Accounting
Accounting involves data analysis, strategic thinking, and forecasting—not just business transactions. Learn from accomplished accounting professionals and utilize industry software to inform business decisions. Beyond the technical skills of accounting, you will become a critical thinker, communicator, and problem solver guided by ethical principles.
Career Opportunities
Accounting is an in-demand core field with job security. From Big 4 Accounting Firms, to large companies, to non-profit or government sectors, opportunities are limitless for skilled accountants.
BSBA-to-MAcc
With the BSBA-to-MAcc program, you will earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Master of Science in Accountancy (MAcc) in five years. The perks? You will only pay tuition for 4.5 years and you will have a paid co-op experience.
IIA-Certified Program
We are recognized as a certified School of Internal Auditing by the Institute of Internal
Auditors (IAA). Of the 30+ US-based schools on the global certification list, the
Palumbo-Donahue School of Business is one of two IIA-certified accounting programs in Pennsylvania and one of only 58 in the world.
Program Information
IIA-Certified Accounting program that prepares undergraduates for a successful career. The program helps students to become experts in data analysis, strategic thinking, and forecasting.
Program Type
Major, Minor
Degree
Bachelor's
Duration
4-year
Required Credit Hours
72
"I can still remember this peaceful campus, my stellar Duquesne education, my
professors, my classmates and even my last memory of walking across the stage to receive
my degree."
Required for all business students. Business Core This course is an investigation and analysis of the accounting problems and practices
of the corporation, with detailed study of the component elements of the balance sheet
and income statement. Basic topics include: generally accepted accounting principles,
financial statements, income determination, and presentation. Students study and evaluate standards and procedures employed by auditors in the examination
of financial statements and internal controls for the purpose of rendering an opinion.
The course includes an audit simulation to illustrate the concepts and develop students’
communication skills. Students will use data analytics and audit automation tools
such as Excel, confirmation.com, and AI Mindbridge. Required The materials presented in this course focus on preparers perspective so that students
develop understanding of the mechanical operation as well as the intellectual aspects
of individual income tax preparation. As a writing intensive course, this course will
also prepare the students to properly create, revise, and document communications
required in the business world. These communications will typically be prepared in
a memo format, and will require proper documentation of all sources. The ability to
communicate through an appropriate business memo will be taught through lecture as
well as numerous opportunities to revise and correct graded work. Because of the documentation
requirements, the students will also develop tax research skills. The research skills
will extend to cover topical tax assignment, code-based research questions, and policy
(legal precedence) research projects. The focus of the memo writing assignments is
to develop the ability to communicate information to decision making personnel regardless
of their accounting expertise. This course is required for accounting majors and particularly
relevant for those interested to work in the public accounting sector. The course
develops on materials covered in introductory financial and intermediate accounting
courses. It provides the foundation for those who are planning to take upper level
accounting courses including advanced accounting and corporate and partnership taxation
courses. This course introduces students to the taxation of business, focusing on corporate
and partnership income tax. Students will develop a basic understanding of the rules
governing tax compliance in a variety of circumstances, e.g., incorporation, operations,
and liquidations, develop the skills to evaluate tax law implications and recognize
planning opportunities. This course explores how the form of the business relates
to the taxation of that business and how the rules of taxation differ from financial
reporting. This is an active, problem-solving course, in which students prepare a
variety of tax returns and create quality supporting schedules in Excel. Accounting majors need 3 credits. 2024 information coming this fall! The Accounting Mentoring Program has been in existence since 2007. The program is designed to enhance accounting students'
understanding of the expectations of graduates of the School of Business as they prepare
for employment and/or graduate studies. The students will have the opportunity to
interact with experienced accounting professionals. The program is also designed to
provide the graduate with the opportunity to remain active in the Accounting Mentoring
Program after graduation. Benefits to a Participating Student: Additional benefits of the program are the ability to obtain internships or employment.
The most recent survey indicated that 60% of the current students were able to obtain
work experience due to the mentorship program. Of that 60%, 50% indicated that their
mentor was helpful in the process. Of the goals initially established by the mentee
and mentor, after one year of the formal program, 97% of the goals are accomplished.
The program provides follow-up and adheres to specific plans of accomplishment. 100%
of all students and professionals surveyed replied that they would recommend the program
to others. Responsibilities of a Participating Student: If you are interested in participating in the Accounting Mentorship programFrom Our Alumni
Course Descriptions: Business Core
3 credits
Introduces students to the discipline of accounting and the principles of financial
reporting. Students will develop a basic understanding of how to use the financial
statements to assess the profitability, liquidity and solvency of business entities.
Students will gain an understanding of how financial statement information is communicated
and be exposed to new technology tools to analyze and visualize financial data.
Prerequisite: ISYS 284
3 credits
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to cost concepts, product
costing systems, budgeting systems, and the development of accounting data for internal
managerial decisions. Students will gain an understanding of how accounting information
is communicated within an organization and continue to work with technology to analyze
and visualize accounting data.
Prerequisite: ACCT 214 and ISYS 284Course Descriptions: Required
3 credits
In this course, students will explore the role of accountants as users, managers,
designers, and evaluators of accounting information systems. Topics include the use
and design of ERP systems and the design and implementation of internal controls.
Prerequisites: ACCT 214 and ACCT 215
3 credits
3 credits
This course is an investigation and analysis of the accounting problems and practices
of the corporation, with detailed study of the component elements of the balance sheet
and income statement. Basic topics include: generally accepted accounting principles,
financial statements, income determination and presentation.
Prerequisite: ACCT 311
3 credits
The Advanced Accounting course exposes students to several of the more complex areas
of accounting, including the preparation of consolidated financial statements, equity
method investments, accounting for partnerships, accounting for governmental entities,
and foreign currency transactions and translations. Current business transactions
are utilized to illustrate course topics.
Prerequisite: ACCT 312
3 credits
Financial cost data assists accountants in planning and managing the activities of
organizations. Planning is vital for managing the financial performance of business
organizations' decisions. The financial planning topics in accounting are flexible
budgets, balanced scorecards, responsibility accounting, transfer pricing and capital
budgeting decisions. Cost management covers advanced topics in accounting information
for external financial reporting. The cost topics include product and process costing,
variable and absorption costing income statements, cost allocation for support service
departments, use of standard costs for cost control, as well as variance analysis
for variable and fixed product costs. The subjects covered are applicable for manufacturing,
merchandising and service organizations. The course integrates statistical, analytical
and quantitative methods from microeconomics and decision sciences to advance the
problem-solving abilities of students.
Prerequisite: ACCT 215
3 credits
3 credits
This course covers the basic income tax concepts relevant to individual taxpayers,
and "how to" apply those principles. The course deals with the basic income tax provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code, with a particular focus on provisions that affect the
tax liabilities of individual taxpayers as opposed to corporations. They should be
able to explain how the current federal individual income taxation evolved and developed.
Students will prepare tax returns that includes Schedules A, B, C, D, and E as well
as other schedules and forms that are required to complete individual income tax returns
both manually and using tax software. Issues that put tax practitioners at odds with
clients will be discussed, guided by the ethical parameters established by the various
standards, codes of conduct, and Treasury Department Circulars. Problem solving skills
will be emphasized by examining real world applications and situations.
Prerequisites: ACCT 214 and ACCT 215
3 credits
Prerequisite: ACCT 412Course Descriptions: Electives
3 credits
Study of the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) with reference to the
nature and legality of the sale of goods, the formality of sale contracts, transfer
of title of goods, warranties, nature and kinds of commercial paper, requisites and
meaning of negotiability, methods of transfer and secured transactions.
*Students taking the CPA exam are strongly encouraged to take this elective.
3 credits
This is a course which focuses on various laws pertaining to the creation and termination
of corporations, franchises, partnerships, agency and other business entities.
3 credits
Financial Management provides the second part (with FINC 334) of the necessary conceptual
foundation for upper-level courses in Finance and is required for the major in Finance.
Topics include: financial statement analysis and financial forecasting, risk and return,
the cost of capital, capital budgeting, real options in capital budgeting, the corporate
valuation model and measures of financial performance.
Prerequisite: FINC 313
3 credits
Investments is a required course for the Finance major. A particular emphasis is placed
on the theory behind constructing optimal investment portfolios and the implications
this theory has for asset pricing. A second theme of the course is to examine why
market prices are thought to be fairly priced or "efficient" versus the opposing view
(behavioral finance) that questions investor rationality and, therefore, efficient
market prices. Students use the technology in the Investment Strategy Institute.
Prerequisite: FINC 313
3 credits
Information systems create value by supporting organizational processes and the management
of data. This course introduces student to methods and tools for the analysis and
design of information systems where they will explore how to identify and model the
information requirements of an organization. This involves the use of data-flow diagrams
or UML models to both describe the current state of affairs, including the needs of
the users, data requirements, and existing systems and also the desired system’s functionality.
Other topics include the systems development life cycle, agile methodologies, and
systems implementation.
Prerequisite: ISYS 184
3 credits
Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) is a set of emotional and social skills that influence
the way we perceive and express ourselves, develop and maintain social relationships,
cope with challenges, and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful
way. This course will help students identify, adopt, and practice the emotional intelligence
(soft) skills necessary for workplace and personal success. Individuals who have stronger
soft skills are more marketable on the job market, are promoted more frequently, and
make higher wages. Excellent soft skills also lead individuals to experience more
happiness, less anxiety, and have improved relationships. These individuals are also
better at communicating, defusing conflict, empathizing, and overcoming challenges.
1 to 6 credits
This internship provides the student with a professional work experience in an organizational
environment. It is an extension of the curriculum and provides meaningful experience
related to the student's area of concentration. Internship responsibilities must be
approved in advance by a faculty sponsor. The student is supervised within the work
setting and by a faculty member from the School of Business Administration. Internships
are available to students in all business concentrations. Grading is Pass-Fail.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and an overall QPA of 2.5 or better, completion of
at least 15 credits at Duquesne University, and completion of 6 credits in major area
Accounting Minor
ACCT 312—Intermediate Accounting II
ACCT 314—Advanced Accounting
And one (1) of the following:
ACCT 310—Accounting Information Systems
ACCT 315—Cost Accounting
Students are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Coach for more information.
Awards and Scholarships
Duquesne Letters of Recommendation for FERPA.
Accounting Mentorships
Contact Us
Valerie Williams, CPA, MBA, CHFP, CIA, CFE, CFF, PmP