Getting accounting degree to get CPA or CMA

I've been working on Great Plains as a software developer for about 5 years in the capacity of developing an eCommerce website for our clients that does about a million in revenue per year, and also by supporting the installation and configuration of the Great Plains itself.

My inspiration now though is that I would like to take my work and understanding of it to a much higher level by obtaining some formal schooling in accounting and am perhaps considering the pursuit of a CPA or CMA over the next few years which I understand is nothing to take lightly and am deeply considering the implications of doing this. With a degree in Computer Science this is all well and good, but I notice that in my state (Maryland) one's bachelor's degree must be in one of a handful of specific disciplines such as Accounting, Econ, or Business Management in order to get a CPA. Has anyone here that's majored in a non-business major gone back to get their accounting degree so they could get a CPA? I'm assuming that as long as you go to the same school, the electives you took for your first degree should generally transfer to your second degree much like they would if you had double majored to begin with.

I want to improve my accounting skills for 2 reasons, to obtain a level of competence in working the product above and beyond what I already have, and to obtain the credibility I need when I speak to clients and internal finance staff about our Great Plains implementation. In that vein, are there any other formally recognized accounting programs that might fall short of a CPA or a Bachelors in Accounting for someone like me, that would still deliver:

1) a reasonable level of competence in accounting principles 2) the credibility I need to help us get the most out of our system regardless of whether I take the long term plunge to go for a CPA or CMA?

Thanks.

Reply to
Rob Wuhrman
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do both...imho...

Reply to
~^ beancounter ~^

RW> I've been working on Great Plains as a software developer for about RW> 5 RW> years in the capacity of developing an eCommerce website for our RW> clients that does about a million in revenue per year, and also by RW> supporting the installation and configuration of the Great Plains RW> itself.

RW> My inspiration now though is that I would like to take my work and RW> understanding of it to a much higher level by obtaining some formal RW> schooling in accounting and am perhaps considering the pursuit of a RW> CPA RW> or CMA over the next few years which I understand is nothing to take RW> lightly and am deeply considering the implications of doing this. RW> With RW> a degree in Computer Science this is all well and good, but I notice RW> that in my state (Maryland) one's bachelor's degree must be in one RW> of a RW> handful of specific disciplines such as Accounting, Econ, or RW> Business RW> Management in order to get a CPA. Has anyone here that's majored in RW> a RW> non-business major gone back to get their accounting degree so they RW> could get a CPA? I'm assuming that as long as you go to the same RW> school, the electives you took for your first degree should RW> generally RW> transfer to your second degree much like they would if you had RW> double RW> majored to begin with.

I have known a few non-business majors who went back for the accounting degree and later a CPA. The requirements for the CPA do not stipulate that you need a degree in any particular field, only that you have so many business and accounting hours. In Texas, you need 150 total hours, 45 of which have to be higher level accounting. To get that, you could get an undergrad accounting degree with some extra accounting, or like me, I got my BBA in management then went back for a masters in accounting. Also, I didn't think you need to go back to the school you got your first degree, since most accredited colleges will let you transfer credit, but be sure before you go getting enrolled.

RW> I want to improve my accounting skills for 2 reasons, to obtain a RW> level RW> of competence in working the product above and beyond what I already RW> have, and to obtain the credibility I need when I speak to clients RW> and RW> internal finance staff about our Great Plains implementation. In RW> that RW> vein, are there any other formally recognized accounting programs RW> that RW> might fall short of a CPA or a Bachelors in Accounting for someone RW> like RW> me, that would still deliver:

RW> 1) a reasonable level of competence in accounting principles RW> 2) the credibility I need to help us get the most out of our system RW> regardless of whether I take the long term plunge to go for a CPA or RW> CMA?

A comp-sci/accounting background would be a huge plus as far as I can tell. Be warned though, accounting is not a black and white as computer programming, so it may not fit your preference.

Reply to
Joker

Funny thing is that computer programming is not so black and white, either.

As I understand it, the geek is not in high demand these days. What they do want is a technically-trained businessperson. They want someone that can communicate with users and programmers, analyze business needs, and translate them to specifications. And then send those specs to India for implementation.

Reply to
Gregory L. Hansen

I'm one of those weirdos.

Not 45 in higher level accounting... 30 (36 total, including the standard two "intro" courses), plus a certain number of other business course hours.

NASBA has requirements by state here:

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$file/CPAPractReq2002.PDF There are also links to the individual state boards on the NASBA site.

-Holly

Reply to
Holly Sommer

The actual coding of programs is the black and white part, the rest of it isn't... in particular trying to nail down the business requirements which often change during the project.

In any case, the program either compiles to executable code or it doesn't... it either functions as per the specifications or it doesn't

Doing that doesn't always work as they expect it will.

Reply to
Joe Canuck

Choosing a programming style (object-oriented, structured, etc.), a design philosophy (iterative, waterfall, etc.), designing the user interface, designing the data structures, specifying logical units of program, etc., all bring subjectivity to it. Even determining what the specifications actually are, and allowing them to change during development, is part of the process.

No. But they do it.

Reply to
Gregory L. Hansen

I earned two degrees in Music and taught public school music for a few years before going back to school and getting a Masters of Accountancy (U of I) and sitting for the exam. At that time (late '70's), UI had a special curriculum for Masters students that didn't have a business of accounting background. Basically took an extra year to get the degree, but I think it was worth it.

I don't know if they still have the program, but I'd look around for something like that.

Bill

Reply to
Bill Lentz

HS> I'm one of those weirdos.

HS> Not 45 in higher level accounting... 30 (36 total, including the HS> standard two "intro" courses), plus a certain number of other HS> business HS> course hours.

You're right. I was thinking of the total hours I needed to get my Masters.

Reply to
Joker

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