BA (Hons) in Accounting
Course code: WD084

Course Description

This Institute has a history of professional accountancy education since the late 1970s. The BA (Honours) in Accounting is a three year degree course which was developed from that experience. The programme prepares students mainly for professional careers in accountancy.

Special Features

1. This is the only programme at WIT dedicated to accounting from course commencement in year one. For dedicated and hard-working students it is the fastest route to a professional qualification as the honours degree takes three years to complete. This may be followed by a one-year Master in Business in Accounting.
2. The programme attracts extensive exemptions from a number of professional accountancy bodies namely the Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACA), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA). Details of these exemptions are described below.
3. Lecturing staff are professionally qualified and maintain strong links with their professional bodies.
4. The programme is recognised by the Teaching Council for business teaching following subsequent completion of a Higher Diploma in Education.
5. The course has a number of awards attached to it including the PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholarship, the Aidan McAvinue prize for taxation, the CPA prize for Financial Accounting and the CIMA prize for Management Accounting.
6. The programme has a strong professional teaching ethos and prepares you for the world of accounting practice.  In addition to its professional accountancy focus, the course develops your knowledge in other business disciplines, and the leadership skills needed to work in a team and to communicate with others.
7. Once you finish your degree you may continue to study with a professional accounting body of your choice.  Our students have an outstanding record in the examinations of the professional bodies.
   

Professional Body Exemptions

Irish Taxation Institute  - ( www.taxireland.ie )
 
Exemptions from two subjects in Part 1 (Fundamentals) namely, Financial Reporting & Tax Accounting and Law, subject to the following: Achieving a minimum of 40% in specific modules/electives
 
Chartered Accountants Ireland - ( www.icai.ie )
Exemption from CA Proficiency 1 (CAP1) subject to the following:

• Achieving an overall minimum level of 2.2 Honours or better and
• Achieving minimum of 50% in specific modules/electives.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - ( www.accaglobal.com )
Exemption from papers F1 – F9 subject to the following:

• Must achieve 40% minimum in each subject to gain exemptions

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants  in Ireland - ( www.cpaireland.ie )
Exemption from Formation and Professional stages subject to the following:

• Achieving minimum of 50% in specific modules/electives.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants  - ( www.cimglobal.com )
Exemption from Certificate stage  and papers P1, P2 and P7 at the Managerial level subject to the following:

• Must achieve 40% minimum in specific modules to gain exemptions

Career Opportunities

The Dept. of Accounting & Economics has strong links with the accounting profession. Graduates of the BA (Honours) in Accounting may work in business or as trainee accountants or teachers following further study. To qualify as a professional accountant graduates opt to study for the accountancy examinations of one of the main accounting bodies whilst working in the accounting area. To qualify as a business teacher, graduates must complete a Higher Diploma in Education.
Past graduates of the programme work for the four big international practices: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, and KPMG.  Many have risen to senior levels in all of these organisations including partner level.  Our graduates also work for, and run, independent practices.

Follow on Study

There are many opportunities for post graduate study in the Institute. Graduates of the BA(Honours) in Accounting wishing to pursue a post graduate qualification would logically follow on to a Master in Business in Accounting at this Institute or in another college here or abroad.

Course Outline

Year 1 (Semester 1)	Year 1 (Semester 2)
• Basic Financial Accounting • Cost Accounting • Principles of Microeconomics • Information Technology for accountants • Introduction to Management • Professional Written Communication	• Financial Accounting • Management Accounting Techniques • Microeconomics • Statistics and Mathematics • Organisational Behaviour • HRM in a Work Context
Year 2 (Semester 1)	Year 2 (Semester 2)
• Financial Reporting • Man. Acc. Decision Making • Professional ethics for accountants • Law for Accountants • The Macroeconomic Environment • Professional Oral Communication	• Applied Financial Reporting • Man. Acc. Performance Measurement • Governance and control • Company Law 1 • The Global Economy • Financial Services Marketing
Year 3 (Semester 1)	Year 3 (Semester 2)
Mandatory modules • Advanced Management Accounting • Business Finance • Business Strategy • Accounting Information Systems Skills 1 • Income Tax Choose one of the following electives • Auditing Theory    • Internal Audit Theory • Marketing Environment Analysis • Applied Critical Thinking • Company Law 2	Mandatory modules Advanced Financial Accounting Corporate Investment Analysis Corporate Strategy Accounting Information Systems Skills 2 Taxation Choose one of the following electives Auditing Practice Internal Audit Practice Managing the Marketing Mix Skills for Accounting Professionals

In your first year we do not assume that you have any previous knowledge of accounting. You will be provided with a strong underpinning which will help greatly in the more detailed study in later years.

In your second year, the basics learnt in year one will be further developed with exposure to new areas such as regulation, governance and control, and ethics.

In your final year, your technical and professional skills will come together in many of your modules. This will provide a good base for those students wishing to pursue further accountancy studies.

Course Facts

Course Title: BA (Hons) in Accounting
Course Code: WD084
Course Level: 8
Duration: 3 years

Course Entry

Leaving Certificate requirements:

• Total number of different subjects at grade D3 or better: 4
• Total number at higher level grade C3 or better (Honours): 2

Required Subjects:

• English/Irish: OC3/HD3
• Mathematics: OC3/HD3

For further information

Course Leader: Peggy Caffrey, BComm, MA, FCMA
Ph: 051 845622
Email: pcaffrey@wit.ie

Recent Entry Points

Year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Minimum Points	325	335	335	320	300

See also

• WIT Admissions Office