Can anyone tell me anything about regis U? I've researched about 60 different colleges for DL for several weeks now and have narrowed my choices to three. I'm really leaning towards Regis (Accounting concentration). Now, I'm a single mom and the only thing stopping me is the money involved. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing and not just throwing it all away on a scam. Thanks. ------------------ mea
Regis is definitely not a scam. I've been shopping hard for a graduate school and right now I think that Regis' MSCIT program is at the top of my list. Are you looking for a graduate or an undergraduate program? I don't know your situation, but if you will be using distance learning to qualify for the CPA exam then I would check with your state board of accountancy to make sure that they will accept distance learning coursework. Read the board rules carefully to make sure. My wife was going to take courses through distance learning in order to qualify until we discovered that they wouldn't be accepted. We live in Texas, and the board rules specifically state that 15 semester hours of your qualifying accounting coursework has to taken at a school where you physically attend class. I have no idea why they would create a rule like that, it seems very bizarre. I wonder if there are any legal grounds to challenge it. Then again, if the school doesn't give any indicatation on your transcript that the classes were taken through distance learning then you could probably get away with it. I'd make sure though before you invest a lot of time and money. My decided that she'd rather get an MBA with a Human Resources emphasis anyway, so I guess it was for the best.
Thanks Gary! You have relieved my fears and I will be looking into the rules for my state (TN). I appreciate the info! ------------------ mea
Like most states, Tennessee has a 150 semester hour requirement in order to sit for the CPA exam. Most people get a Masters degree to fulfill this, but if you complete an undergrad major in accounting then you should meet all of the specific CPA coursework requirements, so you could do graduate (or undergraduate) work in any area to fill out the 150 hours. That means that you could get an MBA rather than a Master of Accountancy or MS in Accounting. From what I can tell, a CPA who has an MBA probably has better long-term earning potential than a CPA with a grad accounting specific degree. Then there are always MBA programs that have an option for an 'accounting emphasis'. You could also pick up a degree in another field that would help boost your value to a company. It depends a lot on what type of accounting you want to do and your long-term career goals. Sorry to ramble, I'm just happy to pass on some of the information that I picked up while researching this stuff for my wife.
Texas has something against distance learning; the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas state that applicants must have the equivalent of a J.D. degree, which is not based on study by correspondence. http://www.ble.state.tx.us/rulexiii.htm#XIII(a)(3)(C) ------------------ Kristin Evenson Hirst DistanceLearn.About.com
I have no idea why they have a problem with dtstance learning. It's strange that they are seemingly looking for ways to keep people from qualifying for the CPA, especially with the supposed need to attract more people. We are thinking of moving to Oregon sometime, and I don't think that they impose that type of restriction.
Texas probably instated these rules thinking that DL would probably not become as popular as it has or that it would not entail as in-depth learning as classroom learning has. Sooner or later they'll probably wake up and smell the coffee. Probably later. ------------------ mea
I suspect you're correct. The laws might have been passed back in the days that the only DL available was advertised on matchbook covers.
I would guess that was exactly what was going through their shortsighted minds. It sure doesn't help the Texas schools that offer distance learning, and it can only have a negative impact on the supposed shortage of CPAs. Back to the original topic... Is anyone here currently enrolled in a Regis program?
Yet Texas has a school offering both one of the least expensive and liberal (allowing 12 transfer credits ) DL MBAs around. Amberton University is in a suburb of Dallas. Go figure.... Dan
No scam. Regis is a small (2-3,000 residential students), respected (old) jesuit school (only recently re-christened "university") in Denver. It has branched out aggressively in the 90s, as far out as Las Vegas! Promoting practical disciplines (e.g.., business, social work), as well as degree completion opportunities. Something about Pope John Paul's visit here (and there) lit a fire under them. That, or else the fire was put under them by Phoenix University poaching on what they rightly considered "their" market.
