SNHU accounting program

Hi, does anyone have any experience with the Southern New Hampshire University Online accounting programs? They offer a BS in Accounting and also a MS in Accounting/Finance. I already have a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Math and Marketing, so I think I could enroll into the grad program according to their admission requirements. My line of work for the past couple of years involves real estate/property management accounting tech support and client training. I help clients set up and manage their accounting books using our custom software program. My work involves anything from researching GL posting errors, how to set up financial statements, creating custom reports using Excel, account reconciliations, processing payroll, A/P, A/R, etc. You could probably classify some of the work as just plain bookkeeping, but sometimes I work with certified accountants or brokers/managers to help them understand the system and so forth. I tend to wear a lot of hats. Eventually I would like to move more into an accounting role with another company but I just don't have the educational background that most employers look for on a resume. They want to see that degree in accounting. Therefore, I'm very interesting in pursuing more education in this area to help add credibility to my resume. I'm kinda torn between whether a 2nd bachelor's would be better because it provides a lot of the undergrad accounting courses I never had a chance to take, or if I should go after the MS instead. According to the SNHU advisor, I am eligible for the MS even with a limited business background because I would take the 3 foundational courses first, then the core reqs.

Here are links to the two programs:
BS Accounting: http://www.snhu.edu/2230.asp
MS Accounting/Finance: http://www.snhu.edu/7059.asp

One other possbility is the grad certificate in accounting: http://www.snhu.edu/102.asp

Would the grad certificate add any credential to my resume, or is it a waste of time? I'm not interested in a CPA role, but there seems to be openings in general accounting and staff accounting all the time in my area that pay well. Here's an example of a local job ad which is very typical in the area I live:

ACCOUNTING - GENERAL ACCOUNTANT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE VP OF FINANCE, THIS POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED CLOSING SCHEDULES, MAINTENANCE OF ALL BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTS, CASH PROCESSING TO INCLUDE AR COLLECTIONS, OVERSIGHT OF PAYROLL AND PAYABLES FUNCTION, PREPARATION OF AUDIT SCHEDULES AND REPORT, COORDINATING AND VALUATION OF MONTHLY PHYSICAL INVENTORIES AND OTHER RELATED ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS. EXPERIENCE WITH 401K COMPLIANCE A PLUS. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: BS DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING. THE RIGHT CANDIDATE MUST HAVE EXCELLENT PLANNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, ORAL AND WRITTEN SKILLS. MUST POSSESS PROBLEMS SOLVING SKILLS AND HAVE ANALYTICAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. MUST BE PROFICIENT IN EXCEL.

Any thoughts, suggestions, and/or recommendations for other online universities are welcome. I've researched a ton of them for the past few months, and finding the right balance between tuition cost, accreditation, admission requirements, pre-requisites, and course availability is enough to make me pull my hair out. Just trying to narrow it down a bit.

 

I would say take the BBA track, possible school to consider is Peru State College, now if you want an MBA that most likely will give you the accounting knowledge at the BBA level try the MBA in Accounting from APU or AMU not trying to discourage you but going to a master's in accounting such as the school you indicated without the basic accounting training is setting up yourself to failure(but I can be wrong), some courses are a follow up of what you learned already in the BBA level. My experience in places that are looking for person with accounting credentials the BBA at least will have to be with a concentration in accounting, some places will require a BBA any field and 24 credits in accounting.

 

Thanks for the recommendations. Let me throw this out there also. Would an undergrad certificate in accounting make more sense? I currently have 30 semester hours (10 courses) in business which made up 1/2 of the core of my degree plan. The other 30 hours were upper level math courses, and the first 60 hours were general eds, total of 120 hours. The business courses consisted of 2 in accounting, 2 in economics, 1 in management, 1 in finance, and 5 in marketing. These are all from an AACSB accredited school in my hometown.

Would adding the undergrad cert in accounting be enough to qualify me for accounting positions, assuming it was 24-27 hours?

 

A certificate in accounting makes more sense but where I have see this requirement more often posted is in government jobs. But to be in the safe side you make want to consider transferring your credits already earned and transform that into a BBA in Accounting, is up to you.

 

Does the BBA in Accounting have similar value as a straight BS in Accounting?

 

It will depend in the eyes of the beholder or the school that offers it, since some will have a different track such as CPA or other license requirements may have more accounting and commercial courses , simply put a BBA in Accounting is more diversify but the end result is the same knowledge in accounting that is. Either way is a good route.

 

Ok. Based on your recommendation, what do you think about this program?

http://www.snhu.edu/2218.asp

 

This program will give the necessary knowledge to work as an financial accountant(private sector).

 

Just a different perspective but I'd say go for the masters.

I have a CPA license and that tends to trump having an accounting degree but not having the license. If that Master's will accept you with bridge courses and will prepare you for your state's CPA, go that route.

In the end, you'll have the CPA and Master's, which is a stronger combination than an undergrad degree with or without license. Plus, you'll be able to teach.

My undergrad is in general business and my MBA concentration is in finance. But I took the courses necessary to sit for the CPA and I now teach at two different universities as an adjunct for accounting classes.

The CPA is so well known that it really mitigates your undergraduate degree's importance. My inspiration for my own career choice is a partner in a CPA firm whose undergrad was in art history. The CPA is a great device for leveling the field. Put your emphasis on that and pick up the Master's for side income.

 

Who knows? I'm young. If I decide to do it, I will. Obviously, I've thought about it. On the other hand, I enjoy my current position in industry and teaching as an adjunct. Sometimes, you can ruin something by making it your 'main' thing. Could I be that way with teaching? Who knows.

If I did go that route, I'd want to go that route for a career change, however, and not adjunct work, which I get now.

Who knows? I can't answer how two people might see the same thing. As for which takes the most effort, having only done one, I can't answer that either. In the end, it's a personal decision.

Again, it's a personal decision. We all do what we think we should. There are no right or wrong answers, just perspectives. As a CPA in industry, I thought I'd give the OP mine. But, in the end, he (or she) has to make those decisions and our experience may be helpful for forming questions.

 

I appreciate all of the comments and ideas.


Quick question, is there a list of online universities that offer the BSBA with Accounting concentrations? I'd like to compare programs with the SNHU program. Thanks!

 

Interesting perspectives and views.

 

Try the geteducated.com site to see your options;

From the top of my head and from the Big Three: Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior College; Peru State College, Northcentral University, Upper Iowa University.

 

Search is your friend:

try this thread or this thread.

and SREB.org

Best of luck.

 

Thanks. I have been doing plenty of searches but occasionally I see a post or thread that I've missed.

 

By now you should have enough options, keep us posted in reference your decision and progress. Good luck to you.

 

I'm wrapping up the BS/accounting program through Peru State College right now. An accounting degree from PSC will do pretty much the same thing that the SNHU undergrad degree will do except it's much more affordable.