Ready for a Career in Accounting? It Just Makes Cents
Did you know? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants
and auditors is projected to grow 10% from 2016 to 2026, faster than average for all
occupations. Continuous changes in financial laws and regulations, technological advances,
and our increasingly global economy are all contributing to a greater need for qualified
accounting professionals.
Step into a career in accounting at SMC, where you will learn essential skills for
in-demand accounting professions. Real-world training includes how to prepare and
examine financial records of municipal, county, state, and federal agencies for compliance
with laws, as well as how to record transactions such as receivables, payables, and
payroll. Apply your training right away in small business and startup settings, or
in corporate accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparer roles, and more.
With on-campus and fully online program options, SMC offers a format that works for
you.
Find the path that fits your personal needs and professional goals:
Transfer Preparation
Many colleges and universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students
planning to transfer to a four-year college or university need to know which courses
completed at Santa Monica College will be accepted at the specific college/university.
Please consult a Counselor. SMC has transfer articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well as many private and out-of-state institutions.
Degrees and Certificates
Associate in Science Degree - Accounting
28 units + General Education Requirements
This program is for bookkeepers and accounting clerks who want to advance to a higher
professional level. Business owners can strengthen their businesses with best ethical
practices and compliance with current accounting standards and laws. Accountants may
acquire specialized knowledge of accounting, which includes the setting up and designing
of an effective accounting system, the interpretation and preparation of financial
and tax information, and the reporting for business executives, partnerships, nonprofits,
and governmental agencies.
This program is for bookkeepers and accounting clerks who want to advance to a higher
professional level. Business owners can strengthen their businesses with best practices
and compliance with current accounting standards and laws. Accountants may acquire
specialized knowledge of accounting, which includes the setting up and designing of
an effective accounting system, and the interpretation and preparation of financial
and tax information. Students completing this Certificate of Achievement may wish
to pursue the Accounting Associate Degree by satisfying additional requirements.
Certificate of Achievement - Small Business Tax Practice
17 units
This program is intended to prepare individuals to enter the tax profession and enable
them to prepare tax returns for the general public. In addition, hands-on experience
in the form of supervised tax preparation through an internship or SMC’s Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides real-world knowledge.
After completing this program, students possess a range of accounting skills and an
understanding of all the concepts tested on the Certified Public Accounting exam.
These include GAAP, cost accounting, accounting for income taxes, accounting ethics,
professional auditing responsibilities, and analysis of complex and advanced accounting
topics. For information on the CPA exam, please see theCalifornia Board of Accountancy website. Please see theCPA Track Candidate FAQ.
The bookkeeping certificate program is designed to provide students with basic accounting
skills and knowledge necessary to obtain entry-level accounting and other accounting
support positions in small and medium-sized businesses.
