Associate of Science in Accounting

Associate of Science in Accounting Overview

If you have a flair for numbers or an interest in the financial workings of businesses and organizations, you should consider pursuing an Associate of Science degree in Accounting from South University.

This online program provides students with the background, knowledge, and skills they need to pursue a career in the field of accounting. With an Associate of Science degree in Accounting from South University, you will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of transaction analysis, accounting cycles and systems, internal controls and journals, assets and liabilities, and accounting processes for varying business structures.

The accounting courses in our Associate of Science in Accounting program are designed to teach students the broad-based flexibility they need to pursue an accounting career. You will have the opportunity to learn:

• Accounting procedures for merchandising
• The basics of cost accounting
• How to work with balance sheets, income statements, and statements of financial position
• How to prepare a statement of cash flow

Graduates with an Accounting associate degree are prepared to seek employment in wide range of sectors, including business, healthcare, government, education, manufacturing, and social services.

Employment Opportunities

"Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow by 12 percent during the 2006-16 decade, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Due its size, this occupation will have among the largest numbers of new jobs arise, about 264,000 over the projections decade. Job prospects should be good as a large number of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are expected to retire or transfer to other occupations."

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos144.htm.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to the Associate of Science in Accounting program online at South University, the prospective student must be a high school graduate OR have the equivalent GED (General Education Development certificate).

After meeting this qualification, applicants must:

1. Achieve a satisfactory score on either the SAT I, the ACT, or the CPTs OR
2. Meet the eligibility requirements for a transfer student.

Getting Started

Set a course for your own career growth by enrolling in our Accounting associate's degree online program. Click here to get started.

Associate of Science in Accounting - 92 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Associate of Science in Accounting are required to take a total of 23 courses as follows:

• 14 foundation courses - 52 credits
• 9 major courses - 36 credits

All courses are 4 quarter credits in length.

Foundation Curriculum - 52 Credits
Students are required to take 14 foundation courses, which include one Social Science elective from the Social Science elective list below as follows:

ACC1001 - Accounting I

ACC1001 is the first of a three-course sequence focusing on how stakeholders rely upon accounting information to assist them in their decision making activities. ACC1001 introduces accounting as the "language of business"—the tool used to communicate the effects of an organization's business activities on its income, financial position, and cash flows. The course provides an overview of the financial accounting system, including: the role of accounting in business; the format, content, and use of financial statements; the impact of transactions on the financial statements; the regulatory environment of accounting; and the accounting standard-setting process.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Credits: 4

BIO1020 - Biology I

Principles of Biology I is the first in a two-course sequence in biology. The course introduces biology, scientific methods, biological chemistry, cells, energy for life, basic genetics, and biotechnology. The course also compares human and plant organization and function. The student will also complete writing assignments that will introduce the student to scientific literature.

Prerequisite(s): and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite MAT0099

Credits: 4

BUS1101 - Introduction to Business

An introduction to business functions and their opportunities. Students will also be given information about resources available to them through a variety of sources, including the university.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Credits: 4

BUS2023 - Business Communications

This course is designed to prepare students to organize and compose effective business correspondence and technical writing. The basic principles of writing and approaches for writing various types of communications are stressed.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ECO2071 - Principles of Microeconomics

Microeconomics is the study of the internal forces in the marketplace. Students will develop an understanding of the forces that control the economy and the effect of changes in those forces. Specific topics include the free enterprise system, capitalism, wage and price theory, law of supply and demand, and government regulation of business.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Credits: 4

ECO2072 - Principles of Macroeconomics

The study of macroeconomics includes the basic aspects of economic analysis of the business world. Students will develop an understanding of the monetary system, recession, inflation, and the main cycles of business activity.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

ENG1001 - Composition I

Students will be introduced to college-level writing processes, including theme, composition, and research. Emphasis will be placed on refining individual skills, writing styles and voices, and on writing procedures. Selected readings in prose, drama, and poetry supplement the course and provide topics for discussion and writing assignments.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

ENG1002 - Composition II / Literature

This course is designed to introduce the student to fiction, poetry, and drama and, through literary analysis and interpretation, to develop the life skills of critical thinking and written expression.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ENG2001 - Composition III

The goal of this course is to refine the student's reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. By analyzing ineffective arguments and constructing effective ones, the student will discover how ambiguity, evasiveness, vagueness, and obscurity weaken his or her credibility as a writer.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ITS1000 - Computer and Internet Literacy

This course is for students to obtain basic knowledge and skills in using computer office production software and Internet features. A broad range of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database and Internet usage concepts will be covered.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MAT1500 - College Mathematics

College Mathematics covers the fundamentals of several areas of mathematics, including set theory, logic, geometry, graph theory, probability, and statistics.

Prerequisite(s): MAT0099

Credits: 4

SPC1026 - Public Speaking

Students will develop and refine presentation skills focusing on compiling, organizing and outlining the research material in preparation for the assignments.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

UVC1000 - Strategies for Success

Designed to help entering students develop a more effective approach to college success, this course emphasizes positive self-evaluation, goal-setting, and motivation; practical skills of successful students; effective use of the library and the many sources of information available; and the concepts and tools of critical thinking, and their applications.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Social Science Elective: (Choose 1)

PSY1001 - General Psychology

The fundamental questions guiding this course are relatively simple. In what ways are we all alike and in what ways are we different? And why? Although these questions may be simple, the answers, as we shall see, are complex, interconnected, and too often invisible to the untrained eye. Different families... different backgrounds...different sexes... different cultures...different ethnic groups...different ways of looking at things...different behaviors...different values—how are we to understand this incredible diversity of human experience so that we can navigate successfully in an increasingly chaotic and shrinking world? The intent of this course is to examine the psychological foundations underlying the identity of the "self," "identity" and "world view" in an effort to understand the differences that exist from culture to culture, from generation to generation, from family to family, from profession to profession, and from individual to individual.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

SOC1001 - Introduction to Sociology

This course, a scientific study of human social activity, will provide the student with a new way of looking at the world. In learning about the sociological perspective, the student will be challenged to see the general in the particular, the strange in the familiar, and the importance of the global perspective.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum - 36 Credits
Students are required to take 9 major courses as follows:

ACC1002 - Accounting II

ACC1002 is the second of a three-course sequence focusing on how stakeholders rely upon accounting information to assist them in their decision making activities. ACC1002 continues the study of the financial accounting system, including an in-depth study of the time value of money and the effects of various financing, investing, and operating activities on a firm's earnings, financial position, and cash flows. It also begins the study of managerial accounting systems as an invaluable source of information to support managers' decision-making activities and introduces a host of alternative cost concepts, including the concept of different costs for different purposes. Basic cost-volume-profit analysis is also introduced.

Prerequisite(s): ACC1001 (with grade of ?C? or better).

Credits: 4

ACC1003 - Accounting III

ACC1003 is the third of a three-course sequence focusing on how stakeholders rely upon accounting information to assist them in their decision making activities. ACC1003 continues the study of the managerial accounting system, including a focused study of product costing using both traditional and activity-based approaches, the uses of cost-based information in decision making, the use of budgeting to accomplish organization objectives, traditional and contemporary approaches to performance management for all levels of responsibility centers, and capital budgeting.

Prerequisite(s): ACC1002 with grade of "C" or better.

Credits: 4

ACC2003 - Business Taxation

This course introduces the student to many of the common tax issues that normally confront small businesses. Some of the issues addressed include income, and employment, tax considerations.

Prerequisite(s): ACC1001

Credits: 4

ACC2010 - Automated Accounting Systems and Processes I

This course explores how to implement and use automated accounting systems. Topics may include setting up a chart of accounts, journalizing business transactions for sales and expenses, creating receivables and payables schedules, and producing financial statements for small and medium size businesses.

Prerequisite(s): ACC1002 and ITS1101 (ITS1000 Computer and Internet Literacy for online students)

Credits: 4

ACC2015 - Automated Accounting Systems and Processes II

This course continues the exploration of how to implement and use automated accounting systems. Topics may include transferring information from different software packages into the accounting system, payroll, inventories, cash budgeting, and financial ratios.

Prerequisite(s): ACC2010

Credits: 4

BUS1038 - Business Law I

Business Law I is a study of the development of American law and procedure covering information, operation, completion of contracts, and consumer protection. This course also includes a study of the Uniform Commercial Code. Both the text and case study methods are utilized.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Credits: 4

BUS2021 - Spreadsheet and Database Application

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

FIN2030 - Foundation of Financial Management

This course exposes the student to a wide range of important issues in managerial and personal finance, including such topics as the role of finance in organizations, principles of financial analysis, forecasting and working capital management, and the basics of analysis and evaluation of investments such as stocks, mutual funds, and bonds, with applications for personal investing.

Prerequisite(s): ACC1002 BUS1101

Credits: 4

MGT2037 - Principles of Management

The latest major approaches and techniques of management are studied, including planning, systems management, new organizational concepts, computer influence, controlling, and quantitative measurement.

Prerequisite(s): BUS1101

Credits: 4

Software Requirements:

• Adobe Acrobat Professional
• Microsoft Office Professional
• Norton Antivirus

Minimum Technology Requirements:

• PC: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a Pentium III CPU, Windows XP with Service Pack 2, and 512 MB of RAM.
• Mac: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a G3, G4, or G5 processor, MAC OS, and 512 MB of RAM.

Internet Requirements:

56K or faster Internet connection is required for online courses, however broadband is strongly encouraged.

Web Browser Requirements:

PC: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

• Internet Explorer 6.0 (supported)
• Internet Explorer 7.0 (recommended)
• Internet Explorer 5.5 (supported)
• Firefox 1.x (supported)
• Firefox 2.0 (recommended)
• Firefox 3.0 (supported)

Mac: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

• Safari 3.0 (supported for OS X)
• Safari 2.0 (recommended for OS X)
• Safari 1.2 (supported for OS X)
• Firefox 1.x (supported)
• Firefox 2.0 (supported)
• Firefox 3.0 (supported)

Software may be purchased through JourneyEd.

Dr. Kip Pirkle

Dr. Pirkle earned his Ph.D. in Management from Clemson University and his Accounting and MBA degrees from the University of Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia, he worked as a staff accountant for a CPA firm and then purchased his own accounting practice. He has been the managing partner in two real estate partnerships. While at Clemson, he was a consultant with the Small Business Development Center, assisting entrepreneurs with business plans and day-to-day operations. He has done extensive consulting in golf-related businesses, as well as with a number of other entrepreneurial ventures, primarily in strategic planning, financial forecasting, and valuation. His passion for teaching is in strategic management, with a focus on international business. He has conducted business seminars in Eastern Europe and Russia, and has spent significant time studying and visiting Europe, China, and Japan.

Ms. Louise Miller

Ms. Miller has been teaching Accounting at the college level for six years and has especially enjoyed teaching online courses. She has earned an MBA, an MAT in Science Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. For twenty years, she worked as a software engineer for Raytheon Systems Company and while there, she performed the financial analysis and accounting for her husband’s computer networking firm. For many years, she also was the owner of a small business, selling unique decorator items using tapestries and trims, most of which she created herself. Her interest in finance and business eventually grew so much that she decided to pursue her Ph.D. in Accounting at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Ms. Miller enjoys bringing her varied background in engineering, computers, art, and small business to her online classrooms, to give the students real-world applications of the topics she teaches.

Dr. Arjan Sadhwani

A CPA, Dr. Sadhwani earned his Ph.D. in Accounting, Finance and CIS from Michigan State University, and his Bachelor and Associate degrees in Accounting, Finance and Economics from Bombay University, India. Prior to coming to South University, he worked as Assistant Controller (MIS) in the U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington D.C., as a consultant at Director of Accounting and Finance level at TRW in Cleveland, Ohio and as a Supervisory Senior Auditor with Defense Contract Audit Institute,and a consultant to several fortune 500 organizations in accounting and MIS areas.

Dr. Sadhwani has been teaching Accounting, Finance and Information Systems courses for over twenty-five years at state universities in Ohio and California. He has taught and developed several online Accounting courses for a private a university in San Francisco.

Dr Sadhwani has published many articles on Just-in-time inventory control systems, EDI, Bar Codes Systems, Capital Structures and Timing of Earnings Announcements in several reputed journals. He has also presented papers at professional organizations meetings on variety of accounting and AIS topics. He loves teaching online and working with eager adult learners.