Online Accounting Degree

Total tuition for this degree program may vary depending on your educational needs, existing experience, and other factors.

Estimate your costs, potential savings and graduation date.

Our Online Accounting Degree is a highly focused degree program that provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to enter the accounting field. By studying fundamental and specialized topics in accounting, AIU can give you an opportunity to focus your interests on the acquisition of industry-specific knowledge and skills that can be common to many of today’s accounting professionals.

An Online accounting program can help you learn how to:

• Prepare required financial statements according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Demonstrate the importance of the moral standards embodied in the Code of Ethics of the Accounting Profession, and recognize, understand and manage potential ethical and legal conflicts in accounting and business
• Distinguish between financial, managerial, cost and tax accounting principles and practices and identify the appropriate information to be used in managerial decision making
• Differentiate between the accounting principles used for federal income taxation of both individuals and business, and evaluate the impact of those differences on the financial statements and managerial decision-making
• Formulate and communicate the relevant accounting issues in the Sarbanes-Oxley area and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in business situations
• Design and manage a complete set of accounts for a small to moderate-sized organization
• Analyze the implications of technology and the Internet on today’s businesses

Download program detail PDF

Degree Requirements

General Education

Core

General Electives

Specialization Options

Total Credit Hours: 180

For an Online Accounting Degree, your classes may include:

Financial Management

This course examines the key components of financial decision making: valuation and risk management. Students will examine the implications of forecasting, capital budgeting, working capital management, and project risk management.

Quantitative Methods and Analysis

In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of probability, statistics, and their applications in business decision making.

Risk Management

The course deals with uncertainties of outcome resulting from the financial market and the strategies that enable an organization to manage the risk associated with it. Topics include identifying major financial risks such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, credit, commodity, and operational risks, how they are measured and global initiatives in financial risk management.

Taxation

This course will provide the students the fundamentals of individual income taxation. A background of accounting courses is not essential for this course. The course may be of special interest to non-accounting majors. Topics include exemptions, exclusions, and deductions available to the individual. These concepts will aid the student in the preparation of an individual tax return.

Auditing

This course presents concepts of auditing, outlining the standards and practices of today's auditors, and preparing students to perform the Integrated Audit with a necessary understanding of enterprise risk management and professional judgment as the future of the auditing profession.

Accounting Information Systems

This course focuses on the study of concepts and terminology of accounting information systems and their use in decision making in accounting and auditing. The course also covers Information Technology (IT) fundamentals, responsibilities and business implications.

Business and Professional Ethics for Accountants

This course is an examination of moral and ethical issues within the accounting professional. Topics include ethical behavior and decision-making in the context of professional codes of conduct.

Government/Institutional Accounting

This course exposes students to governmental and not-for-profit accounting practices, in the areas of financial analysis and planning, accounting for general capital assets and capital projects, and long term financing and routine governmental bookkeeping.

Professional Accounting

This course is an introduction to the accounting profession including the institutional, legal and regulatory framework of accounting, the role of accounting associations and institutes, traditions, and the availability of diverse career options.

From grants, to military service, to transfer credits, see the variety of ways you can save time and money on your Online Accounting Degree at AIU:

• Scholarships & Grants - AIU offers a number of institutional scholarships and grants that can help eligible students offset the program cost and help reduce out of pocket costs
• Reduced Military Tuition Rate – AIU Online offers a 45% tuition reduction to active military undergraduate students and a 20% tuition reduction to active military graduate students, including members of the Reserves and National Guard
• Transfer Credit – AIU’s transfer-friendly credit policy lets you transfer in up to 75% of the qualifying credits needed toward your degree
• Prior Learning Credit – You can receive credits for past college courses, qualifying military service, or eligible work experience

For more information, review the AIU guides below:

• Financial Aid Guide: Our guide to financial aid can answer your initial questions and help you prepare to apply for financial aid
• Scholarships and Grants Guide: Learn about the scholarships and grants offered by AIU along with details about eligibility
• Transfer Credit Guide: This guide explores how to transfer your credits from other schools—and earn college credit for your eligible past work and qualifying military experience

This business program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).