I am stuck between a BS in business admin/accounting from Peru state (this would be the 150hour one that would allow me to become a cpa) or a BS in applied computer science from troy university. I just can't seem to pick which one I would rather go with. They are very different paths, but both appealing.
If you are looking for career stability and above average salary and benefits, the BS (business admin/accounting) is probably the safer route to travel. If you can handle the volatility of the IT employment market and the requirement to always stay ahead of the curve in terms of adapting your skills to emerging demands (skills stagnation will make you obselete), then the BS (applied computer science) might better suit you. On the other hand, having both degrees would certainly make it easier to move into management positions within the IT sector. If you had to go to work for no pay which career (CPA versus IT worker) do you think you would be passionate enough about? Let the answer to this question guide you in your choice.
A BS in BA/Accounting and potential CPA would still allow a person to move into areas of IT. There are a lot of IT jobs for CPA type folks (IT Audit, etc) and if you got a Computer Science minor (is it possible through Peru?) you might have even more options. In addition, as a CPA, you could get the CITP certification to help distinguish yourself as an IT Professional. Sentinel gives excellent advice here....determining what you are passionate about should help guide your decision.
Thanks guys, but therein lies my problem. If I was working for no pay it would easily be the computer stuff. But my brain knows the practicality of the accounting side of the equation. So it won't let me choose the computer side. On the accounting side though I would be getting my degree online and not finished until I am 36 so I worry about the ability to even get a good accounting job at that age.
Yes I have heard that too now. However, I am located near a really good accounting program that I cannot attend because of my work schedule. They are AACSB accredited and currently have 700 people enrolled. It will take me 3 years to get my education done. 700 people out on the street in 3 years against me .. thats tough.
Age discrimination is always a factor in any field. It does happen. It especially happens in the IT field. Most often it comes down to money for a company. Currently, there seems to be work in IT. However, that's due to the fact that companies can't get their hands on cheap foreign labor right now due to H-1b levels. As soon as Congress gets their "gift" money from the foreign labor lobby companies will be able to swim in H-1B labor again. Probably this discussion is better suited for one of the other forums on this board. However, PL/SQL is a good area right now. I don't think it will be for long, though. Maybe another year. This is the sort of thing you have to contend with in IT(i'll lump in all of cs, is, it, and telecom). You have to know the yearly flavor desired by employers. Medicine used to be the worst as far as keeping up with the latest. Now, almost hands down, it's IT. Bing
Accounting is typically recession proof and not as easily outsourced to India. Plus, agism is less a factor in Accounting. You didn't state your gender or race, but if you are a white guy over 40 then you need some extra leverage to punch through diversity initiatives to get hired, as most established companies already have too many white guys over 40 on staff. (Still, older males of all races are very under-represented in the lower levels of public and industry accounting.) In sum, do Accounting and then add IT training later, if you are so inclined. Dave
im a white guy at 33 and actually I want to move up in my company. These degrees will either move me into IT in my company or accounting in my company. But I am also thinking what if I lose my job in my company.. which would provide me a better set of opportunities. Plus I want the one that would be the best fit for a family guy. I keep hearing horror stories about accounting hours.
Personal opinion... IT hours are way worse. Accounting staff in public accounting work very hard during January to April (Tax Season), but the hours are reasonable in industry accounting, except around month and quarter end closings. A friend of mine is an accounting personnel recruiter and she says that experienced English-speaking males of any ethnic background can get placed easily in accounting, because accounting firms complain that they have too many people going out on maternity leave and too few people very fluent in English. (They need a mixture of staff backgrounds to maintain client continuity....) Dave
