Frequently Asked Questions
Accounting
I want to major in Accounting but I don't know which of your programs is best for me. What is the difference between the two programs?
The answer depends upon what you want to do after you leave SUNY Orange. If you plan to transfer to a four-year college or university, then you should consider the A.S. Accounting Degree. If you plan to immediately get a job as an entry level accounting clerk or bookkeeper, then the A.A.S. Accounting Degree is the program that will give you the necessary hands-on skills to do so.
I really don't know what I want to do when I graduate from SUNY Orange. Which program should I choose?
From experience, we know that many of our students do eventually decide to continue their studies at a four-year college or university, so you may want to consider the A.S. Accounting Degree. However it is best to contact one of the accounting faculty to discuss the best option for you.
Do I need to have a certain high school average to be successful in your degree programs?
The transfer degree program (A.S. Accounting) requires that you successfully complete two, college-level math courses AND a lab science course. Therefore, we recommend that you have completed three or more years of college preparatory mathematics and have an overall high school average of 80 or above.
Will my four-year college or university accept all of my SUNY Orange credits?
While it is up to the individual transfer institution to decide if your SUNY Orange credits will transfer, our graduates have reported that most, if not all, of their SUNY Orange credits do transfer. You should also know that we have transfer agreements with several colleges and universities.
I see that your A.S. transfer program requires that I take Restricted SUNY Electives. What are they?
Restricted SUNY Electives are courses that fulfill SUNY general education requirements. They are required for all A.S. degree programs. Please see the current College catalog for a complete listing of SUNY General Education Categories.
Where have your recent graduates transferred to?
Most of our students report transfer to Baruch College (CUNY),Mount St. Mary College, Marist College, Pace University and SUNY New Paltz. We've also heard from students that have transferred to Syracuse University, Ramapo College, and NYU.
What types of jobs are available if I want to get a job after I graduate with the A.A.S Accounting degree?
The A.A.S Accounting Degree is designed to prepare you to obtain an entry level job as an accounting clerk or bookkeeper.
Can I transfer with the A.A.S degree?
The A.A.S Accounting Degree is designed for those students who plan to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation. While it is possible to transfer to a four-year college or university, you should be aware that some of your SUNY Orange courses may not transfer. You should consult with your faculty advisor about which program is best for you.
Why do I need to see my faculty advisor?
Your faculty advisor is someone in the department who has both the educational and professional experience in the accounting field. This faculty member can advise you on which courses to take, transfer options and other accounting-related questions you may have.
Do the accounting programs offer internships?
Yes. ACC 220- Accounting Internship is a course offered only in the spring semester. This course gives students the opportunity to gain experience in accounting under the supervision of an accountant. This internship can be paid or unpaid depending upon the work site. There are very specific course prerequisites and minimum GPA requirements for this course. Please refer to the college catalog for a complete description of this course.
What software will I learn to use?
All students taking their first accounting course will utilize a basic general ledger software package to process accounting information. Excel© is used in several courses and Quickbooks is used in the Accounting Practice course. Please refer to the college catalog for complete descriptions of all courses.
Can I earn my degree from home?
Certain courses in our programs are available online.
Business
I want to major in Business but I don't know which of your programs is best for me. What is the difference between the two programs?
The answer depends upon what you want to do after you leave SUNY Orange. If you plan to transfer to a four-year college or university, then you should consider the A.S. Business Administration Degree. If you plan to immediately get a job then the A.A.S. Business Management Degree or A.A.S. Marketing Degree is the program that will give you the necessary hands-on skills to do so.
I really don't know what I want to do when I graduate from SUNY Orange. Which program should I choose?
From experience, we know that many of our students do eventually decide to continue their studies at a four-year college or university, so you may want to consider the A.S. Business Administration Degree. However it is best to contact one of the business faculty to discuss the best option for you.
Do I need to have a certain high school average to be successful in your degree programs?
The transfer degree program (A.S. Business Administration ) requires that you successfully complete two college-level math courses AND one lab science courses. Therefore, we recommend that you have completed three or more years of college preparatory mathematics and have an overall high school average of 80 or above.
Will my four-year college or university accept all of my SUNY Orange credits?
While it is up to the individual transfer institution to decide if your SUNY Orange credits will transfer, our graduates have reported that most, if not all, of their SUNY Orange credits do transfer. You should also know that we have articulation agreements with several colleges and universities.
I see that your A.S. transfer program requires that I take Restricted SUNY Electives. What are they?
Restricted SUNY Electives are courses that fulfill SUNY general education requirements. They are required for all A.S. degree programs. Please see the current College catalog for a complete listing of SUNY General Education Categories.
Where have your recent graduates transferred to?
Most of our students report transfer to SUNY New Paltz, Mount St. Mary College, Marist College, Pace University. We've also heard from students that have transferred to Baruch College (CUNY), Hunter College (CUNY), Fashion Institute of Technology (CUNY), Syracuse University, Ramapo College, and NYU.
What types of jobs are available if I want to get a job after I graduate with the A.A.S Business Management or A.A.S. Marketing degree?
The A.A.S degree is designed to prepare you to obtain an entry level job in marketing or sales.
Can I transfer with the A.A.S degree?
The A.A.S Business Management Degree and the A.A.S. Marketing Degree are designed for those students who plan to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation. While it is possible to transfer to a four-year college or university, you should be aware that some of your SUNY Orange courses may not transfer. You should consult with your faculty advisor about which program is best for you.
Why do I need to see my faculty advisor?
Your faculty advisor is someone in the department who has both the educational and professional experience in the business field. This faculty member can advise you on which courses to take, transfer options and other business related questions you may have.
Do the Business programs offer internships?
A business internship course is available. This course gives students the opportunity to gain experience in business. This internship can be paid or unpaid depending upon the work site. There are very specific course prerequisites and minimum GPA requirements for this course. Please note that this is an optional course for both the A.A.S. Business Management and the A.A.S. Marketing degree programs. Please refer to the college catalog for a complete description of this course.
Can I earn my degree from home?
Certain courses in our programs are available online..
Office Technologies
I want to major in Office Technologies but see that you have degrees and certificate programs. Which one is best for me?
The degree programs have a liberal arts component along with skill courses in the emphases areas of legal office assistant, medical office assistant, and office management training. The certificate programs are designed for students interested in skill building only in a shorter period of time for entrance into the job market.
What is the internship course and how can I enroll in this?
The internship course is a capstone or final course taken after all of the skill training is completed. It consists of 90 hours of office work either in a part-time job or in a volunteer office experience. This completes the graduate's resume with both education and work experience, which is the key to successfully attaining a job in the desired field. To enroll in this course, the student must complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum C or higher.
What types of jobs are available when I graduate from SUNY Orange in one of these programs?
There are a wide variety of office environments seeking office help in the Mid-Hudson area. The Career Services Office of SUNY Orange has on-going job listings and annual job fairs for graduates.
Why do I need to see my faculty advisor?
Your faculty advisor is someone who is familiar with the offerings of each program. Some courses need to be taken before others because they are prerequisites. Others may be offered only during a specific semester or by a department other than office technologies. The department chair is the best person to go to for any questions you might have about your program of study.
I already know how to keyboard. Do I have to start with the elementary keyboarding courses?
You may begin at the intermediate level of keyboarding after speaking with the department chair or an advisor. Usually a student already has some level of skill on the keyboard, so the program is designed to accommodate each level. Some courses have waiver exams which if passed may place the student into a more advanced course. Substitute credits are then recommended.
Can I transfer to a four-year college with the AAS Office Technologies or the AAS Medical Office Assistant degrees?
These degrees are designed for entry into the workforce. Specific liberal arts or general education courses will, however, transfer to four-year colleges. Some of the skill courses may also transfer as electives. The transferability of each course is at the approval of the four-year college.