To succeed in an introductory accounting class, you must have basic and fundamental math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Depending on the college, you may also need high school algebra I and II before your accounting course begins. While these skills are typically learned in elementary and solidified in middle and high school, many people become less proficient with these math skills after years of little or no practice before college. When you are enrolled in an accounting class, you will take college algebra, quantitative methods and statistics, but these classes are not mandatory prerequisites. You are expected to take these classes while pursuing a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Introduction to communications is often required before an introductory accounting course when pursing a degree in accounting. This is part of the preparatory curriculum that prepares a student to become a well-rounded accountant who can not only crunch numbers, but communicate with clients clearly and respectfully. Introduction to communications is typically a three-credit course taken the semester before an introduction to accounting course.
Accountants today manage both the analysis and communicative aspects of an accounting job with computers. Many colleges require an introduction to computing course before a student can take a class specifically for accounting. In an introduction to computing course, students will learn to use math and communications software, such as Excel and Outlook. While many young people grow up knowing how to use these programs, the introduction to computing class aims to teach advanced procedures. If students show exceptional computing skills, they may be able to take a self-study course online or test out of the course at certain colleges.
While it may come as a surprise, many colleges require one or two introductory writing classes before students can take an introduction to accounting course. Most majors require basic English I and II before students can take courses in their major field of study. Introductory writing classes in college focus on persuasive, argumentative, essay and informative writing.