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; and
- are fully transferrable into the MBA program to satisfy an Accounting area of concentration at Rowan in the future.
The COGS to MBA/MS Accounting Pathway
For students who might not be directly admissible into the MBA program at RCB, the Accounting COGS is an excellent opportunity to show high achievement and/or earn a GMAT waiver. Completing the Accounting COGS with a 3.5 GPA or higher evidences strength as an MBA candidate, significantly increases the chance of acceptance, and also waives the optional GMAT/GRE application requirement.
Find out more information about GMAT waivers contact us at GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu for help planning your pathway to the MBA program.
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.
Foundation Courses
Eligible applicants must have successfully completed the following undergraduate foundation courses at an accredited institution.
- Foundations of Accounting (or Accounting I & II)
For those candidates who haven't taken the required foundational classes yet, fulfilling the coursework can be done in a variety of ways, such as equivalent undergraduate courses, noncredit tests, online courses, and community college classes.
Until required Foundation courses are satisfied there will be restrictions on access to graduate-level courses based on standard prerequisite settings. Review our foundation fact sheet for the most convenient way to satisfy Foundation requirements. Contact our program coordinator at graduatebusinessstudies@rowan.edu for preadmission academic advising if you’d like help planning your pathway.
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 03502 - Advanced Managerial Accounting
ACC 03502 - Advanced Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
- Taking a managerial approach, this course examines decision-making by management. It includes topics on activity-based cost allocation, determination of cost behavior using regression analysis and learning curves, cost allocation, the decision-making process and decision models under uncertainty, performance measurement and executive compensation.
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 03509 - Intermediate Financial Accounting
ACC 03509 - Intermediate Financial Accounting (3 credits)
-
This course will include a review of the accounting process, the conceptual framework, the preparation of financial statements and specific principles related to the accounting for current assets, property, plant and equipment, liabilities, leases, income taxes, pensions, and shareholders' equity. Research and empirical evidence will be emphasized. This course is restricted to students who have not taken Intermediate Accounting I and II at the undergraduate level.
ACC 03510 - Financial Statement Analysis
ACC 03510 - Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
-
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 03513 - Financial Accounting Problems and Practice
ACC 03513 - Financial Accounting Problems and Practice (3 credits)
-
This course provides an overview of accounting problems and concepts related to financial accounting and reporting. It is intended for students with a strong background in accounting and can help prepare them to be successful in passing the CPA exam section on financial accounting and reporting.
ACC 03514 - Accounting Legal Liability & Professional Responsibility
ACC 03514 - Accounting Legal Liability & Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
- This course is a study of the legal liability of accountants and ethical concepts. It will cover the following areas: the ethical role of the professional accountant, professional codes of conduct, ethical decision-making, legal and regulatory obligations, and corporate governance and ethical management.
ACC 03515 - Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
ACC 03515 - Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (3 credits)
- This course provides a broad overview of forensic accounting. It examines current issues of fraud, such as the nature of fraud, types of fraud, identification, detection, and prevention of fraud. The course provides students with exposure to case study, analytics and critical thinking in order to confirm the financial information is presented fairly.
ACC 03599 - Special Topics in Accounting
ACC 03599 - Special Topics in Accounting (3 credits)
-
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. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from the Rowan Global Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or to indicate any missing items.
- Completed Rowan Global 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
-
Typewritten statement of professional objectives
-
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).
-
- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Eligible applicants must have successfully completed the following undergraduate foundation courses.
- Foundations of Accounting (or Accounting I & II)
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.