| Course | ACCT 531 Accounting Information Systems (ACCT531) |
|---|---|
| Credit hours | 3 |
| Program | MS in Accounting |
| Length | 8 Module/Weeks, online |
| Weeks with written work | 6 of 8 |
| Samples on this site | 6 week sample papers |
| Sources | Liberty's 2026-2027 catalog and the published ACCT 531 course guide |
| Updated | October 2026 |
What ACCT 531 covers
Gelinas, Dull, Wheeler and Hill's Accounting Information Systems is read one or two chapters a module/week with presentations and assigned articles, from enterprise systems and documentation through databases, controls and the business processes to data analytics.
Each forum spans two modules/weeks: the case study or an article critique is posted as the thread in the first, and in the second the student replies to two classmates in at least 200 words with two citations. The case study runs 1.5 to 2 pages with two sources, each critique 2 to 4 pages with four references, and the research paper 8 to 10 pages with an abstract and eight sources.
This course builds upon the student's existing basic knowledge of how accounting information systems function in today's business environment. It strongly emphasizes the internal control features necessary to provide accurate and reliable accounting data as it looks at how accounting information is recorded, summarized, and reported in both manual and computerized systems. Internal control as it applies to production processes as required by Rule 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is part of this course.
ACCT 531 week by week, with the sample for each
| Week | Written work in the course guide | Points | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Case Study, posted as Discussion Board Forum Thread 1 (Course Requirements Checklist, Program Assessment and Class Introductions also due) | 80 | Read the Week 1 sample |
| Week 2 | Article Critique 1, posted as Discussion Board Forum Thread 2 (Forum Replies 1 also due) | 100 | Read the Week 2 sample |
| Week 3 | Discussion Board Forum Replies 2 (Exam 1 also due) | 40 | Read the Week 3 sample |
| Week 4 | Textbook Assignment 1 only | No written paper this week | |
| Week 5 | Article Critique 2, posted as Discussion Board Forum Thread 3 | 100 | Read the Week 5 sample |
| Week 6 | Discussion Board Forum Replies 3 (Textbook Assignment 2 also due) | 40 | Read the Week 6 sample |
| Week 7 | Individual Research Paper | 200 | Read the Week 7 sample |
| Week 8 | Exam 2 only | No written paper this week |
Where ACCT 531 papers lose points
ACCT 531 work loses points when a case study lists controls without tying them to the risks in the case, when an article critique summarizes without evaluating the study's method and limits, when replies omit their two citations or fall below 200 words and when the research paper lacks an abstract, running head or eight sources.
Using a ACCT 531 sample well
The case study sample works a composite company's move to an enterprise system; the critique samples evaluate real articles from the Journal of Information Systems, describing only what those articles report; and the research paper sample synthesizes recent research on blockchain and the audit trail.
ACCT 531 questions, answered
What textbook does ACCT 531 use?
Gelinas, Dull, Wheeler and Hill's Accounting Information Systems, read across chapters on enterprise systems, documentation, databases, controls, business processes and analytics.
How long is the ACCT 531 article critique?
Two to four pages in current APA format with a title page, running head and reference list citing at least four sources, and no abstract.
How long is the ACCT 531 research paper?
Eight to ten pages on an accounting information systems topic, with a title page, running head, abstract and at least eight sources.
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