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Online Accounting Degree
Related Topics: Accounting Schools | Accounting Career Zone
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If you want to work as an accountant or an auditor, you're going to need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related business field – very few accounting jobs are open to those with just an associate’s degree.
In fact, some positions actually require an additional certification – such as a Certified Public Accountant designation – while others may require a master’s degree in accounting to be considered. |
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Accounting Career Training
When you’re looking at colleges and universities to attend, there are a few things you’ll want to check. First, many federal government accounting jobs require more than just a bachelor’s degree – they want to see that you’ve had at least 24 classroom hours in accounting courses. If the program you’re looking at doesn’t include at least this many focused hours in accounting and auditing, you may want to consider a different university or check to see if you can take other accounting courses for your electives.
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While 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, at some colleges, it’s now possible to gain accounting degrees with a focus in tax preparation or auditing. These specialized degrees are designed to prepare students to go straight into the work force with little employment history. Most accounting courses also offer internships that give students the opportunity to work in an actual accounting office for a semester while earning course credit for their experiences.
The types of courses you’ll take while pursuing your bachelor’s of accounting will mostly occur in the business school. You’ll take basic accounting and finance courses in addition to classes that focus on tax preparation, tax law, financial ethics, budget preparation and financial planning. Depending on what area you plan to focus in, you may also need to take some legal classes. If you’re looking for a minor or for elective classes that will go hand-in-hand with your accounting degree, you may want to take some basic math courses, writing, public relations, business administration, or computer classes. Many top accounting schools include coursework of this type in their accounting programs.
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 books filled with handwritten columns – most accounting professionals today 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.
Once you’ve earned your bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, you may be required to participate in continuing education classes every year. This is especially true for accountants working in the tax area, since new regulations and laws are passed on a regular basis. In addition, if you choose to move your office to a new state, you'll need to spend time studying the specific tax laws of your new home, as they are likely to be different from state to state.
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