At College of San Mateo, we offer many of the classes you need to prepare for the CPA exam. These classes are part of our CPA Exam Preparation certificates.
After completing classes at CSM you might consider taking additional courses at a university, through a university extension program such as UC Berkeley Extension or UC Santa Cruz Extension, or through a CPA review program.
The following courses will help you prepare for each section of the CPA exam:
Business Environment and Concepts
- Managerial Accounting (ACTG 131)
- Macroeconomics (ECON 100)
- Microeconomics (ECON 102)
- Accounting Information Systems (not offered at CSM)
- Cost Accounting (ACTG 165)
- Finance (ACTG 168)
- Taxation of Individuals using Tax Software (ACTG 181)
- Taxation of Business Entities Using Tax Software (ACTG 182)
- Taxation of Trusts, Gifts, and Estates using tax Software (ACTG 183)
- Business Law (BUS. 201)
- Financial Accounting (ACTG 121)
- Intermediate I (ACTG 161)
- Intermediate II (ACTG 162)
- Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting (ACTG 164)
- Financial Reporting (not offered at CSM)
- Advanced Financial Accounting (not offered at CSM)
IMPORTANT
While all Accounting classes at CSM will count toward the 24 semester unit education requirement, not all classes will help you prepare for the CPA exam. For example, while QuickBooks will count toward the education requirement, QuickBooks will not be on the CPA exam. The exam tests specific subjects, and you must know those subjects to pass. The classes in the CPA Exam Preparation certificates are the best classes to take.
Traditionally Upper Division Accounting Courses
At the CSM, we teach several accounting courses that are traditionally taught as upper division courses at a four-year college or university. These courses are:
- ACTG 161 Intermediate Accounting I
- ACTG 162 Intermediate Accounting II
- ACTG 163 Auditing
- ACTG 164 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
- ACTG 165 Cost Accounting
These courses are appropriate for students who already have a bachelor's degree or students who do not plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. These courses will help prepare you for the CPA exam and help you develop higher level job skills.
Who should NOT take traditionally upper division classes at CSM?
These courses are not appropriate for students planning to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree. They will not transfer to a four-year school and would need to be retaken after you transfer. Please see your academic advisor to plan your schedule.
