Prerequisite: ACCT 371b.
476 Performance Measurement Issues (2) Introduction to understanding how management control systems can enhance achievement of the organization's objectives and strategies. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 472b.) Prerequisite: ACCT 372.
478 Accounting Systems Design (4, FaSp) Explores the design of accounting systems. Introduction to tools and techniques for analyzing and designing accounting systems with an emphasis on system controls and reporting. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 453.) Prerequisite: ACCT 371b.
479 Accounting Systems Development (4, FaSp) Examines the fundamentals of accounting systems development. Introduction to the concepts of implementation and support, with emphasis on system quality assurance, evaluation and attestation. (Duplicates credit in former ACCT 454.) Prerequisite: ACCT 478.
490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8, FaSpSm) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, Irregular) Examination of current literature relevant to the total and changing environment in which business operates. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
509 Concepts of Financial and Management Accounting (4, Fa) Introduction to the concepts of financial and managerial accounting. The course will provide coverage of key concepts needed by managers of businesses in order to communicate information important in decision-making. (Duplicates credit in GSBA 510, GSBA 518, GSBA 536.) Not open to business majors.
525x Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (15, Sm) Technical accounting theory and principles necessary for graduate work. Satisfies the prerequisite requirements for intermediate and advanced accounting, auditing, and tax. Credit toward degree limited to M.Acc. and M.B.T. students. Recommended preparation: introductory accounting courses.
535 Management Accounting and Control Systems (3, SpSm) Decision-making, uses of management accounting information; cost system design; financial responsibility centers; planning and budgeting systems; performance measures and evaluation. Not open to M.B.A. students. (Duplicates credit in GSBA 518.) Prerequisite: GSBA 510.
536 Advanced Cost Analysis and Management Accounting (3, Sm) Analysis and design of systems that provide cost information useful in making strategic and operating decisions. Advantages and limitations of activity-based costing methods. Prerequisite: GSBA 518 or ACCT 535.
537 Management Control Systems (3, Sm) Study of systems and devices managers use to ensure that strategies are being implemented as intended and that assets are not being stolen or otherwise dissipated. Among the topics covered are planning and budgeting systems, responsibility centers, performance measures and evaluations, incentives, and the roles of controllers and internal auditors. Prerequisite: GSBA 518 or GSBA 536.
543 Introduction to Tax (3) Tax issues arising during a business' life, including formation, financing, operating, expanding, and dissolving. Cross-border transactions and non-U.S. tax systems discussed.
544 Introduction to Strategic Tax Planning (3, Fa) Principles of multijurisdictional business tax planning, using a conceptual framework, integrating finance, marketing and financial statement objectives. Recommended preparation: GSBA 518.
546 Assurance Services (3, Sp) Concepts and principles governing independent professional services that provide assurance on the reliability and relevance of information, including financial statement information. Topics include demand and supply issues for these services, basic principles of evidence, risk assessment and testing. Prerequisite: ACCT 525x.
547 Enterprise Information Systems (3, Fa) Focuses on accounting enterprise database models and information technology required to support those systems. Includes analysis and design of interfunctional process flows through reengineering to exploit technology capabilities.
549 Advanced Enterprise Systems and Technologies (3, FaSp) Design, control and development of advanced enterprise systems, using reengineering, focusing on accounting and financial systems, using a wide range of emerging existing technologies. Recommended preparation: GSBA 530 or ACCT 547.
550T Tax Research and Practice (3, Fa) Tax law research methods; interpreting statutes, cases, and rulings; communicating research results; administration and professional responsibilities of tax practice. Prerequisite: ACCT 544 or departmental approval.
551T Taxation of Flow-Through Entities (3) Federal taxation of flow-through entities, including: partnerships, S corporations, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and limited liability companies (LLCs). Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
552 Knowledge and Data Management (3, Sp) Managing knowledge using knowledge-based systems and contemporary knowledge management approaches (intranets) in order to enhance and facilitate decision making and manage accounting data and information in organizations. Recommended preparation: GSBA 530 or ACCT 547.
553T Tax Policy and Strategic Tax Planning (3) Introduction to business taxes and their impact on management decisions. For prospective managers and business consultants, topics include discounted cash flow, financial accounting, and overall business impacts of taxes on decision making. Recommended preparation: GSBA 518.
555 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (2, FaSp) Focuses on many facets of enterprise resource planning systems, such as SAP, including implementation approaches, risks, reengineering, data models and other emerging issues. Concurrent enrollment: ITP 555; recommended preparation: ACCT 547 or ACCT 549 or GSBA 530.
557 Advanced Financial Statement Auditing Topics (3, Sp) Advanced coverage of topics in financial statement auditing including market effects of auditing, auditor litigation and client acceptance, errors and fraud, analytical procedures, and going-concern assessment. Prerequisite: ACCT 525x.
560T Tax Theory and Its Business Applications (3) Taxation and its relationship to business and investment decisions; the effects of taxation on business organization, capital structure, policies, operation and expansion. Prerequisite: ACCT 544.
561T Income Tax of Corporations and Their Shareholders (3) Concepts and principles governing the taxation of corporations and their shareholders; the effect of taxes structure, distributions, and liquidations. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
563T Federal Estate and Gift Taxes (3) Taxation of decedents' estates and lifetime gifts; valuation of property subject to estate and gift taxes. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
565T Estate Planning (3) Analysis of lifetime and postmortem estate planning theories and procedures. Prerequisite: ACCT 563T.
566T Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts (3) Concepts and principles governing the income taxation of estates and trusts; use of trusts for tax planning. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T and ACCT 560T.
567T Taxation of Transactions in Property (3) Taxation of gains and losses from sales, exchanges and other transactions involving property, especially real estate; tax planning. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
568T Taxation of Foreign Business Operations (3) Taxation of foreign income of U.S. citizens and corporations and of U.S. source income of foreign persons and corporations; planning for organization of foreign operations under the tax laws. Prerequisite: ACCT 561T.
569abT Taxation of Special Enterprises (3-3) Special tax concepts and principles relating to selected industries and specially-taxed forms of organization. a: For a selected industry; b:
570T State and Local Tax Concepts (3) State income taxes; property tax; other state and local taxes; the effect of state and local taxes on multistate operations. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
571T Advanced Individual Tax Planning (3) Application of tax law in areas of compensation planning, investment planning, tax shelters, and current developments relating to the individual taxpayer. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
572 Corporate Accounting and Reporting (3, SpSm) A study of financial reporting and disclosure issues with an emphasis on the use of corporate financial statements and their accompanying footnotes. Not open to students with credit in equivalent subjects. Prerequisite: GSBA 510.
573T Federal Tax Procedure (3) Tax reporting and collection procedures; administrative and judicial procedures governing tax controversies; the rights and obligations of the taxpayer. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
574 Accounting in the Global Business Environment (3, Fa) Study of national and international accounting and business issues; global capital market changes; international accounting and business topics; cases and studies of specific business entities and countries. Prerequisite: GSBA 510 or GSBA 518 or GSBA 536.
575T Taxation of Financial Markets (3, Sm) Taxation of financial market products with focus on derivative products. Basics of tax forwards, futures, options, swaps, collars and floor. Time value of money considerations. Prerequisite: ACCT 561T.
576T Consolidations (3) Concepts and principles of taxation of companies operating as consolidated groups. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T and ACCT 561T.
577T Compensation (3) Concepts of taxation of employers and employees from various forms of compensation, including pension plans, profit sharing plans, stock ownership plans, and deferred compensation arrangements. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T and ACCT 560T.
578T Advanced Corporate Taxation (3) Analysis of corporate divisions and reorganizations, carryovers, and other advanced topics in corporate taxation. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T and ACCT 561T.
579T Advanced International Taxation (3) Analysis of tax treaties, foreign currency transactions, international licensing, reorganization of foreign corporations, and other current topics as the law changes. Prerequisite: ACCT 568T.
580T Accounting Methods (3) An analysis of Subchapter E and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and of the relationships between tax and financial accounting. Prerequisite: ACCT 550T; ACCT 560T or LAW 600.
581 Financial Statement Analysis (3) Analysis of corporate financial reports from a decision-maker's perspective. This course is case-and-applications-oriented. Applications include credit analysis, equity valuation, and financial distress. Prerequisite: GSBA 510.
582 Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions (3) Theoretical and practical problems in accounting for business combinations: purchase and pooling-of-interests accounting; consolidated financial statements; income tax considerations; International Accounting Standards. Prerequisite: GSBA 510.
584 Family Wealth Preservation (3, Sp) Analysis of transfer of property during lifetime or at death from a tax saving perspective.
585 Professional Accounting: Theory, Research and Policy (3) A case study approach to the integration of accounting and auditing knowledge; research, communication, and interpersonal skills developed through extensive written and presentation requirements. Recommended preparation: ACCT 572x.
586 Financial Reporting Topics and Analysis for Tax Professionals (3, Sm) Explores the technical financial accounting skills needed for an entry-level tax professional with emphasis on an understanding of financial statements and accounting for income taxes. Exposure to the preparation of corporate tax returns with the integration to the financial reporting of a corporation. Recommended preparation: undergraduate financial accounting or accounting class for lawyers.
587 Forensic Accounting (3) Role of the accountant in litigation matters. Identification and exploration of the analytical and communication tools necessary to be an effective forensic accountant. Prerequisite: ACCT 572x.
590 Directed Research (1-4) Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the School of Accounting. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the school. Graded CR/NC.
597 Business Field Project in Accounting (1-6, FaSp) Individual or team projects solving real business problems for companies; situation analyses; research proposal composition; field research techniques; statistical analysis; oral and written presentations. Graded CR/NC.
599 Special Topics (1, 1.5, 2, or 3, max 6, FaSpSm) Examination of current literature and research techniques in contemporary accounting areas including tax, auditing and international accounting. Departmental approval.
601 Introduction to Accounting Research and Research Design (2) Introduction to key topics in research design as they apply to accounting research, including philosophy of science, theory, validity, method choice, sample selection, variable measurement, and control.
602 Survey of Judgment and Decision-Making Research in Accounting (3) Survey of major topics in judgment and decision-making research in accounting with coverage of both key research questions and frequently used methods. Departmental approval.
604 Survey of Management Accounting Research (2) Survey of major topics in accounting research with coverage of both key research questions and frequently used methods. Departmental approval.
605 Survey of Financial Reporting Research (3) Survey of major topics and methods in research on financial reporting with coverage of both key research questions and frequently used methods. Departmental approval.
606 Survey of Tax Research (3) Survey of major topics and methods in research on taxation with coverage of both key research questions and frequently used methods. Departmental approval.
608 Positive Accounting Research (3) Survey of major topics related to positive accounting research with coverage of both key research questions and frequently used methods.
610 Survey of Accounting Research (3, FaSp) Advanced seminar that surveys both seminal and cutting edge research in financial accounting, managerial accounting, accounting information systems, and tax accounting. Departmental approval.
611 Selected Topics in Accounting Research (1, max 4, FaSp) Advanced seminar to address issues/topics covered in accounting research forums presented by USC and visiting faculty. Departmental approval.
661ab Accounting Research Methodology (2-2) Advanced doctoral seminar concerned with review and critique of accounting research forum papers and with the preparation, presentation, and defense of research proposals and papers.