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One of the core courses of the MSAIA (MS Accounting & Information Analysis) Program, Corporate Governance and Business Risk, focuses on critical issues faced by real clients. In light of corporate governance breakdowns at Enron, WorldCom, Xerox, Tyco, Adelphia Communications, and the events of 9-11, topics such as corporate governance, business risk assessment, crisis management, and disaster recovery planning are on the radar screens of almost all companies in Corporate America.

imageStudent teams step outside the classroom to carry out a business risk assessment of a client company. During the class, students learn various models and methodologies. Companies that have participated include: Just Born Candies, Synthetic Thread, Penn Foam, Hindle Power, National Woodworking, Universal Industrial Gas, BEE Corporation, Dynalene, ALDEco, Cramer Textiles and Dubbs Company. The output is a “real-life” business risk profile of the company. Feedback from client companies and students alike has been extremely positive.

MSAIA Mission Statement
Lehigh University’s Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis Program provides a broad business education and the specialized coursework for a professional career in accounting. Graduates aspire to leadership positions at top-tier organizations in fields that include public accounting, corporate accounting, financial services, consulting, and information systems.

Through this Program, Lehigh continues a long tradition of providing accounting majors with the necessary educational requisites for licensure as certified public accountants within the United States and its territories. The Program seeks only the best and brightest applicants: motivated, dedicated to their studies, not afraid of challenges, possessing confidence, self-discipline, and the ability to articulate their ideas orally and in writing. The Program continually pursues the excellence necessary to meet the standards of only the highest-quality educational institutions.

MSAIA Learning Objectives:
1. Gain an understanding of business challenges and processes in a global environment with a clearimage awareness of corporate responsibilities and ethics.
2. Understand the role of accounting in providing information for capital market decisions and tools for business solutions.
3. Gain an understanding of business risk and controls from several perspectives including advising, assurance, managerial, and information processing.
4. Master the process of managing professional engagements relating to advisory, auditor risk management, and attestation responsibilities.