Finance/Accounting Certificate

The Finance/Accounting Certificate of Achievement requires the successful completion of the required core courses (15 units) plus 3 additional required courses with a finance/accounting concentration (12 units) for a total of 27 units.This program provides Career Technical Education opportunities in the areas of finance, accounting, and bookkeeping for a small to medium size business. This certificate provides a specialized focus on learning accounting rules and standards, how to record the financial transactions of a business, financial statement preparation, and providing management financial information that enables management to plan for and control the business.Emphasis is on learning Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, applying these principles to the recording of financial transactions and the preparation of financial statements, and providing management accurate and meaningful financial information that enables management to perform their function.Upon completion of this program, a student should be able to:• Demonstrate an understanding of the accounting cycle by identifying financial transactions for a business, recording those transactions in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and preparing end-of-period financial statements.• Analyze the financial statements of the business, evaluate the financial health of the business, and communicate their overall assessment.This certificate is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in bookkeeping, accounting, or auditing in a small to medium size business environment.

Enrollment Data	2017	2018
Course Dept #	Course Title	Annual Sections	Annual Enrollment Total	Annual Sections	Annual Enrollment Total
BUSN 024	International Business Management	1	15	1	15
BUSN 028	Business Law	13	455	15	480
BUSN 036	Strategic Management	2	30	2	30
BUSN 051	Introduction to Business	17	595	18	576
BUSN 061	Business, Government & Society	3	60	2	50
BUSN 062	Business Mathematics	2	40	2	20
BUSN 078	Business Communications	5	110	6	102
ACCT 010	Financial Accounting	20	600	20	540
ACCT 060	Accounting Fundamentals	2	118	2	125
BUSN 046	Excelling with Excel	3	69	3	90

The goal of the certificate in Finance/Accounting is to provide Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities in business finance and accounting, and to develop an understanding of how to maintain the accounting records and evaluate financial opportunities for a small to medium size business. Emphasis is on maintaining, on an ongoing basis, financial records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles using an accounting software package, preparing and maintaining financial statement, analyzing financial impact(s) of decisions and potential opportunities in a small to medium size business setting.  

Upon completion of this program a student should be able to administer the financial and accounting operations of a small to medium sized business, prepare financial statements using accounting software, and use various analytical tools to evaluate investment opportunities, and help set prices for a company's products or service.

Upon completion of this certificate, potential careers exist in, but are not limited to, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in a small to medium size business environment.

This certificate program is being created upon recommendation of the Business, Accounting, & Real Estate Advisory Board. The labor market numbers show significant demand for individuals with accounting, bookkeeping, and financial skills. The advisory board emphasized the need for these types of skills, particularly for small business. This certificate is focused on providing these skills to meet job and career needs which is a goal of the Education & Facilities Master Plan and is aligned with Guided Pathways. It is a unique program compared to other community college programs and is patterned after SJSU's business degree program.

Course / Course Block

Required Credits

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Complete 15 units from the following list:

BUSN028 - Business Law                                                       3 units                    S1

BUSN062 - Business Mathematics                                       3 units                    S2

BUSN078 - Business Communication                                  3 unit                      S2

BUSN051 - Introduction to Business                                    3 units                    S1

BUSN061 - Business, Government, and Society                  3 units                    S1

BUSN024 - International Business Management                3 units                    S2

OR

BUSN036 - Strategic Management                                       3 units

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Complete the following 3 courses:

ACCT010 - Financial Accounting                                            5 units                    S1

ACCT060 - Accounting Fundamentals Quickbooks              4 unit                     S2

BUSN046 - Excelling With Excel                                             3 units                    S2

Total Credits                                                                                27

none

All colleges in the service area have finance and accounting programs and certificates because the demand is so significant. However, the packaging of courses in this certificate program provides students the core business skills and knowledge and then enables students to build on this core knowledge into areas of more specialized skill similar to how CSUSJ offers their business degree programs.