Undergraduate
Major

Accounting Systems and Analytics Catalog

Richard J. Wehle School of Business
Accounting Systems and Analytics (BS)

Introduction

Accounting Systems and Analytics (BS)
Chair: Ian J. Redpath, JD, LLM

The Accounting Systems and Analytics program (formerly Accounting Information Systems) is part of the Wehle Business School and is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). 

The Accounting Systems and Analytics (ASA) Program is designed for students to gain the knowledge and skills required to bridge the gap between accounting and technology. The ASA program emphasizes student's developing in demand skills in the areas of data analytics, business process knowledge and information technology risk assessment. ASA is a unique program, started in 2002, as one of only 30 schools offering similar programs in the U.S.  ASA majors are often dual majors with accounting who join the ASA program after starting at Canisius while some students major only in ASA. The ASA major skills are in demand in the market place. Some ASA graduates choose careers in technical positions such as an Information Systems Auditor for high paying jobs with public accounting firms and financial institutions.  

From its inception, the ASA program has strived to reinforce concepts with state of the art technology that expands the career opportunities of our graduates. More recently, in 2013, Canisius University joined the SAP University Alliance which enables the college to use SAP software for instructional purposes. SAP is the worldwide leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions. Students benefit from hands on use of SAP software throughout the ASA program. The SAP initiative was made possible through partnerships with local businesses. Additionally, as a member of the SAP University Alliances program, Canisius University offers the SAP Student Recognition Award certificate to students who satisfactorily complete a minimum of three ASA courses that include at least one-third SAP hands-on content.

Advisement

All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one.  Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.

Double Majors

Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a double major. This decision may be based on career goals, planned graduate studies, and/or other student interests. Before a student declares a double major, it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement.  In order to declare a double major, the student must complete the Major/Minor Declaration form. This form will be submitted electronically and reviewed and approved by each department chairperson as well as the appropriate associate dean. 

Per university policy, each additional major requires a minimum of 15 credits that do not apply to the student's first or subsequent major.  Some double major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in other cases, additional coursework may be required. Please note that students will only receive one degree unless completing the dual degree requirement, including at least 150 undergraduate credit hours, regardless of the number of majors they complete. Both (all) majors appear on a student’s transcript.

Minors in Other Disciplines

Minors provide students the opportunity to pursue additional interests but generally do not require as many courses as a major.  Minors generally range from five to eight required courses. To receive a minor, the student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their other credentials (i.e., majors, other minors). The complete list of minors is available on the Canisius website and in the catalog and provides links to each minor. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional coursework may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.

Pass-Fail Rules

Courses required to be taken for majors and minors in the Wehle Business School are not eligible to be take pass-fail. This includes all business core courses and all major requirements, including electives. Please see the Pass-Fail Policy for more details.

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

Business Core
Required courses for all business majors49-51
Additional Major Requirements
ACC 301Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 303Cost Accounting3
ACC 307Accounting Systems and Analytics3
ACC 331Data Analytics in Accounting3
ISB 340Database Management Systems3
ACC 426Information Systems Auditing3
ACC 452Strategic Performance Analytics3
ENG 389Business Communication3
Students must take both LAW 371 and LAW 372 or MGT 3703-6
LAW 371
Business and Commercial Law
LAW 372
Business Organizations and Commercial Paper
OR
MGT 370
Managerial Environment
Total Credits76-81

Roadmap

Typical Schedule

120 hours - BS in Business Administration (Major: Accounting Systems and Analytics)

Freshman
FallSpring
ENG 111ENG 112
ECO 101PHI 101
RST 101MAT 106 (or Arts & Science Elective if MAT 106 taken in Fall)
MAT 105 (or MAT 106)ECO 102
Field of Knowledge 4 (History)MKT 201
FYE 101BUS 101
 
Sophomore
FallSpring
MGT 101ACC 212
ECO 255ECO 256
ACC 201ACC 307
ISB 101Field of Knowledge 3 - Arts
BUS 201Arts & Science Elective
Field of Knowledge 6 (Science) 
Junior
FallSpring
ACC 301ACC 331
ACC 303ENG 389
FIN 201A&S Elective
Field of Knowledge 1 - Religious StudiesField of Knowledge 2 - Philosophy1
Free ElectiveA&S Elective
 BUS 401
Senior
FallSpring
ISB 340ACC 452
ACC 426MGT 446 (college core capstone)
MGT 325Free Elective
MGT 370Free Elective
Free ElectiveA&S Elective
1

Ethics Required

Courses

ACC 212 Principles of Accounting II 3 Credits

For Accounting Majors. Fundamental concepts and procedures of financial and managerial accounting with emphasis on asset funding, including debt and equity and cash flows. Accounting applications of present value concepts, introduction to budgeting and product costing.

Prerequisite: minimum grade of C- in ACC 201.

Offered: every spring.

ACC 301 Intermediate Accounting I 3 Credits

First of a two-course sequence. In-depth accounting concepts and theories pertaining to external financial reporting. Emphasis on theories surrounding asset valuations, liability and equity measurements, income determination and cash flows.

Prerequisite: minimum grade of C- in both ACC 201 & ACC 212, & overall GPA of 2.0.

Offered: every fall.

ACC 303 Cost Accounting 3 Credits

Preparation and analysis of data utilized by management in planning and control decisions. Inventory valuation and reporting methods. Establishment and use of standards and budgets.

Prerequisite: ACC 212, junior standing, & an overall GPA of 2.0.

Offered: every fall.

ACC 307 Accounting Systems and Analytics 3 Credits

Development, organization, and implementation of accounting and management information systems. Emphasis on data analytics, enterprise risk management.

Prerequisite: ACC 201 & ISB 101.

Offered: every spring.

ACC 331 Data Analytics in Accounting 3 Credits

Data analytics theories and concepts applied to accounting settings. Emphasis on business intelligence, data analytics models, data visualization, data storytelling, and descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Students apply data analytic concepts through data storytelling and the use of analytics software.

Prerequisite: ACC 307 & MKT 201 (may register concurrently), ACC 307 with a minimum grade of C-.

Offered: every spring.

ACC 426 Information Systems Auditing 3 Credits

Information system control design and auditing in the internet, electronic and paperless environment; management of security technology; operating and application system processing controls; prevention of unauthorized activity.

Prerequisite: minimum grade of C- in each of ACC 307, & one of the following: ACC 331, ACC 452, or ACC 425, ISB 340 can be taken concurrently.

Offered: fall.

ACC 452 Strategic Performance Analytics 3 Credits

Evaluating enterprise information, enterprise resource planning (ERP) system design and functionality, data integrity, use of financial and non-financial information for organizational decision-making, business process improvement and risk management.

Prerequisite: minimum grade of C- in ACC 307.

Offered: spring.

ISB 340 Database Management Systems 3 Credits

Design and application of database management systems. Topics include structured query language (SQL), data structures, querying and report writing, database design and administration, data mining and security.

Prerequisite: ISB 101 or equivalent.

Offered: every fall.