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Accounting

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Program Overview

The Accounting program prepares you for an entry-level career in the accounting field. You will gain hands-on experience with:

  • Preparing, analyzing, and tracking financial information
  • Individual income tax preparation
  • Payroll accounting
  • Accounts payable and receivable
  • Computer accounting systems, including Sage Accounting and QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Office with emphasis on Excel and Word

Our instructors continue to track industry trends and modify courses and content to stay current with what is needed in the workforce. Hawkeye's Accounting program is an excellent launching point into an accounting career.

Transfer Information

Many four-year colleges and universities accept a limited number of transfer and elective credits.

If you plan to transfer, work closely with a program advisor to ensure courses transfer and you meet program requirements.

At A Glance
Awards
  • Associate of Applied Science
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
Length of Study 1 – 2 years
Tuition-Free Eligible

This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition.

Students must apply for, be awarded, and meet the ongoing eligibility requirements for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.
 

Faculty Spotlight

Patrick Geer, CPA

Patrick Geer is a certified public accountant and has been a professional tax preparer for 20 years. He was a master tax preparer with H&R Block for ten of those years. He has also been an accountant for various small businesses.

"Accounting isn't just about math and numbers. It is the language of business and a key part of all business today. Attention to detail, deductive reasoning, and the ability to analyze information are crucial for success."

Program Pathways

Office Bookkeeper Certificate

The Office Bookkeeper certificate program prepares students with basic bookkeeping skills including:

  • Knowledge of accounting
  • Over-the-counter accounting software
  • Word processing and spreadsheet software
  • Preparing payroll for small businesses

Program Details

Award Certificate
Credits 11
Number of Terms 1
Time to Complete 4 months
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Accounting – AAS
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1
  • Computer Accounting
  • Introduction to Accounting
    Financial Accounting
  • Introduction to Computers
    Information Computing
  • Payroll Accounting

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

Next step: Continue to the Accounting Technician diploma program, or continue to the Accounting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, or graduate and enter the workforce.

Accounting Technician Diploma

The Accounting Technician diploma program prepares students for basic accounting and bookkeeping tasks in an office environment including:

  • Preparing, analyzing, and tracking financial information
  • Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processing
  • Payroll accounting; Computer accounting systems including QuickBooks and Sage
  • Microsoft Office suite

Program Details

Award Diploma
Credits 33
Program Start Fall, Spring, Summer
Number of Terms 2
Time to Complete 1 year
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Accounting – AAS
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1
  • Applied Math
  • Introduction to Accounting
    Financial Accounting
  • Introduction to Computers
    Information Computing
  • Payroll Accounting
  • The College Experience
Term 2
  • Accounting Spreadsheets
  • Computer Accounting
  • Fundamentals of Oral Communication
  • Introduction to Accounting II
    Managerial Accounting
Accounting Technician Electives
  • Business Ethics
  • Business Law
  • Business Statistics
  • Introduction to Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Principles of Management
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Small Business Management

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

Next step: Continue to term 3 and 4 of the Accounting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree or graduate and enter the workforce.

Accounting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

The Accounting Associate of Arts (AAS) degree program includes intermediate accounting concepts to prepare students for an entry level accounting position in business, financial, or accounting/bookkeeping companies.

Students will continue from the basics learned in the Accounting Technician diploma program to include:

  • Cost accounting
  • Income Tax accounting
  • Financial Analysis
  • Advanced Excel data tools

Program Details

Award Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Credits 63
Program Start Fall, Spring, Summer
Number of Terms 4
Time to Complete 2 years
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Accounting – AAS
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1
  • Financial Accounting
  • Introduction to Computers
    Information Computing
  • Payroll Accounting
  • The College Experience
Term 2
  • Accounting Spreadsheets
  • Computer Accounting
  • Managerial Accounting
Term 3
  • Cost Accounting
  • Income Tax Accounting
  • Intermediate Accounting I
Term 4
  • Emerging Topics in Accounting
  • Financial Analysis
  • Intermediate Accounting II
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
    Introduction to Economics
    Principles of Microeconomics
  • Workplace Professionalism
Accounting Electives
  • Business Ethics
  • Business Law
  • Business Statistics
  • Introduction to Accounting
  • Introduction to Accounting II
  • Introduction to Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Principles of Management
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Small Business Management
Math Electives
  • Applied Math

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

You have completed the Accounting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. Check out the Business and Professional Development continuing education courses and Computers and Technology continuing education courses to keep up to date in your profession.

Careers

Positions

Graduates work as office accountants or managers in small businesses and as bank tellers or customer service representatives in financial institutions. They also find positions working in financial or accounting offices in public, private, or government accounting departments working with financial statement preparation, payroll, income taxes, budgeting, and cost accounting.

Example Careers and Average Wages
Entry Average Experienced
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $30,300 $45,990 $52,670

Source: 2023 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development — Statewide Wages

Employers

The following is a partial list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:
Business Location
Advanced Systems, Inc. Waterloo, IA
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo Waterloo, IA
Lee Enterprises (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier) Waterloo, IA
McGladrey LLP Waterloo, IA
Paul R. Nielsen Co., PC Cedar Falls, IA
The Principal Financial Group Waterloo, IA
Veridian Credit Union Locations throughout Iowa

Program Admission

Step #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.

  2. Send official transcripts to Admissions.

Step #2: Program Admittance Score Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Accounting program, all students must meet minimum score requirements in math. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
ALEKS ACCUPLACER Next Generation ACCUPLACER Classic COMPASS ACT GPA
Math 14 255 Arithmetic
246 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics		 63 Arithmetic 39 Pre-Algebra 16 2.25

The ALEKS Placement Assessment can be taken online. ACCUPLACER Next Generation and ACT can be taken at Hawkeye. ACCUPLACER Classic and COMPASS are no longer offered, but if you've taken either in the past your test scores can be used for program admittance.

Step #3: Program Acceptance

Applicants successfully demonstrating college readiness criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants falling short of successful demonstration of college readiness criteria will be accepted to a Pre-Program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts
Admissions
Email Admissions 319-296-4000 Hawkeye Center 114
Academic/College Success Advisor
Last Names A – L
 Kaitlyn Harris Email Kaitlyn Harris 319-296-4014 ext.1066 Bremer Hall 136A
Academic/College Success Advisor
Last Names M – Z
 John Peterson Email John Peterson 319-296-4014 ext.1448 Bremer Hall 136B
Faculty Advisor
Patrick Geer Email Patrick Geer 319-296-2329 ext.1371 Black Hawk Hall 212

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