Program Overview

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Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy Online

The Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy is designed for students who already have a degree but lack the accounting coursework needed to sit for the CPA Exam. This program provides academic preparation for the CPA Exam and a future career in accounting.

Prepare for the CPA Exam

The Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy is perfect for students who want to prepare for the CPA Exam. The program's courses are designed to meet the educational requirements for most states, giving students the academic preparation they need to be successful on the CPA Exam and in their future careers.

Why an Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy Online?

The Harbert College of Business offers a quality educational experience. All School of Accountancy programs are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The Harbert College of Business hosts smart classrooms, designed to allow an equal opportunity experience for both on-campus and online students.

Certificate Details

Prerequisites

The business foundation courses listed below must be completed prior to beginning the Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy program. No prior upper-level accounting courses are required.

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Principles of Financial Accounting
• Statistics or Business Analytics I and II
• Business Law or Legal and Social Environment of Business
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Marketing
• Principles of Finance Most states require a minimum of 21 semester hours in general business coursework to be licensed as a CPA. These required prerequisites will help fulfill this coursework requirement.

Admissions

Admission to the online Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy program is limited to second degree seeking candidates only who meet the following criteria:

• Four-year regionally accredited bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution
• Must be a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder (Permanent Resident) and have either a USA or APO address in a SARA authorized state
• Must meet the Business Foundation prerequisites Dual enrollment in an Auburn campus program and an Auburn online accounting program is not permitted.

Curriculum

Students admitted to the Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy are required to complete at least 24 semester hours in accounting.

Required Courses

• ACCT 5110 Intermediate Accounting I
• ACCT 5120 Intermediate Accounting II

Elective Courses

Choose 18 credit hours from the following:

• ACCT 5210 Cost Accounting
• ACCT 5510 Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 5520 Accounting Analytics
• ACCT 5300 Auditing & Assurance Services
• ACCT 5410 Income Tax I
• ACCT 5130 Advanced Accounting Topics (fall and spring)
• ACCT 5420 Income Tax II
• ACCT 5610 Governmental & Not-For-Profit Accounting (fall and spring)
• ACCT 5700 Advanced Business Law (fall, spring and summer) Courses are offered fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students who have completed Intermediate Accounting I and II at another regionally accredited institution and have earned a minimum grade of B or higher in each course may receive a waiver of these two courses and therefore, be required to take 24 hours from the elective courses.

Tuition

Tuition is $775 per semester credit hour regardless of the student's geographic location.

• Cost of each course: $2,325 = $775 x 3 credit hours
• Cost of program: $18,600 = $775 x 24 semester hours Tuition is subject to change each year with the approval of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. There are no additional fees charged by the university. Textbooks and any proctoring fees will be additional expenses.

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid is not available to students in the Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy program. Students needing financial aid should seek private financial aid or consider applying for the online Accounting Bridge.

FAQ

• Are the online courses different from the campus program? Our campus lectures are recorded and streamed so that online students receive the same instruction and academic credit as their campus peers.
• Is Auburn University accredited? Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Both the Harbert College of Business and the School of Accountancy are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
• How long does it usually take to complete the program? Depending on the course load taken, the Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy program can be completed in as little as 3 semesters.
• What is the average credit load per semester? On average, students take three to six credit hours (two courses) per semester.
• Do I have to come to campus? No, there is no required residency for the Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting program.
• What entrance examinations are required? There are no entrance examinations required for the Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting program.
• Is it possible to transfer credits? Students in the Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy program will not get transfer credit for courses taken at other institutions but those courses will be recognized to satisfy prerequisite requirements.
• Can I audit a class? Auditing of online courses is not available at this time.
• Will I have an academic advisor? Andee Hodo, Director of Graduate and Online Accounting Programs, serves as the Academic Advisor for all undergraduate online accounting students.
• Can I withdraw or drop a course? Should circumstances in your life change and you need to withdraw from a course, simply contact Andee Hodo.
• How do I take tests? Exams are taken online using a virtual proctoring service.
• How do I contact my advisor, professor or peers? Online students have immediate access to professors and classmates via email once you are registered.
• How do I get my books? Textbooks required for your course(s) may be ordered each semester.
• Will I have access to University resources? Access to all on-campus activities, libraries, etc., is available to you as an off-campus student upon verification of student ID.
• What are the technical requirements? Access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection is required. Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android or any other device with a modern web browser.