Greetings everyone! I am a long time lurker first time poster seeking the advice of everyone here. I understand this may not be in the right forum, feel free to move if needed. What is my situation: Currently I am working for an accounting firm as an auditor and I am currently looking to go to grad. school. After some time working in many different firms, I have come to the reasoning that I would honestly like to make a move to teaching. Which has lead me to researching graduate programs in Operations Management, Finance, Info. Systems, and Economics. I would preferably like to end up teaching after the masters/PhD in a college level classroom setting(nothing prestigious, state level would do). Now my questions..., 1. Would getting a master/PhD degree on a distance learning level hinder me from getting a job offer to teach in a face to face setting? 2. In reference to above, does anyone have any success stories on getting an adjunct or tenure track position? 3. My most optimal track I would hope is to get my masters while working then apply for a pestle and mortar PhD. Does anyone have any advice for this? [ie, will phd programs simply look the other way due to the online option]. Many thanks for any advice/answers!
What will hinder you is the transactional approach you're proposing. The jobs available in even state schools are highly competitive, and they draw from graduates of traditional academe. You won't likely get there with a DL degree if you're an outsider. On the other hand, if you're someone with a relationship with a school and that school wants you to finish a Ph.D. in order to offer you a tenure-track position, then you could consider it. Lots of stories of the former, almost none of the latter. See my response above. Oh, you can get into a Ph.D. program after having been in the workplace and having done an online master's. Certainly. But most people don't abandon their careers in order to (a) spend several years at school getting a Ph.D. in order to (b) start at the bottom (in terms of rank and salary) of academia. But good luck with it.
When Rich mentions "relationship with a school," typically that means with a given department. And there is a wide range of what "relationship" can mean. One approach is research departmental faculty, finding one whose interests (expressed in books, papers, presentations, etc.) are comparable to your own, and writing to that person. Some people suggest establishing some relationship first without mentioning a possible application ("I was pleased to read your paper on the way in which Muslim accounting practices come into play when Arab companies operate internationally, and I am wondering if. . . "). Others suggest relationship first ("I have enjoyed our correspondence over the past few months. I am now thinking about pursuing a Ph.D. in this field, and I am especially interested in the program at your school.) Some faculty reply promptly and helpfully; some slowly and helpfully; others never (have you seen their offices!). My wife recalls with pleasure that when she was engaged in this process, the Chair of the Philosophy Department at Harvard wrote her a four-page handwritten and very helpful response. Incidentally: "pestle and mortar" degree: pharmacy only. "Brick and mortar" = residential.
One can teach in a Community Colege with a Masters degree. If you are a CPA I believe that would enhance your obtaining an adjunct position at a CC.
I would encourage you to consider the Masters in Accounting regardless of the direction you wish to take. You will find it marketable in Business, Industry, or Teaching. The University of Alabama Birmingham and Auburn University each have an online Masters in Accounting. Good luck.
