SYLLABUS

Bookkeeping—Career Diploma

Program Code: BK

Prerequisites: None

CONTACT INFORMATION

Student Support Services

Student Service Phone: 1-800-224-7234

Student Service Email: education@ashworthcollege.edu

MAIL

Ashworth College
6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 500
Norcross, GA 30092

Instructor Name: Robin Iyoob

Our Academic Advisors are also available to help you when you need it. They are trained to provide
answers to your questions about the course or program.

Phone: 1-800-224-7234

Email: tutors@ashworthcollege.edu

Hours: 9:00AM – 9:30PM, Monday-Friday

REQUIRED TEXT

Bragg, S. (2011). Bookkeeping Essentials: How to Succeed as a Bookkeeper (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John
Wiley and Sons, Inc.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

In the Bookkeeping program students will learn the basics of bookkeeping and accounting practices that
analyze, verify and post details of financial transactions for small companies or as part of an accounting
department in larger companies. Program coverage includes instruction on the accounting equation,
accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, purchasing, inventory, budgets, and the controls and
records management required to maintain accurate and compliant company accounts.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

After completing the Bookkeeping program, students will be able to

• Understand the role and duties of a bookkeeper within the framework of required accounting
activities in a business setting.

• Explain and apply the concepts of cash and accrual accounting, double entry bookkeeping and
debits and credits.

• Prepare payroll transactions ranging from paying wages to depositing and reporting taxes.

• Make appropriate and accurate accounting entries for a variety of financial records.

• Define fixed assets, depreciation and amortization, including different methods of calculating
depreciation for book and tax purposes.

• Assist in using basic internal controls to prevent theft, embezzlement, or check and credit card
fraud by employees, vendors, or customers.

• Prepare required documents for Budgeting, Internal Controls and Record Retention.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Lesson Group 1—Orientation: Ashworth College Career Program

Lesson: Learning at Ashworth

The goals and values of Ashworth College; time management; creating a realistic weekly and monthly
study schedule; the nature and purpose of assessments; how to study effectively to prepare for and
take an online examination; developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century.

Lesson: Concepts in Small Business and Self-Employment

Evaluating your business idea; setting yourself apart from the competition; market testing;
investment funding and donation funding; qualities of an entrepreneur; crowdfunding and angel
investors.
Lesson Group 2—The Basics of General Bookkeeping

Textbook: Bookkeeping Essentials: How to Succeed as a Bookkeeper

Lesson: Introduction to Bookkeeping

Defines the skills and knowledge required of bookkeepers and the role of the bookkeeper within the
structure of an accounting department. Introduces students to the basic terminology and equations
of the accounting process as they specifically apply to bookkeeping.

Lesson: Charts of Accounts and Ledgers

Introduces students to the charts of accounts and the possible interpretations and setups possible for
the charts of accounts in different business structures. Students will also learn the process of making
general ledger and subledger journal entries to record sales, purchases, payments and cash receipts.

Lesson Group 3—The Activities of Bookkeeping

Lesson: Payroll Basics

Students will learn the steps and controls used in the payroll process for salaried and hourly
employees. This lesson also provides instruction on the administration of deductions for benefits,
taxes, social security, and unemployment compensation.

Lesson: Purchasing, Billing Activities and Cash Management

This lesson provides instruction on the steps and controls used to record purchasing activities for
both cash and credit purchases, including applicable taxes, as well as management of petty cash,
billing and collections.

Lesson: Inventory, Assets and Debt

An introduction to accounting records required for the accurate management of inventory and other
business assets. Instruction is provided on understanding cost-of-goods-sold, inventory obsolescence,
depreciation, and the concept of FIFO, LIFO inventory systems. Students are introduced to the
bookkeeping entries associated with short-term and long-term debt and interest.

Lesson Group 4—Statements, Controls, and Records

Lesson: Financial Statements

Students will learn the process for the preparation of common financial statements, including the
trial balance, balance sheet and income statements and the techniques required to analyze these
statements for accuracy, compliance, and general business condition.

Lesson: Budgeting and Controls

This lesson introduces the budget development process and provides instruction on the structure of
subsidiary budgets and how they support the creation of the overall revenue budget. Students will
also learn the various options that are available to provide control multiple business operations.
 Lesson: Records Management and Cost Reduction

Provides instruction on the filing systems and record retention systems and policies required for most
common bookkeeping activities. This lesson also describes the tasks required of bookkeepers when
executing cost reduction activities.

Final Project – Spreadsheet Applications for Bookkeeping

Students will use supplied data from a fictional business to create a series of spreadsheets for
common bookkeeping reports.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Exams

Exams are designed to measure understanding of the topics covered in each lesson in an objective
manner. They consist of multiple-choice questions. They are open book and timed. Once the exam is
begun, it must be completed and submitted for grading. Exam grades count as a percentage of the final
grade earned in the program. See the Lesson and Assessment Schedule provided below.

Pretest and Posttest

The pretest and posttest are multiple-choice exams designed to determine the knowledge students
gain as a result of their studies at Ashworth College. The pretest and posttest are constructed from
exam questions for lessons throughout the complete program of study. The pretest and posttest do not
count as part of the student’s overall grade or lesson average. See the Lesson and Assessment Schedule
provided below.

Project

Projects are designed to determine student mastery of critical programs skills and objectives or to
assist the student in the development of skills that can be applied to career development and life-long
learning. Each project is evaluated against criteria to measure a demonstrated level of mastery of specific
job-related skills or skills and techniques required to obtain and maintain employment.

Project instructions are provided at the appropriate point in the program. Each project includes a rubric
that describes how the project will be evaluated. Project grades count as a percentage of the final grade
earned in the program. See the Lesson and Assessment Schedule provided below.
 Student Lesson and Assessment Schedule with Grade Values
This is a self-paced study program. Students will complete the following assessments in the order
specified when they feel they have mastered the lesson content.
Activity Topic Assessment Total Percentage
Type Point of Total
Value Grade
Lesson Group 1—Orientation: Ashworth College Career Program
Assessment Pretest MC exam 0 0%
Lesson and Assessment Learning at Ashworth MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson and Assessment Concepts in Small Business and Self- MC exam 100 9.0%
Employment
Lesson Group 2—The Basics of General Bookkeeping
Lesson and Assessment Introduction to Bookkeeping MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson and Assessment Charts of Accounts and Ledgers MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson Group 3—The Activities of Bookkeeping
Lesson and Assessment Payroll Basics MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson and Assessment Purchasing, Billing Activities and Cash MC exam 100 9.0%
Management
Lesson and Assessment Inventory, Assets and Debt MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson Group 4—Statements, Controls, and Records
Lesson and Assessment Financial Statements MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson and Assessment Budgeting and Controls MC exam 100 9.0%
Lesson and Assessment Records Management and Cost MC exam 100 9.0%
Reduction
Lesson Spreadsheet Applications for Project 100 10.0%
Bookkeeping
Assessment Posttest MC exam 0 0%
Total Value 1100 100%

GRADING POLICIES

Each program is graded by taking the average of the grades received for the exams and/or assignments
within the program. The following point totals correspond to the following grades:

Points Grade
100–90 A
89–80 B
79–70 C
Below 70 F

All exams can be retaken up to 3 times with the highest score counting towards your final program grade.