Pursuing Your Online Accounting Degree

In the past, universities typically offered only broad degrees in accounting or finance. Today, many have created specialized degree tracks for students in this field. For example, some colleges have made it possible to earn accounting degrees with a focus in tax preparation or auditing.

These specialized degrees are designed to prepare students to go straight into the workforce with little employment history. Most accounting courses also offer internships that give students the opportunity to work in an actual office while earning course credit for their experiences.

As with all careers today, technology is playing a more important role in the accounting world than ever before. No longer do accountants use ledgers filled with handwritten columns; most accounting professionals use spreadsheets full of complex calculations.

You’ll need to understand more than just the basics of using these programs; accountants today have to know the ins and outs of software like Quicken and QuickBooks. Those who work in large businesses will also have to quickly learn and adapt to the specific, often customized software that the business uses to track all of its income and expenditures.

Earning your degree in accounting is the first step toward landing the job of your dreams. Thanks to innovative online courses, obtaining this degree may be more convenient than you think.

Online Accounting School: Making Life Easier

How many people are not attending business school only because they can’t quit their jobs or don’t have access to a local university or college that offers their degree of choice? Plenty! Yet technology offers easy access to accredited online universities with excellent business schools.

No matter where you live, if you have Internet access then you have access to colleges that offer online classes in accounting. Online colleges and universities offer rigorous courses of study that prepare you for a successful career in accounting. These courses are as thorough and challenging as their traditional counterparts.

An online accounting education is designed to help you develop the same skills and knowledge base you would by attending a brick and mortar educational facility. These web-based classes are taught in a variety of instructional methods, including:

• Pre-recorded online video lectures
• Webinars
• Podcasts
• Online workshops

You are given access to an online “blackboard,” where you can find assignments or ask questions of the instructor. The syllabus for the class is posted online, as are reading assignments and additional materials. Through this website, you can also interact with other students in your class. As in a traditional classroom setting, the interaction you have with classmates and your teacher help build your understanding of the course material.

The Benefits of Distance Learning for Your Accounting Degree

An Impressive Salary

What does all this lead up to? It leads to you earning an accounting degree online, which can result in a challenging career that pays quite well. All salary information, unless otherwise noted, is based on May 2015 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Accountants make an average annual wage of $67,190.
• The bottom ten percent of accountants makes an estimated $41,400 per year.
• The top 90 percent of accountants makes approximately $118,930 per year.
• Professionals who handle basic accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll make an average annual salary of $67,440 per year.

Learning at Your Convenience

The availability of online accounting degrees makes it simple for individuals to attend school. Online classes are easier to fit into a busy schedule. As a result, distance learning offers a flexibility that appeals to many students. This flexibility is due to more than just the opportunity to study online:

• Remain employed and earn an accounting degree online at your own pace.
• Get an education no matter what limitations you face in terms of transportation or family commitments.
• Pursue the degree of choice without limiting your options to local degree offerings.
• Advance your career when you get an accounting degree online.
• Prepare to earn certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

A Standard Education

Online accounting classes are the same as the ones you would register for if you were attending a physical campus. Here is a list of typical online accounting classes:

• Principles of Accounting
• Management
• Finance
• Business Communication
• Business Statistics
• Business Law
• Marketing
• Economics
• Intermediate Accounting
• Cost Accounting
• Auditing
• Government Accounting
• Finance for Business
• Business Information Systems

If you want to specialize in a particular area of accounting, you can choose electives that cover topics of interest. For example, you might want to take online courses in tax accounting, forensic accounting, or international accounting.

When you decide to take an online accounting class, you must be prepared to put in the time and effort needed to master the material. You can get a quality education through an online university or college, but you get out of it what you put into it. Online schools have used the full force of technology to bring you an academically challenging program that prepares you for a satisfying career, but your success depends on you!

CPA Training

Becoming a CPA can really boost your career. You can earn an online CPA degree, which means your coursework will provide the information you need to pass the relatively difficult CPA exam. The online school will even help you with the process of taking the CPA exam through access to career counselors who work exclusively to help students succeed.

No Borders or Boundaries

Online accounting programs are offered by various universities in both the United States and Canada. In fact, partnerships have been developed to allow universities to offer degrees in these two countries. For example, DeVry University can serve students from both countries.

This just goes to prove once again how convenient online degree programs can be to students of all kinds! Whether you work full time or travel often, your online courses will be available to you anytime, anywhere. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your course materials.

Virtual Classrooms for a Real World Education

The virtual classroom offers a full educational experience. If you have put off returning to school because of the inconvenience of attending classes, then you should consider an online degree in accounting. You can earn a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or work toward your CPA.

All online programs are not equal, though. Here are some factors to look for when choosing which online program to take:

• Accreditation
• Affordability
• Course availability
• Elective courses of interest

The No-Excuse Degree

How quickly you earn the accounting degree depends on the number of classes you take each semester. There are also general education requirements that must be met to earn a four year bachelor’s degree. With an online program, you can work on your degree at your own pace. In fact, many online courses are offered continuously, meaning you don’t have to wait for a class to be offered like you do in the traditional setting. You can earn your degree at a faster pace if you so choose.

The online accounting degree really is a no-excuse degree. No matter what your circumstances may be, if you have Internet access then you can earn a degree. It really is that simple!

Earn Your Master’s Degree in Accounting Online

An advanced degree proves that you have the knowledge to succeed in a higher level position, as well as the drive and ambition required to achieve goals.

When pursing a master’s degree in accounting online, you are not required to have an undergraduate business degree. All that is required is that you take some core undergraduate accounting courses in addition to the coursework included in the graduate program.

People from all kinds of non-business disciplines pursue the master’s degree in accounting. The coursework of this program teaches essential business strategy and decision making needed by managers in all industries. Check out the registrants in any master’s in accounting program and you might find nurses and liberal arts graduates, in addition to students who hold bachelor’s degrees in business.

Making the Right Decisions

If you do not have your CPA designation, you can pursue an online master’s degree in accounting while also taking required core courses for CPA certification. The accounting MBA prepares you for a successful career as a manager. Unlike the core accounting and business courses required for an undergraduate degree in accounting, graduate level classes are more focused on decision making and strategic management. The typical course titles you can expect to find when considering an MBA program include:

• Auditing and Attestation
• Business Environment and Concepts
• Advanced Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Information Systems and Accounting
• Business Valuation
• Ethics for Managers
• Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions
• Strategic Business Control Systems
• Tax Planning and Business Strategy
• Economics for the Global Manager
• Business Research for Decision Making

In some cases, and depending on the school chosen, you can also earn credits for work experience. You can continue working while acquiring the advanced knowledge needed to pursue higher level management positions.

Online master of accounting classes teach the skills needed for recording and analyzing economic activities. But they also provide classes in decision making using the information traditionally collected by accountants. These graduate level courses teach:

• How to turn data into useable information
• Using information services to create useful management information
• Communicating complex accounting information to people outside the organization, i.e. shareholders, community groups, etc.
• Accounting research needed for effective decision making
• Evaluating organizational performance
• Organizational social responsibility
• Determining information reliability
• Applying theories to practical accounting matters
• Legal aspects of accounting
• Analyzing financial statements

Open the Door to Opportunity

With an MBA in accounting, you can secure positions that go far beyond maintaining financial records. You can strive for positions with job titles like Vice President of Financial Affairs, Director of Global Business Affairs, or Director of Budgeting. In fact, many people who earn their master’s degrees with an emphasis in accounting go on to become company presidents, business owners, or senior executives.

A master’s degree can also lead to a quite lucrative senior level position. According to Salary.com, the median annual salary for a Vice President of Accounting is $156,581. An Accountant IV earns a median salary of $67,978. Since it is recommended that junior accountants gain work experience before earning an MBA, they are faced with juggling work and school in order to earn an advanced degree. If that describes you, then it’s time to consider pursuing an online master’s degree in accounting.

Ph.D. Positions

There are two primary reasons why people decide to pursue an accounting Ph.D. online. The first reason is a desire to work in an academic setting for the purpose of either teaching graduate level courses to students or obtaining an administrative position. The second reason is to pursue a career in a private industry or in a government agency as a top level manager.

The Ph.D. in business with an accounting concentration requires taking classes that advance knowledge in areas like accounting research, statistical analysis, and large scale management of an organization. The curriculum focuses on practical research methods using real world experiences and standards while also covering theories and concepts.

Research, Learn, and Advance

A Ph.D. in accounting requires you to complete coursework, an exam, and a dissertation. Typical courses include the following:

• Accounting Theory
• Strategic Application of Accounting Concepts
• Business Leadership and Decision Making
• Managing a Global Organization
• Educational Organization Administration
• Quantitative Methods
• Research Seminars
• Business and Financial Management
• Current Problems of Professional Practice
• Macroeconomics Analysis

Normally, the coursework is completed first. After completion of the coursework, the student takes a comprehensive examination that reviews all the information learned in the classes. The final phase of the program is the dissertation. Because of the advanced research that a dissertation involves, it can take up to five years to complete this degree in its entirety.

Taking the Next Step

Earning a degree in accounting online can take your career to new heights. If you are ready to take the next step toward your future, start comparing the various online programs available today! Enrolling in an online accounting program may prove to be the best professional decision you ever made.