MBA in Professional Accounting Curriculum

An introduction to financial statement analysis which builds on the fundamentals of accounting, including understanding the accounting equation and its application in building the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of cash flows. Basic accounting concepts, accounting principles, and the audit report are presented. 

Students work in teams to analyze corporate financial statements. The relationship of economic value to accounting measurement is explored together with factors influencing management choices among competing valuation principles. Theory is applied to the valuation of the asset, liability, and owners' equity accounts. Emphasizes the heavy reliance on estimates in constructing financial statements and how management can use such estimates to strategically manage its reporting responsibilities.

Introduces the legal system and the way in which the law interacts with the accountant's function. Provides a basic understanding of the principles of law most related to the practice of accountancy. Stimulates an awareness of the law as an expression of basic social, political, and economic forces. Covers the law in relation to contracts, agencies, and sales of goods, commercial paper, secured transactions, business organizations, and government regulation.

Introduces the aspects of economics that are most relevant to the operation of the individual firm or nonprofit organization. Covers theory of individual economic behavior, demand theory and demand estimation, cost and supply, price determination, production decisions, and industry structure.

The course uses differential calculus throughout the semester to facilitate economic decisions such as the profit maximizing level of output and the breakeven point for individual products or for the entity as a whole. Excel modeling is used to build regression models for data analysis and decision making. Examples of projects include the use of EXCEL and regression analysis to forecast oil prices. Another application is an analysis of the NYC taxicab industry and students are asked to build models (graphing/visualization and regression models) to project the short and long-term outlook for the industry.

Provides a general survey of the field, including the basic principles of corporate finance, financial markets and institutions, and investment theory. Corporate finance topics covered include the objective of financial management, valuation of assets and associated problems in the valuation of the firm, acquisition of long trimester assets (capital budgeting), management of short-trimester assets, capital structure, and financial statement analysis. Financial markets and institutions studied include money markets, stock and bond markets, derivatives, and the banking system. Investment analysis topics include portfolio theory and asset pricing models.

Examines human relations and behaviors in organizations in terms of how people relate to and interact with each other as individuals, teams, and/or organizations. Topics include individual personality, motivation, cognition and learning, communication, team development, leadership, and organizational culture. Through class discussions, case analyses, simulations, and group projects, students learn critical leadership and management skills such as communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, and team building.

The purpose of the course is to offer an understanding of the nature and role of marketing in the firm and in the society. Students will gain knowledge regarding the marketing decisions of price, place, promotion, product; and develop an understanding of consumer behavior, market research, and social and cultural factors affecting marketing. The course will expose students to a series of marketing principles, frameworks, and analyses. These techniques will be applied to a series of case studies to reinforce the concepts. At the end of the course the students should be able to develop effective marketing plans for products and services.

Covers fundamentals of performance analysis for various operational issues encountered in real-life supply chain processes. The major topics include demand forecasting techniques, sales and operations planning (SOP), mathematical programming applications and spreadsheet solutions, supply chain inventory planning, uncertainty, safety stock management, project resource allocation and risk analysis, network design and facility location selections, and computer simulation and quality management. Harvard Business Cases on developing cost-effective solutions for continuous improvement of a company's operational efficiency and strategic position in today's highly dynamic and competitive marketplace are used. The objective of the course is to help our students to develop analytical thinking skills and to build the knowledge of business performance optimization toward operational excellence of supply chains.

This class introduces students to the foundational concepts and applications of strategic management. It is a capstone course that integrates many functional areas to develop understanding of how firms acquire and sustain strategic advantage in competitive markets. Topics include industry analysis, internal and market-driven value chains, competitive interactions, and business models. Cases are a central component of learning in which students apply conceptual frameworks to solve complex, real-world business problems. The skills and concepts learned in this course are applicable to those of management consultant, industry analyst, or strategic planner. They are also relevant to entrepreneurs and start-ups in new business ventures.

Students can choose courses from a variety of cutting-edge, high-tech subjects in business, including, continuous business monitoring, emerging business technologies, business process automation and cloud computing, blockchain and cryptocurrency and advance at their own pace.

This course provides frameworks for identifying and resolving ethical problems and constructing and analyzing ethical arguments. The interactive lectures, class discussions, case studies, and course readings sharpen critical thinking skills and broaden students' perspective on ethics in their personal and professional lives.

The course currently includes the  application of digital transformation-enabling technologies has advanced to now include the integration of AI and AI-related technologies (e.g., Generative AI, Agentic AI, Machine Learning, etc.) in accounting and auditing.  As this area continues to rapidly evolve, our course content and the course names need to keep pace and reflect the continued maturity of these areas. 

The course requires a visual analytics group project as well as Intelligent Automation including Robotic Process Automation, AI including Machine Learning, Risks of AI, Artificial General Intelligence, Cognitive AI, Generative AI and Prompt Engineering, Agentic AI and AI Agents, Process Mining, etc. This course also provides the student with the evolution of accounting information to the digital economy. It explores the migration of the economy to a real-time economy and the digitalization of the business as well as the globalization of business. Enabling and emerging technologies provides the student with an awareness of the future of accounting, reporting, and auditing in the digital age. Technologies and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provide an understanding about future methodologies that address compliance with the act.

Discusses many of the problems in financial accounting theory and practice. Instills an appreciation for the challenges and limitations of accounting. Prepares students for advanced study, professional examinations, and successful pursuit of accounting careers. Covers current and long-term liabilities, stockholders' equity, dilutive securities, investments, accounting for income taxes, pension costs and leases, and accounting changes and error analysis. Refers to pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

(Substitute Course: 22:010:603 Income Taxation, 3 Credits)

This graduate-level tax course is designed for students to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of federal income tax. This course is not intended for students in graduate taxation programs. Rather, this course combines basics of income taxation that are in multiple graduate-level courses thus giving student the accounting student broad coverage into individual as well as entity taxation. This course will help students develop skills in applying the tax law to client situations as well as analyzing the tax ramifications of business transactions. These skills are essential of graduates entering the workforce.

Covers the problems of generating and utilizing cost data for the dual purpose of managerial control and product costing. Cost accounting principles and procedures are studied in relation to the accumulation and reporting of material, labor, and variable and fixed overhead costs. Actual, normal, and standard cost systems are examined in both a job order and process manufacturing setting. Cost control, cost planning, and cost analysis as used in assisting the managerial function are studied. Illustrates the role of technology in the data preparation, extraction and analysis of cost information needed for management decision making.

The course employs the use of cutting-edge technology to demonstrate the use of such techniques in analyzing and controlling costs. Students will learn to prepare and use accounting information for planning and control purposes. As a key course in our foundation area, the student will master the essential tools and skills, including different types of data analytics, to make business decisions using accounting information.

Examines the principles and components governing management information systems with strong emphasis on the importance of internal control within the system. Illustrates the role of the computer in accounting and general information systems and accounting transactions processing, environment of information systems, designing new system controls, flow charting, management, designing computer-oriented controls, systems analysis, design, implementation, and follow-up principles of systems design and standards of internal control.

The key learning objectives are to ensure that students develop knowledge and skills to meet ethical and auditing standards. Learn to plan and perform audits and communicate the results. Gain a better understanding of the role of data analysis in the audit profession as well as the role of financial statement audits in organizations and financial markets.

In-depth study of the theoretical and practical problems of accounting for partnerships, business combinations, and non-for-profit organizations, including governmental fiduciaries.

In recent years, audit analytics has drawn great attention in the accounting profession due to the increase in demand for enhancing audit quality by regulators, creditors, and investors. Many audit firms and internal auditors have applied audit analytics to their audit processes. In response to this trend, this course aims at introducing our students to the concept of audit analytics, the basic audit analytical tools, and the application of various analytical methods in both internal and external audit processes. 

Please note that this course mainly emphasizes the usage of statistics and the interpretation of results rather than the mathematics of specific tools or techniques; in other words, this course does not primarily focus on the technical aspects of analytical methods. However, the audit analytics course includes experiential learning (i.e., Hands-on Experience) with the use of Tableau and its Data Guide function for visual analytics (there is a group project), and the use of Alteryx for data transformation and analytics (there are six case studies to be completed). 

We also cover a variety of emerging technologies and analytics-based topics, as described below. This course includes the following: Audit Analytics Programming Languages and Low Code / No Code Tools Landscape, Introduction to Tableau & Alteryx, Foundations of Data/File Sources, Structures, and Types relevant to audit analytics, Applying Analytics Across the Audit Process – Converting data to information, converting information to actionable insights, Applying Rules-Based Analytics, Anomaly Detection Analytics, and Statistical Analysis, Visual Analytics and Overall Audit Risk Assessment, Individual Audit Scoping, Continuous Risk Assessment, Applying Analytics to Other Audit-Related Areas –Regulatory Compliance (FCPA, Pharma Off-Label Promotion), Audit Analytics for Substantive Testing, Generative AI & ChatGPT in Auditing (including ‘Audit Co-Pilot’, ‘Prompt Engineering’), Text Mining & Analytics in Auditing – Theory, Predictive Analytics in Auditing, Fraud Risk Analytic Models – Statistical Analysis using the M-Score and F-Score, Benford's Law (describing relative frequence distribution for leading digits of numbers in datasets), Earnings Management & Manual Journal Entry Testing and Intelligent Automation & Robotic Process Automation.

This course is primarily concerned with providing the foundation of knowledge necessary to build the skills needed to operate in the world envisioned by the AICPA when they adopted the Electronic Business Strategic Initiative. Accounting is defined by the AICPA as "a service activity whose function is to provide quantitative information, primarily financial in nature, about an organization that is intended to be useful in making ... decisions." Accounting Information Systems (AIS) encompasses those systems, manual and automated, that collect, store, manipulate, disseminate, and present that information to the decision-maker.

The course adds to the knowledge of future accounting and auditing professionals who have taken the prerequisite course, Auditing Concepts, by becoming familiar with the technologies use in Accounting Information System and related IT audit methodology. The emphasis of this course is to assist students in: (1) obtaining an understanding of the risks associated with key aspects of information systems including: operating systems security, databases, networks, and systems development; and the audit role of Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques (CAATTs); and (2) having a working command of ACL in performing standard attest function tests and fraud detection. It is expected that at the end of this course students will be comfortable using the information technology that has become common in supporting accounting applications. Further, it is hoped that when a student encounters new technology in the future, they will be able to use the foundation learned in this course to master that technology as well.

This course seeks to equip students with foundational knowledge and essential skills enabling them not only to understand cybersecurity risks, controls, and governance, but also to provide assurance on cybersecurity. The course provides an understanding of cybersecurity concepts that can be used to facilitate integrated audit efforts within organizations. The course also examines preventive, detective, and corrective controls, and how to apply the audit process to a cloud environment. Students will also be exposed to the mobile environment and cyber standards, as well as learn how to audit common security solutions.

Over the last few years information technology (IT) teams have evolved and continue evolving to establish IT organizations as business strategic partners, and CIOs and technology leaders are now included in the executive teams and are expected to play a leading role in delivering business value while solving both business and technical problems. Companies are increasing their investments in acquiring and maintaining information on themselves, the markets, and competitors, and they need systems and IT teams to enable a strategic use of the information that makes it a business asset to the organization. 

Developing and executing an effective IT strategy that enables business strategy is critical for creating business value and gaining competitive advantage. This course presents a framework and methodology for assessing, developing, and implementing an effective IT strategy that is aligned with business needs. The course will be a combination of directed readings, lectures, case studies, one individual assignment, and one group project.

The Collaborative for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CTEC) is a unique, interdisciplinary and experiential learning initiative at Rutgers, designed like some famous business accelerators. Graduate Students in RBS, SOE, Medical School, and Pharmacy School become co-founders and executives to master the skills necessary for entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. CTEC provides two courses that focus on translating cutting-edge technology into business ventures. Students, faculty, inventors and executive mentors collaborate to learn how to launch real startups and acquire small businesses (entrepreneurship through acquisition). Learn how to develop business models, raise venture capital, lead as entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs (corporate), invest, consult, and serve on Advisory Board

CTEC 1 is considered a STEM-designated course for the following reasons

1. Technical and Analytical Focus: CTEC1 course coverage emphasizes deep engagement with technology commercialization, innovation processes, and entrepreneurship rooted in scientific and technical advancements. The course requires students to analyze complex technical information, market data, and scientific research to formulate business models and strategies.
2. Quantitative and Scientific Skills: The course highlights skills such as market and technology assessment, business model development with technology focus, data-driven decision-making, competitive analysis, and evaluation of intellectual property—all necessitating quantitative reasoning and analytical capabilities central to STEM disciplines.
3. Integration of Technology and Business: The course bridges advanced technology concepts with business commercialization, involving hands-on projects that require applying scientific and engineering principles to create viable commercial solutions. This interdisciplinary approach aligns with STEM education standards requiring integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into problem-solving.
4. Learning Objectives with STEM Core Elements: Learning goals include understanding the lifecycle of technology commercialization, applying technical evaluations to business contexts, leveraging innovation theories supported by analysis of empirical data, and practicing skills that prepare students for leadership roles in tech-driven industries.
5. This course aligns  with Rutgers’ STEM Designation Criteria: Rutgers Business School designates courses as STEM when they have rigorous quantitative, technical, and scientific content, which CTEC exemplifies through its curriculum and project work aimed at technological entrepreneurship.
6. Approximately half of the students are currently pursuing advanced degrees in the STEM disciplines taught at the Medical School and School of Engineering (electrical/mechanical/aerospace), while the other half are from RBS.

CETC 1 trains students in the application of STEM principles—technology, scientific analysis, quantitative reasoning—to entrepreneurship and commercialization challenges. The syllabus content fully supports this designation by clearly integrating technology and analytic rigor essential to STEM fields.