Accounting — Paraprofessional
This program offers excellent academic options for students to enter the growing field of accounting through degree and certificate programs. Credits earned for certificates apply to the degree program. Contact the Business Division regarding changes to program requirements.
On this page:
- Paraprofessional Accounting - Associate in Arts Degree
- Accounting Assistant - Certificate of Achievement
- Bookkeeping - Certificate of Accomplishment
- Bookkeeping Preparation - Certificate of Completion
- Accounting Information Systems - Certificate of Accomplishment
- Financial Information Systems Specialist - Certificate of Accomplishment
- Professional Financial Data Report Specialist - Certificate of Accomplishment
Associate in Arts Degree Paraprofessional Accounting
Brief Description
The Associate of Arts Paraprofessional Accounting degree provides a strong background in accounting and business skills for accounting positions and supervisory roles in business and government.
Learning Outcomes
Degree recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Correctly use terminology related to accounting careers and understand the career opportunities available in the accounting field.
- Analyze and record financial transactions and properly report financial information
- Use critical thinking skills in order to identify and solve problems in accounting
- Analyze and record financial transactions using general ledger computerized software for a small-to medium-sized business
- Perform accounting procedures employed in a typical payroll accounting system
- Possess “industry-specific” job skills
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this degree (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 135 | Business Payroll Tax Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 172 | Small Business Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 245 | Accounting Information Systems | 5 |
| ACCT 250 | Intermediate Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 285 | Federal Income Taxes | 5 |
| BTS 165 | Business Spreadsheet Analysis & Design | 5 |
BUS 120 |
Organizational Behavior | 5 |
| BUS 145 |
Business Mathematics | 5 |
| ENGL& 101 |
English Composition I | 5 |
| ENGL& 235 |
Technical Writing | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 101 | Practical Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 201 |
Principles of Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 102 | Practical Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 202 |
Principles of Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT& 203 |
Principles of Accounting III (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT 234 | Managerial Accounting (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BA 200 | Business Law Legal Foundations (5 Cr) | |
| BUS& 201 |
Business Law (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 240 | Computerized Accounting (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT 260 | Accounting for Non-Profit Agencies (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT 270 | Cost Accounting (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 10 credits from the following: | 10 | |
| BTS 109 | Business Communications (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 168 | Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 265 | Advanced Business Spreadsheet Applications (5 Cr) | |
| BUS& 101 |
Introduction to Business (5 Cr) | |
| BUS 241 |
Multicultural Business Consulting (5 Cr) | |
| BUS 260 |
Business Ethics (5 Cr) | |
| ECON 100 | Introduction to Basic Economic Principles (5 Cr) | |
| ETHN 241 | Multicultural Business Consulting (5 Cr) | |
| EXPRL 191/2/3 | Academic Internship Experience (V 1-5 Cr) | |
| Or any 200-level Business course approved by advisor (5 Cr) |
||
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ANTH& 204 |
Archaeology (5 Cr) | |
| GEOG 100 | Introduction to Geography (5 Cr) | |
| GEOG 207 | Economic Geography (5 Cr) | |
| HIST 115 | English History: 1603 to Present (5 Cr) | |
| HIST 120 | Global History (5 Cr) | |
| HIST 223 | History of Russia & Eastern Europe: 1533 to Present (5 Cr) | |
| HIST 250 | U.S. Military History (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 90 | |
Certificate of Achievement Accounting Assistant
Brief Description
The Accounting Assistant certificate emphasizes practical skills for those seeking early employment.
Learning Outcomes
Degree recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Analyze and record transactions including general accounting transactions, payroll.
- Perform fundamental accounting transactions
- Prepare financial reports using selected small business computerized accounting software, database and spreadsheet programs.
- Communicate accounting results to management
- Communicate and demonstrate basic concepts, practices, and laws in human resource management or organizational behavior.
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 135 | Business Payroll Tax Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 172 | Small Business Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| BTS 146 | 10-Key | 1 |
| BTS 165 | Business Spreadsheet Analysis & Design | 5 |
| BUS 145 |
Business Mathematics | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 101 | Practical Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 201 |
Principles of Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 102 | Practical Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 202 |
Principles of Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BTS 109 | Business Communications (5 Cr) | |
| ENGL& 101 |
English Composition I (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BUS 120 |
Organizational Behavior (5 Cr) | |
| BUS 221 |
Human Resource Management (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BTS 168 | Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 265 | Advanced Business Spreadsheet Applications (5 Cr) | |
| BUS& 101 |
Introduction to Business (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 46 | |
Certificate of Accomplishment Bookkeeping
Brief Description
The Bookkeeping certificate prepares students for employment as full-charge bookkeepers.
Learning Outcomes
Degree recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Analyze and record transactions including general accounting transactions, payroll.
- Perform fundamental accounting transactions
- Prepare financial reports using selected small business computerized accounting software and spreadsheet programs.
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 135 | Business Payroll Tax Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 172 | Small Business Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| BTS 146 | 10-Key | 1 |
| BTS 165 | Business Spreadsheet Analysis & Design | 5 |
| BUS 145 |
Business Mathematics | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 101 | Practical Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 201 |
Principles of Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 102 | Practical Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 202 |
Principles of Accounting II (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 31 | |
Certificate of Completion Bookkeeping Preparation
Brief Description
This 14-16 credit certificate permits practical accounting students to work in beginning level of bookkeeping preparation in a business.
Learning Outcomes
Certificate recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Beginning level bookkeeping
- Prepared for entry into bookkeeping jobs
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 101 | Practical Accounting I | 5 |
| BTS 146 | 10-Key | 1 |
| BUS 145 |
Business Mathematics | 5 |
| Choose 3-5 credits from the following: | 3-5 | |
| ACCT 194/195/196/197 |
Special Topics in Practical Accounting (V 1-5 Cr) | |
| BTS 151 | Spreadsheet Applications - Formulas & Functions (1 Cr) | |
| BTS 152 | Spreadsheet Applications - Charts and Formatting (1 Cr) | |
| BTS 153 | Spreadsheet Applications - Data Lists & Pivot Tables (1 Cr) | |
| Total | 14-16 | |
Certificate of Accomplishment Accounting Information Systems
Learning Outcomes
Certificate recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Analyze a business' accounting systems needs
- Analyze and record transactions
- Evaluate security needs
- Perform extensive hands-on work using this software.
- Perform fundamental accounting transactions
- Prepare and communicate managerial accounting analysis, using selected midrange information system software program.
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 245 | Accounting Information Systems | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT 101 | Practical Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT& 201 |
Principles of Accounting I (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| ACCT& 203 |
Principles of Accounting III (5 Cr) | |
| ACCT 234 | Managerial Accounting (5 Cr) | |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BTS 109 | Business Communications (5 Cr) | |
| ENGL& 101 |
English Composition I (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 20 | |
Certificate of Accomplishment Financial Information Systems Specialist
Brief Description
Specialist in Accounting Software Systems for small, medium, and large corporations.
Learning Outcomes
Certificate recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Specialist in Accounting Software Systems for small, medium, and large corporations
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 172 | Small Business Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 240 | Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 245 | Accounting Information Systems | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BTS 168 | Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 265 | Advanced Business Spreadsheet Applications (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 268 | Advanced Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 20 | |
Certificate of Accomplishment Professional Financial Data Report Specialist
Brief Description
Professional Financial Data Report Specialists assist and support decision making through data gathering and analysis.
Learning Outcomes
Certificate recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Improved skill in data reporting and integration of accounting systems data in executing data collection, reporting, analysis and decision making
- Assist and support decision making through data gathering and analysis
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this certificate (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 240 | Computerized Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 245 | Accounting Information Systems | 5 |
| PROG 175 | Database Reporting | 5 |
| Choose 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| BTS 168 | Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| BTS 268 | Advanced Business Data Management Tools (5 Cr) | |
| DBA 130 | Database Theory (5 Cr) | |
| PROG 140 | SQL and Relational Database Programming (5 Cr) | |
| Total | 20 | |
Courses marked with a symbol changed course number and/or title begining summer 2008 to reflect a new common course numbering system. Courses with previous number/title are still applicable. Learn more about Common Course Numbering.
Professional or technical program offerings and course requirements listed in this website may be altered by the college to reflect the needs of industry, student interests and availability of resources.