The field of accounting provides financial and other information to managers, investors, creditors, government officials, and others who need it for effective decision making. Accounting involves not only technical knowledge and skill but also sound judgment.

UMUC's accounting courses will help you prepare for a number of career options. These courses introduce students to financial, managerial, tax systems, and governmental accounting.

Accounting graduates topped the list in a recent study of bachelor’s degree recipients sought by major employers.

Accountants do a variety of jobs. Independent auditors, who work for public accounting firms, examine and verify an organization’s financial statements to determine adherence to accounting principles, management policies, or government regulations. Tax accountants specialize in federal, state, and local taxes. Managerial accountants are responsible for the financial systems and procedures, budgets, forecasts, and reports of a single company.

For more information on career opportunities, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Peterson’s Job Opportunities, and other specialized guides to the job market.

University of Maryland University College Asia (UMUC Asia) offers a certificate, an associate degree, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Accounting students may choose from accounting (ACCT) and approved accounting-related courses in business and management (BMGT), economics (ECON), statistics (STAT), computer and information science (CMIS), and information systems management (IFSM).

To qualify for a certificate, students must complete 18 credits, of which at least 9 credits must be completed with UMUC. Requirements include:

• Accounting Core Courses (9 cr.)


ACCT 220 Principles of Accounting I (3)
ACCT 221 Principles of Accounting II (3)
ACCT Additional ACCT course or course related to accounting (3)
 

• Accounting-Related Courses (9 cr.)



• Detailed Certificate Description

Total credits for a Certificate in Accounting Foundations: 18

Employers and the military recognize a college degree as a major academic achievement. An associate or bachelor's degree from UMUC distinguishes you as a graduate of one of America's leading public universities.

UMUC participates in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Programs for Military Personnel, so you can complete your degree in Asia or at a future duty location.

Your UMUC degree may be closer than you realize. Learning acquired through military experience, examinations, and course work from other schools may be applied to your degree. UMUC may accept as many as 45 credits from these sources toward an associate degree and up to 90 credits toward a B.A. or B.S. degree.

A wide variety of online courses in computer studies and other fields are available through UMUC's distance education (DE) programs, and are helping many students make progress towards UMUC degrees. For lists of courses offered, visit the UMUC Asia DE Web site and click on “Schedule of Classes.”

Contact a UMUC Academic Advisor to arrange for an evaluation of your course work and experience to determine where you stand in your degree program.

1. A good starting point is BMGT 110 Introduction to Business and Management. This basic course will give you a perspective on the role of accounting in organizations.

 

2. Along with BMGT 110, take basic courses in mathematics. UMUC's math placement test will help you determine where you should begin. Some students will need to take MATH 009 or MATH 012. MATH 107 College Algebra is required for the associate degree and Bachelor's degree in accounting.

 

3. Take UMUC's principles of accounting courses—ACCT 220 and ACCT 221—in that sequence. Because not all institutions divide introductory accounting topics in the same way, you should attempt to complete both courses with one institution.

 

4. Take basic English writing courses. Any business student who can't communicate clearly won't be much use to an employer. English classes also help fulfill General Education Requirements for both the certificate and associate degree programs.

 

5. Complete your required accounting coursework by selecting intermediate-level courses from one of the primary accounting fields: financial, cost, tax, or governmental.

UMUC Asia Academic Advisors are based at Yokota, Kadena, and Yongsan, and also travel frequently to most education centers. They advise students in person, by telephone, and by e-mail, and prepare evaluations of students’ academic progress. Your local UMUC Asia Field Representative can put you in touch with an Academic Advisor.

UMP-104 (4M 9/06)