How do I get an Associate's Degree in Accounting?

To get an associate’s degree in accounting, a student must typically complete two years of college coursework. This degree generally requires completion of general education requirements, core courses in accounting topics, and additional elective credits. The associate’s degree in accounting prepares individuals for jobs as bookkeepers, accounts receivable clerks, and billing clerks. Completion of the degree also provides a firm foundation for a bachelor’s degree program in accounting.

A student can obtain an associate’s degree in accounting by applying to a college offering a two-year degree program. The entrance requirement is generally a high school diploma or equivalent. Some colleges may also require students to take tests in basic math, reading, and writing skills. The program can generally be completed in two years, if attending full-time. With part-time attendance, it can take several years to complete the degree.

The coursework for an associate’s degree in accounting typically involves a series of general education courses, such as arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, English composition, mathematics, and life and physical sciences. Students are often given choices within these various categories. When fulfilling a requirement in behavioral and social sciences, for example, a student may be allowed to choose from economics, psychology, sociology, politics, or cross-cultural communication.

Requirements within the core accounting classes typically offer fewer choices. A student may be required to complete a series of accounting courses in sequence. Other accounting-related topics may include federal tax, business ethics, business mathematics, and business law. Some colleges also teach computer courses and various accounting software applications. Many programs also require completion of elective courses, which usually offer a wider range of topics, some related to accounting and others not.

Upon completing the associate’s degree in accounting, an individual can enter the workforce as a bookkeeper, accounts payable clerk, accounts receivable clerk, or other entry-level accounting para-professional. This degree equips individuals with the ability to keep track of expenses, analyze transactions, and manage accounting ledgers. The skills learned in this program are needed in all environments where financial transactions are made, requiring tracking profits, billing for services, managing payments, and analyzing business profitability. Business environments, educational institutions, and health care institutions are some of the environments requiring the skills of an individual with this degree.

The associate’s degree in accounting sets a solid foundation for application to a four-year degree program in accounting. An individual who wants to become an accountant might first complete the associate’s degree to strengthen his chances of entry into a four-year program. A two-year accounting program may also be an effective way for a person to determine whether accounting is his ideal career path before applying to a bachelor’s degree program in accounting.