Accreditation
The business unit (the associate of applied science degree programs in Accounting, Business Administrative Technology, and Marketing Management) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), 11520 West 119th Street, Overland, Park, KS, 66213; however, the following associate of applied science degree programs are not accredited programs with ACBSP even though they are offered by the Division of Business and Public Service: Business Administration; Computer Support Specialist; Criminal Justice Technology; Culinary Arts; Early Childhood Care and Education; Health Information Technology; Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management; Networking Specialist; Paralegal Studies; and Social Work Assistant.
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Mission Statement
The Business and Public Service Division supports the mission of the College by offering business/public service-related courses and programs that prepare students for employment or advancement in Georgia's economy.
The associate degree and diploma programs in Accounting equip students with the knowledge and skills to embark on or advance their careers in financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax accounting, and payroll accounting, as well as related fields in business.
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Work Environment
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work in an office environment. They may experience eye and muscle strain, backaches, headaches, and repetitive motion injuries from using computers on a daily basis. Clerks may have to sit for extended periods while reviewing detailed data. They may work longer hours to meet deadlines at the end of the fiscal year, during tax time, or when monthly or yearly accounting audits are performed. Additionally, those who work in hotels, restaurants, and stores may put in overtime during peak holiday and vacation seasons.
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Nature of the Work
Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerks are financial record keepers. They update and maintain accounting records, including those that calculate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. These workers have a wide range of skills from full-charge bookkeepers, who can maintain an entire company's books, to accounting clerks who handle specific tasks. All these clerks make numerous computations each day and must be comfortable using computers to calculate and record data.
In small businesses, bookkeepers and bookkeeping clerks often have responsibility for some or all the accounts, known as the general ledger. They record all transactions and post debits (costs) and credits (income). They also produce financial statements and prepare reports and summaries for supervisors and managers. Bookkeepers prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to the bank. Additionally, they may handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts.
In large companies, accounting clerks have more specialized tasks. Their titles, such as accounts payable clerk or accounts receivable clerk, often reflect the type of accounting they do. In addition, their responsibilities vary by level of experience. Entry-level accounting clerks post details of transactions, total accounts, and compute interest charges. They also may monitor loans and accounts to ensure that payments are up to date. More advanced accounting clerks may total, balance, and reconcile billing vouchers; ensure the completeness and accuracy of data on accounts; and code documents according to company procedures.
Auditing clerks verify records of transactions posted by other workers. They check figures, postings, and documents to ensure that they are mathematically accurate, and properly coded. They also correct or note errors for accountants or other workers to correct.
As organizations continue to computerize their financial records, many bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks use specialized accounting software, spreadsheets, and databases. Most clerks now enter information from receipts or bills into computers; the information is then stored electronically. The widespread use of computers has also enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to take on additional responsibilities, such as payroll, procurement, and billing.
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Employment
Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerks work in nearly all industries and at all levels of government. State and local government, educational services, healthcare, and the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services industries are among the individual industries employing the largest numbers of these clerks.
Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow by 10 percent nationally during the 2008-2018 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation is one of the largest growth occupations in the economy, with about 212,400 new jobs expected nationally over the projections decade.
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Earnings
In May 2008, the median annual wages nationally of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks were $32,510. The middle half of the occupation earned between $26,350 and $40,130. The top 10 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earned more than $49,260, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $20,950.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
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Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the diploma and associate degree programs in Accounting will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Demonstrate appropriate workplace entry-level accounting competencies
- Search out and use resources to answer questions, compile information, and convey findings using appropriate and effective communication methods
- Demonstrate mastery of accounting competencies related to introductory financial and managerial accounting principles and concepts
- Use technology to complete accounting-related tasks
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Computerized Accounting Specialist will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Classify and process account information
- Maintain accounting data using specialized accounting software
- Generate reports from computerized accounting systems
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Office Accounting Specialist will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Operate computers and office machines to record and produce accounting documents
- Maintain accounting data using specialized accounting software
- Generate reports from computerized accounting systems
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Payroll Accounting Specialist will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Process and maintain payroll records
- Verify and reconcile data in a payroll accounting system
- Generate reports from the payroll accounting system
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
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Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
For students to be successful in the Accounting programs, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Write letters and prepare financial reports using concise, grammatically correct language
- Speak clearly, distinctly, and effectively using tact and diplomacy with individuals or groups
- Listen effectively to clients, supervisors, and colleagues
- Communicate clearly and objectively the scope of work, findings, or recommendations through the preparation of written and oral reports
- Use strong research skills and techniques to access relevant information and guidelines in order to understand and apply findings to a specific project or assignment
- Use various measurement and disclosure criteria for the analysis of information
- Display effective problem solving and decision-making skills, sound judgment, and innovative and creative thinking
- Use technology tools effectively and efficiently to complete required tasks and communicate results
- Use strategic and critical approaches to decision-making in order to consider issues objectively, identify alternatives, and select and implement solutions
- Demonstrate the ability to manage effectively a variety of multi-dimensional, multi-step projects including human, financial, property, and technical resources
- Demonstrate a commitment to objectivity, integrity, and ethical behavior and stable work performance, as well as a commitment to the continuous acquisition of new skills and knowledge
- Demonstrate an ability to work effectively with individuals in a diversity of roles and with varying interests in the outcome
- Demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to embrace change
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Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Textbooks (Approximately $3,000 for the associate degree program, $2,000 for the diploma program, and $650 for the technical certificate programs)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
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Gainful Employment
Information on graduation rates, job placement rates, median loan debt incurred by students and other gainful employment information is available on the college website.
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
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