Accounting and Data Analytics Curriculum (Available Online)

Accredited, Online Accounting Courses to Propel Your Career

Take your passion for big data in finance and accounting to the next level by immersing yourself in Michigan State University’s flexible and customizable accounting and data analytics curriculum.

Our courses are designed to expand your technical knowledge while building your strength in theory and practice. By working closely with expert faculty, you’ll develop the critical thinking, communication, math and organizational skills needed for success in the accounting and finance industry. Dive deeper into your online courses on data analytics by focusing on a specific concentration within your accounting track, making your data analytics and accounting curriculum even more relevant to your interests and career aspirations.

MSU’s online accounting courses are offered year-round and can be completed at your own pace.

Degree Requirements

Foundations of Accounting, Information Systems, and Data Analysis (18 credits)

Complete the following courses as part of the M.S. in accounting and data analytics curriculum, unless waived by the program director.

ACC 870 Principles of Financial and Managerial Accounting

3 Credits

You’ll learn to understand and interpret corporate financial statements in this foundational course of our accounting curriculum. Deepen your knowledge of basic principles and the concepts and types of data analysis, including managerial accounting concepts, job order costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting and variance analysis.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 871 Accounting Database Systems

3 Credits

Gain a better understanding of accounting information systems. Topics covered in this course include storage and retrieval of information, workflow systems, integration of decision support and policy-level systems with economic event processing systems, and business and information technology risks and controls.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 872 Financial Reporting and Data Analysis

3 Credits

As part of the data analytics curriculum, you’ll develop the skills to analyze and use financial statements, including understanding the measurement, valuation and reporting concepts used in determining the asset, liability, revenue and expense values contained in the statements.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 873 Principles of Federal Income Tax Accounting

3 Credits

Get a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. federal income tax system in this online accounting course. Concepts covered include gross income, deductions and tax computations for corporations and individuals, with an emphasis on tax planning and decision making.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 874 Performance Measurement and Control Systems

3 Credits

Learn how to prepare and use accounting information for planning and control purposes. As a key course in our accounting curriculum, you’ll master the essential tools and skills, including different types of data analytics, to make business decisions using accounting information.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 875 Auditing – Assurance and Data Analysis

3 Credits

Develop knowledge and skills to meet ethical and auditing standards. Learn to plan and perform audits and communicate the results. Gain a better understanding of the role of data analysis in the audit profession as well as the role of financial statement audits in organizations and financial markets.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Complete at least one of the following concentrations:

Accounting Analytics (9 credits)

ACC 827 is required. Choose two from the remaining three courses.

ACC 827 Accounting Analytics (required)

3 Credits

Strengthen your skills in using data analytics in finance. Gain experience in data visualization, predictive analytics, time series analysis, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, association analysis and other analytics techniques related to accounting.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 814 Advanced Auditing

3 Credits

Examine the economic, regulatory and technology environments related to auditing in the public and private sectors. You’ll delve into advanced topics related to risk analysis, professional standards and using audit data for decision making. Use data visualization tools and statistics for different types of data analytics.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 822 Information Systems Project Management

3 Credits

Learn how to use and manage information systems to support data analytics and decision making. Deepen your understanding of project management principles related to project scope, time, cost and quality to optimize project resources. You’ll also explore project management methodologies such as waterfall, lean and agile.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 843 Value Chain Accounting and Analytics

3 Credits

Learn how to design and use managerial accounting systems to support operational decisions in complex real-world settings using analytical techniques and real data. Master data analytics across the entire value chain, including data mining and visualization, and use statistics for accounting to make managerial decisions.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Managerial Analysis for Decision Making (9 credits)

ACC 841 The Role of Accounting in Strategy Implementation

3 Credits

Strengthen your skills to use strategic management control systems and accounting data to support the design, implementation, monitoring and continuous assessment of business strategies. Explore and evaluate emerging risks and opportunities that impact accounting practices.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 843 Value Chain Accounting and Analytics

3 Credits

Learn how to design and use managerial accounting systems to support operational decisions in complex real-world settings using analytical techniques and real data. Master data analytics across the entire value chain, including data mining and visualization, and use statistics for accounting to make managerial decisions.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 807 Using Financial Statement Data for Decision Making- An Analytics Approach

3 Credits

Examine the frameworks and methodologies for profitability and credit risk analyses, as well as the tools and technologies to use big data in finance and accounting, to improve critical thinking in making investment decisions.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Taxation (12 credits)

ACC 830 Tax Research

3 Credits

Develop your research skills in this online accounting course with a focus on learning through real-world case studies. Master new skills in online tax research techniques and learn how to effectively organize and present research results.

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ACC 833 Federal Income Tax of Corps and Shareholders

3 Credits

Deepen your understanding of federal taxation of corporations, shareholders and related financial accounting implications over the life cycle of a corporation. Use data visualization tools and statistics for accounting analysis and forecasting.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 836 U.S. Taxation of Multinational Transactions

3 Credits

Explore advanced topics related to federal income taxation of transactions by U.S. persons outside the United States and of investments by foreign persons in the United States.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 850 Accounting and Tax Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions

3 Credits

Analyze the tax and financial accounting issues involved in business acquisitions, including post-acquisition tax and financial reporting of the combined entity.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Transaction Services (12 credits)

ACC 807 Using Financial Statement Data for Decision Making- An Analytics Approach

3 Credits

Examine the frameworks and methodologies for profitability and credit risk analyses as well as the tools and technologies to use big data in finance and accounting to improve critical thinking in making investment decisions.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 850 Accounting and Tax Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions

3 Credits

Analyze the tax and financial accounting issues involved in business acquisitions, including post-acquisition tax and financial reporting of the combined entity.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
FI 845 Financial Modeling and Simulations I

1.5 Credits

Apply financial theory through computer modeling for financial forecasting, cash flow modeling and valuation.

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FI 846 Financial Modeling and Simulations II

1.5 Credits

Apply financial theory using computer modeling for portfolio optimization, risk measurement and option pricing.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 891 Special Topics in Accounting and Information Systems (Transaction Services Capstone)

3 Credits

During this capstone course, you’ll explore current and emerging issues in accounting and information systems.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Additional Electives

Choose electives from courses within the concentrations of the accounting curriculum and data analytics curriculum to meet the 30-credit minimum.

Course Structure

Classes are online and asynchronous in seven-week sessions. Although asynchronous, classes will have set timelines that students must work within, and deadlines that students are expected to meet.

Let’s Get Started

Propel your future with a master’s in accounting and data analytics from MSU. You may start the accounting curriculum and the data analytics curriculum in fall or spring. Apply for admission today.

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