Finger Lakes Community College

Accounting

The Degree

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

The Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that employment opportunities for accountants and auditors are expected to grow through the year 2010. The need to replace retiring professionals will create still more new positions. While many accountants and auditors are licensed as Certified Public Accountants, the majority are unlicensed management and government accountants and auditors.

Training in accounting is also invaluable for those interested in becoming appraisers, budget officers, loan officers, financial analysts, bank officers, actuaries, underwriters, tax collectors and revenue agents, FBI special agents, securities sales workers, and purchasing agents. The Accounting degree at Finger Lakes provides preparation in the latest accounting theories and principles.

The Program

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Accounting degree program at Finger Lakes Community College prepares students to meet the changing needs of today's business world. By keeping class size small, the program provides students with individualized attention. The program also prepares students to further their educational experiences and has an expanding number of transfer (articulation) agreements with four-year colleges and universities for those who wish to transfer into baccalaureate accounting programs.

Honors Courses: In addition, the College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students enrolled in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

The Experience

Field trips bring real-life experience to theory presented in the classroom. Students also attend Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) dinners, which provide valuable networking opportunities.

The Graduates

Graduates of this program have transferred to baccalaureate degree programs at four-year institutions such as St. John Fisher College, Nazareth College, University of Buffalo, Keuka College, Rochester Institute of Technology, and SUNY College at Oswego.*

Others have gone on to begin careers as accounting clerks immediately after graduation from FLCC. The list of accounting graduates who have started their own accounting/tax businesses or are now chief accountants or controllers continues to grow.

Salary: According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, graduates who earn bachelor’s degrees and complete advanced training earn average annual salaries of approximately $40,000.

* This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

The Scholarships

The Mark J. Prockton Memorial Accounting Scholarship was recently established for a returning accounting major who meets the specific criteria of the award. For more information on the scholarship, contact a member of the Business Administration Department or the Financial Aid Office.

The Faculty

Our accounting faculty has extensive "real-world" experience that adds another dimension to the classroom. Two of the staff are licensed Certified Public Accountants, and a third holds a Certified Management Accountant designation. Each of them has at least ten years teaching experience.

Accounting (A.A.S.)

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 semester hours, with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0). In addition, students must have a C+ average or better in Principles of Accounting I and II before they may go on to Principles of Accounting III.

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
or
ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
COM 110 Public Speaking

Social Science

ECO 210 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO 211 Principles of Microeconomics

Mathematics and/or Science

Minimum 3 credit hours of mathematics
Minimum 3 credit hours of mathematics OR science

Business

ACC 101 Principles of Financial Accounting
ACC 102 Principles of Managerial Accounting
ACC 201 Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 202 Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 205 Cost Accounting OR ACC 207 Income Tax Accounting
ACC 210 Contemporary Accounting Applications
BUS 120 Business Organization **
BUS 123 Business Communications
BUS 222 Marketing
BUS 227 Business Law I OR BUS 228 Business Law II

Computer Science

CSC 100 Computing in the Info. Age OR CSC Elective

Health/Physical Education Elective

4 credit hours

Electives

The remainder of required hours must be made up of approved electives

**OR BUS 124 Organizational Behavior upon recommendation of academic advisor.

Accounting (A.A.S.)

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.A.S. Accounting degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible schedules that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some preparatory course work may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (17 Credit Hours)

ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
ACC 101 Principles of Financial Accounting (4)
BUS 120 Business Organization** (3)
Mathematics Elective* (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)
General Elective (3)

Second Semester (17/18 Credit Hours)

ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
ACC 102 Principles of Managerial Accounting (4)
COM 110 Public Speaking (3)
Mathematics/Science Elective* (3/4)
CSC 100 Computing in the Info. Age (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (17 Credit Hours)

BUS 222 Marketing (3)
BUS 123 Business Communications (3)
ACC 201 Intermediate Accounting I (4)
ACC 210 Contemporary Accounting Applications (3)
ECO 210 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (17 Credit Hours)

ACC 202 Intermediate Accounting II (4)
ACC 205 Cost Accounting OR ACC 207 Income Tax Accounting (3)
ECO 211 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
BUS 227 Business Law I OR BUS 228 Business Law II (3)
General Elective (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

*Recommended Mathematics Electives: MAT 121, 122 Statistics I & II

**OR BUS 124 Organizational Behavior upon recommendation of academic advisor.

Accounting Degree with Internship

The Business Department’s Internship program will enable a Finger Lakes Community College student to supplement his/her academic status and increase career awareness through a semester of full-time work experience. This work experience will be available during the 15-week session in the Spring semester and for a 12-week session in the Summer. Students from the Associate in Applied Science degree in Accounting who wish to participate in this program should consult with their advisor.