Certificate in CPA Exam Preparation: Business-Related Subjects Requirement
The CPA Exam Preparation: Business-Related Subjects Requirement Certificate of Achievement is designed for students who have earned a four-year degree or higher in a field other than accounting and need to earn the required business-related subject credits to sit for the CPA exam.
Upon completion of the program, a student will meet the California Board of Accountancy’s 24-unit educational requirement for “Business-Related Subjects." Successfully passing the CPA exam opens a range of career opportunities in the public, private and non-profit accounting fields.
Certificate of Achievement Level Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing the CPA Exam Preparation: Business-Related Subjects Requirement Certificate of Achievement will:
- Acquire an understanding of concepts related to accounting, economics, business management and operations, marketing, finance, business law, human resource management, computer information systems and business communications.
- Understand the interrelationship between accounting, economics, business management and operations, marketing, finance, human resource management, business law, computer information systems and business communications.
- Satisfy the 24-unit educational requirement for business-related subject to sit for the Uniform CPA exam.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Complete twenty-four (24) units minimum from the following courses: | ||
| Accounting | 4 | |
| Taxation of Business Entities | 4 | |
| Computerized Income Tax Preparation | 2 | |
| Volunteer Income Tax Assistance I | 1 | |
| Volunteer Income Tax Assistance II | 2 | |
| QuickBooks | 2 | |
| Tax Practices and Procedures | 3 | |
| Payroll Accounting | 3 | |
| Intermediate Accounting I | 3 | |
| Intermediate Accounting II | 3 | |
| Cost Accounting | 3 | |
| Auditing | 3 | |
| Fraud Examination | 3 | |
| Introduction to Business | 3 | |
| International Business | 3 | |
| International Marketing | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Importing and Exporting | 3 | |
| Principles of Money Management | 3 | |
| Business Communications | 3 | |
| Business Law and the Legal Environment I | 3 | |
| Business Law and the Legal Environment II | 3 | |
| Small Business Management | 3 | |
| Human Relations in the Workplace | 3 | |
| Human Resources Management | 3 | |
| Introduction to Management | 3 | |
| Elements of Marketing | 3 | |
| Advertising | 3 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | |
or ECON 101H | Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| Information Technology | 4 | |
| Network Technology | 4 | |
| Network Operating Systems | 4 | |
| Network and Computer Security | 4 | |
| Computer Information Systems | 3.5 | |
| Cybersecurity: Ethical Hacking | 3 | |
| Microcomputer Applications I | 4 | |
| Introduction to Database Concepts | 3 | |
| Database Principles Using SQL | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cloud Computing | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | 4 | |
or MATH 165H | Introduction to Statistics - Honors | |
| Calculus for Business and Social Sciences | 4 | |
| Total Units | 24-26 | |
Note 1: Any of the courses above can be taken to satisfy the 24 unit business-related subject requirement.
Note 2: For the purpose of satisfying the CPA exam business-related subjects requirement, any accounting subjects in excess of the 24 units needed to fulfill the accounting subject requirement can be taken to satisfy the 24 unit business-related subject requirement.
Note 3: Some of the courses in this certificate are also included in the CPA Exam Preparation: Accounting Subjects Requirement Certificate and the CPA Licensure: Accounting Study and Ethics Certificate. For purposes of satisfying the course requirements for this certificate, only select courses that have not been counted towards the CPA Exam Preparation: Accounting Subjects Requirement Certificate and/or the CPA Licensure: Accounting Study and Ethics Certificate.
Note 4: To sit for the CPA Exam, you must have baccalaureate degree or higher, including 24 semester units of accounting subjects and 24 semester units of business-related subjects.
Students should visit the California Board of Accountancy website at https://www.dca.ca.gov/cba/index.shtml for more information regarding the educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam and the requirements for CPA licensure.
1-Year Curriculum Map Example
This map represents one possible pathway through the program and is only for reference.
*It is highly recommended that you make an appointment to create a customized education plan that fits your needs.
| Fall Term 1 | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ITIS 130 | Microcomputer Applications I | 4 |
| BUS 152 | Business Communications | 3 |
| BUS 160 | Business Law and the Legal Environment I | 3 |
| ECON 101 or ECON 101H |
Principles of Macroeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors |
3 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| ITIS 104 | Information Technology | 4 |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ITIS 115 | Computer Information Systems | 3.5 |
| BUS 161 | Business Law and the Legal Environment II | 3 |
| Units | 13.5 | |
| Total Units | 26.5 | |
Career Opportunities
There are a variety of careers you can do with this major.
To explore more about this major, schedule an appointment with a career counselor.