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Accounting

The Accounting Department at El Camino College offers a wide range of accounting classes aimed at transferring to a four-year college or university or for career advancement.

Students will learn analytical skills and develop the background they need for successful careers in public, private, and governmental accounting. They will also be able to organize, create, update, and maintain financial information for a variety of organizational needs.

Accounting students will learn to develop and compile accounting information and then communicate that data for planning use, control, analysis, performance evaluations, and other functions.

After completing the degree program or the certificate program at El Camino College, students will be qualified to work in general accounting, budgeting, cost accounting, and as paraprofessionals in public accounting.

Degree Programs

The accounting major for the Associate in Science Degree provides students with a strong foundation to pursue many careers in accounting. Students can earn a degree in accounting after completing 60 semester units, including the General Education requirements listed in the El Camino College Catalog.

Major requirements include:

  • Financial Accounting (BUS 150)
  • Managerial Accounting (BUS 151)
  • Intermediate Accounting (BUS 152)
  • Intermediate Accounting (BUS 153)
  • Cost Accounting (BUS 157)
  • Income Tax Accounting (BUS 160)
  • Computer Information Systems (CIS 13)
  • Business Law (LAW 5)

Certificate Programs

A Certificate of Achievement will be granted upon completion of the program requirements.

Accounting - CPA Track requirements include:

  • Financial Accounting (BUS 150)
  • Managerial Accounting (BUS 151)
  • Intermediate Accounting (BUS 152)
  • Intermediate Accounting (BUS 153)
  • Cost Accounting (BUS 157)
  • Income Tax Accounting (BUS 160)
  • Financial Auditing (BUS 159) -or- Business Taxation (BUS 161)

Accounting - Clerical requirements include:

  • Financial Accounting (BUS 150)
  • QuickBooks (BUS 165A)
  • Computer Information Systems (CIS 13)

Accounting - Tax Preparation requirements include:

  • Financial Accounting (BUS 150)
  • Income Tax Accounting (BUS 160)
  • Business Taxation (BUS 161)
  • QuickBooks (BUS 165A)
  • Accounting Ethics (BUS 169)

Career Paths

Accounting offers exciting career opportunities. Accounting careers are usually divided into two areas: private accounting and public accounting.

Private Accounting
Private accountants work for a single business, such as a local department store, or the Eastman Kodak Company. Charitable organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies also employ private accountants. Private accountants perform a wide variety of services:

  • Cost accounting: analyzes a business's costs to help managers control expenses.
  • Budgeting: sets sales and profit goals and develops detailed plans (called budgets) for achieving those goals.
  • Information systems design: identifies the organization's information needs, both internal and external.
  • Internal auditing: is performed by a business's own accountants. These accountants evaluate the firm's accounting and management systems to improve operating efficiency

Public Accounting
Public accountants serve the general public. Like private accountants, public accountants provide many valuable services:

  • Auditing: is one of the accounting profession's most important services. In conducting an audit, CPAs from outside a business examine the business's financial statements.
  • Tax accounting: has two aims: complying with the tax laws and minimizing the company's tax bill. Accountants prepare tax returns and plan business transactions to minimize taxes. CPAs advise individuals on what type of investments to make and on how to structure their transactions.
  • Management consulting: with the insights CPAs gain by conducting audits, they make suggestions for improvements in the business's management structure and accounting systems.

Estimated Average Annual Earnings: $37,210 - $61,630