Graduate Certificate Courses and Requirements

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Required Courses:
The following two courses are required for this graduate certificate.

ACCY 569: Data Driven Decisions in Accounting
This course prepares students to use analytic software to explore, visualize, and statistically analyze accounting data. It first introduces students to the need for analytics in accounting by sampling problems from different accounting domains. Students then learn to frame problems in a way that can be answered by using data, and how to structure data so that it’s ready to be analyzed.

Students create interactive visualizations in Excel and Tableau to examine data, identify patterns and relationships in the data, and then communicate the findings. This course also introduces students to statistical analyses (i.e. regression and clustering) for quantifying patterns and relationships that are observed in the data. Finally, this course introduces accounting students to programming via macros and the VisualBasic editor in Excel to automate data preparation and data analyses.

• 2 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in August
• Coursera Components: Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization

ACCY 576: Data Preparation for Accounting
This course focuses on developing Python skills for assembling business data, taught within the context of multiple accounting settings (e.g., financial statement data, stock data, loan data, point-of-sale data, etc.). The first half of the course uses an integrated development environment to automate data analytic tasks. We discuss how to manage code and share results within Jupyter Notebook, a popular development environment for data analytic software like Python and R. We then review some fundamental programming skills, such as mathematical operators, functions, conditional statements and loops using Python software.

The second half of the course focuses on assembling data for machine learning purposes. We introduce students to Pandas dataframes and Numpy for structuring and manipulating data. We then analyze the data using visualizations and linear regressions. Finally, we explain how to use Python for interacting with SQL data.

• 2 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in January
• Coursera Components: Accounting Data Analytics with Python

Elective Courses:
Learners should select eight hours of elective courses from the list below.

ACCY 577: Machine Learning for Accounting
This course introduces machine learning algorithms and their applications in accounting problems. It covers classification, regression, clustering, text analysis, time series analysis. It also discusses feature importance and model optimization.

This course provides an entry point for students to be able to apply proper machine learning algorithms on business related datasets to solve various problems. By end of the course, combined with the skills learned from ACCY 576, students should be able to complete an entire data analytics process with Python.

• 2 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in March
• Coursera Components: Machine Learning for Accounting with Python

ACCY 578: Accounting Analytics Applications
In this course, you can develop your knowledge regarding the roles, methods, and implications of business and data analytics in accounting via real-world applications of fundamental and advanced analytics principles.

Application opportunities span multiple areas of accounting, including audit, fraud identification and detection, financial accounting, and managerial accounting. After engaging in this course, you’ll possess a foundational understanding of the role of business and data analytics in accounting and be able to apply this knowledge to real-world business use cases.

• 1 Credit Hour; 4-Week Course, Offered in October, November, March, and April
• May be repeated when topics vary for up to 4 credit hours.

MBA 563: Data Toolkit: Business Data Modeling & Predictive Analytics
The emphasis of this course is placed on developing a business analytic mindset. You will then be exposed to various tools to perform tasks including extracting, transforming and loading (ETL) data to conduct exploratory data analytics (EDA). These tools are Power BI, R, and Alteryx. In addition, you will learn different machine learning algorithms but also develop the ability to evaluate and select the right algorithms for the right circumstances and use Notebooks to communicate results with others.

Please note, Because Power BI and Alteryx are only built to run on a Windows operating system, you will need to either have administrative access to a Windows machine, or install additional software, such as Virtual Box, so that you can emulate a Windows operating system on your Mac or Linux operating system.

To be successful in this course, you must be comfortable with R concepts and commands. It is recommended to complete the Introduction to Business Analytics with R MOOC before beginning this course.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in October
• Coursera Components: Tools for Exploratory Data Analysis in Business and Machine Learning Algorithms with R in Business Analytics

MBA 564: Applying Data Analytics in Marketing
In this course, you’ll focus on marketing analytics techniques and how to use those techniques to solve real-world marketing problems. You will cover topics including t-tests, natural language processing, and network analysis, and more. You will use R programming to learn key concepts, including the four tools of marketing analytics.

To be successful in this course, you must be comfortable with R concepts and commands. It is recommended to complete the Introduction to Business Analytics with R MOOC before beginning this course.

• 2 Credit Hours, 4-Week Course, Offered in August and January 
• Coursera Component: Applying Data Analytics in Marketing

MBA 564: Applying Data Analytics in Accountancy
In this course, you’ll be introduced to cutting-edge technologies being used in business, particularly in accounting. You’ll cover analytics techniques including natural language processing and robot process automation. You will gain an increased familiarity to technologies including blockchain, cyber security, and process mining.

Please note, completion of this course requires downloading and using free versions of the Alteryx applications, both of which are only compatible with Windows Operation System (i.e. Windows 10). Therefore, to complete this course, you must have administrative access to a computer with Windows operating system installed. Alternatively, you may use a free virtual desktop environment that contains all the software requirements.

To be successful in this course, you must be comfortable with R concepts and commands. It is recommended to complete the Introduction to Business Analytics with R MOOC before beginning this course.

• 2 Credit Hours, 4-Week Course, Starts in September and February
• Coursera Component: Applying Data Analytics in Accounting

MBA 565: Infonomics
In this course, you’ll be introduced to cutting-edge technologies being used in business, particularly in accounting. You’ll cover analytics techniques including natural language processing and robot process automation. You will gain an increased familiarity to technologies including blockchain, cyber security, and process mining.

Please note, completion of this course requires downloading and using free versions of the Alteryx applications, both of which are only compatible with Windows Operation System (i.e. Windows 10). Therefore, to complete this course, you must have administrative access to a computer with Windows operating system installed. Alternatively, you may use a free virtual desktop environment that contains all the software requirements.

To be successful in this course, you must be comfortable with R concepts and commands. It is recommended to complete the Introduction to Business Analytics with R MOOC before beginning this course.

• 2 Credit Hours, 4-Week Course, Starts in September and February
• Coursera Component: Applying Data Analytics in Accounting

• View upcoming course dates and registration information

Learners should review the Course Offerings and select the learner pathway that best matches their professional and education background.

All learners must complete the following two required courses:

ACCY 501: Accounting Analysis I

This is the first course in a two-course sequence (ACCY 501 and 502) that covers the collection, processing, and communication of accounting information (via financial reports) about economic entities to interested parties (i.e., managers and external stakeholders such as stockholders and creditors). This sequence focuses on accounting concepts, principles and theory with an emphasis on problems that arise in applying these concepts for external reporting purposes. Specific emphasis is placed on measurement of assets, liabilities, equities and income, as well as disclosure of additional information that may assist users to understand the financial reports. Because this sequence is intended to assist you in professional preparation, you will be expected to develop analytical, problem-solving and technical skills used by accounting professionals.

• 4 Credit Hours, Fall and Spring
• Coursera Components: The Role of Accounting as an Information System and Measurement and Disclosure of Assets

ACCY 502: Accounting Analysis II

ACCY 502 is a continuation of ACCY 501. This course begins with a discussion of current liabilities and contingencies and continues with long-term debt and bonds. The course next explores the accounting model for leases, both lessees and lessors, and a discussion on deferred tax assets and liabilities. Participants will learn the latest accounting standards including the new accounting model for leases effective for public companies in 2019 and private companies in 2020. The second half of the course begins with a discussion of pensions and retiree medical benefits and continues with equity and share-based payments. It then explores earnings per share (EPS) and a discussion on accounting changes. The course will conclude with a discussion on the statement of cash flows.

• 4 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Measurement and Disclosure of Liabilities and Accounting for Liabilities and Equity

Elective courses

Learners should select one course from the list below based on their professional and education background.

ACCY 500: Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control

A managerial perspective of the nature and role of accounting in organizational measurement, reporting and control processes.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8 Weeks in Length
• Coursera Components: Financial Accounting: Foundations and Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics

ACCY 503: Managerial Accounting

In this course, you will identify and analyze managerial accounting practices used inside organizations to facilitate and guide managers’ operational and strategic decisions. There are two important roles of managerial accounting information. First, managerial accounting has a decision-facilitating role, as it allows decision-makers within the company to adjust their beliefs, and thus affects their evaluations of and decisions surrounding the company’s strategies and operations. Second, managerial accounting has a decision-influencing role, as it can be used to evaluate performance, and align the incentives of the decision-maker with those of other stakeholders. This course will explore both roles of managerial accounting.

• 4 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Managerial Accounting I and Managerial Accounting II

• View upcoming course dates and registration information

Required Courses:
The following two courses are required for this graduate certificate.

ACCY 569: Data Driven Decisions in Accounting +
This course prepares students to use analytic software to explore, visualize, and statistically analyze accounting data. It first introduces students to the need for analytics in accounting by sampling problems from different accounting domains. Students then learn to frame problems in a way that can be answered by using data, and how to structure data so that it’s ready to be analyzed. Students create interactive visualizations in Excel and Tableau to examine data, identify patterns and relationships in the data, and then communicate the findings. This course also introduces students to statistical analyses (i.e. regression and clustering) for quantifying patterns and relationships that are observed in the data. Finally, this course introduces accounting students to programming via macros and the VisualBasic editor in Excel to automate data preparation and data analyses.

• 2 Credit Hours, Fall Only
• Coursera Components: Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization

ACCY 576: Data Preparation for Accounting
This course focuses on developing Python skills for assembling business data, taught within the context of multiple accounting settings (e.g., financial statement data, stock data, loan data, point-of-sale data, etc.). The first half of the course uses an integrated development environment to automate data analytic tasks. We discuss how to manage code and share results within Jupyter Notebook, a popular development environment for data analytic software like Python and R. We then review some fundamental programming skills, such as mathematical operators, functions, conditional statements and loops using Python software. The second half of the course focuses on assembling data for machine learning purposes. We introduce students to Pandas dataframes and Numpy for structuring and manipulating data. We then analyze the data using visualizations and linear regressions. Finally, we explain how to use Python for interacting with SQL data.

• 2 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Accounting Data Analytics with Python

Elective Courses

ACCY 504: Auditing

This course provides an intensive conceptual and applied introduction to auditing in society. It focuses on concepts and applications related to financial-statement auditors’ professional responsibilities, as well as major facets of the audit process, including risk assessment and audit reporting.

• 4 Credit Hours, Fall Only
• Coursera Components: Conceptual Foundations of Auditing and The Practice of Auditing

ACCY 506: Advanced Topics in Accounting

This course covers accounting for business combinations (ASC 805), the preparation of consolidated financial statements (ASC 810), and other related topics including, but not limited to: step-by-step acquisition, deconsolidation, segments reporting, and the goodwill impairment test. This course begins with a discussion of the scope of ASC 805 and the differences between business combinations and asset acquisitions. Next, the course explores the measurement and recognition principles of the acquisition method to account for business combinations. Then, the course covers the consolidation process. You will learn how to prepare the consolidated financial statements and make all of the necessary consolidation adjustments.

• 4 Credit Hours, Fall Only
• Coursera Components: Accounting for Business Combinations and Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

ACCY 507: Taxation of Business Entities

The first half of the course provides an introduction to the U.S. federal income taxation of corporations and their shareholders. The course focuses on the relevant provisions of Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as related Treasury Regulations and judicial opinions, governing corporate formation, operations, distributions, and liquidation. The second half of the course provides an introduction to the U.S. federal income taxation of pass-through business entities, including Subchapter S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. It focuses on the relevant provisions of Subchapters S and K of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as related Treasury Regulations and judicial opinions, governing the formation, operation, and termination of pass-through entities. Practical in-class study problems facilitate self-discovery of technical tax knowledge along with the development of a variety of professional skills and attitudes.

• 4 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Taxation of Business Entities I: Corporations and Taxation of Business Entities II: Pass-Through Entities

ACCY 516: Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Accountants

This course covers key principles of accountants’ professional responsibility in their jobs, organizations, and careers, and adopts both theoretical and practical perspectives of the role of ethics and morals within the accounting discipline. The course begins with a general overview of these key constructs and principles, including various philosophies from a variety of disciplines and cultures. Next, the course provides a historical perspective of major instances of accounting-related “failures” and “successes” in the area of professional responsibility and ethics. This historical perspective provides the underlying reasoning for many contemporary codes of conduct, ethics, and professional guidelines. A variety of experiential learning opportunities will help students explore and develop their own perspective on ethics and morals, and how these principles affect their professional roles, responsibilities, and choices.

• 3 Credit Hours, Summer Only
• Coursera Components: Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Accountants

ACCY 517: Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation

This course examines the tools and techniques of financial statement analysis and company valuation from the perspective of investors and creditors; emphasizes theoretical and empirical properties of financial ratios as well as valuation methods used in practice.

• 4 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants and Forecasting Financial Statements & Valuation for Accountants

Learners should select 4 credit hours from following:

ACCY 577: Machine Learning for Accounting

This course introduces machine learning algorithms and their applications in accounting problems. It covers classification, regression, clustering, text analysis, time series analysis. It also discusses feature importance and model optimization. This course provides an entry point for students to be able to apply proper machine learning algorithms on business related datasets to solve various problems. By end of the course, combined with the skills learned from ACCY 576, students should be able to complete an entire data analytics process with Python.

• 2 Credit Hours, Spring Only
• Coursera Components: Machine Learning for Accounting with Python

ACCY 578: Accounting Analytics Applications

This course develops students’ knowledge regarding the role, methods, and implications of business and data analytics in accounting via real-world applications of fundamental and advanced analytics principles. Application opportunities span multiple areas of accounting, including audit, fraud identification and detection, financial accounting, and managerial accounting. Students will (1) gain a foundational understanding of the role of business / data analytics in accounting and (2) be able to apply this knowledge to real-world clients, business decisions, etc. Course sections vary by application topic, may be repeated in the same or separate semesters, if topics vary.

• 1 Credit Hours, Fall and Spring
  

BADM 403: Corporate & Commercial Law

In this course, you will learn about several important legal concepts that affect businesses. The first half of the course focuses on contracts and employment law. Students will learn what is required in order to form agreements that can be enforced in court, examine the rights of third parties and what happens when someone doesn't fulfill their contractual obligations, and understand legal issues that impact the hiring, firing, and ongoing employment of workers. The second half of the course turns to business organizations, business financing, and governmental regulation. Students will discuss the characteristics of a number of the most common forms of business entities, such as corporations and LLCs, explore debtor-creditor relationships, including bank financing, debt financing, secured transactions, and bankruptcy, and learn about the most important aspects of governmental regulation, including the process by which administrative agencies make rules, and the regulation of anti-competitive behavior and securities transactions.

• 4 Credit Hours
• Coursera Components: Corporate & Commercial Law I: Contracts & Employment Law and Corporate & Commercial Law II: Business Forms, Financing & Governmental Regulations

MBA 563: Data Toolkit: Business Data Modeling & Predictive Analytics

The emphasis of this course is placed on developing a business analytic mindset. You will then be exposed to various tools to perform tasks including extracting, transforming and loading (ETL) data to conduct exploratory data analytics (EDA). These tools are Power BI, R, and Alteryx. In addition, you will learn different machine learning algorithms but also develop the ability to evaluate and select the right algorithms for the right circumstances and use Notebooks to communicate results with others.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8 Weeks in Length 
• Coursera Components: Tools for Exploratory Data Analysis in Business and Machine Learning Algorithms with R in Business Analytics  
  

MBA 564: Data Analytics Applications in Business

These courses develop students' knowledge regarding the role, methods, and implications of business and data analytics in business. Application opportunities span multiple areas of business. Special topics may include marketing, finance, supply chain, and accounting. Topics covered may include forecasting using time series models, modern portfolio theory, measurement and scaling, A/B testing, ANOVA, and conjoint analysis. Course sections vary by application topic, may be repeated in the same or separate semesters, if topics vary.

• 2 Credit Hours; 4 Weeks in Length

MBA 565: Infonomics

This course provides a non-technical perspective on and methods for monetizing, managing, and measuring information as if it were any other kind of corporate asset.

• 4 Credit Hours, Summer Only
• Coursera Components: Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization and Infonomics II: Business Information Management and Measurement

• View upcoming course dates and registration information
• View a sample schedule

MBA 545: Marketing in Our New Digital World
This course will explore the new digital realm in two parts. First, this course will explore how the digital revolution has affected our analog world. Second, this course will review the foundations of marketing, including customer co-creation, user-generated content, and 3D Printing.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8 Weeks in length
• Coursera Components: The Digital Marketing Revolution and Marketing in a Digital World

MBA 542: Digital Marketing Analytics
Theory and strategy behind marketing analytics for use in practical application.

• 4 Credit Hours: 8 Weeks in Length
• Coursera Components: Digital Analytics for Marketing Professionals: Marketing Analytics in Theory and Digital Analytics for Marketing Professionals: Marketing Analytics in Practice

MBA 543: Digital Media and Marketing
Learn the role of digital channels in an integrated marketing campaign and why you need a digital strategy. Interact with the content and learn from a variety of examples.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8 Weeks in Length
• Coursera Components: Digital Media and Marketing Principles and Digital Media and Marketing Strategies

• View upcoming course dates and registration information
• View a sample schedule

BADM 508: Leadership and Teams
Develops and integrates fundamental behavioral concepts and theory having administrative applications; initially focuses on the individual decision maker and ultimately includes interpersonal, organizational, and social structures and influences; and develops strategies and methods of research on behavioral applications in business.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in August and January
• Coursera Components: Leading Teams: Developing as a Leader and Leading Teams: Building Effective Team Cultures

BADM 509: Managing Organizations
Examines and analyzes the organization as a social system and the impact of its various components on work attitudes and behavior; topics include the development of organizational structures, organizational effectiveness, decision making and policy formulation, leadership, and change.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in October and March
• Coursera Components: Designing the Organization: From Strategy to Organization Structure and Managing the Organization: From Organizational Design to Execution

BADM 544: Strategic Management
Focuses on policy construction and planning of policy implementation at the executive level. During this course, you will look at case studies of company-wide situations from the management point of view.

• 4 Credit Hours; 8-Week Course, Offered in October and March
• Coursera Components: Business Strategy and Corporate Strategy