This program is available 100% online.

• Overview

• Is This Program for You?

  If you are an energetic self-starter, inquisitive, adaptable, analytical, and a forward thinker with good communications skills, you may have what it takes to be successful in the accounting field.

  Students entering the Accounting Associate Degree program should:

  • Have good analytical skills and work well with details.
  • Like to organize information.
  • Work well under the stress of deadlines.

  Program Basics

  • Associate degree requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
  • Available in Face-to-face and online class formats.
  • High school articulation courses accepted.
  • Financial aid available.
  • Classes start in August or January.
  • Modified plans available.
  • Articulation agreements in place for transfer to four-year university programs.

  Related Degrees & Certificates

  • Payroll Assistant Certificate
  • Tax Preparer Assistant Certificate
  • Accounting Assistant Technical Diploma
• Curriculum & Costs
• Requirements

• Admission and Program Requirements

  • Submit Application and $30 Application Fee
  • To make sure your classes are the right fit, we consider any previous college credit you've earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
  • Admissions Meeting: After applying and submitting transcripts, make an admissions meeting with the advisor by clicking "Make an appointment" in the Advisor block on this page.

  Helpful Academic Background

  • High school accounting
  • Consumer math
  • Algebra
  • Computer skills

  Program Fees

  • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
  • Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
  • Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.
• Outcomes

• Program Outcomes

  At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

  • Process financial transactions throughout the accounting cycle
  • Analyze financial and business information to support planning and decision-making
  • Perform payroll preparation, reporting, and analysis tasks
  • Perform cost accounting preparation, reporting, and analysis tasks
  • Perform organizational and/or individual tax accounting preparation, reporting, and analysis tasks
  • Identify internal controls to reduce risk
  • Utilize computers and calculators as they apply to the accounting profession

  Technical Skill Attainment (TSA)

  This TSA scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Accounting Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.

  If you are unable to access documents here, please contact Technical Skill Attainment Team (tsa@swtc.edu, 608.822.2464)
• Career Opportunities

• Job openings in the accounting field are expected to remain strong. As all organizations, including government, public accounting firms, service businesses, financial institutions, and manufacturing companies, require accounting services. The following are some typical jobs that a graduate of the Accounting program may enter:

  • Bookkeeper
  • Cost Accountant
  • Public Accountant
  • Staff Accountant
  • Tax Accountant
  • Accounts Receivable/Payable Clerk
  • Account Manager
  • Account Specialist
  • Payroll Accountant
  • Governmental Accountant
  • Not-for-Profit Accountant

  Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

  Find a Job
• Transfers
• Prior Learning

• Credit for Prior Learning

  Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

  Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

  For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

  At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

  Accounting Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

  Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
  10-101-111	Accounting 1
  	CLEP Test - Financial Accounting
  10-102-109	Business Law I
  	CLEP Test - Introduction to Business Law
  10-103-105	Beginning Microsoft Word
  10-103-106	Beginning Microsoft Excel
  	Any Microsoft MOUS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL
  10-103-118	Intermediate Microsoft Excel
  	Any Microsoft MOUS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL
  10-801-195	Written Communication
  	College Composition CLEP test would also be accepted for credit. However, the challenge exam is the preferred method.
  10-801-196	Oral/Interpersonal Communication
  10-801-197	Technical Reporting
  10-804-123	Math with Business Applications
  10-809-172	Introduction to Diversity Studies
  10-809-195	Economics
  	CLEP Test - Principles of Macroeconomics