Affordable
Quality education should not put you in the red. The cost of attending Irvine Valley College is very low compared to the private, UC, and CSU systems.
After transfer, what employer will be coming to your four-year school to hire you upon graduation? Whether or not you choose accounting, you should be asking yourself this question as it’s critical to obtain a job while you are completing your undergraduate studies. Four-year schools with robust accounting programs have many recruiters from the accounting profession and industry to hire accounting graduates.
After completing the AS in Accounting at IVC, you will have a solid foundation for transfer. The financial and managerial accounting courses at IVC are challenging and “problem based” meaning upon your transfer you will be ready for the rigor of upper division accounting courses.
Although the economy may have challenges from time to time, historically, the demand for accountants has always been strong.
If you are planning on working in the accounting profession, you will want to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”). To become a CPA, you will need to meet the educational requirement of 150 semester units, a bachelor’s degree plus 30 semester units. (collectively “Educational Requirement”). In addition to the Educational Requirement you will need to pass the CPA exam and obtain work experience. To learn more about the licensing requirements, please feel free to contact the Accounting Department faculty. Please contact Bennet Tchaikovsky for information about become a CPA.
Program Length
For transfer, a student needs 60 semester units that will take approximately four semesters for a full-time student to complete.
However, to meet the Educational Requirement, some students elect to take additional units prior or after transfer. If you have questions regarding this, please feel free to contact the Accounting Department faculty.
Transfer Options
By using a problem-based approach in financial and managerial accounting, the program will give the student a good base for further study in accounting.
For accounting, in Southern California, the institutions students commonly transfer to:
- California State University, Fullerton*
- California State University, Long Beach*
- University of California at Irvine*
- University of California at Santa Barbara*
- Chapman University**
- University of Southern California**
* Denotes that a transfer agreement is present on assist.org
**Students should talk with their counselor about what specific courses should be taken prior to transfer.
Program Specific Support
The three full time faculty members in the accounting department (“Accounting Faculty”) are available to assist students.
Additionally, the student success center hires accounting tutors to assist students during the semester for financial and managerial accounting.
Transfer, Degrees and/or Certificates
Sample Academic Plans
Semester 1
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH 10, ECON 10, MGT 10, or MATH 11* | Statistics or Business Calculus | 1C | 3-4 |
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets 1 | Major | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets 2 | Major | 1.5 |
| MGT 1 | Introduction to Business | Major | 3 |
| ECON 1 | Principles of Economics - Micro | 3 | 3 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL 3 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 1B | 3 |
| ACCT 1A | Financial Accounting | Major | 4 |
| Social Sciences | Social Sciences GE Course | 3 | 3 |
| ECON 2 | Principles of Economics - Macro | 3 | 3 |
| ACCT 112.3 | Spreadsheets Certification | 3 |
Semester 3
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1B | Managerial Accounting | Major | 4 |
| PHIL 1, 2, 5, 10, or 11 | Various Philosophy Courses | 4 | 3 |
| CS 1 or CIM 107 | Introduction to Computer Systems or Introduction to Personal Computer Application | Major | 3 |
| ACCT Elective | Accounting Courses 200-299 (See Accounting Faculty) | 3 |
Semester 4
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGT 104 | Business Communication | Major | 3 |
| MGT 12A | The Legal Environment of Business | Major | 3 |
| ACCT Major | Accounting Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
| ACCT Elective | Accounting Course 200-299 (See Accounting Faculty) | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | Natural Sciences GE Course | 2 | 3 |
- Students can take a number of different math courses to meet the AS GE requirement; however, statistics or business calculus is recommended.
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 1 or CS 1 or CIM 107 | Introduction to Business or Computer Systems or Computer Applications | 3 |
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets II | 1.5 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1A | Financial Accounting | 4 |
Semester 3
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1B | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
Semester 4
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 12A | The Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| MGT 104 | Business Communication | 3 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets II | 1.5 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 204 | Accounting Applications: Quickbooks | 3 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets II | 1.5 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1A | Financial Accounting | 4 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets II | 1.5 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1A | Financial Accounting | 4 |
Summer
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1B | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 206 | Individual Income Taxation - Federal and State | 3 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 207 | Business Income Taxation - Federal and State | 3 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 112.1 | Spreadsheets I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 112.2 | Spreadsheets II | 1.5 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1A | Financial Accounting | 4 |
Summer
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 205 | Payroll Accounting and Taxation | 3 |
AA = Associate of Arts | AS = Associate of Science | AA-T = Associate of Arts for Transfer | AS-T = Associate of Science for Transfer | COA = Certificate of Achievement | COC = Certificate of Completion | COP = Certificate of Proficiency | = Fast Track Career Path
Explore Careers
Not sure if Accounting is the right fit?
Exploratory Interest Area
Explore Accounting while still working toward your academic goals.
Talk with a Counselor
Speak to one of IVC’s Academic Counselors to learn more about all of your options.
Why choose IVC?