Southwestern College Professional Studies

Online Accounting Degree Program

Business trends consistently indicate a need for accountants nationally. The Accounting program at Southwestern College Professional Studies has a broad-based curriculum that can prepare learners to work in the field of accounting in a number of different capacities. This online Accounting degree focuses on gaining knowledge and developing skills in financial and accounting leadership; managerial, financial and cost accounting; corporate finance; financial audit; federal income taxation; and financial and accounting systems. The accounting curriculum aims to provide learners with practical, marketable accounting skills grounded in industry-accepted theories and practices to help them enter and/or progress in a burgeoning job market while building a solid theoretical foundation for CPA exam preparation or future graduate coursework. If you are searching for business schools in Kansas, Southwestern College Professional Studies can help you earn an online accounting degree and take your career to the next level in accounting.

Contact an admissions counselor today for more information about our online Accounting degree program.

Program Outcomes

Business trends consistently indicate a need for accountants nationally. The accounting program is a broad based curriculum that will prepare learners to work in the field of accounting in a number of different capacities. The focus of this degree is on gaining knowledge and developing skills in financial and accounting leadership; managerial, financial, and cost accounting; corporate finance; financial audit; federal income taxation; and financial and accounting systems. The accounting curriculum will provide learners with practical, marketable accounting skills grounded in industry accepted theories and practices to help them enter and/or progress in a burgeoning job market, while building a solid theoretical foundation for potential preparation for the CPA exam or future graduate coursework.

Program Outcomes:

1. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of theories, concepts, practices, and terminology in financial and accounting leadership; managerial, financial, and cost accounting; corporate finance; financial audit; federal income taxation; and financial and accounting systems.
2. Reveals ethical reasoning through the assessment of financial and accounting problems or concerns, consideration of different perspectives and/or alternative solutions, and determination of conclusions and/or viable solutions.
3. Applies generally accepted methods and practices, technologies, and tools associated with financial and accounting leadership; managerial, financial, and cost accounting; corporate finance; financial audit; federal income taxation; and financial and accounting systems.
4. Utilizes critical thinking and analysis through the accurate framing of financial and accounting problems or concerns, thorough consideration of different perspectives and/or alternative solutions gained from expert insights and scholarly research within the degree and related fields of study, and presentation of defensible conclusions and/or selected solutions.
5. Employs effective broadly applicable and intellectual skills in professional oral and written communication, mathematical and quantitative literacy, information literacy, and creativity and innovation through the assessment and presentation of financial and accounting problems or concerns, different perspectives and/or alternative solutions, and conclusions and/or viable solutions.
6. Applies the aforementioned knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning in the conduct of an independently constructed project focused on the resolution of a complex financial or accounting problem or concern.
7. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to effectively lead people, and financial and accounting processes.
8. Exhibits the aforementioned knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning necessary for preparation for his or her chosen career path related to the accounting field of study.

Required and Core Courses

Foundation Courses

CORE101 Developing Academic and Professional Strengths
ENGL101 Composition I
ENGL102 Composition II
CORE110 Information Literacy
MASC115 College Algebra (or other approved college mathematics)
CLO 415 Professional Communication

Prerequisite Courses

MASC115 College Algebra
MASC110 Statistics and Probability
ACCT285 Principles of Accounting
BSAD320 Managerial Economics or
SSC 326 Economic Theory

Major Courses

BSAD395 Corporate Finance
BSAD310 Financial Accounting Systems
ACCT379 Managerial Accounting
ACCT380 Financial Accounting I
ACCT381 Financial Accounting II
ACCT480 Financial Accounting III
ACCT382 Federal Income Tax – Personal
ACCT482 Federal Income Tax – Corporate
ACCT483 Cost Accounting
ACCT484 Accounting Information Systems
ACCT490 Auditing Theory and Practice
CAPS491 Senior Capstone

Competency Courses

As a part of your degree program, you will be required to complete competency courses in the following areas:
• Exploratory Courses
• Institutional Outcomes

The remainder of the requirements to reach graduation will come from your Competency Courses. See an admissions counselor for specific transfer credit substitutions.

Course Descriptions

BSAD395 Corporate Finance

This course provides an introduction to the long-term and short-term investing and financing decisions required in the financial management of a business. Course procedures include quantitative methods, oral and written communication, and group interaction in class.

BSAD310 Financial Accounting Systems

Topics covered in this course include accounting and business organizations, recording process, income determination, asset valuation, financial statements, fund statements, ratio analysis, and use of financial accounting information for decision making. Prerequisite: BSAD395

ACCT379 Managerial Accounting

Principles of managerial accounting are introduced during this course. Topics include the development and use of accounting information to support managerial decision making, study of cost accounting emphasizing job order costing, process costing, capital budgeting, and budget control analysis.

ACCT380 Financial Accounting I

The course focuses on financial accounting considerations of business transaction. Emphasis is placed on understanding the accounting cycle; the conceptual framework underlying financial accounting; and recognition, measurement, and reporting of receivables, inventories, property, plant, and equipment.

ACCT381 Financial Accounting II

Emphasis is placed on liabilities and corporate equity measurement; understanding the recognition, measurement, leases, pensions, and reporting of revenue and earnings per share; and critical evaluation of financial goals/performance. Prerequisite: ACCT380

ACCT480 Financial Accounting III

In this course, emphasis is placed on foreign currency, deferred taxes, segment reporting, derivatives, partnerships, branches, and accounting theory. Prerequisites: ACCT380, ACCT381

ACCT382 Federal Income Taxation-Personal

Learners study federal income tax law as it applies to individuals. Topics include filing status, dependents, gross income, itemized deductions, tax credits, cost recovery, and property transactions.

ACCT482 Federal Income Taxation-Corporate

Learners study the basic principles of business taxation. This course deals primarily with the federal tax laws as they relate to corporations and partnerships. Prerequisite: ACCT381

ACCT483 Cost Accounting

A study of cost accounting emphasizing managerial cost information for forecasting, planning, control, and behavior factors. The course includes a focus on the elements of product costs, including job, process, standard, and variable costing systems and procedures.

ACCT484 Accounting Information Systems

Learners study accounting information systems conceptions and applications. Topics include conceptual foundation of AIS, technology of information systems, and design processes and concepts. Emphasis is on developing learners’ abilities to understand the processing of accounting data (with emphasis on the computer environment) and the controls that are necessary to ensure accuracy and reliability of the data processed by the accounting system.

ACCT490 Auditing Theory and Practice

This course provides an introduction to theory, concepts and principles of auditing. This course will emphasize topics including audit evidence, audit risk, ethical conduct and legal restrictions, professional standards of audit planning, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and audit reports. Prerequisite: ACCT480

CAPS491 Senior Capstone

This course is for PS accounting, business administration, and healthcare administration majors. Learners will be required to develop a portfolio project that demonstrates their knowledge, skills, and abilities in their major discipline. Particular attention will be given to the presentation of evidence and artifacts from their major courses as well as recent research relevant to their specific program outcomes. The purpose of the final portfolio project is to document learner achievement and to ensure learning outcomes are met.

Admission Requirements

Entering learners must have earned at least 6 college credits from previous college coursework or ACE evaluated military training, a GPA of 2.0, and have three years of work experience. Transfer hours accepted for Professional Studies admittance should include English Composition I and II, and mathematics (college algebra preferred). These courses may be considered in transfer or completed at Southwestern College.

Contact a program representative to evaluate your options.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 124 credit hours must be earned to graduate. You must have at least 60 credit hours from a four-year university or college and at least 30 hours from Southwestern College (does not include prior learning experience credits). Of the 30 hours required from Southwestern, 15 of the last 30 hours earned toward your degree must be at Southwestern College. Contact your Academic Success Coach for more information.

Meta

Southwestern College Professional Studies’ accounting program is a broad-based curriculum that prepares learners to work in the field of accounting in a number of different capacities.