About an Accounting Professional Degree

Accountants work closely with money, advising clients and maximizing profit.

Professional accountants earn salaries that are considered good, and they are often very in demand. A program that leads to an accounting degree teaches individuals the skills and knowledge they need to pursue this lucrative, reliable profession. Accounting students graduate with healthy career prospects and often land a job right out of college working for a small business, a large company or even an individual client. Industry standards for accountants are high, and someone without an accounting degree has slim chances of finding employment in accounting.

Basic Coursework

Accounting students must first learn the basics. Most students complete the basic coursework within the first two years of their degree program and then specialize in an area once they master the fundamentals. Basic coursework, according to Education-Portal.com, typically includes classes in basic accounting, economics, marketing, business law, statistics and computers.

Specialty Coursework

As accounting students get deeper into their studies, they usually can choose to specialize in a certain area. Example specializations include cost accounting; not-for-profit accounting; federal, corporate and personal taxation; investment and security analysis; management and financial accounting; and auditing. Students elect courses based on their chosen area of study.

Skills Development

Accounting students develop a wide range of important skills for their future career. They learn to use popular accounting software, advise companies and individuals on their financial planning, write financial reports, understand federal and state tax laws, and interpret all kinds of financial data. They also learn valuable customer service skills and become familiar with ethical business practices.

Degree Programs

Instead of the standard four-year bachelor's degree program in accounting, people pursuing careers in this field can obtain an associate's degree in accounting. This may be a good option for individuals with a tight education budget who can't afford the full four-year program. Many employers hire job candidates with only an associate's degree if they show promise. Those who want to advance further in the career often pursue a master of business degree or master of business administration degree with a concentration in accounting, which usually takes two years to complete. Another option is the master of accounting, or MAcc, degree.

References

• Education-Portal.com: Bachelor of Science (BS): Professional Accounting Degree Overview
• All Business Schools: Accounting Degree and Career Resource Guide
• EduChoices.org: Accounting Degree Information--MBA Degree Information