Associate in Applied Science Degree

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Students are prepared for employment in general accounting and cost accounting positions - including positions requiring microcomputer skills - in business, government, and non-profit institutions, and are provided with sufficient knowledge to assume financial management positions after a reasonable training period with an organization or institution. In addition, MVCC accounting graduates have excellent success in transferring their credits to four-year institutions, and find the Accounting program a sound basis for further education in the field. One High School Mathematics Course or its equivalent is required.

Goal 1 Prepare students to perform the job functions typical of a beginning accountant entering the industry with a two-year degree.

  • Perform general bookkeeping.
  • Use mathematical techniques to recognize revenues.
  • Compute and record payroll.

Goal 2 Support students’ development of foundational understanding of the generally accepted accounting principles 

  • Prepare and interpret financials according to GAAP standards.
  • Make business decisions based upon accounting data prepared to GAAP standards.

Goal 3 Train students to use computer software as an accounting tool.

  • Proficiently use accounting software such as QuickBooks.
  • Use spreadsheets as a tool for tracking data and making financial and business decisions.

Goal 4 Provide opportunities to demonstrate proficiency in communicating analysis of financial data in writing.

  • Effectively communicate analysis of business decisions and financial analytics in writing
  • Conduct research on accounting topics, and revise and edit that work.

Goal 5 Apply the fundamental principles of effective public speaking as it relates to the business world.

  • Conceptualize audience analysis and effective delivery techniques.
  • Orally communicate appropriate business decisions and data analysis.

Goal 6 Demonstrate ethical decision making which is relevant to the profession.

  • Differentiate between creative use of accounting standards and financial fraud.
  • Compare previous cases of accounting fraud to current ethical problems.

Goal 7 Demonstrate the interrelationship between accounting and other business disciplines.

  • Discuss how accounting practices affect economic systems in diverse global societies.
  • Discuss how accounting estimates and methodologies affect a company’s capital financing decisions.

Total Credit Hours: 64

First Semester

This course is an opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in college. Students learn the importance of the faculty-student and advisor-advisee relationship, develop time management techniques, apply effective study skill techniques, recognize the implications of living in a diverse society, utilize college resources, and explore career and transfer requirements. Collaborative projects are included. Students matriculated in a degree program must take this course in their first term of study.

This course is the first of a sequence that explores fundamental accounting principles, concepts, and practices as a basis for the preparation, understanding, and interpretation of accounting information. It covers the complete accounting cycle for service and merchandising businesses through the adjustment and closing of the books and the preparation of the income statement, the statement of owner equity, and the balance sheet. The details of accounting for cash, receivables, inventory, long-lived assets, and current liabilities are investigated.

This course presents the relationships among social, political, economic, legal, and environmental forces, and the development and operation of business in a global economy. It includes an overview of the concepts and principles of the various subfields of business accounting, management, finance, marketing, law, ethics, human resources, and general business as well as current topics of interest, and internet research and simulation exercises.

This course focuses on several kinds of writing-self-expressive, informative, and argumentative/persuasive, and others. A minimum of five essay compositions are required. The course emphasizes the composition of clear, correct, and effective prose required in a variety of professions and occupations. Prerequisites: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or EN090 Basic Writing Skills or SL116 ESL4: Advanced Composition or SL145 ESOL Advanced Composition

This course studies the behavior of the individual and firm in allocating resources in a market system under various the degrees of competition. Topics include the nature of economics, scarcity choice, market pricing and applications, theory of consumer choice, business cost measurement, forms of competition, antitrust and regulations of business, factor pricing, externalities, and pollution. Poverty-income distribution, labor economics, or agricultural economics may also be discussed.

Students are encouraged to take either PY101 OR SO101 as their Social Science Elective. PS101, AN101, OR GE101 are also acceptable.

This course introduces the many and varied facets of psychology. Emphasis is on interactions of individuals in their cultural, social, and economic environments as determined by their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional experiences and training.

Take any Physical Education Course

Second Semester

This course is the second of a sequence that explores fundamental accounting principles, concepts, and practices as a basis for the preparation, understanding, and interpretation of accounting information. It covers corporate equity (including the statement of retained earnings), long-term debt, time-value concepts, capital budgeting, cost-volume-profit analysis, and financial statement analysis. Prerequisite: AC115 Financial Accounting.

This course studies the theory and operation of the economy and how government attempts to achieve domestic and international economic goals using monetary and fiscal policies. Topics include the nature of economics, the economizing problem, capitalism and the circular-flow, overview of the public sector, measuring output and income, macroeconomic instability, aggregate demand and supply, Keynesian employment theory, fiscal policy and its applications, money, banking, and monetary policy applications, and international trade and finance.

This course encourages a deeper understanding of human nature and the human condition through the study of ideas and values expressed in imaginative literature. Emphasis is placed on the use and development of critical thinking and language skills. Library-oriented research is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This course introduces probability and statistics. Topics include graphs, tables, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion, normal distribution, correlation and regression, probability, and inferential statistics. This course is available in two formats: lecture only, or lecture plus laboratory using technology. Prerequisite: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or MA089 Arithmetic.

This course provides knowledge of relevant computer skills and a solid foundation in the terminology and concepts of computer technology. Experience is provided with a variety of microcomputer software applications, including word processing, electronic spreadsheets, graphics, file management, and integrated software. Concepts and terms focus on preparing for a technologically oriented society and using the computer as a tool for productivity, research, and communication.

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Third Semester

This course uses a variety of standard computerized business systems such as general ledger, purchasing, accounts payable, inventory, payroll, cash receipts, and accounts receivable to enter, process and store data in operational-level transaction processing. Prerequisites: AC115 Financial Accounting and either IS101 Computers and Society or IS102 Computer Applications & Concepts 2 or IS100 Introduction to Computers and Society.

This basic law course investigates the application of law to societal and business relationships through a study of the concept of commercial law and its sources, the law of contracts, the law of sales, and the law of negotiable instruments. Lecture, class discussion, and case study comprise the primary methods of instruction In the effort to develop awareness of the logic and application of the law.

This course develops the role of the finance function and financial decision-making as it relates to the entire business organization. It stresses the financial planning of the requirements for funds, the effective acquisition of these funds (from internal sources and from capital markets), and the control of the use of these funds within the business. Prerequisite: AC116 Managerial Accounting.

Any GE Natural Science course is acceptable.

This course explores the form and function of human body systems for non-science students. It stresses normal and abnormal life processes as well as the philosophy and history of science including the scientific method. Laboratory exercises complement lecture topics, which include the study of cells and tissues, and the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Dissections are required in the laboratory.

Restricted Electives should be based on a certificate, microcredential, or program: • Students pursuing a microcredential in Financial Crime Investigation should take CJ206, CJ215, and CJ/BM290. • Students pursuing a Data Analytics Certificate should take BA101, BA201, and MA111. • Students pursuing a Finance Certificate should take BM129, BM230, and MA115. • Students pursuing an accounting degree only with no added credentials should take BM108, BM254, and BM290. • Other acceptable options should be discussed with your faculty advisor.

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Fourth Semester

This course is a continued study of the accounting process and the application of the conceptual framework for generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Topics include the accounting cycle; revenue recognition; financial statement preparation; time value of money applications; and cash, receivables and inventory valuation. Intangibles and plant assets with depreciation, impairments, and depletion are also covered. Prerequisite: AC116 Managerial Accounting.

This course covers the effective development, presentation, and analysis of data. Topics include job process costing, cost allocation, joint product costing, and standard cost accounting, variance analysis, relevant costing and responsibility accounting. Prerequisite: AC116 Managerial Accounting.

This course expands the knowledge of those already familiar with the basic elements of electronic spreadsheets. It examines the various uses for a spreadsheet in business. Intermediate and advanced spreadsheet techniques are examined, including the power of functions, formatting, analytical graphics, and macros. Prerequisites: IS101 Computers and Society or IS100 Introduction to Computers and Society.

Restricted Electives should be based on a certificate, microcredential, or program: • Students pursuing a microcredential in Financial Crime Investigation should take CJ206, CJ215, and CJ/BM290. • Students pursuing a Data Analytics Certificate should take BA101, BA201, and MA111. • Students pursuing a Finance Certificate should take BM129, BM230, and MA115. • Students pursuing an accounting degree only with no added credentials should take BM108, BM254, and BM290. • Other acceptable options should be discussed with your faculty advisor.

Restricted Electives should be based on a certificate, microcredential, or program: • Students pursuing a microcredential in Financial Crime Investigation should take CJ206, CJ215, and CJ/BM290. • Students pursuing a Data Analytics Certificate should take BA101, BA201, and MA111. • Students pursuing a Finance Certificate should take BM129, BM230, and MA115. • Students pursuing an accounting degree only with no added credentials should take BM108, BM254, and BM290. • Other acceptable options should be discussed with your faculty advisor.

Take any Physical Education Course

(a) Acceptable Social Science electives are PY101 or SO101.

(b) Any GE Natural Science course is acceptable.

(c) Restricted Electives should be based on a certificate, microcredential, or program:
• Students pursuing a microcredential in Financial Crime Investigation should take CJ206, CJ215, and CJ/BM290.
• Students pursuing a Data Analytics Certificate should take BA101, BA201, and MA111.
• Students pursuing a Finance Certificate should take BM129, BM230, and MA115.
• Students pursuing an accounting degree only with no added credentials should take BM108, BM254, and BM290.
• Other acceptable options should be discussed with your faculty advisor.