Certificate in Accounting

Sometimes individuals find themselves proceeding along a career path that involves work in the field of accounting even though they may have earned a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than accounting.

Similarly, others may decide to pursue a career in accounting even though they have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than accounting. Several avenues for obtaining additional knowledge in the area of accounting are open to these individuals: pursue an undergraduate degree in accounting, pursue a graduate degree in accounting, or obtain a Certificate in Accounting. Since each of these options has its own merits, the Accounting faculty recommends students consult with the department chair to discuss the pros and cons of each alternative.

The Certificate in Accounting is a non-degree option designed to give students a strong foundation in accounting. It bypasses much of the coursework required for the BSBA degree, but it does not result in a degree. The program has four options, as described below:

• General Accounting Option–For individuals with a career interest in accounting who do not plan to sit for professional certification examinations.
• Management Accounting Option–For individuals with a career interest in management accounting who plan to sit for the Certified Management Accountant examination.
•  Public Accounting Option–For individuals with a career interest in public accounting who plan to sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination.
•  Federal Contract Accounting Option: For individuals with a career interest in federal contract accounting, planning to work for the federal government, federal government contractors, or CPA firms that audit government contractors.

Admission and Academic Standards for Accounting Certificate Candidates

Admission to the certificate in accounting program requires that the student hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution. The student must seek counsel from the College’s Office of Academic Assistance, and be admitted to UAHuntsville as a regular student before enrolling in the certificate in accounting program.

To receive a Certificate in Accounting, a student must complete the curriculum shown below for the applicable option. Credit for work done on a prior degree may be accepted for any course in any option. However, a minimum of 18 hours must be taken at UAHuntsville for the General Accounting Option and a minimum of 24 hours must be taken at UAHuntsville for the Management, Public Accounting Options and Federal Contract Accounting Options. At least 12 hours of the required UAHuntsville hours for any option must be in accounting courses. If necessary to meet the 18 or 24 hour requirement, electives may be selected from any 300 or 400 level course in the College of Business Administration or may be selected from outside the College with the approval of the department chair.

Accounting Faculty

 

 For additional information about the Accounting Certificate program at the UAHuntsville Business School, please call or contact:

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Certificate Options

 

General Accounting Option

Course Number	Title	Semester Hours
ACC 211	Financial Accounting	3 hrs.
ACC 212	Management Accounting	3 hrs.
BLS 211	Legal Environment of Business	3 hrs.
ECN 143	Principles of Microeconomics	3 hrs.
MIS 146	Microcomputer Applications	3 hrs.
MSC 287	Business Statistics	3 hrs.
Total Business Curriculum		18 hrs.
ACC 307	Accounting Information Systems	3 hrs.
ACC 310	Intermediate Financial Accounting I	3 hrs.
ACC 311	Intermediate Financial Accounting II	3 hrs.
ACC 313	Individual and Small Business Income Taxes	3 hrs.
ACC 414	Cost Accounting	3 hrs.
ACC 431	Principles of Auditing	3 hrs.
Total General Accounting Curriculum		36 hrs.

 

Management Accounting Option

Course Number	Title	Semester Hours
	Total General Accounting Curriculum	36 hrs.
FIN 301	Principles of Finance	3 hrs.
MGT 301	Managing Organizations	3 hrs.
	Electives *	6 hrs.
Total Hours Required		48 hrs.

   *Electives may be selected from any 300 or 400 level course in the college of Business Administration or may be selected from outside the College with the approval of the department chair.

 

Public Accounting Option

Course Number	Title	Semester Hours
	Total General Accounting Curriculum	36 hrs.
FIN 301	Principles of Finance	3 hrs.
MGT 301	Managing Organizations	3 hrs.
ACC 413	Corporate, Partnership, and Estate Taxes	3 hrs.
ACC 415	Advanced Financial Accounting	3 hrs.
ACC 417	Government Accounting	3 hrs.
ACC 432	Advanced Auditing	3 hrs.
ACC Elective		3 hrs.
BLS 411	Business Law for Accountants	3 hrs.
	Electives*	9 hrs.
Total Hours Required		69 hrs.

*Electives may be selected from any 300 or 400 level course in the College of Business Administration other than accounting.

 

Federal Contract Accounting Option

Students may wish to concentrate in the area of Federal Contract Accounting. In areas of the country with a high concentration of federal government contractors, accountants are frequently required to understand and comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulations. This knowledge is covered in the Federal Contract Accounting Option. This option is oriented toward individuals who wish to work in areas of the country with a heavy concentration of federal government contractors. It can be useful for those working for the federal government or federal government contractors.

Course Number	Title	Semester Hours
	Total General Accounting Curriculum	36 hrs.
ACC 440	Basic Government Contract Accounting	3 hrs.
	Electives*	6 hrs.
Total Hours Required		45 hrs.

* Electives may be selected from MGT 401 (Introduction to Contract Management),  MGT 402 (Contract Evaluation & Reward), MGT 403 (Contract Pricing and Cost Analysis), and MGT 406 (Government Contract Law).