Course descriptions

A foundation course designed to provide a basic understanding of the theory and practice of accounting, with emphasis upon how the accountant processes and presents the information and include exposure to recording transactions, adjusting balances and preparing financial statements for service and merchandise firms according to established rules and procedures. The course also examines major elements of the statements such as cash, receivables, inventory, long-term assets and current liabilities.

A foundation course designed to provide a basic understanding of the theory and practice of accounting, with emphasis upon basic principles, concepts and controls in relation to internal reporting and decision making. The course introduces a business management approach to the development and use of accounting information. Major topics include: cost behavior, cost volume profit analysis profit planning and budgeting, standard costs and variance analysis, segment reporting and transfer pricing, relevant costs, capital budgeting, and the cash budget.

This is the first of three in-depth financial accounting courses. In this course the theory, the conceptual framework, the development of generally accepted accounting principles (IFRS), and by solving appropriate problems the applications of IFRS are stressed. The course provides a comprehensive review of the accounting process that was initially discussed in Financial Accounting and expanded on in this course. Topics include the comprehensive income statement, the statement of cash flows with emphasis on conversion of accrual basis of income to cash basis, and the balance sheet. Other topics covered in this course include, accounting and the time value of money, cash and receivables, and valuation of inventories.

This course is the second in a three-course sequence of Intermediate Accounting. Theory, concepts and applications involving the process of identifying, measuring, recording and reporting financial information are stressed. The course provides a comprehensive review of the accounting process involving the acquisition and disposition of property, plant, and equipment, the disposition and the impairment of intangible assets, special problems related to current liabilities and contingencies, accounting for bonds transactions, accounting for leases, and accounting for pensions and postretirement benefits.

This course is the third in a three course sequence of Intermediate Accounting. The course presents general financial theory and practice mostly related to the equity section of the balance sheet. The course provides a comprehensive review of the stockholder's equity, earning per share, measurement of enterprise income, accounting changes and error corrections, statement of cash flows, and presentation and disclosure in financial reporting.

This course discusses various technical aspects related to the business activities of the Islamic Financial Institutions including Islamic Banks, Islamic Investment Companies, Islamic Investment Funds, Takaful Insurance Companies. These aspects include regulations and technical processes, how these institutions are managing their assets and liabilities, how to read financial statements and how they treat risk within the context of the share’ah rulings. The course also provides an overview of financial accounting within the framework of Islamic thought. It will cover financial accounting in Islamic institutions with an emphasis on the additional financial reporting required of Islamic banks and financial institutions.

?The study of data analytics and its applications in accounting contexts with an emphasis on data preparation, modeling, analysis and interpretation, and visualization. Students apply data analytics tools and techniques and accounting knowledge to solve accounting and business problems. A variety of accounting cases and models are included.

The course is designed to provide in great depth and detail the important aspects of cost accounting. It introduces the concepts, techniques and analytical procedures necessary for the generation of cost information and its uses in planning, control and decision-making. Main topics include: a study of cost terms, concepts, and classifications, job-costing systems, process-costing systems, and activity based costing, cost behavior: analysis and use, variable costing vs. absorption costing, flexible budgets and overhead analysis, and the allocation process of support departments and joint cost.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of how information systems are used in accounting and how they can be used to support decision-making in organizations. The course also incorporates a practical component using an integrated accounting software package.

The course emphasizes the accounting principles, financial reporting and auditing requirements for government units and not-for profit entities. Topics include the accounting cycle, budgeting and fund accounting, and accounting for state and local governments, colleges and universities, and not-for-profit organizations. This course includes an emphasis on unstructured case problem solving skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills.

This course introduces beginning tax students to the US Federal tax law and equips them with the practical intricacies involved in the preparation of individual tax forms and tax returns. It provides students with the opportunity to understand the principles behind tax law while they learn how to work with clients to obtain the information, they will need to complete tax forms. The course introduces students to the tax accounting concepts and practical implications of gross income inclusions and exclusions, adjusted gross income determination, deductions, losses and exclusions, tax credits, capital gains and property transactions and payroll taxes as they pertain to individuals. This course also introduces corporate income tax in Kuwait.

The objective of this course is to equip students with the terminology, techniques and procedures of financial and managerial accounting issues which are being practiced in business entities. The course will enhance students with the necessary skills knowledge in terms of performing the accounting cycle steps including the financial statements preparation and corporate accounting. With respect to the managerial accounting, the course will equip students' capability in business decision-making process. This course also contains a variety of quantitative and communication practices to enhance essential professional related skills.

The objective of this course is to equip students with the terminology, techniques and procedures of financial and managerial accounting issues which are being practiced in business entities. The course will enhance students with the necessary skills knowledge in terms of performing the accounting cycle steps including the financial statements preparation and corporate accounting. With respect to the managerial accounting, the course will equip students' capability in business decision-making process. This course also contains a variety of quantitative and communication practices to enhance essential professional related skills.

This course consists of an in-depth examination of the accounting for and financial reporting of business combinations. The primary goals of this course are to develop technical competence in accounting for business combinations and to develop your ability to understand the logic of the International Financial Standards related to business combinations so that you can assess the relative merit of competing accounting methods and theories. Following a comprehensive examination of M&A related topics, we will discuss the recording of foreign currency transactions and the translation of financial statements using both the temporal and closing rate method.

This is the second part of the advanced course in financial accounting. The course will cover the specialized problems related to Intra-Entity Debt transactions between parents and subsidiaries, Consolidated Cash Flows, consolidation when indirect control is present, and other issues such as segment reporting. The course also prepares students to manage accounting and reporting issues such as those related to Principles of fund accounting and financial reporting for the governmental and not for profit entities.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that state how particular types of transactions and other events should be reported in the financial statements. IFRSs are required for all listed companies, financial institutions, and other companies that fall under the purview of the Kuwait Commercial Companies Law. Topics covered in this course include the conceptual framework of the IASB, the presentation of financial statements, financial disclosure, ethical implications for accountants, income and asset value measurement accounting for price-level changes, revenue recognition and construction contracts, borrowing costs, share capital, distributable profits and reduction of capital, agriculture, government grants, extractive industries, investment properties, earnings per share. Digital reporting corporate governance, sustainability, environmental and social Index, Interim and segment reporting, and taxation in company accounts.

This course is an introduction to analyzing financial statements. It provides in-depth coverage of accounting analysis of financial activities and reporting. The course emphasizes the analysis and interpretation of the end result of financial reporting-financial statements. This course covers current practices in corporate financial reporting and fundamental issues relating to asset valuation and income determination. Topics covered in this course are mostly the financial statement analysis and interpretation of financial disclosures to help improve risk assessment, forecasting, and decision making.

This course is to help students to deal with the accounting issues unique to multinational corporations, especially with respect to foreign operations, and also acquire basic knowledge about the various functional areas of accounting in many countries of the world. In the course, students will learn the different features of the world's major accounting systems, and develop the skills to use accounting information from foreign sources to make various economic decisions in multinational companies.

Professional Accounting Research

This course explains the role of governance in managing companies and how corporate governance theories contribute to business development. The course also explores the pillars and elements of corporate governance and how they involve all stakeholders and control managerial and financial activities. In addition, the course analyzes the characteristics of an effective board of directors and how they enhance the value of the firm.

The course is designed to provide in great depth and detail understanding of generally accepted auditing standards and procedures followed in the examination of financial statements and operating control reviews. Topics include evaluation and analysis of internal control and control risk, nature of and procedures for gathering audit evidence, audit planning and audit program, analytical procedures, fraud auditing, audit sampling for tests of controls and substantive test of transactions, and audit sampling for tests of details of balances.

This course explains how and why occupational fraud is committed, how fraudulent conduct can be deterred and how allegations of fraud should be investigated and resolved. Emphasis will be placed on forensic accounting, specifically, how lost accounting information is recovered; how fraud is documented and how forensic accounting can be used to assist investigators in criminal and civil prosecutions of perpetrators of fraud.

This is an advanced course to complement and build on acquired knowledge in specific areas of accounting to be determined on need basis. Special topics include but are not limited to gas and oil accounting, hotel operations, publishers and publishing companies.

This course guides the student in dealing with a variety of accounting-related topics including financial accounting and business consulting, management accounting practices, financial statement analysis, and forensic accounting. The course requires students to confront and resolve techniques acquired in previous courses. It is focused on the application of the concepts, techniques, and methodologies learned in different courses at different levels with a varied degree of practical aspects. This course provides the opportunity to students to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge applied to real cases drawn from the Kuwaiti business environment. This capstone course offers you the opportunity to apply your academic experience to conduct an experiential learning project in a designated field and apply them in a practical manner. You work in teams where you will read a case to analyze an existing business or engage in a business simulation. This experience will allow you to gain a better understanding of everything you have learned through hands-on experience so that you can be better prepared for the workforce.

Accounting Internship

This course provides an introduction to accounting, with emphasis on preparation of financial statements for external parties (financial accounting) and accumulation of cost information to aid internal planning and control (managerial accounting). Topics covered include measurement of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, the accounting cycle, financial statements, financial statement analysis, cost terminology, product costing, cost behavior, cost-volume-profit analysis and capital investment decisions.

This course builds on the foundations covered in BA 5400, emphasizing in-depth analysis of published financial statements. The course begins with discussion of the role of financial accounting information in capital markets and contracting, and continues with examination of a number of specific accounting issues. Students are encouraged to look behind the numbers to better understand the economics of the underlying transactions, and properly interpret what the reported numbers mean about a firm's future prospects.

The course is designed to provide in great depth and detail understanding of generally accepted auditing and assurance standards and procedures followed in the examination of financial statements and operating control reviews. Topics include evaluation and analysis of internal control and control risk, nature of and procedures for gathering audit evidence, audit planning and audit program, analytical procedures, fraud auditing, audit sampling for tests of controls and substantive test of transactions, and audit sampling for tests of details of balances.

This course explains how and why occupational fraud is committed, how fraudulent conduct can be deterred and how allegations of fraud should be investigated and resolved. Emphasis will be placed on forensic accounting, specifically, how lost accounting information is recovered; how fraud is documented and how forensic accounting can be used to assist investigators in criminal and civil prosecutions of perpetrators of fraud.

This course provides students with an in-depth study of the principles and objectives of the techniques and theories used in management accounting, planning and control. Topics such as budgeting, standard costing & variance analysis, cost allocation, product costing methods, capital budgeting, performance measurement & responsibility accounting, and quantitative techniques for planning and control will be discussed. The strategic and behavioral implications and impacts of planning and control will form the context for study.

This course focuses on the use of accounting information for making operating, investment and strategic business decisions. Topics include understanding corporate annual reports, interpretation and analysis of financial statements, use of accounting information by capital market participants, cost behavior & cost- volume relationships, cost management systems & activity based-costing, relevant information for decision making with focus on pricing and operational decisions.

Corporate Governance

Advanced Topics in Accounting

This course reinforces key enterprising concepts by providing an opportunity to apply knowledge in a practical setting desgined to match launch of a new startup business. In particular, students work in teams and are mentored through Face to face and online interactive sessions on the following journey: Design Thinking and Idea Generation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Digital Marketing, and Financial in Planning. The output of Practicum is well-developed business ideas that the students pitch in front of a jury.

Students are matched with suitable employer organizations based upon the students’ defined career goals, and areas of interest and expertise to get practical experience. The objective of the course is for students to evaluate themselves and the organization in which they work over the course of the term to determine: “If offered a career employment opportunity with this organization at the end of the term, would I accept? Why or why not?” The ‘why or why not’ will focus on the potential fit between individual strengths/ interests and the organizational environment and culture.

This course is designed to introduce students to the design, development and implementation of innovative solutions across various cutting-edge technologies. This course empowers students to tackle real-world problems by utilizing the latest technological tools and services. Students collaborate to create impactful projects, guided by both industry professionals and academic mentors, to address challenges in business and community settings.

This course examines a wide range of business theory and practical applications related to effective management practices. In addition to learning about what management is and what managers do, learners will also explore and assess their own management styles and the implications of their findings. Learners apply critical thinking skills pertaining to core business functions. Focus is on contributing factors to management, such as communication, the role of the manager, design of the organization, ethical issues, social responsibility and globalization. The course format emphasizes the application of management roles and competencies through experiential activities, group exercises and case analysis.

The course Introduction to Business Law and Ethics considers important legal principles that affect businesses and moral-ethical issues that confront them. While the course aims to provide students with a broad based knowledge of legal principles applicable globally, it also stresses the moral-ethical obligation and the importance of ethics in relation to legal principles taught. Topics include: an introduction to business law, jurisdiction and alternative dispute resolution, ethical issues that confront modern businesses, intentional and unintentional business torts, requirements of a valid contract, discharge of contract, breach of contract, sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporate formation, negotiable instruments and the banking environment.

This experimental course focuses on the topic of Organizational Behavior in more detail than MGMT 201. Students should acquire a better understanding of how people think, feel and behave individually and as a group. Other topics include: Managing diversity, attitudes and job sanctification, emotions and moods, personality, values, perception, decision making, motivation, communication, leadership, power and politics, conflict and negotiation, organizational culture and stress management. In addition to providing more details in terms of content, this course provides the student with considerable practical experience through the use of class exercises, case studies and small group discussions.

This course provides further study of statistical tools for forecasting in a decision-making context. Topics include explanatory models (multiple regression), classical time series decomposition, and extrapolative techniques (exponential smoothing and Box-Jenkins procedures). In addition, methods for considering problems of intervention effects, seasonality, and collinearity will be discussed. Students will perform extensive analyses of time series data using computer packages.

This course is a study of deterministic methods and models in operations research. It provides an introduction to operations research and focuses on model building, solution and interpretation of results. Topics include formulation, solution, duality and sensitivity analysis in linear programming, integer programming, network flow models, nonlinear optimization, and dynamic programming.

This course is an examination of the concepts, processes, and institutions which are fundamental to an understanding of manufacturing and service operations within organizations. Emphasis is on the management and organization of operations and upon the application of quantitative methods to the solution of strategic, tactical, and operational problems.

A study of statistical quality control concepts and procedures applicable to management systems, administrative activities, service industries, and nonprofit organizations. Some successful quality assurance programs will be examined.

This course provides an understanding of fundamental concepts of supply chain management. All functional areas of supply chain management are explored in an integrated view of procurement, manfacturing and operation management, transportation and logistics, inventory and warehousing, demand and planning, financial metrics, strategy and risk management for demand driven value networks. The course format emphasizes the application of supply chain management tools through experimental activities, group exercises, and case analysis.

This course draws upon the applied field of organizational behavior, management theory/science and basic accounting and finance to develop a theoretical and very practical understanding of project management for students. The course will take the students through the planning, organization, implementation and monitoring and controlling stages of project management. Tools covered include WBS (the work Breakdown Structure), CPM and PERT scheduling techniques, and earned value analysis.

This course provides an overview of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychology, the scientific study of human behavior in the workplace. The course covers a wide range of topics, including Individual differences, Job analysis, personnel selection, performance appraisal, training and development, job attitudes, motivation, leadership, organizational culture, and stress and work-life balance. Students will gain an understanding of the theories and research in I-O psychology and how they are applied in organizations. The course emphasizes both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of I-O psychology, including exposure to seminal theories, best practices, and future directions of the field. The goal of the course is to equip students with a sophisticated understanding of the science and practice of I-O psychology to maximize the economic and psychological well-being of employees and organizations.

In-depth examination of human resources management from a strategic perspective. Topics examined include Affirmative action and Equal Employment opportunities, Job Analysis, recruitment, selection, training and development, performance management and appraisal, compensation, Safety and Health, legal issues, labor relations and Global Human Resource Management. In addition to providing more details in terms of content, this course will be an active learning approach. Students will also spend a great deal of time in class discussing ideas, participating in exercises, and practicing the skills necessary to perform well in this class and beyond.

This course reviews the theories and the development of leadership skills and competencies. It also expands the depth of the student’s knowledge in the areas of conflict management, teamwork, and group interaction.

A study of international business and management practices. Topics covered include an introduction to international management and the multinational enterprise, the cultural environment of international management, planning in an international setting, organizing for international operations, directing international operations, international staffing, preparing employees for international assignments, and the control process in an international context. Credit not granted for students who have taken BA 4689.

The course focuses on the analysis of business problems and the use of scientific research as a problem-solving tool. This encompasses the understanding and application of appropriate research designs, research statistics, the use of the computer for data analyses, and report writing and presentation. The design of experiments, sampling, measuring, prediction, and causation are among the topics discussed.