ACCT-130
Explore Accounting
Advance your career in this fast-growing field with an accounting degree online. This accounting program is built around the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Core Competency Framework, meaning you'll gain the critical accounting and business skills today's employers are looking for. Through hands-on experience and an emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking, Champlain's bachelor of accounting online program will prepare you for success.
Build Your Career Future
The majority of today's employers require a bachelor's degree for accounting positions with a career path. Differentiate yourself with an accredited online accounting degree that will help you build a unique combination of accounting skills, key soft skills, and increasingly important information systems skills that are essential for accounting career growth from financial accounting to tax preparation. As an accounting major, you'll be able to apply your learning in your online courses to your workplace from day one.
The B.S. in accounting is a great step toward advanced certification, such as a CPA - our graduates who sit for the CPA exam boast a near-perfect success rate. This program will help you to meet some of the education requirements needed to sit for the exam, including 120 of the 150 required credit hours.
Champlain College has determined that its 120 credit online accounting program does not meet the 150 credit requirement for a CPA license in Vermont. The College has not determined whether the Accounting program meets the education requirements for professional licensure in any other state (or the District of Columbia), please find your state of residence on the NASBA website to learn more about what is required to sit for the CPA exam in your state.
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Academic Excellence and Recognition
Ranked among the Best Online Bachelor's Programs by U.S. News & World Report
Ranked among the Best Online Accounting Bachelor's Degrees
Designated among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
What Can You Do With A Degree in Accounting?
Accounting careers are projected to grow 7% between 2020 and 2030, with globalization and a growing economy resulting in high demand for qualified accounting professionals. Accountants and auditors can expect a median annual salary of $73,560.*
Graduates of Champlain's bachelor's in accounting online program will be prepared for a variety of accounting roles across all sectors, including tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services, government, finance and insurance, manufacturing, and more.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020; job titles: AccountingEdu.org, 2020
Top Jobs for Bachelor's in Accounting Graduates
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
- Accounting Information System Specialist
- Bookkeeper
- Budget Analyst
- Certified Financial Planner
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Controller
- Forensic Accountant
- Payroll Accountant
- Tax Accountant
Program Details
Learn more about Champlain's 100% online bachelor's in accounting degree, designed for working professionals.
Champlain's online accounting courses encompass the top skills needed by today's accounting professionals. Graduates of the program are required to complete the following courses.
Professional Courses (54 credits)
General Education Courses (39 credits)
General Education Elective (3 credits)*
General Electives (24 Credits)
Note: Some of the courses in this program are available in 15-week terms only. Please contact your advisor for details.
*Choose any 3 credits from general education courses, any ARTS, COMM, CRIT, ECON, ENGL, HIST, MATH, PHIL, PSYC, SOCI, MKCM 120 or CRIM (except CRIM 225)
Professional Courses (66 Credits):
Accounting is the language of business. This course introduces the student to accounting from the point of view of the user of financial reports and is appropriate for personal as well as business applications. Students explore the impact of transactions on the financial position and profitability of a business, and analyze financial reports of real-world corporations.
Managerial accounting focuses on the needs of management for accounting information to make informed decisions in the internal operations of a company. Topics include decision-making, accounting for planning and control, cost-volume-profit relationships, and budgeting.
Prerequisites
In this first course of a two-part sequence focusing on financial reporting students will learn theory, concepts, principles and practices underlying preparation of external financial reports, particularly application of generally accepted accounting principles related to disclosure of current and noncurrent assets and principles of revenue recognition on the Balance sheet, Income Statement and Statement of Retained Earnings. Students will also consider broad issues like the environment of financial reporting, the role of financial reporting and the accounting standard-setting process.
Prerequisites
ACCT-130
Building on the knowledge and skills gained in Intermediate Accounting I, students will examine more intensively the application of generally accepted accounting principles for financial reporting and disclosure of current and noncurrent liabilities and stockholders' equity. Students will gain skills related to the advanced measurement, recognition and reporting of these select topics in financial accounting as well as the Statement of Cash Flows.
Prerequisites
ACCT-230
In this comprehensive tax course, students investigate both personal and corporate tax concepts, structure, and planning strategies. They learn a broad-range of tax laws, concepts, and research approaches for different types of taxpayers, with emphasis given to the role of taxation in a business decision-making environment.
Cost accounting presents the behavioral aspects of accounting and identifies essential data that managers use for planning and controlling, costing products and services, and performance measurement. Students study the basic concepts, uses, and procedures related to types of costs and costing systems and uses this information to solve business problems. They will develop quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to analyze and interpret raw data that support the business decision-making process and inventory costing.
Prerequisites
Complete ACCT-140
Learn the fundamentals of accounting information systems and how they function and fit into organizations. Using a cycles approach, the course introduces internal controls, covers basic elements of the revenue and expense cycles, and you will become proficient with documentation techniques, such as flowcharting. You will also consider the uses of computerized accounting software and undertake a software research project. The course focuses on the needs and responsibilities of accountants as users and developers of information technology.
Prerequisites
ACCT-231
The study of selected advanced topics in financial accounting, including accounting for income taxes, post-employment benefits, earnings per share, accounting changes and errors, business combinations, consolidated financial statements, accounting for foreign currency transactions, and ethical issues in accounting.
Prerequisites
ACCT-231
In this course students develop an understanding of the auditing process and the relationship between auditing and the organization. The student will demonstrate knowledge of specific auditing concepts, professional standards and procedures utilized by a professional auditor. The student will also discuss other attestation work performed by practicing CPAs as well as ethical and legal considerations of the public accounting profession.. Critical thinking and communication skills are utilized in the course assessments.
Prerequisites
Complete MATH-180. ACCT-231 is the required corequisite course.
As a professional, accountants are required to stay current in their field, researching and interpreting the constantly changing rules and regulations in the accounting industry. Students will use the accounting knowledge gained during their program to identify accounting issues in the workplace or in a case, research the relevant topics and make recommendations. They will also reflect on the professional and ethical responsibilities of their career.
Prerequisites
ACCT-341, ACCT-420
The American Marketing Association defines Marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. In this course, students will learn marketing terminology and principles including the marketing mix, marketing segmentation and how external forces impact marketing strategy as well as how marketing fits into the organization.The impact of ethical issues, diversity, globalization and social responsibility on marketing decisions will also be examined.
Provides an overview of the entire legal system, with an emphasis on contract rights. Discusses the essential elements of a contract, the breach of contracts and the remedies for breach. Presents business and consumer laws, including white-collar crime, landlord-tenant rights, real property interests and administrative law.
Security is everyone's problem. The Internet is full of attackers who are looking to steal your information or get control over your system. This is a problem for individuals and businesses so it's essential that even casual users understand enough of how the Internet is put together to be able to understand the threats they face. Students will learn how businesses communicate via the internet and how that exposes them to some of the fundamental attack types. Students will learn how to protect themselves from those attacks.
Business analytics and data visualization transform data into business insights to allow for better decision-making. This course utilizes a combination of existing datasets and common analytics tools to teach new and emerging managers, without backgrounds in data science, how to evaluate data, consider available options, and present a graphical representation of data outcomes for decision-makers.
Students will learn about the application of positive individual and group strengths and capacities that can be recognized, evaluated, and expanded to advance organizational well-being. This course encourages students to apply positive organizational behavior processes to everyday challenges organizations face to drive positive workplace behaviors and outcomes. This course also helps students to practice and gain skills, knowledge, and competencies to become positive and impactful leaders and change-makers from whatever position they hold.
MGMT 240 is a finance course for managers. It explores financial measurements, the artful application of numbers to solve problems, building financial analysis skills, and the big-picture context needed to understand why finance matters in business management and decision-making. A subset of topics covered in the course include the time value of money, financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, investments, and capital management.
Prerequisites
ACCT-120, ACCT-130, ACCT-140, or equivalent introductory accounting course
Project Management is the formal application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project-based activities to meet organizational requirements. Project management is accomplished through the use of processes such as Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Project managers can divide projects into these phases to provide better management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the organization. Collectively, these phases, known as the project life cycle, form the foundation for the practice of project management and are guided by the Body of Knowledge from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
In this course students will apply strength-based approaches to support organizations through technological disruption. Key topics such as digital disruption, strategic innovation, digital transformation, and ethical considerations when adopting new technologies will be addressed with focus on leveraging strengths to navigate and capitalize on opportunities in times of change. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of how emerging technologies impact industries and business models, and how to navigate technological change to seize opportunities and mitigate risks.
Prerequisites
Take MGMT-110
Complete the following two courses:
This course introduces students to the foundational concepts needed to communicate effectively in writing for academic study and professional development. Students will also learn to read critically to evaluate an author's message. Students will be introduced to rhetorical modes and their role in the development of written communication. Students will also learn how to use revision strategies to create written communication that meets its intended purpose for its intended audience
This course builds on students' proficiency in the writing process and rhetorical modes to introduce the use of sources in written communication. Students will practice information literacy as they learn to determine information needs from sources, develop effective search strategies, and incorporate sources in written communication, legally and ethically.
Prerequisites
Complete ENGL-100
Complete the following course:
Starting with a frame of human communication as a dynamic system of interactions in which people make choices that impact their relationships, other people, and themselves, students will define theory-informed communication concepts and processes, and critically examine how they apply to everyday life across a variety of contexts. Students will reflect on how the theory, concepts and processes apply to their own lives in becoming competent communicators who are knowledgeable, skilled, and versatile.
Complete the following course:
This course draws on fundamental concepts of contemporary group communication research to help students identify and develop strategies to communicate effectively in small groups and teams for the cooperative purpose of advancing common goals. Students will draw on listening and responding strategies learned in COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication and apply them to communicating as a leader or member of a small group. They will also learn how to recognize and manage the types of conflicts that can arise in small groups. Prerequisite: COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication
Prerequisites
Complete COMM-130
Complete the following course:
Students will learn and apply critical inquiry skills to analyze persuasive communication created by others and to develop persuasive communication/arguments of their own to solve problems in professional, civic, social, and personal contexts. Specifically, students will learn to recognize fallacies in logic; apply inductive and deductive reasoning strategies to the interpretation and development of persuasive communication; evaluate the validity of sources; and develop logically sound persuasive communication. Students will explore the roles of self-awareness, empathy, and ethics in the context of critical inquiry and the development of arguments.
Prerequisites
Complete ENGL-110.
Complete one of the following, unless your program requires a specific course:
This course is an historical overview, and examination of the evolution of digital, film, and print media, and their functions. Students will identify and analyze contemporary problems of the media such as the legal, social, economic and psychological implications of their relationships with society. They also will examine the ways in which marketing and PR professionals utilize the mass media channels to reach their intended target audiences.
This course explores the complex and evolving relationship between human beings and technology. Through a multi-disciplinary approach that draws on fields such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history, students will examine the ways in which technology has shaped human culture, identity, and values, as well as how humans have influenced and continue to influence the development, adoption and use of technology.
Complete one of the following:
Mathematical reasoning, when applied to everyday and professional lives, has two dimensions: logic for deterministic situations and probabilities for non-deterministic situations. This course aims to help students develop these mathematical reasoning skills.
This course introduces students to basic statistics for data literacy. With a focus on exploring real-world data, students will interpret numerical information and utilize the tools necessary to complete the entire statistical process: designing a study; gathering, organizing, and analyzing sample data; and making inferences about a population. Students will demonstrate data-driven decision-making and effective communication of numerical data.
Complete one of the following, unless your program requires a specific course:
Introduces students to the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition and exercise. Emphasis will be placed on human body systems such as musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory and circulatory, and their relationship to nutrition and fitness. Students will also study the biochemistry of energy conversion as it relates to exercise physiology. Laboratory sessions are designed to reinforce, by a hands-on approach, the principles discussed in lecture. Course includes two laboratory hours per week.
Students learn the biology, genetics, chemistry, and physics involved in the forensic investigation of crimes. A wide range of topics are studied including DNA, entomology, fingerprinting, trace evidence, serology (blood, saliva, and semen), blood spatter, and chemical analysis of drugs, alcohol, and other compounds. Students apply their new knowledge of forensic science through the use of case studies and laboratories. This course includes two laboratory hours per week.
Students will develop the ability to apply scientific methods to understand the natural world, to identify scientific aspects of daily life, and to evaluate the quality of scientific information based on its source and the methods used for its generation.
Complete the following course:
This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which civic and professional communities respond to these issues.
Complete any two of the following, unless your program requires a specific course(s):
With pressure and release, a window opens and closes, recording light on a sensor. The simple action captures the instinct, judgement, and skill of the person behind the lens. This class will begin a study of the art and craft of photography. Students will develop their vision and their understanding of how to achieve it. Solid skills will be learned and many doors will be opened.
A survey of the continuing change experienced in art since the 15th century. Students will examine how an image is achieved as well as the significance of the subject represented. Individual inquiry concerning the nature of art is encouraged.
Students learn to appreciate films through the critical analysis of various elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound. The course introduces the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema, considers the work of one major director (auteur), and surveys selected international and independent films. Students view and discuss films each week.
Students in the course will explore the cultural history of the music genre broadly referred to as rock. Students will explore the social, economic and political contexts that are influenced by and that influenced each style in the United States. By listening, watching, reflecting upon, discussing and writing, students will explore how music takes on meaning, personally, and culturally. Topics and themes include the relationships between and among gospel, country, funk, folk, disco, rap and hip hop; the role of business and technology in those relationships, and political or transgressive elements of rock music.
Students will apply communication theory and research to address the particular challenges to communicating effectively in organizations. Students will learn how to identify organizational communication problems, analyze those problems, and generate effective solutions. Students will examine the relationship between organizational structure and specific communicative practices, and how communication practices by organizational members establish, maintain, or change organizational culture. They will also learn how to anticipate communication deficiencies in organizations, and use communication as a means to facilitate organizational development and innovation.
Prerequisites
Complete COMM-130
Specific application of common tools for writing in the working world. Students will be instructed in rhetorical strategies of professional writing including style, report formats, editing, document design, and integration of visual aids. Students will complete a semester-long writing project; oral and written reports associated with the process of problem-solving within the project will be included.
Prerequisites
ENGL-112 or COR-125
Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.
Ethics refers to accepted standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do in various contexts, typically in relation to rights, obligations/duties, benefits to society, fairness, consequences, and virtues. In this course, students will explore both theoretical and practical dimensions of ethics in order to 1) define ethics and identify ethical positions and principles, 2) critically reflect on how ethics impacts individual and collective responsibility, decision-making, and action, and 3) apply ethics to the personal, civic, and professional contexts.
Prerequisites
ENGL-110
This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of technical writing (clear, concise, and targeted)that are common among seven forms of technical communication: email correspondence, editing,employment communication, proposals, long, formal reports,oral communication, and inventions. Through peer reviews and writing workshops, students develop the ability to write and edit text that precisely targets its audience. This course emphasizes deepening and broadening students' writing, speaking, and thinking abilities in a non-lecture-based, hands-on, discussion-centered classroom.
Prerequisites
ENGL-112 or COR-125
Complete ECON 215, plus one more course from this list:
Provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals of substantive criminal law. Students will learn the essential elements of crimes and the rationale underlying criminal law. The nature of jurisdiction, the criminal act, the criminal state of mind and matters affecting responsibility for criminal conduct are included.
This course focuses on the rules and procedures governing how the American criminal justice system must process individuals suspected, accused, and convicted of law violations.
This course provides students with a broad overview of the history, theory, and fundamentals of criminal investigation. Students are introduced to the basic responsibilities of investigators and protocols for report writing, evidence collection, and preparation of cases for trial. They also learn specific investigative techniques for different types of crimes, such as crimes involving violence and property, terrorism, and hate crimes, and, where appropriate, compare investigative protocols from other legal cultures.
Prerequisites
Take CRIM-120, CRIM-121.
Principles of Economics introduces the fundamental concepts of economics - the study of how people manage resources, and how they react to scarcity. This course focuses on both microeconomics (the behavior of consumers and companies) and macroeconomics (large-scale economic factors such as employment and interest rates), so that you'll gain a broad understanding of how a modern market economy functions, how decisions in business settings are informed by economics, and how economics applies to your everyday life.
Students will study important themes in the social history of the United States since the Civil War. This course allows students to expand their critical thinking skills through an examination of primary and secondary sources. Themes might include: the evolving status of women; the immigrant experience; the concept of the American dream; the paradox of freedom vs. slavery; the minority experience; the tensions between social classes. Students will be evaluated primarily on writing assignments.
In this course, students will explore broad, foundational knowledge in psychology, including its history, major theorists and a survey of psychology subfields such as developmental, cognitive and social psychology. Students will also describe and assess the role of ethics and social responsibility in the study and application of psychological theory and practices.
In this class, students will explore how social relationships, groups, societies and culture develop and change over time. From a sociological theory foundation and employing the sociological imagination, students will examine the impact of social structures, institutions, and systems on individual lives. Students will apply sociological research methods to investigate sociological phenomena in their own lives.
Graduates of the accounting bachelor's online program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- The Advisor: Evaluate the impact of industry specific regulations in the areas of financial reporting, tax, managerial accounting, and auditing for the purpose of identifying and planning strategies for enhanced financial performance.
- The Analyst: Use analytical problem solving skills and appropriate tools to assess the financial wellbeing and appropriate strategy of an organization.
- The Ethical and Informed Decision Maker: Apply ethical accounting practices that promote the integrity of financial information to ensure that credible data inform business decisions.
Earn a specialized certificate in a concentration of your choice as you pursue your degree, so you can build credentials as you go. Just make sure to talk with your advisor about your plans, so they can help you with the proper steps toward your goal.
Champlain College Online's accounting faculty, led by Program Director Dr. Linda Miller, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our accounting curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s accounting professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of accounting, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Alumni of the Champlain College Online bachelor's in accounting program work in corporations, small businesses, government organizations, and nonprofits nationwide, including:
- Department of Homeland Security
- Gallagher, Flynn & Company LLP
- GE Healthcare
- Internal Revenue Service
- Johnson Lambert LLP
- North Country Supervisory Union
- People's United Bank
- Pomerleau Properties
- PWC
- U.S. Treasury
Titles our alumni hold include:
- Auditor
- Bookkeeper
- Controller
- Credit Administrator
- Data Acquisition Specialist
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Director
- Loan Officer
- Senior Management & Program Analyst
- Staff Accountant
Many students come to us seeking ways to get noticed at their current employers or to get hired in a new field. Given that, we are hyper focused on increasing the career mobility of our students and that's why we developed the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle, a suite of career offerings designed to help our students get noticed, get hired and land jobs they'll love.
Valued at over $1,000, the career bundle is offered to Champlain College Online students and includes:
- Fast Start Formula Course: The Fast Start Formula Course for getting noticed and getting hired is taught by Jen Morris, an executive career coach that we've developed a partnership with to support our students in their job search journeys. This course is online, self-paced and full of tips and tricks to land a job you'll love.
- Live Webinars: Log-on to ask your specific job search questions, get live “hot seat” coaching and gain valuable insights from leading career coach, Jen Morris.
- Landing A Job You'll Love Ebook: Download this ebook full of tips and tricks for standing out from the competition. From how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, to insider information on how recruiters work and bypassing the automated application websites, you’ll be sure to learn how to rise to the top.
Upon enrollment in a degree or certificate, your access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle will made available to you.
Tuition & Costs
Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starts Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here
Meet the Program Director
Linda Miller, PhD, CPA
- Accounting (A.S., B.S., Certificates)
- Human Relations and Organization Development (M.S.)
- Integrated Studies (B.S.)
- MBA
- Positive Organization Development (Certificate)
About
Linda Miller, PhD, CPA, is Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Champlain College Online. She is responsible for the online accounting and integrated studies programs, as well as the MBA and master's in human relations and organization development programs. Following 12 years in accounting, business, and consulting positions, Dr. Miller has spent over 20 years in higher education at a variety of schools, including Bucknell University, the University of Vermont, and Pennsylvania State University, where she also taught in the executive education programs.
With an education focus primarily in adult and online education, Dr. Miller has enjoyed developing a wide variety of online certificates and degrees in business-related areas, including supply chain management and leadership. Dr. Miller continues to research best practices in online teaching and learning and to create opportunities for Champlain College Online instructors to develop their online teaching skills. Other specific areas of interest for Dr. Miller include the impact of technology on supply chains and the effective teaching of transformational leadership.
Dr. Miller holds an M.S. in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and a PhD in Business Management (School of Supply Chain Management) from the same. She is a member of the International Leadership Association and the Society of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
Why Champlain
Career Growth
"I had a two-year degree and knew I would need a bachelor's to advance. I saw that the U.S. Department of Labor projected a high demand for employees in accounting, and Champlain is ranked one of the top schools for accounting, so it was the right fit."
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