University of Connecticut MS in Accounting

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by DBA_Curious, Jan 14, 2010.

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  1. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Well...here goes.

    I've taken the plunge and will be starting with the University of Connecticut's MS in Accounting program. I have a CPA and MBA and the combination has helped me to land adjunct jobs at three different institutions but I'd like to be even more competitive so here goes...

    If anyone has questions, I'll share from time to time. This is my 1st foray into online education as a student in quite some time (probably 5-6 years). It'll be interesting seeing things from the other side of the fence and will probably make me a better instructor.

    As a warm-up, I recently took an online course from the University of WI system. I'm glad I did it.
     
  2. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    How was the admissions process?
     
  3. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Very straight-forward. Easy to work with.

    My background includes a Master's and CPA, however so that may have helped.
     
  4. sshuang

    sshuang New Member


    Hi DBA_Curious,

    Why don't you just go for a Doctor's since you already have a MBA?
     
  5. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    I'm not sold on the ROI of anything other than a full-time PhD program. I adjunct at a small B&M in my home-town (we're talking Tier 1 Bachelor's) and I've seen distance PhD's have a hard time gaining acceptance there. I don't think it's a good pathway to a full-time position and I'm already a successful adjunct with all I can handle.

    One of my goals with this is to adjunct at an AACSB school. U Conn's program is top 20 nation-wide so I actually think this program will facilitate that goal more than a distance PhD might.

    Of course, the proof will be in the pudding. We shall see.
     
  6. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    For the record I completely agree with your statement regarding ROI based on what I've seen in the Northeast. (Other areas may vary but who knows, not I)

    Follow up question: Did you have an undergrad business degree or was the MBA sufficient to gain admission?

    Thanks.
     
  7. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    I have an undergrad in business as well but I'm not sure what weighed most heavily in the process.
     
  8. sshuang

    sshuang New Member



    Do they require GMAT?
     
  9. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    One of my friends is a PhD candidate in accounting at UConn, I actually asked her about this program just a few weeks ago. Almost all of the courses are taught by tenured track professors, no adjuncts. She also mentioned that UConn was one of the first schools to offer the MAcc entirely online.

    Best of luck to you in the program.
     
  10. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Yes. It's your typical graduate admissions package. 3 letters of recommendation. GMAT. Essays...
     
  11. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    The quality of the program was what drew me to it. To be frank, I'm pretty psyched!
     
  12. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    Reason I asked was the auditing and accounting pre-reqs to the program are somewhat outside the normal MBA program but doable within one if you play your electives well.
     
  13. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    True, but this is a MS in Accounting and I like the fact that there are technical prerequisites. There are too many 'graduate' programs in accounting that are really just the 3rd and 4th year of study 'pumped' up to graduate level.

    As stated, the content seems challenging and appears to build on previous study. To me, that's the real purpose of a graduate program. What passes for accounting in a lot of MBA courses is really watered down because many people hate the subject.

    And, to be fair, most MBA programs would be better off replacing the 'Managerial Accounting' course with a 'Financial Statement Analysis' course for generalists. I don't think too many MBA's are doing variance analysis for manufacturing overhead these days. That managerial accounting course would work for those taking an operations management specialization, however.
     
  14. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    Yeah I have no issues with technical prereqs, especially since the program is as highly regarded as it is. You have to expect those.

    I asked because after seeing this program I have to add it to my list of future possibilities; once that's done it's a matter of figuring out what I'd need to do. Your answer helped. (especially since I'm in managerial accounting this semester)

    Thanks
     
  15. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    If you're digging managerial accounting, that's a good sign but the public stuff is a lot different just because of GAAP. With managerial, the rules are basically 'What makes for a good decision process?'

    Another good sign would be if you really enjoy your ethics class.
     
  16. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    Well here's the skinny:

    My financial accounting class made a good number of us cry. This doesn't necessarily scare me though as I'm pretty sure the professor's methodologies would have made the Baby Jesus cry. The syllabus looked more like a spreadsheet you'd track eye movement on.

    Managerial seems lighter and more easily understood to me in review of the syllabus and the texts. In terms of ethics. I took two semesters of it undergrad (professional and philosophic) and did just fine. Honestly, I think the time spent learning system auditing in IT helped with that part of it more than the philosophic did.

    Right now this program intrigues as does Suffolk's Masters in International Economics/JD program. Catch is the MSA is online. If I go to Suffolk I have to sit B&M, but it's right around the corner from my office. We'll see.
     
  17. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Interesting!

    This makes me wonder if you'd enjoy an applied economics degree? Have you checked out the University of North Dakota's MA in Applied Economics. Yes, it's distance but a component of the program is working on an applied research project within their economic consulting outreach department (and I think that type of in-depth work really mitigates any criticism from something being distance).

    You may be into that type of applied analysis more so than the hard-core accounting stuff. If I started from scratch today, I might go that route myself.
     
  18. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    Thank you. That looks like an excellent program (AACSB and all). When you had mentioned North Dakota I immediately thought of the agribusiness side of things and it turned me away from the program. I didn't know about this one.

    Much appreciated. It's in the review list. :)
     
  19. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    You're welcome. Your posts made me think you were a kindred soul. Economic analysis is fascinating. And that program's ability to allow you to consult on a real project is a smart add-on. You'd graduate with a portfolio of work.

    Back to U Conn - the program isn't entirely at a distance. There's a mandatory week in residence in May 2010. I don't mind, however, because it's probably going to be a great networking opportunity.
     
  20. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Whoa! Logged on today to download my readings and I am MORE excited than ever. In place of textbooks for two classes, we're using a library of relevant journal articles and professional writings. Yes, this feels substantive and rigorous!

    I had to buy 4" capacity binders (the 800 page variety) to really fit everything into them comfortably. I think each class has about 300-400 pages of reading in addition to quizzes, final exams and a comprehensive term project.

    If I make it through this...I'll be ready to tackle the world!
     

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