Ivy Tech School of Business, Logistics & Supply Chain
Accounting
Checks, balances and cash flow. Accounting starts here.
What You'll Learn
Accounting is the foundation of a successful business. Because of accountants, executives in an organization can make decisions that are smart and can help grow the company even more. Without accounting, businesses would fail. Accounting is more than simply keeping records of cash flows and expenses; it is letting numbers tell the story of how a business operates and moves forward into future success.
In the Accounting program, students will learn
how to prepare essential accounting documents like statements of cash flows and balance sheets
the rules for accounting practices to prevent fraud and tax evasion
how to use numbers to prevent issues in an organization and inform decision makers to improve their financial situation
Career Options
With an education in accounting, there are a variety of job opportunities that graduates can pursue. From becoming a bookkeeper to transferring to a four-year college to pursue further education, studying accounting is a great idea for students who want job security and options for their career.
Graduates from the Accounting program go on to have titles like
Accounting Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Assistant Tax Specialist
Bookkeeper
Payroll Clerk
Tax Preparer
Transfer as a Junior
Graduates of the Associate of Science in Accounting program also have the foundation needed to transfer to earn a bachelor's degree if desired.
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Short-Term Certificates
– known as Certificates (CT)
You are looking for a career-ready credential that can make you competitive in the workplace within two years.
You have aspirations to work with numbers, prepare taxes, and/or own your own business.
You are looking to pursue a four-year degree in accounting.
You want to be prepared for starting your bachelor's degree in accounting.
You have aspirations to work with numbers, prepare taxes, and/or own your own business.
You want to start working in the field within a year.
You want to earn a long-term certificate on your way to an associate degree in order to work in the field while taking additional courses to further your education.
You are interested in working with numbers and/or preparing taxes.
You have an interest in working in taxes.
You want to run your own business.
You want to get started in a job related to accounting quickly.
You are skilled at working with detailed information.
You are comfortable working with confidential information, such as a co-worker's pay.
You want to start working in the field within a year.
You want to earn a long-term certificate on your way to an associate degree in order to work in the field while taking additional courses to further your education.
You are interested in working with numbers and/or preparing taxes.
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
NATIONALLY-ACCREDITED PROGRAM
The Ivy Tech School of Business, Logistics, and Supply Chain is proud to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), one of the most highly regarded international accreditations. This status recognizes our commitment to both teaching and learning.
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Accounting degree program is designed for students who want to move into a career in accounting quickly. An AAS degree is the perfect first step toward your career goals if you are looking to start a career in the accounting field and continue to build your accounting knowledge with real-world experience in the discipline or apply your accounting education to starting your own business.
An Associate of Applied Science in Accounting degree can be obtained in 4 semesters, or about two years.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your AAS
A recommended path to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Accounting is to complete one or more of the certificates offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. The certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level accounting careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
AAS graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
The Associate of Science (AS) in Accounting degree program is designed for students who want to have a head start on their accounting education. This program prepares students to pursue accounting at a four-year college or university.
Graduates of the AS in Accounting can also choose to transfer to a four-year college or university where they can earn a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in accounting or a related business major. The AS in Accounting is designed to transfer to over 20 universities, making the most of the time and money you invest in your education. See all transfer universities for the Accounting program
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
The Accounting Technical Certificate (TC) program offers students the opportunity to go from school to work in one year. This program prepares graduates to be ready for a career in accounting by offering a strong foundation of education in accounting.
Short-Term Certificates
known as Certificates (CT)
The Short-Term Certificate in Enrolled Agent program teaches students how to prepare taxes. From working in an office to starting a business, graduates are ready for many career opportunities with this credential.
A short-term certificate in enrolled agent can be achieved in 1.5 semesters, or less than one year.
FREE through Next Level Jobs
Accounting is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Enrolled Agent short-term certificate. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)
The Short-Term Certificate in Professional Bookkeeping and Payroll program gives students the skillset to manage records and payroll for an organization. Graduates from this program are ready for a career in bookkeeping upon graduation.
A short-term certificate in professional bookkeeping and payroll can be achieved in 1 semester, or about six months.
FREE through Next Level Jobs
Accounting is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Professional Bookkeeping and Payroll short-term certificate. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)
You appreciate rules, structure, and following a process.
Sound like You?
If you identify with the traits above, accounting may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Formats
In the Accounting program, students have access to their courses in whatever format they choose. From online to in-person classes, this program offers flexibility so students can receive their education in the way that works best for them.
Prerequisite Courses for Accounting
The Accounting program does not require any prerequisites to apply to the program. Some courses students take early on in their time at Ivy Tech count as prerequisites to courses later in their journey, but your advisor will work with you to ensure all of your courses are taken in an order that satisfies all requirements as you pursue your credential.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Ivy Tech accepts a variety of credits from other colleges and universities. Courses must be completed with a grade of C' or better, or the equivalent. To transfer credit to Ivy Tech, a sealed, official transcript must be requested from the school where the work was completed.
Big Dreams? Go for Honors
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Accounting by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements
Graduating with an Accounting degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions teamand arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Donna Zeh Department Chair - Business Administration, Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT), Accounting, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management (812) 374-5158 dzeh@ivytech.edu
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12:00pm Zoom Link
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
