Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration: Accounting
Majors Overview May 14, 2013Students who want to learn basic accounting for immediate entry-level employment in a business environment should consider an associate degree program in business administration with a concentration on accounting where they can earn their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Graduates will be prepared for assistant and clerk positions in accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, and more.
Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration (ASBA) Degree with Concentration in Accounting
Students who are enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration program will be prepared for various entry level jobs related to financial services. Students may concentrate on ethical business conduct and learn how to use accounting software for financial transactions. Typically, these degree programs include administration and business courses, so students will be able to understand how accounting relates to other aspects of the daily operations of a business. Associate of Applied Science in Accounting program require facility with computers and math, and open to students who hold a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma.
Program Coursework
Generally, these degree programs include a core of foundational business administration courses that combine with advanced accounting concepts. Program course topics may include the following:
•Human relations
•Business law
•Business communication
•Microeconomics
•Spreadsheet and database applications
•Computerized accounting
•Business math
•Financial accounting
•Managerial accounting
•Applied accounting
Career Options
Students with an associate degree in accounting and business administration will be prepared for different entry-level positions working in an office environment where they will be responsible for managing and organizing spreadsheets, financial records, receipts, and ledgers. Associate degree program graduates can obtain the following job titles:
•Accounting assistant
•Auditing clerk
•Bookkeeping clerk
Information on Continuing Education
Nationally-recognized organizations offer certifications to auditing, accounting and bookkeeping professionals. The Certified Bookkeeper (CB) credential is offered by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers to interested candidates who have passed a four-part examination and have at least two years of work experience (source: www.aipb.org).
A bachelor degree is normally required for growth in the financial services occupations, and promotion to supervisory or management positions. The majority of accountants possess at minimum a bachelor degree, such as a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), or a master degree (Master of Accountancy or Master of Business Administration (MBA)). Typically, accountants are required to complete at least one hundred fifty credit hours of relevant study in order to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination that is administered by the State Board of Accountancy.
