Download PDF

Accounting - Certificate (B90)

The Certificate program prepares students for entry-level positions in private business and industry.

Work and Employment

Job positions that are available include: accounting clerk, bookkeeper, accounting assistant, trainee or technician. Continued economic growth in the region, resulting in increased business activity, should allow this field of employment to continue to grow.

Follow this link for career information.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

• Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
• Geoffrey A. Lemay, CPA, Accounting Instructor 815-835-6328

Total Hours Required - 28 Hours

Major Field Requirements

• ACC101 - Financial Accounting ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course presents accounting as an information system that produces summary financial statements, primarily for users external to a business enterprise organized as a corporation. Students study the forms of business organization and the common transactions entered into by businesses. The emphasis is on understanding and applying basic accounting principles and other concepts that guide the reporting of the effect of transactions and other economic events on the financial condition and operating results of a corporation. The procedures of how to analyze and interpret historical financial statements, as well, and the limitations of using these in making forward-looking business decisions is included. The primary content emphasis will be accounting for current assets and liabilities, long-term assets and liabilities, corporations, cash flow statements, and financial statement analyses. 4 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): BUS 903 Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC102 - Managerial Accounting ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course presents accounting as a system of producing information for use in internally managing a business. The course emphasizes the identification, accumulation, and interpretation of information for planning, controlling, and evaluating the performance of the separate components of a business. Included is the identification and measurement of the costs of producing goods or services and how to analyze and control these costs. Decision models commonly used in making specific short-term and long-term business decisions also are included. Prerequisite: ACC 101 4 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): BUS 904 Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC201 - Intermediate Accounting I ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course provides an in-depth analysis of the theory, concepts, and procedures underlying the preparation of external financial accounting statements and reports for corporate organizations. Accounting principles and concepts are analyzed and developed from a theoretical, conceptual, and historical environment and are then applied to specific business, transaction, and decision situations. Topical coverage includes: review of the financial accounting process; statements of income, retained earnings, cash flows, and balance sheet; time value of money concepts; cash and receivables; valuation of inventories; acquisition and disposition of property, plant, and equipment: depreciation and depletion; and intangible assets. Prerequisite: ACC 102 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC202 - Intermediate Accounting II ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course (a continuation of Intermediate Accounting I) provides an in-depth analysis of the theory, concepts, and procedures underlying the preparation of external financial statements and reports for corporate organizations. Accounting principles and concepts are analyzed, developed, and then applied to specific business decision situations. A thorough examination of long-term liabilities, stockholders equity, accounting changes, financial analysis and financial reporting through both manual and automated accounting systems is developed. Prerequisite: ACC 201 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC203 - Cost Accounting ( 3 Semester Hours)

  A study of managerial and cost accounting concepts in planning, control and decision-making. Topics include product costing, cost drivers, cost-volume-profit analysis, activity based costing, budgets, standard costs, just-in-time applications and capital budgeting issues. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week

• ACC204 - Tax Accounting ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course provides an introductory study of the current federal revenue acts as they relate primarily to individual income tax theory and practice. Topical coverage includes the individual income tax return, gross income inclusions and exclusions, business expenses and retirement plans, self-employed and employee expenses, itemized and other deductions, credits and special taxes, accounting periods, accounting methods, depreciation, capital gains and losses, and payroll taxes. In addition to individual income tax theory and practice, an overview of partnership and taxation, corporate taxation, and tax administration and planning is provided. Prerequisite: ACC 101 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week

• ACC205 - Accounting Information Systems ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Accounting Information Systems examines the relationships and distinctions between accounting information systems (AIS) and the total management information system (MIS) environment, with major emphasis on computerized AIS. The AIS course will explore, in detail, several typical AIS application sub-systems, such as: (a) order entry/sales, (b) billing/receivables/cash receipts, (c) inventory, (d) purchasing/payables/cash disbursements, (e) payroll, and (f) materials planning/production. Major themes throughout the AIS course will focus upon: (a) oral and written communication, (b) objectives and procedures of internal control, 8 typical business documents and reports, (d) proper systems documentation through charting devices, and (e) systems analysis and design methodologies. Additional specific AIS themes to be explored include: (a) The impact of emerging information technologies on the AIS and related systems; (b) The implications of business process re-engineering initiatives on AIS design, implementation, and management; and (c) Preparing to be, as an accountant, an effective user, evaluator , and developer of accounting information systems. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week.

• ACC207 - Acct/Gov & Not-For-Profit Org ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course covers the basic accounting concepts and issues associated with non-profit and governmental organizations. The primary focus is on municipal accounting applications, funds, governmental activities, and business-type activities. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week

Suggested Course

• BUS 106 is suggested as a skill-building course for this certificate.

Suggested Program

First Semester - 4 Hours

• ACC101 - Financial Accounting ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course presents accounting as an information system that produces summary financial statements, primarily for users external to a business enterprise organized as a corporation. Students study the forms of business organization and the common transactions entered into by businesses. The emphasis is on understanding and applying basic accounting principles and other concepts that guide the reporting of the effect of transactions and other economic events on the financial condition and operating results of a corporation. The procedures of how to analyze and interpret historical financial statements, as well, and the limitations of using these in making forward-looking business decisions is included. The primary content emphasis will be accounting for current assets and liabilities, long-term assets and liabilities, corporations, cash flow statements, and financial statement analyses. 4 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): BUS 903 Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

Second Semester - 7 Hours

• ACC102 - Managerial Accounting ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course presents accounting as a system of producing information for use in internally managing a business. The course emphasizes the identification, accumulation, and interpretation of information for planning, controlling, and evaluating the performance of the separate components of a business. Included is the identification and measurement of the costs of producing goods or services and how to analyze and control these costs. Decision models commonly used in making specific short-term and long-term business decisions also are included. Prerequisite: ACC 101 4 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): BUS 904 Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC204 - Tax Accounting ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course provides an introductory study of the current federal revenue acts as they relate primarily to individual income tax theory and practice. Topical coverage includes the individual income tax return, gross income inclusions and exclusions, business expenses and retirement plans, self-employed and employee expenses, itemized and other deductions, credits and special taxes, accounting periods, accounting methods, depreciation, capital gains and losses, and payroll taxes. In addition to individual income tax theory and practice, an overview of partnership and taxation, corporate taxation, and tax administration and planning is provided. Prerequisite: ACC 101 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week

Third Semester - 10 Hours

• ACC201 - Intermediate Accounting I ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course provides an in-depth analysis of the theory, concepts, and procedures underlying the preparation of external financial accounting statements and reports for corporate organizations. Accounting principles and concepts are analyzed and developed from a theoretical, conceptual, and historical environment and are then applied to specific business, transaction, and decision situations. Topical coverage includes: review of the financial accounting process; statements of income, retained earnings, cash flows, and balance sheet; time value of money concepts; cash and receivables; valuation of inventories; acquisition and disposition of property, plant, and equipment: depreciation and depletion; and intangible assets. Prerequisite: ACC 102 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC203 - Cost Accounting ( 3 Semester Hours)

  A study of managerial and cost accounting concepts in planning, control and decision-making. Topics include product costing, cost drivers, cost-volume-profit analysis, activity based costing, budgets, standard costs, just-in-time applications and capital budgeting issues. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week

• ACC205 - Accounting Information Systems ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Accounting Information Systems examines the relationships and distinctions between accounting information systems (AIS) and the total management information system (MIS) environment, with major emphasis on computerized AIS. The AIS course will explore, in detail, several typical AIS application sub-systems, such as: (a) order entry/sales, (b) billing/receivables/cash receipts, (c) inventory, (d) purchasing/payables/cash disbursements, (e) payroll, and (f) materials planning/production. Major themes throughout the AIS course will focus upon: (a) oral and written communication, (b) objectives and procedures of internal control, 8 typical business documents and reports, (d) proper systems documentation through charting devices, and (e) systems analysis and design methodologies. Additional specific AIS themes to be explored include: (a) The impact of emerging information technologies on the AIS and related systems; (b) The implications of business process re-engineering initiatives on AIS design, implementation, and management; and (c) Preparing to be, as an accountant, an effective user, evaluator , and developer of accounting information systems. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week.

Fourth Semester

• ACC202 - Intermediate Accounting II ( 4 Semester Hours)

  This course (a continuation of Intermediate Accounting I) provides an in-depth analysis of the theory, concepts, and procedures underlying the preparation of external financial statements and reports for corporate organizations. Accounting principles and concepts are analyzed, developed, and then applied to specific business decision situations. A thorough examination of long-term liabilities, stockholders equity, accounting changes, financial analysis and financial reporting through both manual and automated accounting systems is developed. Prerequisite: ACC 201 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec/week

• ACC207 - Acct/Gov & Not-For-Profit Org ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course covers the basic accounting concepts and issues associated with non-profit and governmental organizations. The primary focus is on municipal accounting applications, funds, governmental activities, and business-type activities. Prerequisite: ACC 102 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours 3 lec/week