From Walmart to Wall Street, Accounting is the Foundation for Business at Every Level
American National University’s Accounting diploma program is designed exclusively for students and professionals who have recently completed an associate or bachelor’s degree:
- Recent college graduates seeking an accounting career.
- Experienced professionals seeking a career change to the accounting industry.
Our accounting courses are designed to prepare you to become proficient in fundamental business practices with an emphasis on general accounting and business principles. In accounting, skilled employees take care of financial bookkeeping, handle payroll, and maintain accounts payable or accounts receivable activity. As a skill credential, this certificate program has been created to provide additional training to accompany your existing degree(s) to make you stand out in the workplace. An earned associate degree or higher from an accredited institution is required to be enrolled in any skill credential program.
Your Learning Experience
American National University’s Accounting Diploma program combines critical thinking and technology skills with accounting basics for use in your current workplace or serve as a strong foundation to build on if you decide to switch your career path. Graduates of this program will:
- Gain an understanding of the role and function of topics such as financial management, valuation of investments, cost of capital, capital structure, dividends, and capital budgeting.
- Become familiar with using computers and software applications to apply the basic principles and procedures of accrual accounting.
- Gain entry-level proficiency in programs such as spreadsheet applications.
- Learn about audit reporting, auditing standards, techniques, and procedures.
Accounting Diploma Program Goals and Objectives
Our online accounting courses are designed for students who have already earned an academic associate or bachelor’s degree and want to develop the skills that are necessary to work in accounting. The accounting diploma program provides students with both introductory skills and training in fundamental business practices with an emphasis on general accounting. Students will become familiar with the most widely used accounting software. Upon completion of the accounting program, graduates will be able to assess, analyze, and interpret data and will have gained a deeper understanding of the accounting process.
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of basic accounting principles, which can include accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash accounting and management, inventory, financial statement analysis, cost control procedures, and more.
- Complete the manual and computerized accounting cycle for service and merchandising entities, such as general ledger, invoicing, payroll, inventory, and job costs.
- Identify the legal and ethical responsibilities of accountants and general bookkeepers through exploring the United States Constitution as it relates to the business, community, and more.
- Assist clients with individual income tax return preparation and planning.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the payroll process and its relationship to the entity’s general accounting system through computing wages, deductions, salaries, the keeping of records, and preparing government reports.
Where could your degree take you?
- General Office Worker
- Tax Preparer
- Bookkeeper
- Accounts Payable Specialist
- Accounting Assistant
- Clerk in a tax firm
If you do not currently possess a degree, take a look at our Business Administration Accounting associate degree.
Graduate's ``Degree of Difference`` Makes a Difference in Her Own Life as Well as the Lives of Others
Fatou Soare has put her degree to work, earning a promotion at her job and starting a non-profit to help immigrants like her in her community.
ACCOUNTING – DIPLOMA REQUIRED COURSES
60 credit hours required/120 quality points required. All courses are 4 credit hours
Program Core (Required) 36 total credit hours required
ACC101 Principles of Accounting I
4 Credit Hours
This is the first course in a three-course sequence on accounting principles. This course will introduce accounting principles and procedures for individual service and merchandising companies. Specific topics include the accounting cycle, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash accounting and management procedures, and purchases and sales of merchandise.
ACC102 Principles of Accounting II
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC101) This is the second course in a three-course sequence on accounting principles. This course will continue coverage of accounting principles and procedures presented in the first course for individually owned service and merchandising entities. Specific topics covered in this course include payroll transactions, adjustments, year-end reporting and closing procedures, receivables, payables, inventory, and long-term assets.
ACC110 Payroll Accounting
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC101) Payroll Accounting illustrates the methods of computing wages, deductions, and salaries; the methods of keeping records, and the preparation of government reports.
ACC115 Computerized Accounting
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC102, COM151) Students will learn how to use the computer to apply the basic principles and procedures of accrual accounting. The focus of this course will include: general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoicing, payroll, inventory, and job costs by using and familiarizing themselves with QuickBooks software.
ACC200 Principles of Accounting III
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC102) This is the third in a three-course sequence on accounting principles. This course will cover accounting principles and procedures relating to more advanced forms of business ownership. Additionally, this course will introduce managerial accounting concepts and procedures. Specific topics covered include partnership accounting, corporate accounting, long-term liabilities, financial statement analysis, the statement of cash flows, cost accounting for manufacturing entities, and cost control procedures.
ACC203 Cost Accounting I
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC200) This course provides students with an introduction to major topics including: job order costs; process costing; by-product and joint product costing; factory overhead planning and control; quantitative models for materials, and labor-related costs.
ACC216 Income Tax
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC101 or ACC210) This course provides students with an introduction to tax preparation for individuals.
COM151 The Microsoft® Office
4 Credit Hours
This is an introductory course that provides a comprehensive study of The Microsoft® Office. This course is a combination of lecture and hands-on training.
COM235 Spreadsheet Applications
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – COM151) Students taking this course will learn how to use Microsoft® Access and Microsoft® Excel to prepare databases and spreadsheet applications.
Career Support (Required) 16 total credit hours required
BUS110 Business Mathematics I
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – MAT090 if applicable) Students will learn basic business math concepts, including number systems, fractions, decimals, the metric system, and problem solving.
BUS121 Principles of Economics
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with a study of how individuals attempt to satisfy their wants through consuming goods and services. Topics for discussion include: the U.S. economic system; government finance, and the consumption and distribution of the national wealth.
BUS123 Practical Law
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will discuss the United States Constitution as it relates to the business community, commercial paper, negligence, criminal law, bankruptcy, and employment law.
BUS225 Business Communications
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq.- ENG090) A comprehensive course in business communication, that includes the study and practice of concepts and skills as they apply to business and professional settings including written communication, business and professional presentations, interpersonal and group dynamics. Special attention is given to learning to communicate effectively in multiple formats as professional in today’s digital, social, and mobile world.
ENG102 English Composition
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ENG090 if applicable) Students taking this course will study and discuss rhetoric, style, and composition, with special emphasis on written communication skills.
Electives (Select 2**) 8 total credit hours required To be selected in consultation with the Academic Advisor to achieve a balanced educational program in keeping with the personal objectives and career ambitions of the student.
