What is the difference between the Accounting and Accounting Assistant programs?
With completion of the Accounting program you will earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. With completion of the Accounting Assistant program you will earn a diploma. If you are in the Accounting - AAS program, the completion time is six quarters for full-time students versus the Accounting Assistant - Diploma program which has a completion time of four quarters for full-time students. Upon completion of the Accounting Assistant program, students may transfer all earned credits toward the Accounting - AAS program.

Additionally, in the Associate degree program students receive more advanced training in accounting concepts. Although both programs are designed to provide entry level training, an individual completing the Associate degree program may find that they are able to begin their position with a higher level of responsibility, or move into positions that they may have otherwise been unqualified for under the diploma program. Of course, the job procured by any Accounting student relies on the company and the student’s prior professional and educational experience.

What is the difference between Accounting and Business Finance?
Students with successful completion of the Accounting program can begin a career in cost accounting, tax accounting or internal auditing. Students with successful completion of the Business Finance program will have the foundation to begin careers in banking, insurance, lending and many other related industries.

As a graduate of the Accounting - Bachelor of Science degree program, would I be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam? 
Requirements to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam are outlined by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and can be found on their website. The requirements may vary depending on the state in which you sit for the exam. In the majority of cases, individuals interested in sitting for the CPA exam must have successfully completed coursework at the master’s degree level in order to be eligible. The state of Indiana further dictates that college credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution. Graduates from Harrison College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting are not eligible to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Indiana.

Keep in mind, CPAs are those professionals who have the final authority to sign off on financial audits. Typically, they are not the professionals involved in the day-to-day accounting activities found in business. If you’re interested in a career in accounting that will put you on the front lines of an accounting department, then Harrison College’s Accounting program may be right for you!

I see Harrison offers both Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees for the Business Management and Accounting programs. What’s the difference? 
Harrison College’s Associate of Applied Science degree programs provide students with the hands-on skills necessary to secure an entry-level position within most businesses and industries. Our Bachelor of Science degree programs provide additional training with a greater emphasis on systems, application, and analysis of issues and problems found in industry today.

Although many entry-level positions require an Associate degree, there are a number that require a Bachelor degree. Furthermore, the Bachelor degree may provide greater opportunities for salary and advancement based on the requirements of the business and industry.