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Foundations of Accounting Certificate

Looking to make a transition to an accounting career? You’re not alone! Because it offers competitive salaries and predictable credentials, accounting is a great field for career changers. Edgewood College helps students from all backgrounds (everything from Political Science to Anthropology) make the transition to a rewarding career in accounting.

Our flexible, once-a-week evening classes are designed for working adults, so you can fit classes in without quitting your job. Thanks to our accelerated 8-week class format, most of our students finish the certificate in one year or less.

Not sure if accounting is right for you? Try one of our 8-week classes to find out! Invest in yourself for one class in the spring, summer, or fall to see if this career path is right for you.

Program Highlights

Completion of the Foundations of Accounting certificate qualifies you for many entry-level roles in accounting, including Bookkeeping, Tax Preparation and Accounting Assistant positions. Whether you're pursuing a career as a public accountant or are looking to move into an accounting role in a private organization, you can get your start with our Foundations certificate.

Our graduates have held a variety of positions in many different organizations:

Financial Coordinator, Total Administrative Services Corporation
Associate Accountant, Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care
Office Manager, Best Defense Security & Fire Protection Inc.
Tax Analyst, WI Department of Workforce Development
Accountant, City of Madison
Accountant, Madison Property Management
Executive Assistant, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance
Senior Accountant, Wegner CPAs

Get a solid foundation in the basics of accounting.
Finish your certificate fast in our accelerated format. New courses start every 8 weeks. Classes meet only one night a week.
All classes are held at our Deming Way Campus, conveniently located on Madison's West Side.
Start in the fall and finish your certificate in one year (even with no accounting background).
Finish the prerequisites for a MS-Accountancy degree at a reduced price.
Receive personalized career coaching from our dedicated faculty.
Qualify for entry-level bookkeeping and assistant accounting jobs.
Gain access to professional networking opportunities through the Edgewood Accounting Network.

Certificate Requirements

Completion of the Accounting Certificate requires a total of 29 credits - 19 of which must be taken at Edgewood College to meet the residency requirement.

21 Accounting Credits:

RBUS 211 Financial Accounting 4 credits
RBUS 212 Managerial Accounting 4 credits
RBUS 320 Intermediate Accounting I, Part I, 2 credits
RBUS 321 Intermediate Accounting I, Part II, 2 credits
RBUS 322 Intermediate Accounting II, Part I, 2 credits
RBUS 323 Intermediate Accounting II, Part II, 2 credits

Plus two of the following three:

RBUS 325 Cost Accounting 3 credits
RBUS 326/327 Tax Accounting I and II 2 credits each
RBUS 328/329 Auditing I and II 2 credits each

8 Non-accounting elective credits selected from the following options

RECON 163 Micro-Economics 4 credits
RECON 164 Macro-Economics 4 credits
RMATH 125 Statistics I 2 credits
RMATH 126 Statistics II * 2 credits
RMATH 123 Math Models I 2 credits
RMATH 124 Math Models II * 2 credits
RCS 157 Computers in the Workplace 4 credits
RBUS 313 Corporate Finance * 4 credits
RBUS 314 Business Law 4 credits
RBUS 315 Operations Management * 4 credits
RBUS 311 Marketing Principles 4 credits

*Course has prerequisites.

Our advisors will be happy to set up a personal consultation with you to answer any questions you may have about the Fundamentals of Accounting Certificate. Please contact Marissa Guenzi with your questions or to set up an appointment: 608-663-4177 or mguenzi@edgewood.edu.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

Adult College Completion tuition for the 2018-19 year (beginning Summer 2018) is $518 per credit.

Financial Aid

Certificate-seeking students are not eligible for financial aid. The total cost of completing your certificate will depend on the number of transfer credits you may have from other institutions. Our admissions counselors would be happy to meet with you to create a personalized certificate completion plan that would include an estimate of your total cost. We can also share creative ideas that other students have used to finance their education.

Admission Requirements

Provide evidence of a bachelor's degree in any field from a United States regionally accredited or equivalent post-secondary institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission status. The cumulative grade point average is computed on the highest degree held at the time of application to the Edgewood College graduate program.
A minimum age of 22 prior to the start of classes in term of enrollment. Waivers for students under 22 years of age considered on an individual basis.
A completed application. ($30 application fee)
Official transcripts. Please request that official transcripts for all undergraduate academic credits earned be sent to: Edgewood College, Attn: Admission Manager, 1255 Deming Way, Madison, WI 53717

International students may have additional admission requirements. Learn more.

Calendar

2018-2019

FALL
Session 1 – August 20 – October 12
Session 2 – October 15 – December 14

SPRING
Session 1 – January 22 – March 15
Session 2 – March 25 – May 17

SUMMER
Session 1 – May 20 – August 9

Admissions Materials: Due 2 weeks prior to the session in which you begin to attend classes. For example, admissions materials for Session 1, 2018 are due August 6.

Testimonial:

I truly enjoyed each and every professor. I found the faculty to be highly invested, passionate, deeply concerned about their students and, above all, they were born to teach. Each tackled a different subject but still managed to engage students to artfully simplify complex material.

Susie Kennedy, Foundations of Accounting Certificate

Fact Sheet - Foundations of Accounting Certificate

School of Business