Going back to school and working?

Dr. Frenchenstein

So i graduated with a BA in Economics and have fallen into Accounting for the last 10 years or so. I enjoy it for the most part, so i figure i might as well embrace it. plus my recruiter found an awesome oppurtunity that passed me by simply b/c i don't have an accounting degree. Now i have a dilemma, I'm in MD and pretty much all the actual universities i looked at don't have continuing ed programs in accounting (night classes, etc), that i could find. So i'm leaning towards online, but I'm seeing Devry and Phoenix come up in my searches for online curriculums. Would an accounting degree from one of those places be a waste of money? I don't want to invest all that time and money into a degree that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Are there any other options for those of us that work 9-5?

rockmonkey

Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »

So i graduated with a BA in Economics and have fallen into Accounting for the last 10 years or so. I enjoy it for the most part, so i figure i might as well embrace it. plus my recruiter found an awesome oppurtunity that passed me by simply b/c i don't have an accounting degree. Now i have a dilemma, I'm in MD and pretty much all the actual universities i looked at don't have continuing ed programs in accounting (night classes, etc), that i could find. So i'm leaning towards online, but I'm seeing Devry and Phoenix come up in my searches for online curriculums. Would an accounting degree from one of those places be a waste of money? I don't want to invest all that time and money into a degree that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Are there any other options for those of us that work 9-5?

Might look at universities in your state that offer online classes. Just because you're going the online route doesn't mean you have to go with Devry or someplace. Even look at universities in your state that may be too far away for traditional in class night classes but that are larger and might offer what you need in online classes, but if you do that I'd check with the professor teaching the course and make sure that online means there is NO reason for you to be on campus at any point just in case.

I have my BA in accounting, my boss, the company controller has her BS in finance and has been going back to college for her accounting degree and she has been taking all online classes at a traditional university that's 30 minutes away but she NEVER goes on campus. This semester she even took a regular course that offered an online option which is basically like a distance learning scenerio. There are students in the class and the teacher is teaching PLUS there are online students watching/listening live. The downside to this is that technical issues can crop up with a live feed whereas most other online classes I've taken are lessons where the professor goes and records it and puts it online.
Also you'd have to be available at the exact time the class is taking place. Hers is actually at 12pm and our president lets her whip out her personal laptop and take the class during her lunch hour in her office.

EDIT:
The reason I say check with the professor about the online class is that when I was actually IN college and online classes were first cropping up as a more available thing I had an online class that required you to show up at a testing lab to take the midterm and final exams. Granted you had a 3 hour windows on either of two days to take a 1hr test (really only took me 30 minutes) so it was fine for me, but if you work 9-5 then this can be an issue. Then again if it's just twice a semester you could possible schedule yourself to be off, too.

illig

I'd be leery of the for profit degree programs like Devry or Phoenix... in my experience they have a stigma attached to them. This may not be in all industries/areas, but in my narrow world of finance it's not taken seriously.

I would certainly look into a continuing Ed or a Masters program again - as i'd be really surprised that there is no such training offered in your area (UMD?). Unlike undergrad level classes, masters or continuing ed work tends to be targeted at people who are working - so there's much less BS busy work. And the professors understand that sometimes life/work takes precedence so you're not overly penalized for extensions, etc.

Deebaser

Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »

Would an accounting degree from one of those places be a waste of money? I don't want to invest all that time and money into a degree that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Yes. Totally worthless. Keep looking for a night time masters program or something.

adytum

I'd look to relocating before you try and get an "online degree." Nobody in DMV will take you seriously when you're competing with boatloads of UMD, GMU, VCU, etc. graduates.

rockmonkey

I also wanted to mention, and you might already know this, but in my situation (I too am preparing to go back to college after already getting a BA, and am 28 now) the college I'll likely be going to requires a minimum number of hours from THEM before you can get your new degree from them. In the case of my boss/co-worker they require 30 hours earned from their university system while she only needed 24 to get a 2nd bachelors degree so she has to find 6 elective hours to make the difference supposedly. This shouldn't be an issue if you're not looking at getting a 2nd undergraduate degree, but are going for an MBA or something.

VisionOfClarity

He should not at all bother with a BA when he can get his MSA.

EggyToast

I'm just about to move away from Maryland, and I got my MBA from Hopkins via evening classes. They referred to it as part time, and I would be surprised if you can't find similar "part time" programs that are predominantly evening-oriented.

adytum

University of Maryland Master of Science in Business: Accounting

http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/ms/accounting/faq.aspx

When do classes meet?

The program accommodates both full-time students and working professionals, with daytime/evening options (College Park campus), and weekend options (Shady Grove campus). Classes at Shady Grove meet on Saturdays over four 14-week semesters. Completion of the program takes 15 months. A typical Saturday class session begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m.

Where are classes held?

Classes are held at two of our campus locations in Maryland – College Park and Rockville (Shady Grove).

Dr. Frenchenstein

i've taken all of 2 accounting classes technically (and the professor said these were basically half your average accounting class), would i even qualify for a masters of science program? That's why i was looking to get a second Bachelors in accounting. potentially take the CPA if i was feeling masochistic.

Postgrad is different, pretty much everyplace offers those with flexible schedules. I'm pretty sure i could get into Loyola for an MBA, but i think to get into an MS program i'll need to take some pre-reqs, which leads me to the same issue as in my OP.

after looking at the UMD program, maybe i do qualify. Well... my GPA doesn't guess i'll have to take the GMATs and hope a high score will bridge the gap.

adytum

Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »

i've taken all of 2 accounting classes technically (and the professor said these were basically half your average accounting class), would i even qualify for a masters of science program? That's why i was looking to get a second Bachelors in accounting. potentially take the CPA if i was feeling masochistic.

Postgrad is different, pretty much everyplace offers those with flexible schedules. I'm pretty sure i could get into Loyola for an MBA, but i think to get into an MS program i'll need to take some pre-reqs, which leads me to the same issue as in my OP.

after looking at the UMD program, maybe i do qualify. Well... my GPA doesn't guess i'll have to take the GMATs and hope a high score will bridge the gap.

You won't know if you don't apply.

What kind of accounting have you been doing for the last 10 years? If it's been rote staff or auditing work you might need a refresher, but if it's been working heavily in corporate taxes or dealing with GAAP regulations for public companies I'd say you'd be in good shape for graduate classes.

Dr. Frenchenstein

also, i pretty much work on the tech side of accounting (accounting systems) so i'd be more inclined to do some higher ed on the IT side (although towson has a good program in what i do, more or less) rather than straight accounting.

http://grad.towson.edu/program/master/acbs-ms/dr-acbs-ms.asp

This program would certainly apply to me, but i'd probably have to spend a year on pre-reqs. which again, hits me with class scheduling issues.

lessthanpi

As an over-educated individual with an Econ BS and a Few Master's Degrees, I'd recommend you forget about getting a 2nd Bachelors and only consider graduate programs whether they be accounting or an MBA program. They'll accomplish your goals and likely significantly up your salary. Plus, if you're considering loans, going for a graduate degree will give you more flexibility than a post-bachelors student would have.

Dr. Frenchenstein

My company will reimburse me thankfully, so cost really isn't much of a concern.

So with that towson program, should i just find those pre req courses at a place that offers them online/at night, take those, and then apply to that program? as opposed to getting my second bachelors in accounting, and then doing the same?

Modern Man

If your choices are a 2nd bachelors or a Masters, there's no debate- go for the Masters.

Horus

I am taking my masters online at a Cal State university, its not that hard and kinda fun cause my classes relate to my job and vice versa. I do recommend is build a good discipline before taking online classes its more demanding for me, so I trained myself first by taking community online classes. Also ...... have a good computer back up system like drop box for homework files.

Best of luck