Accounting Degrees (AS & BS)

Free Guide to
Accounting Careers

A free guide to accounting career options, salary ranges and employment outlook. Plus, learn how our accounting programs can help you take that next step in your career!

Free Guide to <br>Accounting Careers

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Our online accounting degree program will prepare you for a career in financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing; as a CPA, CME or CMA. Courses are delivered 100% online in 7-week sessions to get you to your goal faster. Topics addressed include:

  • how to make informed, strategic business decisions;
  • managing audit risk by identifying mistakes or fraud within the financial system;
  • GAAP, OCBOA and tax reporting and other performance measures;
  • CPA professional standards.  

Want to add a credential to your resume, whether you have a degree or are working toward one? Check out our online accounting certificates.

Curriculum

 

Program Outcomes

Upon completion, graduates with an A.S. Degree in Accounting will have the following competencies, adapted from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Core Competency Framework:

  • Decision Modeling. Individuals preparing to enter the accounting profession must be able to use strategic and critical approaches to decision-making. They must objectively consider issues, identify alternatives, and choose and implement solution approaches in order to deliver services and provide value.
  • Risk Analysis. Risk analysis and control is fundamental to professional service delivery. The identification and management of audit risk (that is, the risk that the auditor will fail to detect a misstatement, caused by inadvertent error or fraud, that is, material to financial statements) is the basis for the conduct of a GAAS audit. The understanding of business risk (that is, the risk that an entity—either a client or the prospective accounting professional's employer—will fail to achieve its objectives) affects how business strategy is created and implemented.
  • Measurement. Measures used should be both relevant (that is, bear on the decision to be made) and reliable (consistently measure what they purport to measure). Various measurement and disclosure criteria used by accounting professionals—such as GAAP, OCBOA (Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting) and tax reporting—have been codified to some degree. Other performance measures (such as Economic Value Added) or stated criteria (for example, investment performance) are used for special purposes. Some measurement criteria (such as effectiveness of internal control) are measured qualitatively, rather than quantitatively.
  • Reporting. Communicating the scope of work and findings or recommendations is an integral part of a professional service. An accounting professional in public practice might issue an audit or attestation report, recommendations for improved services, or tax or financial planning advice. An accounting professional in business, industry, or government might analyze operations or provide communications to the board of directors. Communicating clearly and objectively the work done and the resulting findings is critical to the value of the professional service. Some forms of communication are governed by professional standards (such as the form and content of the standard auditor's report or the required communications to audit committees) or law. Others are based on the service applied and the needs of those to whom the accounting professional reports.

Upon completion, graduates with a B.S. Degree in Business Management will have the following competencies, adapted from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Core Competency Framework

  • Decision Modeling. Individuals preparing to enter the accounting profession must be able to use strategic and critical approaches to decision-making. They must objectively consider issues, identify alternatives, and choose and implement solution approaches in order to deliver services and provide value.
  • Risk Analysis. Risk analysis and control is fundamental to professional service delivery. The identification and management of audit risk (that is, the risk that the auditor will fail to detect a misstatement, caused by inadvertent error or fraud, that is, material to financial statements) is the basis for the conduct of a GAAS audit. The understanding of business risk (that is, the risk that an entity—either a client or the prospective accounting professional's employer—will fail to achieve its objectives) affects how business strategy is created and implemented.
  • Measurement. Measures used should be both relevant (that is, bear on the decision to be made) and reliable (consistently measure what they purport to measure). Various measurement and disclosure criteria used by accounting professionals—such as GAAP, OCBOA (Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting) and tax reporting—have been codified to some degree. Other performance measures (such as Economic Value Added) or stated criteria (for example, investment performance) are used for special purposes. Some measurement criteria (such as effectiveness of internal control) are measured qualitatively, rather than quantitatively.
  • Reporting. Communicating the scope of work and findings or recommendations is an integral part of a professional service. An accounting professional in public practice might issue an audit or attestation report, recommendations for improved services, or tax or financial planning advice. An accounting professional in business, industry, or government might analyze operations or provide communications to the board of directors. Communicating clearly and objectively the work done and the resulting findings is critical to the value of the professional service. Some forms of communication are governed by professional standards (such as the form and content of the standard auditor's report or the required communications to audit committees) or law. Others are based on the service applied and the needs of those to whom the accounting professional reports.
  • Research. Although accounting professionals need a foundation in standards and other relevant rules, such guidance is constantly evolving. Many accounting profession functions depend on obtaining information from within and outside of an entity. Accordingly, the individual preparing to enter the accounting profession needs to have strong research skills to access relevant guidance or other information, understand it, and apply it.
  • Leverage Technology to Develop and Enhance Functional Competencies. Technology is pervasive in the accounting profession. Individuals entering the accounting profession must acquire the necessary skills to use technology tools effectively and efficiently. These technology tools can be used both to develop and apply other functional competencies.

Testimonials

“Champlain was really flexible. Before long I had my associate’s degree in hand and—only two weeks later—I had secured a senior accountant position. I’ve decided to continue on and pursue my bachelor’s degree because I’ve seen how education pays off.”

Wendy L.
Vermont

“The students are quite clear about what they want out of a course. It’s a diverse group, and their needs and goals can differ. But each one is quite specific about what they want. And that's what works so well with online. You can really address their individual situation,”

Dan Petterson
Accounting Instructor

Career Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in accounting and auditing are expected to grow by 22%, much faster than average, between now and 2018. The large increase in new jobs in this field will be largely due to changes in financial laws and government regulations as well as an increase in demand for corporate accountability to stakeholders. This accountability will require greater emphasis on transparency, controls in financial reporting which will create the need for more thorough and complete audits of financial records than ever before. Additionally, management accountants and internal auditors will be increasingly needed to detect and eliminate fraud or mismanagement before audits and ensure that important processes and procedures are accurately and thoroughly documented and followed.

Forensic accountants will also be increasingly important as illegal financial activities by individuals, companies and organized crime rings become more sophisticated. In addition to proficiency in accounting skills, companies are looking to hire people with experience with specialized software, as well as people with strong interpersonal and communication skills because of the need to communicate accounting and financial information clearly and concisely to other accountants as well as lay-people.

FAQs

Why Champlain?

The online degree in accounting at Champlain College benefits from the college’s 130 year tradition of delivering career-focused education in business and technology and its 20 year history of offering that same education 100% online. Champlain College offers:

  • An online associate degree in accounting
  • An online bachelor’s degree in accounting
  • Courses delivered in 7 week sessions, 100% online
  • Regionally accredited programs through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • An in-house advising team ready to get you started and keep you on track to graduation.

What about transferring previous college credits?

If you have credits from previous college courses, before you begin your online degree you probably want to know if any of those credits will transfer to Champlain College. The answer is: quite possibly! Champlain accepts:

  • Credits from other regionally accredited colleges
  • Credits from courses that are substantially similar to those required in the Champlain College program and in which you earned a grade of “C” or better
  • Up to 75 credits toward a bachelor’s degree and up to 30 toward an associate degree

An unofficial transfer credit evaluation may be conducted free of charge at any time, official transfer credit evaluations will be done for students after they have applied for and been accepted for admission to Champlain College.

Please go to our Transfer Credit page for more information, or contact us directly at cps@champlain.edu or 877-772-2265.

When can you start your first course?

At Champlain, we offer 6 convenient dates you can start your online degree. Upcoming sessions begin on the following dates:

  • March 14
  • May 9
  • July 5
  • August 29
  • October 24
  • January 9

Financing your education at Champlain College

Cost should never be a barrier to higher education. Don’t let a lack of funds prevent you from achieving your goal of earning your degree online at Champlain. You may be eligible for a variety of financial aid programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, State Grants or a range of other financing options. Please visit our financial aid page for full details about financing and payment plans.

Champlain College is also a proud, full participant in the GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program

What is online learning at Champlain College like?

At Champlain College, you’ll find connected classes that enhance careers—courses that put you in charge; courses where you cannot “hide” in the back of the classroom. In fact, one of the most frequent comments we hear from our students and teachers is that you will get to know your instructor and classmates better than if you were sitting in a classroom.

  • Log in whenever it is convenient for you—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • All requirements are clearly stated in the course syllabus, which you will receive on the first day of class.
  • There are due dates you are expected to meet, but there are usually no requirements for what time of day—or even which day—you need to log in to read and download lectures, view assignments, reply to discussions and take tests.
  • Once the course begins, your lectures and assignments will be posted in a forum and will remain there for the entire semester.
  • The tools for submitting your work are built right into the course, including an assignment tool, a testing tool and even a self-contained email for contacting your classmates and professor privately.
  • For classes that require you to use special software—such as programming languages and Web page design applications—you will transfer files to a special student server.
  • For more information about learning online at Champlain, go to our Learning Online page.