Certificate of Achievement in Financial Accounting

The Certificate of Achievement in Financial Accounting is designed for students to achieve the coursework necessary to provide a strong foundation in accounting. The certificate provides skills necessary for a number of career opportunities including bookkeeper, tax preparer, general ledger accountant, junior accountant, and senior accountant. All courses in this certificate meet the 150 semester hour education requirement for licensure in the state of California.

On average, 1,000 students have taken Financial Accounting I in the past two years, with Financial Accounting II and Managerial Accounting averaging around 550 and 475 students, respectively. Tax Accounting averages around 250 students a year and QuickBooks and Excel average 289 and 349 respectively.

 

Course #	Course Title	Annual Sections (Y1, 19/20)	Annual Enrollment (Y1, 19/20)	Annual Sections (Y2, 19/20)	AnnualEnrollment (Y2, 19/20)
ACTG 1A	Financial Accounting I	29	1108	28	921
ACTG 1B	Financial Accounting II	16	613	15	567
ACTG 1C	Managerial Accounting	13	521	10	441
ACTG 64A	Computerized Accounting Practice Using QuickBooks	8	314	8	263
ACTG 64B	Computerized Accounting Practice Using Excel	8	356	8	341

ACTG 67	Tax Accounting	7	270	8	234

Accounting programs prepare students for work as accountants, examining and preparing financial records for private industry, government agencies, individuals, and non-profit entities. General accountants use computers to record transactions, such as receivables, payables, payroll, and property into a general ledger. Corporate accountants set up and design accounting systems and procedures, risk management programs, and analyze and evaluate financial records for businesses. Their duties include ensuring legal compliance, interpreting financial information, and preparing reports for business executives and government regulatory agencies. Advancement includes opportunities as senior accountant, controller, treasurer, and chief financial officer. Certified Public Accountants and Certified Management Accountants are those who have attained professional certification by the state.

 

The academic goal of the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Accounting is to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. The vocational goal is to prepare students to become marketable in the field of accounting.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

·      Students will be able to explain accounting terminology, concepts, principles, and frameworks as they apply to financial, managerial and tax accounting

·      Students will be able to perform accounting-related calculations and demonstrate the ability to use methods and/or procedures to solve accounting problems using industry acknowledged tools and resources such as QuickBooks and Excel

Proposed Sequence:

Year 1, Fall = 10 units

Year 1, Winter = 9 units

Year 1, Spring = 9 units

TOTAL UNITS:  28 units

Students will take a total of 6 courses for this certificate

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ACTG 1A	Financial Accounting I	5	Y1Fall
ACTG 1B or ACTG 1BH	Financial Accounting II or Financial Accounting IIBH	5	Y1Winter
ACTG 1C or ACTG1CH	Managerial Accounting or Managerial Accounting Honors	5	Y1Winter
ACTG 64A	Quickbooks	4	Y1Winter
ACTG64B	Computerized Accounting using Excel	4	Y1 Spring
ACTG 67	Tax Accounting	5	Y1 Fall

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Foothill College offers programs and services that empower students to achieve their goals as members of the workforce, as future students, and as global citizens. The demand for accountants continues to be high, with growth projected by the department of U.S. Labor and Statistics at 7% over the next ten years. The Certificate of Achievement in Financial Accounting will enable students to achieve their goals whether it is career advancement, CPA candidacy, self-employment, or transfer to a four-year college. The program combines fundamental, critical accounting knowledge with industry recognized software and skill building.

The Certificate of Achievement in Financial Accounting is similar to several offerings in the Foothill service area, including from De Anza College, Mission College, and College of San Mateo. The main difference between Foothill’s Certificate of Achievement and those of De Anza, Mission College, and College of San Mateo is that the other colleges have Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting as required courses, with electives being selected to obtain certification. Outside of our service area, but still in California, Coastline Community Colleges has curriculum similar with the addition of an Introduction to Accounting course and the inclusion of Intermediate Accounting I, plus areas of concentration, such as Bookkeeping, Tax and General Accounting.