Last updated: March 20, 2003 @ 11:04AM

Accounting

Chair
Sandra M. Felton

Professors
William Richardson, Robert Welch

Associate Professors
Ian Adamson, Thomas H. Barnes, Gail Cook, Louis Culumovic, Donald Cyr, Maureen Donnelly, Sandra M. Felton, Raafat R. Roubi, Barbara Sainty, Paul Scarbrough, Linda Stillabower

Assistant Professors
Mohammed Ayadi, Ernest Biktimirov, Donald Brown, Paul Dunn, Anamitra Shome, Allister Young

Lecturer
Shari Leitch

Master of Accountancy Program
Administrator
Shari Leitch, extension 3916
Taro 220
http://www.bus.brocku.ca/macc
The Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program is designed to enable students to assimilate advanced knowledge in accounting and related aspects of business. The program encourages the development of critical thinking, analytic and communication skills. It is intended to enhance the ability of students to adapt and respond to a complex changing business environment and to develop a professional attitude, with sensitivity to related ethical questions. The overall objective is to provide a strong academic grounding that will support and encourage the expansion of knowledge for both the individual and the profession over the long term.
Students select either a generalized stream, that includes one independent study with a faculty member in the student's area of interest, or the tax specialty stream, that includes advanced study in several areas of taxation, or the information systems specialty stream that includes advanced study in several areas of information systems and one independent study in the area of information systems with a faculty member. In all streams, students take one or more electives or specialty courses in other business topics or in approved topics outside the business faculty.

Admission Requirement
The basic admission requirement for the MAcc program is an honours bachelors degree with an accounting concentration including courses in advanced financial accounting, advanced management accounting, corporate tax, auditing and other business courses. At least a B (second-class) standing or equivalent is required for admission.
Applicants who do not have the required prerequisites will be given the opportunity to complete one or more prerequisite terms. However, acceptance to Brock for purposes of obtaining prerequisites does not constitute acceptance into the Master of Accountancy. Students with undergraduate education from outside of North America will be considered for the MAcc or IMAcc program depending on the applicant's background and future intentions.

Program Requirements
Candidates for the Master of Accountancy degree shall follow a program of study that must be approved by the Chair of the Accounting and Finance department, in consultation with the Director of the MAcc.
The program consists of a series of courses required for all students. In addition to the required courses, students select from the general stream as outlined in Stream A, the tax specialty stream as outlined in Stream B or the information systems specialty stream as outlined in Stream C below.

Required Courses

ACTG 5P21 Strategic Cost Management
ACTG 5P41 Advanced Topics in the Taxation of Corporations and Their Shareholders
FNCE 5P91 Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
ACTG 5Y11 Integration and AnalysisI
ACTG 5Y12 Integration and AnalysisII
ACTG 5P51 Information Technology and Systems
ACTG 5Y31 Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
ACTG 5Y61 Advanced Topics in Auditing

Stream A ­ General
The general stream provides students with a broad background in all aspects of accounting. It is expected that they will select their electives and their independent study topic in one or more areas that allow them to develop expertise in one or more specialized disciplines such as information systems, auditing or management accounting.
In addition to the required courses, general stream students will take two half credit course electives during the first term. In addition, these students must nroll in ACTG 5F91 (Independent Study) under the supervision of a faculty member in the discipline of their choice. The elective courses generally may be selected from courses offered at the 3(alpha)90 or above level by the Faculty of Business or outside the Faculty. All elective courses and the program of independent study must be approved by the Director of the MAcc and the Chair of the Accounting and Finance department.

Stream B ­ Taxation

The tax specialty stream provides students with advanced knowledge in taxation and an ability to research tax issues and communicate results efficiently and effectively. The tax specialty requires several major papers and projects that are spread across the courses in the program, offering students an opportunity to develop their research and communication skills, as well as an opportunity to investigate specialized tax issues.
In addition to the required courses, students in the tax specialty stream will take ACTG 5P42, (Tax Research and Statutory Interpretation and Practice) and one-half credit elective in the first term. During the second term, these students will take ACTG 5P43 (Tax Policy); ACTG 5Y45-5Y50 (Advanced Special Topics in Taxation) and ACTG 5P45 (International Taxation: The Canada/United States Model). The elective half credit course in the first term must be selected from courses offered at the 3(alpha)90 or above level in the Faculty of Business or outside the Faculty of Business, subject to the approval of the Director of MAcc and the Chair of the Accounting and Finance department.

Stream C ­ Information Systems

The information systems specialty stream provides students with advanced expertise in information systems and technology. It is expected that students will develop a strong understanding of the strategic role of information systems and will be able to review and assist in their design. Students will complete research and design projects in each of their specialty courses. It is expected that the required independent study project will reflect research and/or consulting activities in the information systems field.
In addition to the required courses, students in the information systems specialty stream will take ACTG 5P54 (Knowledge Engineering) in the first term of the Master of Accountancy. During the second term, these students will take ACTG 5P52 (E-Commerce) and ACTG 5P53 (Database Design and Management). In addition, students in the information systems stream must also enroll in ACTG 5P92 (Independent Study for Information Systems) under the supervision of a faculty member. The program of independent study must be approved by the Director of the MAcc and the Chair of the Accounting and Finance department.

International Master of Accountancy Program

Administrator
Shari Leitch, extension 3916
Taro 220
http://www.bus.brocku.ca/imacc
The International Master of Accountancy (IMAcc) program provides international students with a broad background in all aspects of accounting with emphasis on managerial accounting and information systems. The content and program objectives are substantially the same as the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program described above with minor modifications that focus on the needs of international students.
The IMAcc program is a lock-step program that includes: an intensive English language study program, a transition term, and two academic terms. Each of these terms increases students' skills and prepares them for subsequent terms.

Admission Requirement

The basic admission requirement for the IMAcc program is the equivalent of a Canadian university honours undergraduate degree with a substantial number of accounting courses and at least the equivalent of a B (second-class) academic standing. Students with undergraduate education from outside of North America will be considered for the IMAcc or MAcc program depending on the applicants' background and future intentions.
All students entering the IMAcc program must take courses during a one-term transitional period in the Fall of each year. The objective of this transition term is to ensure that students have the appropriate background in North American accounting, business environment, educational delivery methods, and English to enter the IMAcc program. Although the courses offered in this transitional term are non-credit courses, students must complete the courses with satisfactory marks before they are permitted to continue with the graduate courses. Transition term courses may include:

ACTG 5N00 External Financial Reporting
ACTG 5N01 Auditing
ACTG 5N02 Managerial Accounting and Integration
ACTG 5N03 Business English and Communications
ACTG 5N04 North American Business Environment
(including topics such as marketing, organizational behaviour, corporate finance and business law)

Program Requirements

Students in the International Master of Accountancy program follow a program of study that must be approved by the Chair of the Accounting and Finance department, in consultation with the Director of the IMAcc. The program is lock-step and consists of the following required courses for all IMAcc students:
ACTG 5F01 Management Accounting and IT/IS
ACTG 5P21 Strategic Cost Management
ACTG 5P31 Achieving Profit Goals and Driving Corporate Performance
ACTG 5P32 Global Tax Management and Planning
ACTG 5P52 E-Commerce
ACTG 5P53 Database Design and Management
FNCE 5P91 Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
ACTG 5Y11 Integration and Analysis
ACTG 5Y12 Integration and Analysis
ACTG 5Y31 Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
ACTG 5Y61 Advanced Topics in Auditing

Course Descriptions
ACTG 5F01
Management Accounting and IT/IS
Focuses on the design and use of management accounting systems to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Topics include the advanced management accounting and IT/IS tools needed to run a modern business. Involves a field study in a company where the student will define, analyze, solve and report on a problem within management accounting and IT/IS.
Note: students completing this course will forfeit credit in ACTG 5P51.

ACTG 5F91
Independent Study
Research and/or consulting project carried out in collaboration with a faculty adviser and relevant resource personnel. Development of knowledge in a specialized discipline and development of ability to apply the knowledge to particular issues and/or situations.

ACTG 5P21
Strategic Cost Management
Identification and exploration of current and emerging issues in management accounting. Investigation and analysis of complex issues within an applied organizational setting.

ACTG 5P31
Achieving Profit Goals and Driving Corporate Performance
Focuses on the design and structure of management accounting and performance measurement systems to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Examines various management accounting topics such as performance measurement, performance evaluation and cost behaviours. Students will learn how to create effective performance measurement systems utilizing accounting tools in order to improve operational efficiency and strategy implementation.

ACTG 5P32
Global Tax Management and Planning
Focuses on the fundamentals of international tax principles and rules. Provides a structural framework within which international tax issues can be examined by both governments and multinational corporations. The role of treaties in international tax planning will be discussed using the Canada-US Income Tax Convention as an example. Particular emphasis will be placed on the key provisions of the OECD Model Treaty. Other topics included will be source-based taxation, related party transactions, harmful tax competition, tax avoidance measures and the role of tax havens.

ACTG 5P41
Advanced Topics in the Taxation of Corporations and Their Shareholders
Technical and planning issues related to structures for conducting business and investment activities. Focus on various ownership categories, types of business operations and funding issues. Investigation of partnerships and trusts as part of a business or investment portfolio structure. Application of provisions of tax law and communication of results of research and analysis.

ACTG 5P42
Tax Research and Statutory Interpretation in Practice
Effective, efficient, tax research techniques. Development of analytical and critical thinking skills in the context of tax planning. Emphasis on development of research skills including discerning facts, locating authorities, assessing and applying authorities and communicating results.

ACTG 5P43
Tax Policy
Socioeconomic, legal and political analysis of the legislation, jurisprudence and literature of taxation. Evaluation and application of alternative tax systems and methods.

ACTG 5P44
Fundamentals of U.S. Tax
Fundamentals of the U.S. tax system relative to corporations and individuals. Focus on the structure of U.S. statutes. Particular emphasis on comparative U.S. and Canadian tax policy and implementation. Introduction to reference tools available for tax research in the United States.

ACTG 5P45
International Taxation: The Canada/United States Model
Tax implications of doing business in multiple jurisdictions. Investigation of the United States tax system and Canadian tax provisions regarding multinational investment, in-bound and outbound.

ACTG 5P51
Information Technology and Systems
Knowledge-based and decision support systems used in decision making for support of the enterprise at the strategic and operation management levels. Conceptual foundations and techniques for decision making, data management, modeling and model management. Fundamentals of expert systems and the acquisition of knowledge for such systems.

ACTG 5P52
E-Commerce
Basic grounding in concepts related to electronic commerce-based solutions (primarily business-to-consumer and business-to-business). Communications infrastructure supporting e-commerce, security and integrity issues. Architecture of e-commerce applications, strategic deployment of e-commerce for global competitive advantage. Design of a working e-commerce system required.

ACTG 5P53
Database Design and Management
Large-scale database projects. Includes requirements analysis, selection, functional specifications, design, testing, performance evaluation and maintenance of a database system. Design of a database system required.

ACTG 5P54
Knowledge Engineering
Conceptual foundations for building knowledge-based systems. Application of artificial intelligence, rule-based systems, other common knowledge representation techniques, knowledge acquisition methods, application of KBS in accounting systems and management. Design of a KBS required.

FNCE 5P91
Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
Investigation of current topics in the world of corporate finance, both domestically and internationally. Exploration of complex issues involved with financial instruments, derivative securities, futures and international markets. Application of knowledge in a real-world environment.

ACTG 5P92
Independent Study for Information Systems
Research and/or consulting project carried out in collaboration with a faculty adviser and relevant resource personnel. Development of knowledge in a specialized discipline and development of ability to apply the knowledge to particular issues and/or situations.

ACTG 5Y11
Integration and Analysis I
Integration of knowledge from various functional areas of accounting and the business disciplines in a professional context. Development of analytical, diagnostic, decision-making and presentation skills. Application of knowledge and formation of professional judgment in the context of real world situations presented in complex cases.

ACTG 5Y12
Integration and Analysis II
Continuation of integration of knowledge.

ACTG 5Y31
Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
Identification and exploration of current and emerging issues in financial reporting. Investigation and analysis of complex issues within an applied organizational setting.

ACTG 5Y45-5Y50
Advanced Special Topics in Taxation
Emerging issues and topics in taxation. Content varies depending on the instructor and the topics at issue at the time of offering.

ACTG 5Y61
Advanced Topics in Auditing
Identification and exploration of current and emerging issues in auditing and assurance services. Investigation and analysis of complex issues within an applied organization setting.