Accounting

Course Descriptions

ACFN 111 - PRINCIPLES I

This course introduces procedures and practices in the accounting cycle, following generally accepted accounting principles. Topics also include preparation and analysis of financial statements, as well as an introduction to investing decisions. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 112 - PRINCIPLES II

Introduction to the principles and tools used in managerial accounting, with a focus on standard costs, variances, profit planning, and capital budgeting. Introduction to technology used in preparing and analyzing financial information. Prerequisite: ACFN 111. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 210 - BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Writing skills necessary for producing effective business correspondence in multiple modes and forms, reports, and other written documents in professional contexts. Verbal communication skills necessary to deliver successful presentations in professional contexts. Prerequisite: ACFN 112. Fall and spring.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 310 - FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCE

This course is the foundation course in Finance and the prerequisite for all other Finance courses. Topics covered include the time value of money, the financial markets, the concepts of risk and valuation, the types of financing and their relative mix, financial leverage, the cost of capital, and the criteria for evaluating the attractiveness of investment opportunities. Prerequisites: ACFN 111 and ECON 111. Fall and spring. 
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 315 - THEORY OF INVESTMENTS (SS,SW)

The primary focus of this course is the concepts of Modern Portfolio Theory. Through efficient diversification, it is possible to minimize the risk consequences of investing and maximize return. Topics covered will include models of capital market equilibrium, the concepts of risk and return in the fixed income and equity markets, and an introduction to technical analysis and behavioral finance. Prerequisites: ACFN 310 and one of MATH 119 or MATH 125. Fall. 
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Social Science (SS), Social World (SW), Thematic Encounter - Movement

ACFN 318 - FINANCE IN CORPORATIONS

This course introduces the fundamental theories in financial management. It is the prerequisite for Advanced Corporate Finance. Topics covered time value of money, capital budgeting decision making, cost of capital, risk analysis and real options, capital structure, financial forecasting, and corporate valuation. Prerequisites: ACFN 310. Spring only.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 320 - INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

This course examines the international dimensions of Finance. The course builds on the principles of Finance discussed in ACFN 310 and provides a conceptual framework for the key financial decisions of a multinational. Topics covered will include the balance of payments, the determination of exchange rates, forecasting future exchange rates, methods of hedging exchange rate risk, the international financial markets, the cost of capital for a multinational, multinational capital budgeting, and international cash management. Prerequisite: ACFN 310.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 325 - INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING I

Principles and procedures underlying the preparation of financial statements under U.S. GAAP. Time value of money concepts and their application to financial statements. Accounting issues related to the recognition and valuation of cash, receivables, investments, current liabilities, and long-term liabilities. Valuation of the elements in a corporation's stockholders' equity. Computation of earnings per share in simple and complex capital structures. Statement of Cash Flows preparation and evaluation. Financial statement analysis. Prerequisites: ACFN 112. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 326 - INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING II

Financial reporting preparation requirements and disclosures under U.S. GAAP. Recognition and valuation of inventories, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment. Accounting issues related to revenue recognition. Accounting for leases, income taxes, changes in accounting estimates and principles, and error analysis and correction. Overview of pension plan financial statements. Prerequisite: ACFN 325. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 330 - GOVERNMENTAL/NONPROFIT ACCT

Principles of accounting and reporting for governmental units and not-for-profit institutions and organizations. Prerequisite: ACFN 325. Spring, every other year.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 331 - COST ACCOUNTING (QR)

This course further studies the recording, communicating, and interpretation of cost information for controlling routine operations and long-range planning in order to make informed management decisions. Topics explore job order and process costing, standard costs and variances, variable costing, flexible budgets, capital budgeting, cost analysis for special purposes, and performance measurement. Cases are used to study applications of topics. Prerequisite: ACFN 112. Spring.
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Quantitative Reasoning (QR)

ACFN 333 - FINANCIAL MODELING & ANALYSIS

This course involves using technology to prepare robust financial models in order to make complex financial decisions for businesses. The course has a focus on how to analyze real-world information and present it in a professional manner. Topics covered will include financial forecasting, capital budgeting, the cost of capital, capital structure, and entity and business valuations. Prerequisite: ACFN 310. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 335 - BUSINESS LAW (SS,SW)

Law and the judicial process in commerce. Legal regulation of business and its relationships to society. Principles and issues in contract law, sales and commercial transactions, torts and product liability, agency and employment law, banking, negotiable instruments, and other topics of contemporary interest to those preparing for a career in business. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Fall.
2.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Social Science (SS), Social World (SW)

ACFN 338 - ADVANCED ACCOUNTING

Accounting for equity method investments, business combinations and consolidated statements, segment and interim reporting, foreign currency translation and transactions, and other topics. Prerequisite: ACFN 326. Fall and spring.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 340 - ACCOUNTING INFO SYSTEMS (AS)

Information systems analysis, design, implementation and control, including the ability to analyze data in a variety of programs commonly used in the business community and the controls required to ensure accuracy and reliability of system data. Prerequisite: ACFN 111. Fall.
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Abstract Structures (AS), Thematic Encounter - Movement

ACFN 341 - INTRO TO INCOME TAXATION

An overview of federal income taxation of individuals and businesses. Accounting issues related to income taxes. Prerequisite: ACFN 112. Fall and spring.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 342 - ADV INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAXATION

Advanced topics related to Federal income taxation of individuals. Topics include taxation of self-employed individuals, capital gains and rental properties, as well as advanced issues related to income, deductions and credits. Prerequisite: ACFN 341. Fall.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 343 - BUSINESS TAXATION TOPICS

Advanced tax topics relating to businesses, with a focus on tax policy. Computation of tax, tax accruals, tax considerations on the formation and operation of domestic and multinational businesses. Prerequisite: ACFN 341. Spring.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 344 - TAX RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION

Research tax issues related to individuals and businesses and learn how to communicate such research. Working and negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service. Preparation of letters and memoranda to clients and the Internal Revenue Service. Prerequisite: ACFN 341. Spring, every other year.
2.000 Credit hours

ACFN 353 - FRAUD EXAMINATION

Understanding of occupational fraud, including asset misappropriation and corruption; how occupational fraud is committed and actions that can be taken to deter and detect occupational fraud. Process to investigate fraud allegations. Prerequisites: ACFN 325. Fall.
2.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Experiential Learning (EL), Experiential Engagement (EXP)

ACFN 355 - AUDITING

Theory and practice of financial statement auditing. Focus on the nature of auditing, standards, reporting, the audit environment, risk assessment and planning, controls, audit testing, sample evaluation, and ethics. Prerequisites: ACFN 326 and junior standing. Fall and Spring.
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Capstone (CAPS), Thematic Focus - Truth

ACFN 360 - FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES

This course is designed to enhance students' understanding of financial derivatives including options, futures, forwards, and swaps, and their use in the fields of investments and corporate financial management. Prerequisites: ACFN 315, MATH 118 or 119, and MATH 124. Offered every other year.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 361 - SECURITY ANALYSIS

This course is designed to expand upon the knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts learned in Investments (ACFN 315). Students will learn several valuation methodologies related to prospective companies and other assets for investment purposes. Additionally, students will learn asset analysis methodologies within the context of a portfolio of assets. This course will cover analyses of stocks, fixed-income securities, derivatives, and other types of assets as may be required. Prerequisites: ACFN 315, MATH 118 or 119, and MATH 124. Offered every other year.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 362 - CURRENT ISSUES IN FINANCE

In this topics course, students will study themes which may vary each time the course is offered and will focus in depth on one or more of the traditional areas of finance or may consider topics outside the areas covered in other finance courses. Subject matter may include ethical and regulatory issues. This course covers contemporary issues not covered in depth in other finance courses. Prerequisites: MATH 124 & ACFN 310. Offered every other year.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 363 - ADVANCED CORPORATE FINANCE

This course discusses advanced topics in financial management. The course develops a deeper understanding of fundamental theories introduced in ACFN 310 and ACFN 318 and apply theories to solve corporate finance problems. Prerequisite: ACFN 318.
4.000 Credit hours

ACFN 395 - FINANCE CAPSTONE

This course integrates accounting and finance knowledge gained throughout the finance concentration. This is a case-based course where students perform research in various areas of finance, prepare individual and group projects and presentations, and develop solutions to business issues. Prerequisite: Senior standing in the major, ACFN 315 or 318. Spring.
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Capstone (CAPS)

ACFN 396 - ACCOUNTING CAPSTONE

This course integrates knowledge gained throughout the accounting major. Students perform accounting, auditing and tax research and study; prepare individual and group projects and presentations; and conduct a research project which is presented to the department. Prerequisite: Senior standing in the major, ACFN 338 & two of ACFN 332, 340, 341, 355.
4.000 Credit hours

Course Attributes:
Capstone (CAPS)

College of Saint Benedict
Saint John’s University

Steven Welch
Chair, Accounting and Finance Department
SJU Simons 238
320-363-3418