Accountants are professionals who are responsible for their company's financial health. In a way, they play in an instrumental role in strengthening their country's financial stature in the world. There are two main ways of becoming an accountant: holding a bachelor's degree in accounting or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in accounting. While a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate is not required of all accountants to practice, many choose to become one to increase their job prospects. Those who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must, however, become a CPA.
MBA in Accounting
A Master of Business Administration degree is usually a 2-year graduate degree program, and it is offered by many business schools across the United States. There are different tracks within the degree which students may pursue, according to their academic preferences, interests, and job requirements. Accounting is one such track. A MBA in accounting teaches the skills necessary for the operation, design, and control of accounting information systems. Students will be required to take core business courses, advanced business courses, and accounting courses. Some schools are mindful of the fact that not every student who gets into an accounting MBA degree program has an accounting background; therefore, they may offer the degree in two tracks.
Students with an undergraduate degree in accounting may be able to complete the requirements of the MBA program earlier than those with non-accounting backgrounds. They may be able to graduate in less than two years. However, their enrollment status will help decide the actual duration of their time in the program. Some of the courses taught to those with an academic background in accounting may be titled as:
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Organizational Behavior and Leadership
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Auditing and Professional Responsibility
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Financial Accounting Theory and Research
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Competitive Strategy
Those with non-accounting background may be taught courses like:
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Foundations of Business Ethics
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Business Legal Concepts
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Advanced Taxation
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Cost Management
Some of the general admission requirements for MBA programs are:
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Completed and submitted application
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Previous academic transcripts from undergraduate program
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GMAT score
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Personal statement
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Resume
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TOEFL (for international students)
Career Prospects
Accountants with a MBA degree may qualify for upper management positions, which other accountants with bachelor's degrees may not. Accountants, overall, have a bright future ahead; the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 13% job growth for accountants from 2012 to 2022.
Online MBA Accounting
Accountants who want to hold positions of responsibility in their companies may now earn online MBA accounting degrees from the comfort of their home. Some traditional universities, in addition to online universities, offer MBAs through online programs to those who qualify. Students may enjoy more academic freedom as universities may allow them more than two years to finish the degree. The degree may be completely offered online or in a hybrid form. In the latter, students may be asked to attend some classes or workshops on campus. All in all, it may be a suitable option for those who cannot attend traditional on-campus classes.