BSc Accounting

This is an introductory course designed to cover both a practical and theoretical understanding of the principles and concepts involved in the preparation of financial statements. You are exposed to a conceptual analytical approach, with the aim of improving your critical thinking and communication skills, especially in the area of accounting.

In this course, students are sensitized to an understanding of current cost and management accounting theory and practice. Emphasis is placed on the concepts and procedures of product costing, the tools of managerial accounting such as C-V-P analysis and budgeting, as well as, strategies that help the manager to perform the functions of planning, controlling and decision making. This prerequisite knowledge provides the foundation for the levels II & III Management Accounting courses. The course makes use of some simple mathematical concepts including the basic mathematical operations, solving simple linear equations and graphing linear functions.

Microeconomics is the study of people in the “ordinary business of life”. As economic welfare depends upon the choices of people regarding the allocation and use of resources, it is necessary that ordinary members of the community and specialists in government and business, understand the account of these choices that are provided by microeconomic theory and are able to develop critiques of that theory. It is also necessary that they are able to appreciate, and undertake, microeconomic analysis of contemporary problems and policies. This course therefore explores the theory of economic choice and its application to a range of resource-use questions. Specifically, it focuses upon a range of microeconomic principles, their use in economic analysis, and their relevance in the global information economy. While drawing on the history of economic thought, it emphasizes contemporary resource-use issues and the development of the skills of economic specialists and non-specialists.

This is an introductory study of the field of macroeconomics. It will introduce students to the content, methods and techniques of macroeconomics; acquaint them with the distinctive features of a small open economy and expose them to contemporary issues in macroeconomic analysis and policy.

This Course is designed to build on students’ understanding of elementary mathematics and to expose them to some of the mathematical concepts that will be used in the study of various models in economics and management sciences. It begins with the topic of functions and moves seamlessly into equations and inequalities. These draw on the student’s prior experience in areas of algebra and coordinate geometry. It then moves the equally interesting area of sequences. This is followed by some matrix algebra then into the topic of limits and continuity, it ends with differentiation with some applications to the social sciences. Emphasis will be placed on the understanding and application of mathematical concepts rather than on computational skills, the use of algorithms and the manipulation of a formula.

Recommended that you first attempt in Semester 1

Assessment: 40% Coursework, 60% Final exam
 

This course introduces students to the art and science of statistics. Topics covered are: the collection and compilation of data, descriptive statistics, probability distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing and simple regression and correlation. Teaching is accompanied by computer applications using MINITAB software.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the role of Banking and Finance in an economy, and the unique managerial issues that confront financial institutions. Specific topics to be covered include: Organisational Structure of Financial Institutions, The Legal Framework and the Legal Constraints within which Financial Institutions operate, An Introduction to the Services provided by banks to both Retail and Business Sectors, The risks to which Financial Institutions are exposed, Why Monetary Policy includes Regulation of the banking Systems and the means employed.

This is a cross-disciplinary course. It is designed to provide a firm base for Communication courses and for courses in English for Special Purposes linked with specific disciplines. It helps students to achieve the level of competence in written language that is required of the university student in undergraduate programmes. Course content includes Language in the Caribbean, Summarizing, the Formal Essay and Methods of Organising Information.

This course is designed to develop an awareness of the main process of cultural development in Caribbean societies, highlighting the factors, the problematic and the creative output that have fed the emergence of Caribbean identities. It also develops a perception of the Caribbean as wider than island nations or linguistic blocs and stimulates students’ interest in, and commitment to Caribbean civilization and to further their self-determination.

This course deals with the basics, major concepts and principles of computers and computing. Topics covered will include: evolution and classification of computers, computer hardware, software and data communications; computer data processing; and microcomputers in business.

The course is designed to introduce learners to the major aspects of management principles. It will expose them to the corpus of knowledge required to assist an organisation to achieve its objectives. It provides important information intended to expose learners to the intricacies of managing enterprises - be these private or public, corporate or small business enterprises, and government or nongovernmental organisations.

This course will introduce students to classical social theory through an understanding of the work of writers such as Auguste Comte, Max Weber, Karl Marx and George H. Mead. The main focus of this studying is to understand the central ideas of these writers and to reflect on the usefulness of their theory in contemporary Caribbean societies. This reflection will support students’ further investigations of the explanations given for issues on the front line of Caribbean societies’ development agendas. At the same time, students will learn about the central ideas and perspectives of writers such as Edward Kamau Brathwaite, M.G. Smith and George Beckford. The combination of classical and Caribbean schools of social inquiry will set the tone for a synthesizing of perspectives on race, class, gender, ethnicity and the family in society. This process will assist students with developing their theoretical base in social theory, as well as independent thought on happenings in Caribbean society.

Required Text

Prescribed (compulsory)

Title: Financial Management and Accounting in the Public Sector by Bandy, Gary

Series:Routledge Masters in Public Management

Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (December 3, 2014)

·                  ISBN-10: 1138787892

·                  ISBN-13: 978-1138787896

Recommended (non-compulsory)

Title: IPSAS Explained: A Summaryof International Public Sector Accounting Standards by Thomas Muller

·         Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (July 2, 2012)

ISBN-10: 1118368711
ISBN-13: 978-1118368718
 

Public Sector Accounting and Budgeting for Non-Specialists Jan van Helden, Ron Hodges

·         Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (March 25, 2015)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 1137376988

·         ISBN-13: 978-1137376985

Summative Assessments

Participation                            10%

In-Course Assessments           30%

Final Project                            60%

Formative Assessments

Self-quizzing

This course is a pre-requisite for ACCT2015 which is offered in Semester 2.

Essential Texts:
 
All students are required to purchase the following texts, available online at Amazon.com.
 
Intermediate Accounting: IFRS Edition, Volumes 1 & 2, 1st edition, Kieso, D., Weygandt, J. and Warfield, T., 2010. John Wiley.
 
This text is required for ACCT2014 and ACCT2015. You are advised to purchase this text for your use at Levels 2 and 3 of the programme.
 
Assessment: 40% Coursework, 60% Final exam

Essential Texts:

Intermediate Accounting: IFRS Edition, Volumes 1 & 2, 1st edition, Kieso, D., Weygandt, J. and Warfield, T., 2010. John Wiley. 
 
Assessment: 40% Coursework, 60% Final exam

The need for Caribbean businesses to expand operations internationally and earn foreign exchange particularly during challenging economic times is critical. This course provides an overview of the international business environment and an introduction to various types of decisions made by international business managers.  It is a survey course, which covers many topics, despite not addressing these topics in depth.  Students will have an opportunity to explore topics of particular interest in more detail through a research project.

This course seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of organisational behaviour and human resource management. The course introduces the students to some of the factors that shape behaviour in organisations, the types of options and strategies managers use to shape behaviour, and the responses of individuals and groups to these strategies. This course also examines the role of the HR professional. Students will learn about the evolution of human resource management with emphasis on the importance of HRM in today’s world.

The course is intended to enable students with the requisite skills in accounting and computing to apply them to the practice of financial accounting, management accounting and finance. It integrates the modern development of business management and information technology in achieving strategic, operational and problem solving practices within the organization. The course seeks to develop students’ ability to discuss an organization’s use of AIS in transaction processing and evaluate the design of such information systems in the business accounting environment.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to enable students to prepare and use management accounting information to make informed decisions to ensure that the present and future goals of the organization will be achieved.

Credits: 3

Accounting theory is a capstone undergraduate course for learners specializing in accounting. The main purpose of this course is to critically examine the role of financial accounting theories and frameworks in understanding the nature and form of regulated and voluntary accounting information choices.

Credits: 3

This course is designed for students who are considering careers in accountancy. Students will receive in-depth exposure to contemporary financial accounting and reporting practices for specialized transactions and events that are often faced by senior accounting personnel in the public and private practice. The course content is a blend of technical and theoretical elements applied to the determination of income, the valuation of resources, and the presentation of information in general purpose financial statements.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to provide you with core concepts, principles and procedures involved in external and internal auditing, and to implement them to conduct an effective and efficient audit engagement. The primary focus of this course will be on external auditing, especially as it relates to reaching an appropriate audit opinion for expression in the audit report. The impact of information technology (IT) in the client’s business and how technology assists the auditor in doing their work will also be discussed.

Credits: 3

This course places primary emphasis on issues connected with understanding the roles served by auditing (for instance, the need for independence, the problem of fraud, how auditors communicate their findings, and the nature of the evidence process auditors use to support their opinions). This course offers in-depth coverage of the concepts and procedures of external auditing and other assurance engagements. Topics include the professional, legal, and ethical environment, analyzing materiality and risk factors, audit planning, internal control assessment, interpreting and documenting results, and computer-assisted auditing techniques. The course also covers audits for special circumstances such as not-for-profit and public sector audits.

Credits: 3

This course seeks to impart knowledge of the current practices relating to taxation and tax management applicable to companies and individuals. The course is based on the taxation legislation of several Caribbean countries and covers the specific tax acts listed in the course content below.

Credits: 3

The purpose of the Practicum/Supervision/Work-based Project is to provide students with the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills gained throughout their programme of study to a world-of-work context. It seeks to give students a real-life, hands-on experience in Accounting, as well as to enhance their ability to conceptualise and write a report, which demonstrates an understanding of the principles and practices of accounting vis-à-vis the practicum/work-based experience.

The practicum is therefore designed to provide a supervised teaching/learning experience requiring learners who are employed in the field of accounting to engage in a work-based study. Learners who are not employed in the sector can engage in an internship where such opportunities are available. This project will be undertaken in the last semester of the final year and be carried out in the financial department of a private or public institution, company or organisation.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to give you an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects relating to how organizations in the public and private sectors operate in an environment where it is critical to develop and implement strategies in order to gain and or maintain competitive advantage. The course requires also that you reflect on the knowledge gained from previous courses. Some of the major concepts that will be covered include, SWOT analysis, vision and mission, competitive analysis, corporate, competitive and global strategies, value chain analysis, competitive advantage and successful strategy execution, among others.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to develop the main skills needed by a senior financial officer with respect to short term financial operations (capital structure, financing options) and introduces some international finance issues and their effect on management decisions, which are applicable internationally. Learners will apply their learning through the use of real world examples aligned with the current trends and issues in the field of finance. The learner is expected to develop and apply skills in financial management with both expertise and diligence.

Credits: 3