What is accounting?

Accounting provides information for decision making. Accountants today are actively involved in the analysis and interpretation of financial data and work with other executives in decision-making and problem solving activities. Almost every business and organization needs accountants to measure performance and provide information for decisions.

Success Factors

Successful accounting students are generally organized, purposeful, logical, self-motivated and effective communicators. They are able to analyze situations to determine options. The Hesston College accounting and business curriculum will help you develop the foundation toward strong technical and professional accounting skills, including communication, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Career Possibilities

• CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) and potential CPAs (graduated with an accounting degree) have a variety of career paths from which to choose within a CPA firm, such as staff accounting, auditing, tax and management consulting.
• In business and industry you can choose careers in diverse areas such as financial accounting and reporting, management accounting, financial analysis, cost estimators and budget/cash management.
• CPAs can also provide services in specialized areas of accounting like financial forensics, business valuation and consulting.
• Within government, you can create a path to success at the federal, state or local level.
• Non-profit organizations and education also offer many diverse opportunities.
• Other related careers include areas in finance such as a financial analyst, financial planner or personal financial advisor.

Majoring in accounting

Hesston College business and accounting students have the opportunity to earn a $2,500 scholarship for their sophomore year by pursuing the Business department’s Business Practices of Excellence.

At Hesston College you will have many opportunities to apply what you are learning. Some of the opportunities you may experience include:

• Analyze business transactions
• Complete managerial accounting analyses of business case studies
• Develop an interactive budget
• Analyze real-world corporate financial statements
• Utilize team approaches to learning
• Make individual and group oral and written presentations
• Work with someone in your field of study through an internship or job shadow
• Interact with business professionals
• Attend a MEDA conference and/or local MEDA events
• Tutor other students and assist the department in other ways
• Participate in a stock market analysis project
• Tour a manufacturing business
• Complete a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)

Why choose accounting?

1. Have a deeper financial understanding of business.
2. Learn the rules/guidelines that govern business.
3. Learn computer software and information systems that run business, and often train others to use the systems effectively.
4. Be a communication specialists. Accountants must be able to explain complex issues to people at all levels of business.
5. Be professional. Accountants are well-trained and know how to act in the best interests of individuals or advise top leaders in the company.
6. Accounting and financial specialist positions are projected to grow 10-11% from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Sample curriculum – associate degree in accounting

What is business?

Hesston College’s business program offers a series of courses in various aspects of business to prepare students to complete a four-year business degree for a variety of academic and career paths in accounting, finance, economics, business management or administration, international business, sales or marketing, or IT management.

Career possibilities

The field of business allows you to explore opportunities in many career options. Examples include Management, Marketing and Sales, Administration, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Office management, and Business Systems.

Majoring in business

Hesston College business and accounting students have the opportunity to earn a $2,500 scholarship for their sophomore year by pursuing the Business Practices of Excellence.

At Hesston College you will have many opportunities to apply what you are learning. Some of the opportunities you may experience include:

• Analyze case studies in specific business to apply business, economic and accounting concepts
• Participate in a stock market analysis project
• Analyze real-world corporate financial statements
• Examine and report on current major events in economics
• Analyze competing economic theories
• Design, implement and administer business computer networks
• Tour manufacturing businesses
• Complete a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
• Develop an interactive budget
• Utilize a team approach to learning
• Make individual and group oral and written presentations
• Expand your technology skills through designing print publications, enhanced office documents or web pages for actual clients
• Work with someone in your field of study through an internship or job shadow
• Interact with business professionals and tour establishments
• Attend conferences where you can mix with the business world
• Tutoring and departmental work, often limited to juniors and seniors at most four-year colleges, is offered to our business students
• Participate in the internship program, validating your career interests through actual work experience

Why choose business?

Business is practical. Every organization in every industry relies on business principles to be successful. Individuals with a business foundation are poised to run a personal business and have the practical skills to to work in a variety of positions.

Demand for business majors is strong. The demand for business majors will continue to be strong because there are so many career opportunities available to students with a solid business education. Employers need employees who have been trained to organize, plan and manage within an organization.

There are opportunities for specialization. Business allows for more opportunities than most other fields. You can also choose a specialization that combines fields of study such as psychology and business to work in organizational behavior.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in business

What is computer information technology?

Computer networks and the Internet have changed the face of the business world. Networking, once reserved for large corporations, has become indispensable to nearly every business. The Internet has created the need for businesses to have a Web presence that offers services and products to consumers around the globe.

People with the training and talent to serve as network or Internet professionals play pivotal roles in the operation of today’s businesses. The demand for computer professionals extends from the corporate world to retail, service, education, government and health care industries. Forward-looking businesses can no longer afford to ignore the efficiencies that networks and the Internet offer in the areas of communication, marketing, production and information management.

Career possibilities

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an overall 17% growth rate in computer occupations for 2012-22. Since the CIT program provides a common core of knowledge used in these occupations, you will be well-prepared to continue on to a four-year degree in one of the following fields/occupations:

• Computer Information Systems
• Information Science
• Information Technology
• Management Information Systems
• Computer Programmer
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Database Administrator
• Information Security Analyst
• Web Developer
• Computer Network Architect
• Computer Systems Administrator
• Network Administrator
• Software Developer
• Computer Support Specialist

Majoring in computer information technology

• Hands-on training in the well-equipped Computer Information Technology lab integrates theory, practice and professional techniques.
• The CIT computer lab is managed and maintained by students who gain practical experience working on equipment, helping other students and even working with real-world “clients.” As a member of the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance, we are allowed to make much of the software we use available to you at no charge.
• The key to really learning computer networking or Internet skills is good instruction and lots of hands-on experience. Students wire up a network, build a network server, set up network services and security and create a web site. We help, but you do it!
• Hesston College courses are planned to fit the schedules of both traditional students and working professionals. Whether you enroll to improve current skills or to learn new applications, programming languages or vendor-specific skills, you’ll benefit from the smaller class sizes and hands-on training.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in computer information technology

What is computer science?

Computer Science is a discipline that requires both theory and practice. The practical side of computing can be seen almost everywhere, but behind the scenes are the computer scientists. For example, getting computers to do what you want them to do is called computer programming, a very rewarding and hands-on skill. Computer science is also a science of problem solving. Computer scientists model and analyze problems. They design solutions and verify that their solutions work. Computer scientists also research new methods and new technologies for future use.

Career possibilities

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an overall 17 percent growth rate in computer occupations for 2012-22. Since the Hesston College Computer Science program provides a common core of knowledge used in these occupations, you will be well prepared to continue on to a four-year degree in any of the following fields/ occupations:

• Computer architecture
• Systems development
• Network technology
• Database administrator
• Internet
• Graphics
• Artificial intelligence
• Computational science
• Software engineering
• Computer education
• Information security analyst

Majoring in computer science

• Hands-on training in the well-equipped Computer Information Technology lab integrates theory, practice and professional techniques.
• The CIT computer lab is managed and maintained by students who gain practical experience working on equipment, helping other students and even working with real-world “clients.” As a member of the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance, we are allowed to make much of the software we use available to you at no charge.
• Hesston College courses are planned to fit the schedules of both traditional students and working professionals. Whether you enroll to improve current skills or to learn new applications, programming languages or vendor-specific skills, you’ll benefit from the smaller class sizes and hands-on training
• Computer programming is a key skill of the computer scientist. We introduce you to programming using animation software called Alice. You’ll even program your own game! While “playing” with pictures and sounds, you will learn key programming concepts while transitioning to Java and C++, two of the most popular and powerful programming languages in the world.

Computer science curriculum

The Computer Science curriculum provides the foundation courses needed for a career in computer science or computer engineering. You will get personalized attention learning computer programming, internet technologies and computer networking while you also study the science and math to ensure requirements are met for a seamless transition to continuing education and professional careers.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in computer science

What is economics?

Economics describes the factors that determine the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Hesston College’s economics program is a focused path within the business department.

Success factors

The study of economics is especially suited for the curious student with strong mathematical and analytical skills who is looking for the educational background to make meaning to a variety of issues in everyday life. Economic analysis provides a framework for how to better see and understand the world around us.

Career possibilities

A degree in economics allows you the opportunity to enter many different occupations upon graduation. Some of the fields open to graduates with economics degrees include working in the private sector in areas such as business, banking, finance, accounting, law, consulting or economic analysis; many graduates also work in the public sector in areas such as research, analysis, or education.

Majoring in economics

Hesston College offers you the foundational courses in economics, mathematics and business to allow you to move into further study in economics at a four year institution.

Hesston College offers an associate of arts Degree (A.A.) for students interested in pursuing a four-year transfer degree in economics, and there are two different courses of study depending on a student’s transfer institution. Some institutions place economics within the business department, so those students should follow a course of study in business while other institutions place economics within the college of arts and sciences which places greater emphasis on mathematics. Hesston College offers both tracks of study to enable you to transfer to a college or university that provides the accredited program of study for the field of your interest.

As an economics student, you will take a number of foundational economics courses which are required at most transfer institutions. These courses include Macroeconomics and Microeconomics along with Calculus, Elementary Statistics, General Psychology and Introduction to Sociology. In addition, Hesston College offers a number of business courses to fit the students’ individual needs for those students pursuing programs that closely align with business. The recommended program of study can be adjusted for the specific requirements related to your specific area of interest and your transfer institution.

Economics courses at Hesston College focus on connecting economic concepts to current events to help students make connections between theory and real life. For example, Macroeconomics examines current state of the United States economy; Microeconomics explores the economic issues involved in the Affordable Care Act; and From Industrialization to Globalization closely analyzes the textile industry and the making of the common T-shirt.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in economics