Online Cost Accounting Course Information

Cost accounting is an important business tool because it helps determine the expenses involved in successfully running a business. Online cost accounting courses are offered by many colleges and universities. Cost accounting courses are typically part of an accounting program, although business executives may take them for career enhancement, and entrepreneurs take them to improve the cost effectiveness of their businesses.

Online Cost Accounting Course Overview

Cost accounting is a tool used by businesses to make them more cost effective and profitable. Although business leaders enroll in online cost accounting courses as a way to improve the efficiency of their business, many online cost accounting courses are part of accounting programs. Students enrolled in an online cost accounting course may pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting or a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Course Requirements

Online cost accounting courses require students to have computers with Internet access and e-mail. Software programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel are also required for these courses, along with textbooks. Most schools require the completion of a general accounting course prior to enrollment in the online cost accounting course.

List of Online Cost Accounting Courses

Role of Cost Accounting Course

Students learn about job costing, cost behavior and process costing. This course is used as the foundation course for managerial accounting programs. Topics covered in this cost accounting course include capital budgeting, flexible and fixed budgets, variance analysis and cost systems. This course teaches the student to develop a budget based on cost accounting information.

Introductory Cost Accounting Course

The focus of this course is on different strategies for cost accounting, including the designation of certain costs for certain purposes. This course emphasizes the development of good cost accounting strategies to promote effective decision making. Students learn about flexible and master budgeting, break-even analysis, cost estimation and behavior, cost allocation, pricing decisions and activity-based costing.

Cost Accounting Fundamentals Course

The fundamental principles of cost accounting as they're applied to all areas of business is addressed, with emphasis on merchandising, manufacturing and service. Students learn different cost methods, such as processing, job orders and the basic cost system. This course typically follows a principles of accounting course, which teaches students how managers utilize cost accounting to successfully run their businesses.

Cost Accounting in Business Course

This course teaches students the importance of having an effective cost accounting system implemented in a business. Emphasis is on using cost accounting to help plan and control the financial needs of internal management. Students learn the different cost accounting procedures and systems used in business and how they're successfully integrated into the entire accounting system.