MST programs that accept students WITHOUT undergrad degrees

You are equating a proven system of earning legitimate credit based on experience or education through testing to not having a degree at all? Good argument. It isn't over a few weeks, he has 35 years of experience.

 

Huh? Settle down...I didn't say I had an argument. I simply made an observation. I find the BA in 3-weeks thing fascinating, especially in the context of this "short-cut" argument against the OP (whom is 34 years old and could not have 35 years of experience).

This OP was attacked by some for wanting to get a masters degree without a bachelors. The opportunity does in fact exist, although perhaps not in taxation.

Disclaimer: I earned my BA the old fashioned way.

 

I didn't remember if it was 34 or 35 and didn't care enough to read back over the thread, so I settled for a round number in 35. Plus, his mother played classical music for him while he was in the womb so he does have around 35 years of experience.

 

The OP raised a legitimate question that merits a legitimate answer, without the necessity of being lectured at.

The unnecessary vitriol that habitually accompanies people's responses on Degreeinfo is what usually causes unnecessary fights among posters and is one of the reasons a lot of people are turned off by this forum.

 

Well, that certainly does put you ahead of a lot of folks who hold a PhD in income, but not in educational accomplishments. (Unless you have published and defended dissertation somewhere.)

Congrats to you. You've managed to do something many of us may never do. However I would strongly encourage you to pursue an undergrad. You have many legitimate options that will not require you to go to school for four years. I personally feel that you learn some things in your undergrad that you do not learn in your graduate studies. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you found a way to shortcut yourself around your undergrad.

 

Shortcut

My thought is simply if there is a way for me to test out than let me test out. "education" by the majorities terms are "sitting through classes, and taking tests, passing the class and moving on to the next course" correct? Well I'm simply stating-Let me test out of these. No free pass.... By why sit through class after class and take a test in the end of I come out of the class without learning much of anything I didn't already know? Wouldn't it serve everyone's interest (except the Univerisities revenues) to allow one to test out of something?

Secondly, Minnesota is where I obtained my CPA. Yes MOST states NOW have education requirements HOWEVER those were only implemented a few years ago. I was lucky and was able to sit w.out any "education" requirements. Now does that make be a "incompetent" CPA because I lack the "formal" education behind my name? It's the same test......So I guess for those who care about "formal" education you better check with your CPA if you've been with them for more than 4-5 years to see if they hold a degree...Just think that they can be someone as "uneducated" as me.

 

If you read what I'm asking I'm not requesting an exemption based on income status. I was only pointing out that I've apparently made some accomplishments and achieved some success without taking the tradition pathway.

 

Hey, if you know the material then you KNOW the material. If you can pass the CPA test, schooling or not, then you are a CPA. I'm sure the only reason there are education requirements is to ensure that people are not wasting time testing individuals who could never pass the CPA. I think you are an exception and should be congratulated.

 

Since you are well established in your profession, you might not need a regionally accredited school to get what you are looking for. You might look into some of the nationally accredited schools, such as those with DETC accreditation. You may find some schools within this group that have more lenient entry requirements.

 

The fact that a person holds a CPA would strongly support acceptance into a Masters Degree in the business area.

If you wanted, for example, to do comparative research on a topic area in taxation involving the US and Australia, then an Australian University would be very likely to accept you. Something along comparative line would be very doable.

Because many Australian businesspeople are strongly connected to the US, then there may be some universities that would do a US orientated research topic. A number of universities here also have US trained faculty. There is a surprising number of US immigrants now in the university demographic.

Just some thoughts that may help you.

 

Wow, I'm REALLY surprised with the replies here. Why so much vitriol against the OP?

I mean, c'mon, this is a forum about distance learning, something that a LOT of people in the mainstream still think is not legitimate and a unethical shortcut.

Also, it's a forum where we tend to discuss A LOT about how to get the cheapest and fastest degre. And I'm pretty sure you are all aware that a lot of people also don't thinking testing out should be aloud.

So we're basically about the shortcut (testing out) of the shortcut (distance learning) and you people treat the guy badly just because he asked if would be possible to go directly for the Master? Geez.

He never asked about Diploma Mills or anything illegal or unethical.
And as some people said earlier, it IS possible to do that legally, although not in the USA (but in the UK it's common too. not only Australia).

 

I can't imagine an MST program that would admit you without a bachelor's, notwithstanding your CPA. Where's the evidence of your ability to succeed in the program? My institution routinely declines admission to our MST program to CPAs (with a bachelors degree) for low GPAs or low GMAT scores.

Most MST programs are AACSB-accredited, and wouldn't take the chance that an accreditation review team might make an issue of your admission. This is also an issue for their regional accreditors.

The only scenario I can think of that might work is if you were VERY close to graduating with a BA in accounting when you dropped out. Even in this case, there would be a LOT of people that would have to sign off on it.

I would also caution you - don't think that your business experience is going to get you through an MST program. Most MST programs are full of practicing tax attorneys and CPAs, including partners. From experience (both mine and my classmates), I can tell you that you will find out just how much you don't know about tax, even with your EA.

I strongly recommend that you look at TESC or Excelsior for an undergraduate degree. I know that TESC gives credit for the CPA, and I would expect Excelsior to do so also. You may be very close to an undergraduate degree. Check the box.

 

Exactly! How can anyone sit here and criticize the OP for not wanting to follow the traditional "way of things" when this forum is full of people that promote DL as fully equivalent to B&M and attack those who discriminate against DL grads?

If there is any masters degree on the planet that should be able to be done without an undergrad it is the MST. It requires absolutely no prior knowledge in anything except the ability to read, analyze, write, and use basic algebra.

 

I agree with your thoughts here. A BA or BS is a demonstration of basic competency. If one can demonstrate this competency by exam (and I think the CPA would count for a large portion of a degree), then that's a completely different matter than simply being admitted to a MST without a degree.

 

Not to dissuade the OP from pursuing a masters without a bachelors but many companies use electronic automated hiring systems that contain grade out questions. A negative response to a question of "Do you have a bachelors degree in...?" will result in an ineligible rating for a position.

 

I can only find one state in the US that will let you sit for the CPA with out the 120+ undergrad degree and they have to have an AA or AS. So where did you sit for the CPA?

 

I had nearly forgotten about a past experience. A certain employer gave me a lower raise because I didn't have an Associates degree. (Even though I *did* have a Bachelors degree!) Whatever formula they were using to calculate a raise dinged you for not having an Associates even though you have a Bachelors. Apparently this particular group of managers would not allow common -sense to enter the equation.

Needless to say, I subsequently found other employment.

 

Take a look at his post (#26 of this thread).

 

Thanks Mac...I missed that whole post

 

to the OP. Call the following schools and ask.

:: Welcome To William Howard Taft University ::


Masters of Taxation Admissions

“If the applicant does not meet the criteria for routine admission, the committee may also consider other evidence of academic ability including, but not limited to the following:
• Trend of undergraduate work,
• Letters of recommendation,
• Professional experience, …..”