Those studying in the field of certified public accounting often learn the professional skills necessary to maintain financial records and prepare various, and sometimes complex, tax documents. Academic courses within the field of accounting may heavily focus on mathematics, business, management information systems and other accounting-specific requirements.

An associate of applied science is a program of study that prepared students for entry level position in a wide variety of fields. Students who enter this program typically have the goal of beginning to work immediately upon graduation instead of pursuing further study.