MASTER OF PRACTISING ACCOUNTING/GRADUATE CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING

Specialised Management Education for AccountingProfessionals

Your gateway to CPA and ICAA programs and a Mastersdegree in Accounting.

MONASH UNIVERSITYMonash is renowned as a dynamic university. Its research isinternationally recognised, its faculties acclaimed for teachingexcellence throughout Australia, and its graduates holdprestigious positions worldwide.

Monash offers a breadth and depth of courses and programsunique in Australia on six campuses − Berwick, Caulfield,Clayton, Gippsland, Parkville and Peninsula.

The university has nine faculties − Arts, Business andEconomics, Computing and Information Technology,Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy andScience.

FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICSThe Faculty of Business and Economics comprises thedepartments of Accounting and Finance, Econometrics andBusiness Statistics, Economics, Management, Marketing, andTaxation and Business Regulation. The faculty offers itsundergraduate and graduate courses on five of the university’scampuses in Victoria, Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Gippslandand Peninsula, and in several countries overseas, as well asoff-campus by distance education and open learning.Graduate courses include graduate certificates, graduatediplomas, masters degrees by coursework and by research andthe Doctor of Philosophy degree. Executive certificates arealso available. Undergraduate courses include generalist andspecialist (tagged) degrees, as well as double awards anddouble degrees, both within the faculty and with otherfaculties of the university.

The mission of the faculty is to use its scale, scope and uniqueinternal diversity to become an international leader in thepursuit, dissemination and analysis of knowledge, particularlyin the disciplines of accounting, banking, business law,business statistics, econometrics, economics, electroniccommerce, finance, international business and internationaltrade, management, marketing, taxation and tourism. By theapplication of that knowledge, its staff and students willcontribute to the economic, social and commercialdevelopment of Australia and its neighbours and tradingpartners.

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCEThe Department of Accounting and Finance has staff based atthe Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula campuses.

The interests of the Department extend to all areas ofaccounting and finance, including auditing, banking,corporate finance, financial management, financialaccounting, management accounting and risk management.Graduate programs are available on each campus and bydistance education. These programs have been designed tomeet a wide range of educational and professional

requirements in accounting and finance. The Department iscommitted to excellence in teaching and research and valueshighly its interaction with the business and professionalcommunities.

THE COURSEThe Master of Practising Accounting [MPracAcc] isconducted on a full-time or a part-time basis, over two orthree years. The Graduate Diploma in Accounting[GradDipAcc] is conducted on a full-time or part-time basis,over two years. The Graduate Certificate in Accounting[GradCertAcc] is one semester of full-time or one year of part-time of study.

These degrees are full-fee paying and are designed to enablestudents possessing undergraduate degrees, in disciplinesother than accounting, to develop their skills and knowledgeof accounting. The degrees are suitable for those who wish towork in public practice, industry or academia.

The MPracAcc, GradDipAcc and GradCertAcc programs aimto develop and enhance students' knowledge and skills ofaccounting and related fields.

The degrees are recognised by the professional accountingbodies which enables graduates to affiliate with theprofessional body of their choice.

OBJECTIVESThe Master of Practising Accounting, the Graduate Diplomain Accounting, and the Graduate Certificate in Accounting aredesigned to provide candidates who have degrees from non-accounting disciplines with:

• exposure to accounting and business-related disciplines;

• the opportunity to become provisional members of theAustralian Society of Certified Practising Accountants(ASCPA); and

• the opportunity of being admitted into the ProfessionalYear (PY) program of the Institute of CharteredAccountants in Australia (ICAA).

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTSMaster of Practising Accounting

Candidates should have:

- qualified for a non-accounting degree or a three yeardiploma from a recognised university or college ofadvanced education as determined by the faculty board;

- qualifications and experience which, in the opinion offaculty board, provide suitable preparation for thecandidates proposed course of study.

Graduate Diploma in Accounting

Candidates should have:

- qualified for a non-accounting degree or a three yeardiploma from a recognised university or college ofadvanced education as determined by the faculty board;

- qualified in an Executive Certificate with a credit averagefrom this university.

Graduate Certificate in Accounting

Candidates should have:

- qualified for a non-accounting degree or a three yeardiploma from a recognised tertiary institution or collegeof advanced education as determined by the facultyboard;

COURSE DELIVERY AND LOCATIONThe course will be delivered through 39 hours of contact persubject at Caulfield campus, encompassing a combination oflectures, tutorials, seminars, computer-aided learning, classroom situations, problem-based learning and case studydiscussions.

These teaching methods will be used to develop conceptualskills and the ability to apply these skills in a professionalsituation. Classroom simulations and case study discussionsillustrate the complexity and ambiguity of business activities,and the need to make informed decisions. The methods ofteaching are also designed to develop further students’analytical skills relevant to decision-making.

SUBJECTSMPA 12 compulsory subjects + 4 elective unitsGradDipAcc 12 compulsory subjectsGradCertAcc 4 compulsory subjects (IntroductoryAccounting & Financial Information Systems I, BusinessLaw, Financial Accounting I, and Managerial Accounting)

AFF9500 Introductory Accounting and FinancialInformation Systems IThis subject introduces the fundamental concepts, principlesand assumptions underlying accounting theory and practice.In addition, it develops candidates’ techniques and skills inbasic accounting.

BTF9020 Business LawThis subject aims to develop a sound understanding of thegeneral principles of contract law as well as an understandingof specific types of contracts.

AFF9510 Quantitative Methods in AccountingIn this subject students will acquire basic quantitative skills,an understanding of the appropriate jargon, and anunderstanding of basic mathematical terminology andconcepts, that will support a career in business.

AFF9521 Introductory Accounting and FinancialInformation Systems IIThis subject aims to:

• further enhance students’ understanding of informationsystems development with particular emphasis onAccounting Information Systems (AIS);

• develop the skills necessary to provide sound systemspecifications when commercial packages are notavailable;

• evaluate an accounting software package in a hypotheticalbusiness environment, in order to appreciate the variousmethods used for transaction processing and internalcontrol;

• familiarise students with the operational and informationfunctions of several major AIS subsystems; how thesesubsystems interface with each other, and the principalinputs, processes, files, outputs and controls associatedwith these subsystems;

• introduce spreadsheeting (including Macros) and todevelop students’ ability in preparing spreadsheets for thepurpose of making typical accounting decisions.

ECF9530 EconomicsThis subject aims to teach students the role of economicmodels and to provide them with an understanding of how theeconomy functions. In addition, students will enhance theirability to present arguments and make decisions in aneconomic environment and learn to illustrate, whereappropriate, the relationships between economic andaccounting theory.

BTF9541 Company and Commercial LawThis subject provides students with an appreciation ofalternative business enterprises. It will teach them to identifythe ways such business enterprises can be structured as well asthe laws which apply to these structures.

AFF9601 Financial Accounting IThis subject aims to provide an understanding of the origin,use and practical implementation of professional accountingstandards, statutory and stock exchange regulations, as theyapply to the preparation of published reports of listedcompanies and/or groups of companies.

It also encourages students to develop an understanding of thenature of intercorporate reporting, its principles and conceptsthat are relevant to public companies and to one or more fullyand/or partly owned subsidiary companies.

Finally, it aims to improve the quality of financial reportingby providing a framework for a critical appraisal of existingprofessional and legal practices. Proposed reforms will alsobe discussed.

AFF9611 Managerial AccountingThis subject aims to guide students toward proficiency inmanagerial and cost accounting principles and techniques.

AFF9621 AuditingThis subject introduces students to the legal requirementsgoverning an audit and their effects on the practice ofauditing. Principles of internal control structure, auditstandard concepts and methodology are also covered.Students can expect to gain insight on the scope, strength andlimitations of the auditor’s work, viewed from the perspectiveof the potential user and auditor. Students will also developcompetence in business communications through oral andwritten assessment in this subject.

AFF9631Financial Accounting IIThe aims of this subject are to:

• identify the basic conventions and doctrines of accountingand other generally accepted accounting principles whichmay be applied in contemporary accounting models;

• assess and evaluate the development of accountingstandards and the application of these standards inproviding measurements and disclosure constraints on theaccounting profession;

• outline proposed conceptual objectives for accounting andthe issues involved in attempting to achieve theseobjectives;

• develop an awareness of the issues involved in identifyingand measuring the accounting elements of assets,liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses;

• demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of capitalmaintenance and profit measurement of the suggestedsolutions used to resolve the issues involved;

• examine and apply appropriate criteria for the resolutionof some of the current controversial measurement anddisclosure issues in accounting and reporting, and to beable to demonstrate a practical mastery of the topicinvolved.

AFF9641 Business FinanceIn this subject students will learn to develop a framework forthe design and management of a comprehensive budgetingsystem for planning and controlling. They will also develop

an understanding and working knowledge of the corporatefinance function.

In addition, this subject is designed to facilitate theapplication, analysis and evaluation of central concepts andtechniques essential to the effective management of financialresources. Students will also be taught to meet theprofessional requirements in the practice and theory ofbudgeting and financial management.

BTF9651 Taxation Law and PracticeThis subject introduces students to the Federal Income TaxRegime and provides them with an understanding of howtaxation law affects commercial transactions.

The completion of the above twelve units will enable studentsto obtain a Graduate Diploma in Accounting.

Electives (4 subjects)A total of four electives may be chosen from subjects in theBachelor of Business (Accounting)(Honours); PostgraduateDiploma in Financial Management; Postgraduate Diploma inAdvanced Accounting or Accounting and Financespecialisation within the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerceand the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics.

The availability of electives varies from year to year. Studentsshould contact the department’s graduate course officer fordetails.

ASSESSMENTIn all subjects assessment may include class presentations,case study analyses, written assignments, individual and groupreports, as well as progressive and final examinations. Theseassessment methods are designed to test progress in theaccumulation of knowledge and analytical skills, and toprovide additional insights for students regarding theapplication of knowledge. Students will improve theircommunication skills through the opportunity of contributingtheir knowledge in class discussions and presentations.

ARTICULATIONMaster of Practising Accounting. Students who achieve apass degree may articulate into the Master of Business(Accounting).

Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Students who achieve acredit average grade or above may articulate into the Masterof Practising Accounting program.

Graduate Certificate in Accounting. Students who achievea pass grade or above may articulate into the GraduateDiploma in Accounting program.

ACCREDITATIONCompletion of 12 or 16 of the above subjects fulfils theacademic requirements for Associate membership status withthe Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants(ASCPA) and satisfies the entry into the Professional YearProgram required to become a member of the Institute ofChartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).

FEESThe Master of Practising Accounting/Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Accounting are full-fee paying courses and arepayable at the beginning of each semester, on the basis of thenumber of subjects in which the student is enrolled, at a datespecified at the beginning of that semester. A schedule of feesis enclosed.

COURSE DIRECTORThe course director is directly responsible for the structureand delivery of this program. The course director for theGraduate Certificate/Diploma in Accounting is LawrenceWebb, and the Master of Practising Accounting is Dr IanBeaman.

ENQUIRIES & APPLICATIONSPlease contact:Santina Lo GrassoGraduate Course OfficerDepartment of Accounting & FinanceFaculty of Business and EconomicsMonash UniversityPO Box 197Caulfield East VIC 3145AUSTRALIATelephone +61 3 9903 2083

1 800 670 667 (Free call within Australia)Facsimile +61 3 9903 2838email santina.lograsso@buseco.monash.edu.auwww http://www.monash.edu.au/Depts/AaF/

Disclaimer - Although every effort is made to ensure that thefee schedules set out in this document are the latest approvedfees of the university at the time of publication, the universitydoes not warrant the accuracy of the information anddisclaims any liability in relation to anything done or omittedto be done by any person in whole or partial reliance on it. Itis a student’s responsibility to identify the latest approved feesand rules applicable to his/her proposed studies. Studentsshould consult with the relevant faculty prior to application.

Caution - While the information provided in this flyer wascorrect at the time of its publication, Monash Universityreserves the right to alter this information should the needarise. You should always check with the relevant facultyofficers when considering a course.

28 October, 1998