Objectives
The fundamentals of accounting and business operations are important in many economic endeavors. This program blends accounting concepts and skills, financial applications and elements of business with accounting technology. This blend offers students a practitioner-oriented program of study that can help them prepare to function in a variety of business atmospheres. The program includes instruction on basic accounting principles and financial accounting applications. Students will have the opportunity to create, analyze and interpret financial data and statements. Critical thinking, accounting technology and professional and interpersonal communication are also elements of this program.

Career Opportunities
The program can help graduates prepare for a business accounting career and pursue entry-level positions in fields involving accounting or finance. Graduates will have developed knowledge and skills used to integrate general accounting, finance, data interchange and network technologies.

Admission Requirements
Refer to the Admission section of this catalog for information relating to Admission Requirements and Procedures for this program.

Online Course Orientation
Prior to starting any of the online courses in this program, the student must complete the online course orientation, which describes the protocols that the student must follow when taking an online course.

Equipment
The student is responsible, at his or her expense, for providing all supplies and equipment for the students use in the online courses in the program, including, without limitation, a computer (and the associated accessories and peripheral equipment, including without limitation, a monitor, keyboard and printer), software and Internet service.

Online Courses
All of the courses offered at the school in this program are distance education courses and are taught online over the Internet, rather than in residence at the school. Each course will be taught over a period of either (a) six weeks or (b) 12 weeks, as determined by the school from time to time in its discretion. Courses are delivered through an asynchronous learning network. There is a prescribed completion schedule for the activities in each course. Support materials for each course will be sent to the student. These materials may include a course syllabus, a textbook(s), a CD-ROM(s) and other printed documents required for the course. Students will be assigned to a class for each course. Students in each course will interact with their classmates and the instructor through discussion board and e-mail systems.

Online Student Preparation - Prior to starting any of the online courses in this program, the student is encouraged to complete the online course student preparation, which describes the protocols that the student must follow when taking an online course.

Computer, Software Requirements and Specifications and Internet Service
The student must have access to a computer (and the associated accessories and peripheral equipment), software and Internet service that satisfies the following specifications:

Minimum Requirements for Computer: Personal computer capable of running Windows XP or greater. 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended), 7GB of available hard-drive space (additional free space required during installation),1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card, and DVD-RW drive.

Minimum Requirements for Software: Microsoft Office Professional 2003 (or higher), Internet Browser, and functional e-mail address with file attachment capabilities. The student will be required to obtain any software tools, plug-ins and/or applications identified in the course syllabus for any course in the program of study.

Minimum Requirements for Internet Service: Broadband connection such as cable or DSL.

The student is obligated for any expense associated with obtaining access to the above specified computer equipment, software and Internet service. No school-owned computer equipment, software or Internet service will be accessible to the student.

Class Size
Classes generally range in size from 15 to 25 students. Depending on the course subject matter, certain classes may contain a greater or lesser number of students.

Program Outline

To view a list of the course descriptions, please click here.