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Program facts 
Get ready to begin a career in accounting with this 29-credit-hour certificate program. Take classes in financial and managerial accounting, Quickbooks, payroll accounting, business writing, business organization, business software packages and word processing/database/spreadsheet software. Courses are taught by knowledgeable faculty who are accounting experts. You can complete this program on campus or online, giving you additional flexibility. Continue your learning outside the classroom by participating in Harper College’s active Accounting Club.
After completing this program, you’ll be prepared for entry-level employment opportunities in the accounting field. You may also choose to continue your education with the Accounting Associate AAS degree by completing additional coursework. All Harper CPA Preparation Certificate courses meet the Illinois Board of Examiners CPA exam requirements.
This 28 credit-hour certificate program is designed for persons interested in pursuing careers as junior accountants in business, government and industry. There is an acute shortage of persons with the training needed to be successful in accounting.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ACC 101 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 4 |
Description: Presents accounting as an information system that produces summary financial statements primarily for users external to a business. Emphasizes the reporting of the effect of transactions and other economic events on the financial condition and operating results of a business. Topics include basic accounting concepts, financial statements, accrual and cash basis, the accounting cycle, monetary assets, inventories, fixed assets, current and long-term liabilities and owner's equity. The course assumes a corporate form of organization. Note: High school algebra is recommended. IAI BUS 903 Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 102 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
Description: Presents accounting as a system of producing information for internal management use in a business. Emphasis is on the identification, accumulation and interpretation of information for planning, controlling and evaluating the performance of the separate components of a business. Topics include: theory and application of product costing, operational control, cost allocation, performance evaluation for manufacturing and service organizations, standard costing, job order and process costing, budgeting, JIT inventory control, decentralized operations, differential analysis, capital investment analysis and financial statement analysis. IAI BUS 904 Prerequisite: ACC 101 (Introduction to Financial Accounting IAI 903) with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 112 | Quickbooks | 2 |
Description: Provides students with applications of QuickBooks. Students apply accounting principles and manage accounting recored like those used in small businesses. Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in ACC 100 or ACC 101. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 155 | Payroll Accounting | 2 |
Description: Explains the preparation of payroll records including tax returns for old age benefits and employment insurance. Prerequisite: ACC 100 or ACC 101. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 2 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| CAS 115 | Spreadsheet Software | 1 |
Description: Provides an opportunity to become proficient in the use of a currently popular spreadsheet package. Includes creating, editing and formatting worksheets and working with formulas, functions and charts. Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 1 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| CAS 215 | Advanced Spreadsheet Software | 1 |
Description: Provides an opportunity to become proficient in the use of a currently popular advanced spreadsheet package. Includes workbook sharing, advanced content formatting, data importing, filtering, charting, pivot tables, forms and macros. Prerequisite: CAS 115 or CAS 160 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 1 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
Description: Emphasizes the writing of expository prose. Introduction to the critical reading of nonfiction prose. IAI C1 900 Prerequisite: ENG 096 with a grade of P or other placement options. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/english-placement-grid.php ESL students need one of the following options: ESL 073 and ESL 074 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 with a grade of B or better and required writing placement test score; or ESL 074 with a grade of B or better and required reading placement test score. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MGT 111 | Introduction to Business Organization | 3 |
Description: Introduces the nature of business and the environment in which it operates. Forms of business ownership, introduction to operative and facilitating facets of business operation, management, marketing, accounting, statistics, business law, finance, investments, insurance and labor-management relations. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select any three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| ACC 201 | Intermediate Accounting I | |
Description: Presents accounting and reporting process, accounting theory, inventories, tangibles and intangible fixed assets. This is a problem solving course that continues accounting principles begun in ACC 101 and ACC 102. Prerequisite: ACC 102 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 202 | Intermediate Accounting II | |
Description: Presents course materials in the following sequences: Accounting for corporations, including capital stock, retained earnings, bonds payable, income statement and balance sheet analysis, pensions and leases, fund flow analysis, consignments and installment sales. Prerequisite: ACC 201 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 203 | Cost Accounting | |
Description: Includes an examination of the nature of costs and the use of relevant accounting data for purposes of improved decision making. Topics covered are product costs (process, job order and standard), overhead variance, by-product costs, joint-product cost and direct and variable costing. Prerequisite: ACC 102 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 250 | Individual Tax Accounting | |
Description: Offers a practical study of current federal and Illinois taxes as they relate to individual income tax procedures. Topics studied include income inclusions and exclusions, capital gains and losses, business and personal deductions, and accounting methods. Prerequisite: ACC 101 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 251 | Business Tax Accounting | |
Description: Presents the basic concepts of corporation income taxation, partnerships, estates and trusts. The course includes a study of the taxation on the transfer of wealth, both during lifetime and testamentary. Prerequisite: ACC 101 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 253 | Advanced Accounting I | |
Description: Studies municipal accounts, business combinations and the preparation of consolidated financial statements. Topics will include branches, consolidated statements, elimination of inter-company transactions, general funds and nonprofit service organizations. Prerequisite: ACC 202 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 254 | Auditing | |
Description: Examines the auditory theory and procedures involving the topical areas of audit reporting, auditing standards and evidence, statistical sampling and electronic data processing. The legal and ethical dimensions of auditing will also be studied with emphasis on how government affects financial reporting through court decisions, federal securities laws, the S.E.C. and the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act. Prerequisite: ACC 102 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ACC 265 | Fraud Examination | |
Description: Presents the fundamentals of fraud examination and forensic accounting for the workplace. Students will discover how and why fraud occurs in organization, develop skills to detect fraud, and be able to identify and classify various types of fraud. This course will emphasize the importance of corporate social responsibility in an organzation and the need for reporting systems that focus on integrity and accountability. Prerequisite: ACC 102 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Total Hours | 28 | |
Students interested in accounting may also be interested in:
For more information about the accounting program at Harper College, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.