Pros and Cons of Accounting Courses

Businesses vary greatly in terms of their goals and the goods and services they provide, but every business deals with money. Accountants are financial professionals that keep track of money; many college and universities offer accounting courses to help prepare students for jobs in accounting, business and management. Taking accounting can have a variety of potential advantages and disadvantages.

Building Work Skills

Accounting is one of the most basic aspects of running a successful business. If you can't keep track of your money, and make sound financial decisions, it is difficult to run a profitable business. Taking accounting courses can help prepare students for careers in accounting and business and can also be useful for entrepreneurs. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants help clients "by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documents" and performing "budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services." Many of these skills can be useful even if you do not plan to become an accountant.

Quantitative Reasoning

Accounting courses are largely quantitative, meaning students must work with numbers and solve problems based on numbers such as fictitious financial data. Courses that are heavy on quantitative reasoning can be a pro or a con depending on the student. Students who excel at math may find accounting easy and earn high grades with minimal effort while those who struggle with numbers are likely to find accounting courses difficult.

Career Opportunities

Taking courses in accounting or majoring in accounting in college can open attractive career opportunities. According to the BLS, the demand for accountants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all jobs, and "median annual wages of wage and salary accountants and auditors were $59,430 in May 2008." Furthermore, becoming an accountant often does not require any education beyond a four-year degree. Accountants can take exams to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to increase earning potential and job opportunities.

Course Enjoyment

Accounting is a practical subject but some may consider course material dry, overly factual or dull. Accounting courses are likely to involve performing numerical problems similar to a math or science class, which can be time consuming. If you do not enjoy math or statistics, you may not enjoy accounting. If you like solving problems and working with numbers, accounting may be enjoyable or even relaxing.

References

• BLS: Accountants and Auditors
• Msstate: Top 10 Reasons to Major in Accounting