Help pls, how important is AACSB MBA if I don't plan to teach

Kristie - Can you tell me the name of any schools in the U.S. that are AACSB but not RA?

Thanks - Andy

 

I believe she was writing about schools not in this U.S. Or possibly she was referring to the thread discussing specialized vs. institutional accreditation, where a couple examples were given of a specialized accreditor (NASAD) being the schools only accreditation. I don't remember anyone giving any examples of AACSB, APA, etc. being a schools only accreditation though.

Although Utah doesn't require AACSB accreditation to sit for the CPA exam, having a degree from an AACSB school (or an ACBSP school) sure makes it a lot easier. There are big differences in how the licensing board will scrutinize your transcripts. For example, a graduate degree in accounting (AACSB or ACBSP) will qualify you to sit for the exam by itself. A graduate degree in business (AACSB or ACBSP) will qualify you to sit for the exam with at least

An undergrad business/accounting degree plus 30 s/h (AACSB or ACBSP) is also relatively lenient in regards to not specifying exact business classes required. In contrast, a transcript (undergrad + 30 or graduate) from a RA only school is screened course by course to with a specific list of prerequisites.
Perhaps this is because the board reasons that a school with one of these extra accreditations automatically covers all the areas required for holders of RA only degrees. However, I have looked at some MACC and MPACC degrees offered by AACSB schools and believe that if their curriculum was reviewed in the same way as RA only schools curriculum is, they might not make the cut (this is mostly depending on where the student did his/her undergraduate work). I don't think this is really fair, but then again...{insert favorite bromide here}.


Utah CPA


Tony

 

International degree, and there are a couple domestic. If you do a search, there is a thread about it - about 2 months back.

 

Back to the Illinois requirement:

“credit earned from a college or university which is a candidate for or is accredited by a regional accrediting association which is recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA)”

Maybe what they’re saying is since CORPA no longer exists RA alone won’t be accepted. While this would be, of course, totally illogical we are after all dealing with Illinois bureaucrats.

 

Kristie,
I think that there is a little mixup here. Only foreign schools are not required to be RA. All U.S schools MUST be RA to apply for for AACSB accreditation.

 

I didn't read it backwards. Nowhere on the page does it say what accrediting agencies are recognized by the board for people taking the test AFTER 01/01/2001. Those agencies are listed for people taking the test BEFORE 01/01/2001. It is rather confusing. That's why I called the office!

On two seperate occasions I was told that schools must be AACSB (ACBSP will also qualify, I didn't mention that before), but a degree from a school that is RA only without AACSB or ACBSP will not qualify.

That may appear to contradict the website, but that is what I was told by the board. If they don't know the answer, who does?

I wish I was wrong about this because I would like to take the test but am not yet qualified. However, I don't think I'm wrong.


Please call them yourself if you don't believe me.

 

The board (through their web site) says one thing and an employee of the organization told you something else. I believe you because it happens all the time. It happens because some employees in an organization are not fully informed.

 

I'm not absolutely certain but I suspect some folks (and I'll include myself here) are seriously confused.

It is explicitly stated on the IBE web site that, provided one enrolls at Keller, educational credit for the Becker Conviser CPA review courses will be accepted towards taking the exam. Keller is accredited by neither the AACSB nor ACBSP.

Further, the College of DuPage offers an "Advanced Accounting Certificate" which, upon completion, purportedly meets the IBE course requirements (or a substantial portion thereof) to take the CPA exam. Like Keller, COD is neither AACSB nor ACBSP accredited.

 

Funny you should mention Keller. I was seriously considering their MBA in Accounting. In their catalog, they state that there degree prepares graduates to take the CPA. I specifically asked the IBE about them and was told they don't qualify. Upon hearing this, I asked a rep at Keller and after some pressing and "research" on her part, she admitted that their MBA in Accounting would not pass muster with the IBE.

This is starting to get ridiculous!

Anybody else have an idea?

 

No, I'd say we've already gotten to that point.

Unless I'm reading this wrong (which I sincerely hope is the case), then anyone who has a bachelor's with a concentration in accounting (plus the extra hours) from any old stinkhole RA institution now trumps someone with a bachelor's AND a master's =unless= that master's is from an AACSB or ACBSP accredited institution.

What in the hell are they thinking?

 

Homer - Perhaps they see the value of professional accreditation through an institution that is accredited by a CHEA recognized accreditor. It would seem that AACSB and ACBSP know something about business education - and schools that are accredited by one of these two bodies, all others things equal, may offer superior business education.

I've taught at AACSB, ACBSP and non-accredited schools. I really believe that the hoops that AACSB (especially) and ACBSP make schools jump through make a real difference in the caliber of education.

Regards - Andy

 

Andy, I have heard many people teach at both, so if the faculty is similar, what is the difference? (I mean this as a true inquiry, not sarcasm).

 

UMass - Amherst MBA

I would check the following programs .. online & no residency req

UMass - Amherst ; AACSB
http://www.umass.edu/mba
37 credits .. $600/credit

GeorgiaWeb MBA
only $10,000 - also AACSB

Indiana Univ is about $35,000 and requires 2 weeks residency.

Why not get an MBA from a B&M school and AACSB accredited ... if you ever want to do a PhD more credits would be recognized.

http://www.henleymc.ac.uk is a British School also AACSB certified but it may take 2.5 - 3 yrs - no travel
Good luck ..

 

I am attending the University of Tulsa. They required a residency for my class, but they have worked around 2 of the trips, where I had a conflict. 3 times a year for 2 yeaars. They are starting a new class in the Fall, and are considering no residency. I can give you the coordinator info, they can make exceptions. One person lived in Uganda, and he didn't attend the residency requirements until last semester, so only one for him.

The nice part about TU is that they are a private university, which makes it very personalized. The coordinator deals with registration, tuition issues, lunches when we are their, etc. He also is the recruiter. The class size is also about 25, so everybody knows everybody, a real homey feeling if you don't want to be cattle in the herd.

And they are AACSB.

Let me know, I will e-mail directly to you.

 

Soooo April - You thought I was kidding when I said I'd start the replies rolling in How are you doing? Do you have any additional questions for all these knowledgeable people?
Jack

 

There are differences between professionally accredited schools (AACSB especially and ACBSP) and RA only accredited schools. If you are looking for the fastest and cheapest way to earn an MBA, don't go to an AACSB or ACBSP school. If you want a higher quality of education - the best business schools in the world are AACSB accredited.

1. Faculty requirements - both AACSB and ACBSP schools have faculty requirements that are significantly stronger than most RA only schools have. Many RA only schools use armies of "term at a time" adjuncts that provide little continuity to the program, advising to students or research. AACSB and ACBSP put limits on this practice. Notably, AACSB has created a new concept on the "involvement" level of faculty. Both require faculty to be active in scholarly pursuits. ACBSP has a somewhat broader concept of "scholarship", but it requires (as does AACSB) that faculty be intellectually alive above the neck. This is not to say that practice isn't valued - I see AACSB and ACBSP schools often hiring the best faculty, those with academic and professional credentials.

2. Curriculum - both AACSB and ACBSP have curriculum requirements. ACBSP, for example, has a defined common professional core. RA only schools aren't constrained - and in some cases are tempted to, for example, "go light on quantitative topics" if that's what their students want.

3. Outcome assessment - This has become a hot button of late. Accredited schools are under increased pressure to demonstrate learning outcomes.

3. Admission - Almost all the AACSB schools I know of use the GMAT (and undergrad GPA) in admissions decisions. While some may disagree with practice, I believe you'll find higher caliber students in accredited programs (especially AACSB).

4. Review - Both AACSB and ACBSP schools have to report to their accreditors and undergo periodic reviews. In my experience these reviews force faculty and administration to review curriculum, hire higher quality faculty and other tasks that benefit the educational process.

Regards - Andy

 

Andy,

If that were the case, they would require AACSB (or ACBSP) at =all= levels. They don't. Apparently, provided one's master's (or higher) degree is from an AACSB/ACBSP accredited school, they couldn't care less that the bachelor's was earned at the world's most pathetic (RA) degree-granting institution.............doesn't make much sense to me.

Perhaps the true testament to the fact that this is really form over substance is they seem perfectly willing to accept grades of "D" even if the school does not recognize the credit. I can only conclude that they're not all that interested in the quality of the candidates as long as the grad schools they attended (if any) have the appropriate "lettering".

 

This makes me think seriously on my decesion to go to non-aacsb online university.

 

For some reason I was curious enough about this to send a quick email to the Illinois Board of Examiners. Their response does not agree with what Greg was told over the phone. Here's my email, along with their response (actually the 2nd of each, since in their first response they just asked me to send in my transcripts for evaluation):

My initial email asked specifically about Amberton University, since I know that they are "only" regionally accredited.

 

FWIW, I got my MBA from RA non-AACSB Golden Gate University in 1985. In the intervening 18 years I've never had anyone ask about AACSB. Similarly, my BA in Communications was from RA ACEJMC Cal State Fullerton. Again, in 28 years I've never had anyone ask if the program was ACEJMC accredited. My guess is 95% don't know, the rest don't much care. If you can afford the extra alphabet soup, go for it. But a winning football program probably carries more weight.