Columbia College vs Western Governor's University - Accountng Degree

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by davesaint, Jul 21, 2010.

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  1. davesaint

    davesaint New Member

    My son-in-law has an Associates in General Studies and also obtained approximately 30 hours of Accounting credit. He received word back yesterday from the University of Minnesota - Crookston that he will still have to take 54 hours in order to obtain his BS in Accounting.

    Unfornutately it sounds like all of the credit he has obtained is lower-level (100-200).

    He wants to complete his BS in Accounting. Because of his work schedule it has to finish it online. He does not receive tuition support at work.

    I suggested that he look at Columbia College and Western Governor University. Columiba College offers a BA or BS in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. I never heard it worded this way before but that's was the enrollment specialist told me it was. If he truely does not have any upper level courses he will have to take a miminun of 39 hours of upper level courses at Columbia College.

    I do not know if WGU has a different requirement.
    Dave
     
  2. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    Check EC, I bet they give him more credits.
     
  3. mrtito02

    mrtito02 New Member

    I don't know too much about Columbia College. But I know that the tuition at WGU is very affordable and he can probably transfer many of his credits.
     
  4. friartuck

    friartuck New Member

    Peru State in Nebraska has a proper BS in Accounting with a CPA track. If the SIL wants to become a CPA, most states, like MN require 150 semester credits. Peru is slightly cheaper at $190 per credit vs $225 for Columbia.

    Online Programs - Peru State College
     
  5. davesaint

    davesaint New Member

    My son-in-law emailed me his transcript. He has a AA in Liberal Arts & Sciences. He has successfully completed 98 sem hours. All of the hours are at the 100 -200. Personally I think he should now pursue a BS in Business Administration instead of a BS in Accounting. The University of Minnesota Crookston told him he will need 54 hours to complete his degree. If he pursues a BS in Business Administration for example at Webster University in St. Louis he will need 33 hours to complete this degree. I'm waiting to hear back from him to see if he wants to pursue a BSBA or a BA in Mgmt instead of Accounting. There are a lot more schools out there that offer online BSBA degrees than Accounting.
     
  6. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    This is true, but if he wants to be an accountant, then it would behoove him to earn an accounting degree. (He might consider earning a BSBA first and follow up with a MAcc or MS in Accounting, but that's going to take longer.) Knowing exactly what your son-in-law's career goals are might help us give better advice.
     
  7. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    He is going to need 52 extra credit hours to sit for the CPA exam anyway, so the fact that the university wants 54 really doesn't matter, as it is only 2 more credits than he needs. Even if you find a school that says he only need an extra 22 credit hours for his bachelors, he still wont be able to take the CPA exam until he gets the extra 30 hours.

    This way he gets a degree in Accounting from a B&M school that probably has job placement resources and an alumni network that he can utilize.
     
  8. davesaint

    davesaint New Member

    He is going to need 52 extra credit hours to sit for the CPA exam anyway, so the fact that the university wants 54 really doesn't matter, as it is only 2 more credits than he needs. Even if you find a school that says he only need an extra 22 credit hours for his bachelors, he still wont be able to take the CPA exam until he gets the extra 30 hours.

    This way he gets a degree in Accounting from a B&M school that probably has job placement resources and an alumni network that he can utilize.

    Good point. He is going to have to make some tough decisions.

    Is the requirement 150 hours total? If so is the difference between the typical 120-130 additional accounting class credit?
     
  9. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member


    Its just some rule they made up a several years ago. Previously, one could sit for the CPA with a 120hr bachelors in accounting and no work experience. For whatever reason, they upped it to 150 hours, and usually 1 year work experience. What a lot of programs have done is created Master's degree programs where students can get the additional hours. The only state that I know of that doesn't require 150 hours is Delaware.

    Within the 150 hours, a certain number of hours must be accounting (usually 24-30), and (in some cases) a certain number must be "business". Also, many states have requires on which courses must be taken. For example, in Illinois 24 hours is required. Of those, you must take at least 1 course each financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax, and audit. Check the requirements for your state, because there is a little variation among each state.
     
  10. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    I found a link to the education requirements in Minnesota for the CPA exam:
    Minnesota CPA education, exam and certificate requirements.

    To sit for the CPA exam:
    Bachelor's or higher degree that includes or is supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of accounting at the upper division (junior-senior) level or graduate level, including coverage of, but not necessarily separate courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting.

    To earn the CPA certificate:
    150 hours, which must include at least the following:
    * 24 semester hours of upper division or graduate level courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting
    * 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate level courses in business-related subjects or accounting
    * No more than six hours of this 48 may be from internships or life experience.

    Note: Additional internship hours over the six allowed within the accounting and business concentration can be applied toward the 150 hours.

    There is also a 1 year experience requirement.

    For more information on the rules in Minnesota check this link:
    Becoming a CPA in Minnesota: Education, CPA Exam, Certification requirements
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2010
  11. davesaint

    davesaint New Member

    He actually lives in St. Louis now since he just married my daughter the week before last.
     
  12. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

  13. JeepNerd

    JeepNerd New Member

    If he can find a program where they will let him skip (or earn on his way) the Bachelors degree and instead get his MS in Accounting he should be eligible for the CPA exam (which some double checking as noted)

    You will be surprised at how often you can get into that (Masters program in Accounting) due to the fact that many schools are not even bothering to graduate students with Bachelors in Accounting any more. Instead they offer a 5 year program where you finish with your Masters.
     
  14. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    True. Several of the MAcc (Masters in Accountancy) programs seam to assume that you have taken only Managerial Accounting and Financial Accounting.
     
  15. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    In the FWIW department -

    My wife currently does Columbia College of Missouri online and really likes it. They gave her excellent transfer of her previous credits.

    If he plans on living and working in Missouri then that would have a decent local reputation and a network for employment purposes. Also, I think the BSBA would be a more well-rounded degree again depending on his career goals.
     
  16. friartuck

    friartuck New Member

  17. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    As much as WGU is a decent choice for education, nursing and IT it would seem most business students might benefit more from the name recognition of local B&M schools and/or AACSB schools.
     
  18. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    This isn't uncommon. At most schools you earn a degree in Bus. Admin and major in a particular business discipline. My degree from Auburn reads
    'Bachelor of Science in Business Administration'
    'Concentration in Economics'

    What Columbia College is offering is an accounting degree. Don't let the wording discourage you (or your son-in-law)
     

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