go.chemeketa.edu/accounting

See also Office Administration  and Business Management  

Are you interested in becoming a bookkeeper, accountant, payroll specialist, data analyst, or tax preparer? The Accounting certificate and degree, and the Data Analytics in Accounting, Payroll, and Tax Preparation certificates offer you the training to qualify for entry-level positions requiring accounting and analytics in business, industry, and government agencies.

The program includes a core of accounting, business, and general education courses and emphasizes acquiring specialized business knowledge. You may select individual courses to meet your needs, or you may work toward a certificate of completion or an associate of applied science degree. The Accounting degree and certificates may be earned completely online.

We strongly suggest that you consult with your assigned advisor to plan your course of study before you begin the first term. The college requires you to take English and mathematics placement tests before you apply for admission. If the tests show that your skills are above the levels of the required firstterm courses, you may request to substitute general education courses.

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Accounting and Tax Preparation certificates should be able to:

• Identify, analyze, record, and summarize routine economic events, and present the results of that work, both manually and using a current accounting software package.
• Prepare commonly used federal and state payroll and tax documents and reports.
• Demonstrate knowledge of relevant timelines for completion and submission of these documents and reports.

Students completing the Data Analytics for Accounting certificate should be able to:

• Analyze data and prepare tools as they relate to the accounting cycle and business operations.
• Use data analytics software to accurately prepare financial reports and communicate the results.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of analytics for decision-making in business.
• Effectively use graphical tools to communicate insights about data.

Students completing the Payroll certificate should be able to:

• Prepare complex fourth-quarter payroll.
• Interpret legal and/or contracted language and apply to payroll.
• In addition to the certificate outcomes, students completing the Accounting degree should be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of computerized accounting systems.
• In a team environment, prepare and analyze financial reports, make recommendations, and communicate results.
• Choose a course of action based on the conceptual framework, assumptions, principles, constraints, and ethics in accounting.

If you have questions about the requirements, call 503.399.5048.

You may be interested in our Cooperative Work Experience program that allows you to earn college credit for work you do relating to your program. With the approval of the CWE instructor, you may enroll in BA280B-L Cooperative Work Experience and earn up to three credit hours as a business elective. For more information, look under Cooperative Work Experience in the catalog index.

The Accounting program provides you with an opportunity to participate in a number of accountingrelated extracurricular activities. Several professional accounting organizations, such as the National Association of Accountants and the American Society of Women Accountants, encourage you to become active in Salem area chapters.