A.S. in Business - Accounting Emphasis

The Associate’s Degree in Science in Business - Emphasis in Accounting provides lower division preparation for students planning to transfer into a business administration program at a four-year university. Students will take courses in business as well as related fields required for business majors. 

This degree can lead students into one of several areas of concentration at four-year universities, such as accounting, business management, finance, human resource management, international business, and marketing.

Check with an academic advisor to confirm if the elective accounting courses taken as part of this degree will receive unit credit and/or subject area credit at the university level. 

A.S. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Business - Accounting Emphasis A.S. Degree will:

  1. Acquire the ability to communicate effectively within business organizations.
  2. Apply critical thinking skills and analytical skills relating to business and accounting issues.
  3. Understand the role of business management and how it impacts organizational performance.
  4. Apply basic accounting concepts and prepare financial reports to support business decision-making.

 Students receiving this degree must meet the following requirements:

  1. Complete the District General Education PatternCSUGE or IGETC.
    If transferring to a CSU or UC students are strongly recommended to complete the CSUGE or IGETC General Education Patterns. Students looking to transfer to an out of state or private college should consult with a counselor for the appropriate GE pattern selection.
  2. Complete with a “C” or better each course as specified by the major.
  3. Maintain an overall GPA of a 2.0 or better in all degree applicable coursework.
Required courses:
ACCT 101Financial Accounting4
or ACCT 101H Financial Accounting - Honors
ACCT 102Managerial Accounting4
or ACCT 102H Managerial Accounting - Honors
BUS 152Business Communications3
BUS 160Business Law and the Legal Environment I3
ECON 101Principles of Macroeconomics3
or ECON 101H Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors
ECON 102Principles of Microeconomics3
MATH 165Introduction to Statistics4
or MATH 165H Introduction to Statistics - Honors
OFF 120Microsoft Excel3
Select one (1) of the following courses:
Calculus for Business and Social Sciences4
Calculus with Analytic Geometry l5
Select six (6) units minimum from the following courses:
Income Tax Accounting4
Taxation of Business Entities4
Computerized Income Tax Preparation2
QuickBooks2
Tax Practices and Procedures3
Payroll Accounting3
Intermediate Accounting I3
Intermediate Accounting II3
Cost Accounting 3
Auditing3
Fraud Examination3
Accounting Ethics4
Total Units37-40

2-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.

Note: Co-requisite MATH course (2 units) and/or substitute ENGL 101E (5 units) may be needed based on placement.

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
MATH 180 Calculus for Business and Social Sciences 4
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
ACCT 101
Financial Accounting
or Financial Accounting - Honors
4
 Units12
Winter Term 1
MATH 165
Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
 Units4
Spring Term 1
ACCT 102
Managerial Accounting
or Managerial Accounting - Honors
4
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
ACCT 110
Income Tax Accounting
or Taxation of Business Entities
or Computerized Income Tax Preparation
or QuickBooks
or Tax Practices and Procedures
or Payroll Accounting
or Intermediate Accounting I
or Intermediate Accounting II
or Cost Accounting
or Auditing
or Fraud Examination
or Accounting Ethics
3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
or Small Group Communication
3
 Units13
Summer Term 1
BUS 160 Business Law and the Legal Environment I 3
ARCH 250
History of Architecture: Prehistory to Mannerism
or History of Architecture: Baroque to the Present Day
or Art History - Fundamentals of Global Art History
or Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art
or History of Photography
or Introduction to the Visual Arts
or Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
or History of Dance
or History of Rock and Roll
or Introduction to Theatre Arts
or Introduction to Theatre Arts - Honors
3
 Units6
Fall Term 2
ECON 101
Principles of Macroeconomics
or Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors
3
ACCT 111
Taxation of Business Entities
or Computerized Income Tax Preparation
or QuickBooks
or Tax Practices and Procedures
or Payroll Accounting
or Intermediate Accounting I
or Intermediate Accounting II
or Cost Accounting
or Auditing
or Fraud Examination
or Accounting Ethics
3
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of Women in the United States
3
ASTR 116
Stellar Astronomy
or Earth Science
or Physical Geology
or Physics in Everyday Life
or Physics in Everyday Life - Honors
4
 Units13
Winter Term 2
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
ARCH 250
History of Architecture: Prehistory to Mannerism
or History of Architecture: Baroque to the Present Day
or Art History - Fundamentals of Global Art History
or Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art
or History of Photography
or Introduction to the Visual Arts
or Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
or History of Dance
or Ethnic Voices in Film
or Children's Literature
or Children's Literature - Honors
or Literature of the Bible
or American Food And Culture: Global Origins, History, and Current Impacts
or History of Rock and Roll
or Great Religions of the World
or Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
or Introduction to Theatre Arts
or Introduction to Theatre Arts - Honors
3
 Units6
Spring Term 2
BUS 152 Business Communications 3
ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics 3
OFF 120 Microsoft Excel 3
ANTH 212
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
or Human Genetics
or Biology of Cancer
or Environmental Science
3
 Units12
 Total Units66

 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.