Degree Requirements: Everest University offers students interested in establishing a foundation in accounting a degree program that will teach them all the necessary basic skills needed to excel in the field of accounting and mold them into the perfect financial confidant for any company or organization. To earn an associate degree specifically in accounting, students must take courses designed to strengthen their processing, mathematical, interpersonal and analyzing skills as well as courses that lay the foundation for accounting business practices and procedures. These courses include principles of accounting, introductory cost/managerial accounting, corporate accounting, payroll accounting, non-profit accounting, tax accounting, business enterprise, and business law. Since accountants deal with computers on a daily basis using spreadsheets and a variety of computer programs to stay organized, students are also required to take courses in computer applications. Full-time students pursing this program usually take about two to three years to earn the degree. Classes typically cost $404 per credit hour.

Degree Benefits: While most large accounting firms and businesses tend to only hire prospects with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, those with an associate’s typically find employment in smaller companies and firms as accounting assistants, accounting clerks, bookkeepers or as managerial positions in the finance department of a particular business or organization. Employment opportunities for the accounting industry are expected to increase substantially within the next few years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, accountants and auditors positions are predicted to increase by 22 percent, adding about 279,400 new jobs during the next decade, according to the Bureau. Not to mention that additional openings will become available due to retirement. Because of the fact that accountants typically get paid fairly well, there is high competition for these positions. The earning median salary of accountants in May 2009 was $59,430, according to the most recent statistics available from the Bureau.