Stark State College's accounting tax major prepares students with in-depth knowledge of tax law, accounting principles, and business transactions to meet today’s growing demand for skilled tax professionals. This flexible, fully online associate degree can be completed in as little as two years and equips graduates to work in small accounting firms, independent tax practices, or as business owners and tax specialists.
Major code: 2007 Business, Engineering, and Information Technologies Division Accounting and Finance Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | ||
| ACC131 | Taxation I | 4 |
| ACC132 | Financial Accounting 1 | 4 |
| ACC133 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| ACC221 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4 |
| ACC222 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC223 | Cost Accounting | 4 |
| ACC227 | Payroll Accounting | 3 |
| ACC229 | Accounting Software and Analytics 2 | 3 |
| ACC231 | Taxation II | 3 |
| Non-technical | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| ACC130 | Business Law and Ethics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 3 | 3-4 | |
| Auditing | ||
| Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination | ||
| AOT226 | Spreadsheet - Microsoft Excel | 3 |
| BUS124 | Business Analysis | 3 |
| BUS221 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| FIN220 | Business Finance | 3 |
| MTH124 | Statistics | 3-4 |
| or MTH125 | College Algebra | |
| Select one (1) Arts & Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 63-65 | |
- 1
Student may elect to take ACC121 Introduction to Accounting prior to taking this course.
- 2
Students can earn QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor certificates upon successful completion of the course.
- 3
Course should be chosen following consultation with academic advisor.
Students completing this degree may be eligible to also receive a Bookkeeping Certificate (2004), an Enrolled Agent Certificate (2005), a Tax Preparer Career Enhancement Certificate (2017), and a QuickBooks/Payroll Career Enhancement Certificate (2018).
Full-time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make an appointment to see their advisor before registering for classes each semester. They should have prepared a completed registration form, including courses they wish to take, prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish in two years.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| ACC130 | Business Law and Ethics | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| BUS124 | Business Analysis | 3 |
| ACC132 | Financial Accounting 1 | 4 |
| AOT226 | Spreadsheet - Microsoft Excel | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Arts Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| MTH124 or MTH125 |
Statistics or College Algebra |
3-4 |
| ACC229 | Accounting Software and Analytics 2 | 3 |
| ACC227 | Payroll Accounting | 3 |
| ACC131 | Taxation I | 4 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| ACC221 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4 |
| ACC133 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| BUS221 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ACC231 | Taxation II | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ACC222 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC223 | Cost Accounting | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 3 | 3-4 | |
| Auditing | ||
| Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination | ||
| FIN220 | Business Finance | 3 |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Total Hours | 63-65 | |
Arts & Humanities Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG233 | British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | 3 |
| ENG234 | British Literature: 1785 to Present | 3 |
| ENG235 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG236 | American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG237 | American Literature: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| ENG241 | Major Modern Writers | 3 |
| HIS121 | United States History I to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS122 | United States History II from 1877 | 3 |
| HIS221 | World Civilization to 17th Century | 3 |
| HIS222 | World Civilization from 17th Century | 3 |
| PHL122 | Ethics | 3 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Prepare and analyze the various types of financial information essential for internal and external recordkeeping, reporting and decision making.
- Interpret and apply laws and regulations for the purpose of various types of business tax reporting, compliance and planning.
- Apply appropriate mathematical concepts, such as time value of money, to business decisions.
- Identify and implement sound internal accounting controls to ensure safeguarding of an entity’s assets, preparation and reporting of reliable financial information, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.