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Bookkeeper Certificate Business Total Units: 40
A newer version of this program is available. View the latest version here.

Catalog rights may apply, see a counselor for more information.

Term Effective: Fall 2011

Description:

The Bookkeeper Certificate of Achievement prepares the student as an entry-level bookkeeper working with the accountant in summarizing financial data and preparing financial statements. Students are trained to be members of an organization's team with the ability to exercise initiative and judgment, train co-workers, use technology, and assume responsibility without direct supervision.

The Bookkeeper program includes an internship which provides the students an opportunity to use their acquired skills in an office environment and gain experience in their profession before completing the program.

This certificate is the more advanced level of the Bookkeeping program. Completion of the Bookkeeper Assistant Certificate fulfills a portion of the Bookkeeper Certificate.

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of business activity which involves financial changes in the organization. The occupation involves such tasks as recording daily transactions in journals, posting figures into ledgers, handling payments and receipts, and computing payrolls. Bookkeeping requires skill in the operation of 10-key calculators, computers, and other office equipment, together with an understanding of office routine and techniques. The program encompasses the integration of 21st Century workforce skills emphasizing communication, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving.

Employers generally report that it is moderately difficult to find inexperienced but qualified applicants, and very difficult to find qualified applicants with prior experience. This indicates a good outlook for job seekers without prior experience and a very good outlook for those who are fully experienced.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student will be able to:

  1. Analyze, categorize, calculate, record and report detailed financial information and commonly used financial statements and related reports, using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP);
  2. analyze, categorize, calculate, record and report detailed payroll information including payment of wages along with associated payroll taxes and other liabilities;
  3. calculate, analyze and interpret a variety of mathematical business problems, ratios, comparisons, elementary statistics, and trends;
  4. demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills to report financial information and job seeking skills;
  5. use a computer to tabulate, calculate, record, organize and report financial information; and
  6. effectively use a computer keyboard, 10-key, and other modern devices to calculate, tabulate and assist in reporting and recording of financial information.

Students interested in a suggested order for taking classes in this program, can view the recommended course sequence. More information about the Business Administration programs can be found at the Business Administration Department website.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Bookkeeper Certificate program are:

  • Complete 40 units from
    • Bookkeeper Requirements

Bookkeeper Requirements - complete 40.00 units
BAD 1Financial Accounting4.00
BBK 50Computerized Bookkeeping and Accounting I3.00
BBK 51Computerized Bookkeeping and Accounting 23.00
BBK 53.1QuickBooks Level 11.50
BGN 71Business English Grammar3.00
BGN 81Practical Business Math Skills3.00
BGN 102Typing-Skill Building1.50
BGN 204Electronic Calculator0.50
BOT 56AWorkforce Issues for Business Professionals3.00
BOT 56BCareer Planning for Business Professionals1.00
BOT 59.1Applied Office Technology Skills4.00
BOT 59.3Marketing Your Skills3.00
BOT 99.2IBusiness Office Tech Occupational Work Experience Internship0.50-8.00
BOT 172Basic Filing, Self Paced0.50
CS 65.11Microsoft Office3.00
Complete a combination totaling at least 4.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BOT 59.2Business Records Skills4.00
BOT 59.2A AND
Business Records Skills, Part 12.00
BOT 59.2BBusiness Records Skills, Part 22.00

Term Effective: Fall 2011

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Term Inactive: Spring 2012

Previous Versions:

Bookkeeper - effective Fall 2010
Bookkeeper - effective Fall 1992

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

BOT 99.2I should be taken in the final semester of the program.

BOT 99.2I is to be taken for a minimum of 2.0 units

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 778-3961
srjccertificate003118@santarosa.edu