Institutions often offer accounting programs that can be completed in two years or less. Student may earn a certificate, diploma or associate degree in accounting. Such programs teach the skills necessary to perform entry-level accounting functions in payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit and collections and other departments. Institutions offering certificate or associate degree accounting programs are found in each state, some of which include: Miller-Motte Technical College with campuses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgina and Georgia; Harris School of Business in New Jersey; Wright Career College in Kansas, Oklahoma and Tulsa; and Charter College in Alaska, Washington and California.
Schools offering a bachelor's degree program in accounting require an average of 30 credit hours devoted to core accounting classes. Programs provide students knowledge of financial accounting, accounting information systems, the audit process and taxation. Institutions offering bachelor's degree accounting programs are found in each state, some of which include: the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Texas A&M University.
Institutions offering a master's degree program in accounting typically require the completion of between 30 to 36 credit hours in addition to a completed bachelor's degree program. Required credit hours also depends on the coursework completed during undergraduate studies. Students select an area of concentration on such as financial accounting, taxation, information systems or audit and assurance services. Institutions that offer graduate level accounting programs include: Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University.
Some schools offer online courses to earn an accounting certificate or degree. The learning objectives of the online courses are the same as those taken in a classroom setting. Such institutions include Devry University, Virginia College, Keiser University, Ashford University, Strayer University, Colorodo Technical Universityand Argosy University.