Accounting Certificate of Graduate Study
Accounting Certificate of Graduate Study
Unlock Your Potential
Earn an Accounting Certificate
The Accounting Certificate of Graduate Study (COGS) courses offered by Rowan University's Rohrer College of Business (RCB):
- will expand your knowledge in specialized accounting subjects;
- count toward the 150-credit requirement to be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA);
- are a valuable stand-alone credential on your way to earning a master’s degree;
- are ideal for those who wish to strengthen their application for MBA admission or have not taken the Graduate Admission Test (GMAT) as the GMAT is not required for admission to the COGS program; and
- are fully transferrable into the MBA program to satisfy an Accounting area of concentration at Rowan in the future.
Stand Out in Your Field
Explore best practices for preparing and utilizing financial reporting statements. Master budgeting processes, operational planning, and advanced accounting principles that are crucial skills in such roles as CPA, tax manager, budget analyst, or auditing manager.
Accounting talent is in demand across diverse industries such as:
- insurance;
- health care;
- information technology;
- the public sector; and
- in serving accounting or financial management functions in nonprofit or government.
Why Choose a COGS?
A COGS pathway makes it possible to immediately focus on a specialized area of interest strategically tailored for your next career move or the next step in your education. The admissions process for a COGS is more streamlined than for a full degree, allowing a simpler entry point to explore graduate studies.
Pursuing a Certificate of Graduate Study (COGS) can contribute to your earning a promotion or higher pay, expand your responsibilities in your current role, and make your resume stand out.
Gain expertise you can add to your repertoire and resume now. Elevate your strategic and critical-thinking dexterity, revitalize your skill set, improve your leadership and management potential, and give your work performance more agility and depth.
Curriculum
Learn crucial skills for a career path as a CPA, tax manager, budget analyst, and auditing manager and for moving toward VP or Chief Accounting Officer. Master budgeting process and operational planning. Gain insights into subsidiaries, partnerships, intercompany transactions, mergers, and acquisitions.
An Accounting Certificate of Graduate Study (COGS) at Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business requires completion of 12 graduate-level credits made up of 4 courses: one required course and three electives. Find out more about Accounting course offerings below.
- 4 Courses / 12 Credits
- Foundation Courses: Yes
- Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements URL: No
Note: To allow for some flexibility and exploration of emerging topics in business, academic departments may choose to run special topics courses in place of the below standard offerings for this COGS. The below courses for this COGS are typically offered each year, but might be distributed across Fall, Spring and Summer semesters, so students should expect that it will take more than one semester to complete all coursework.
The Rohrer College of Business requires Foundation courses for the Accounting COGS to ensure all students are equipped with key baseline and foundational knowledge needed for undertaking graduate-level coursework in business. During the application process, students’ official transcripts will be reviewed by Admissions to determine which previous coursework counts toward these requirements. Upon acceptance into the Accounting COGS, students will be alerted to which Foundation courses they will need to complete. After students are accepted into the Accounting COGS program, they must begin to satisfy any outstanding Foundation requirements as they proceed through the program.
Foundation Courses
- Foundations of Accounting (or Accounting I & II)
Foundational coursework may be done in a variety of ways, such as by completing equivalent undergraduate courses, noncredit tests, online courses, and/or community college classes. To access a full list of admission requirements, visit the Rowan University Accounting Certificate of Graduate Study website page and click Admission Requirements. Review our Foundation Fact Sheet for more on Foundation requirements. Contact our Program Coordinator at Graduatebusinessstudies@rowan.edu for pre-admission academic advising if you'd like help planning your pathway or have questions about Foundation requirements. For pre-admission advising contact the Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions, Eleni Liacopulos, at liacopulos@rowan.edu.
Required Course —Course Code, Title and Description
ACC 03500 - Financial and Managerial Accounting
ACC 03500 - Financial and Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
- This course takes a managerial approach with emphasis on decision-making. It includes financial statement analysis and topics on determination of cost behavior using regression analysis and learning curves, activity-based costing, cost allocation, performance measurement, and the decision-making process.
Elective Courses—Course Codes, Titles and Descriptions
ACC 03507 - Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting
ACC 03507 - Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting (3 credits)
- This financial accounting course focuses on the contemporary accounting issues of governmental and nonprofit organizations. It includes financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning in the environments of local, state, and federal government, colleges and universities, hospitals, and voluntary health and welfare organizations.
ACC 03510 - Financial Statement Analysis
ACC 03510 - Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
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This course will take an expanded study of financial statement analysis from the point of view of the primary users of financial statements: equity and credit analysts. The analysis and use of financial statements will also emphasize the properties of numbers derived from these statements, and the features of the environment in which key decisions are made in using financial statement information. Research and empirical evidence will be emphasized.
ACC 03511 - Introduction to Federal Taxation
ACC 03511 - Introduction to Federal Taxation (3 credits)
- This course provides an overview of Federal income tax concepts, including gross income, deductions, credits, gains and losses from dispositions of property, deferred and tax-exempt transactions, assignment of income, tax accounting, and other special topics. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations as well as case law. Students will be required to show evidence of scholarly research through a major writing assignment on an emerging tax issue.
ACC 03512 - Advanced Accounting Information Systems and Business Process Controls
ACC 03512 - Advanced Accounting Information Systems and Business Process Controls (3 credits)
- This course is designed to give the MBA student an introduction to the important concepts related to accounting information systems, with emphasis on enterprise risk management. An overview of internal control frameworks is used to discuss pervasive, business process and application controls. A methodology for evaluating the risks and controls within a defined business process is demonstrated and applied across the major business processes. Students will gain hands-on experience with a leading Enterprise Resource Planning system and commercial computerized accounting software.
ACC 03599 - Special Topics in Accounting
ACC 03599 - Special Topics in Accounting (3 credits)
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Students will study advanced topics in Accounting. By design, the specific topical course content will change with time. Contact the Business Graduate Office or the Accounting & Finance Department for details.
Explore More COGS
To explore other Certificates of Graduate Study (COGS) offered at Rohrer College of Business click below.
Admissions Requirements
The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for a Certificate of Graduate Study in Accounting. Further action or materials may be required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from Rowan's Admissions Office will contact you with confirmation or to indicate any missing items.
- Completed Rowan Application Form
- $65 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee
- Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of the number of credits earned)
- Current professional resume
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Typewritten statement of professional objectives
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Provide reasons for pursuing the program. Describe how you might use this program to advance your career (educational goals beyond the master's level, if applicable, are also relevant).
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- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Upon acceptance into the Accounting COGS program, students may still need to fulfill Foundation course requirements, dependent upon previous undergraduate coursework completed. See the Foundation Courses section of this page for details.
Admissions Information
View admissions requirements, tuition rates, and application deadlines. Connect with Admissions or contact an Admissions Recruiter who can directly answer your questions.
Attend an Information Session
During our Program-Hosted Info Sessions, you'll learn about curriculum options, how our programs fit into a variety of career paths, admissions requirements, tuition and financial aid, and other important points for your planning and decision-making needs.
Learn More About Our Students and Alumni
Our MBA, MS Finance, Certificate students, and alumni bring a wide range of industry experience and varied career goals to the Rohrer College of Business (RCB). To learn more about some of our brightest RCB students and alumni, check out these select stories to get a sense of who might be your new contacts if you join us as a student or the type of talent you might hire if you’re looking to grow your team.
