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Hi, I'm a sophomore in college, about to become a junior. My major is accounting.
My school offers two kinds of degrees for business related majors, either you can get a BBA in the subject (so my degree would be a Bachelors of Business Administration- Accounting), or you can get a BS (In my case, it'd be a Bachelors of Science - Accounting).
When I asked my adviser if there was a difference between the two, he said that if you get a BS, you have to fulfill a requirement of completing 2 extra math classes. That's it. That's the only difference. Just two extra classes.
Is there a difference between these degrees? Is there something better about the BS that makes the two extra classes worth it? What would you recommend, or what do most people get? Will one make me more employable than the other?
It doesn't matter for the Bachelor in Accounting if it's a BA or a BS; do whichever will get you better grades. The thing with accounting is that if you want to have the most opportunities at jobs that pay well, you really need a CPA which just about requires that you get a Masters degree in most states. This is probably some of the reason why the BA vs. BS for accounting doesn't matter is because lots of accounting grads go on to get Masters degrees in Accounting, which makes their Bachelor degree no longer matter.
It depends on what your future career goals are but most grads with just BS/BA accounting degrees and no CPA hit glass ceilings where they can't be promoted beyond a certain point because they lack the CPA.
The person above me has it right. If the two extra math classes extends your time, I would get the BBA. Check and see if your school has a dual Bachelors/Masters in accounting. I am enrolled at the one in my school, and I get to sub in two of my grad classes for my undergrad. When I graduate I will receive both degrees at the same time and be eligible to sit for the CPA exam immediately.
It doesn't matter for the Bachelor in Accounting if it's a BA or a BS; do whichever will get you better grades. The thing with accounting is that if you want to have the most opportunities at jobs that pay well, you really need a CPA which just about requires that you get a Masters degree in most states. This is probably some of the reason why the BA vs. BS for accounting doesn't matter is because lots of accounting grads go on to get Masters degrees in Accounting, which makes their Bachelor degree no longer matter.
It depends on what your future career goals are but most grads with just BS/BA accounting degrees and no CPA hit glass ceilings where they can't be promoted beyond a certain point because they lack the CPA.
The OP was asking about a BBA, not a BA. They aren't the same thing.
The OP was asking about a BBA, not a BA. They aren't the same thing.
I saw that but assumed it was a mistake since the OP mentioned that there was only a 2 class difference between the two degrees. If it wasn't a mistake it doesn't make sense that there could be only a 2 class difference between a Bachelors in Accounting and a Bachelors of Business Administration - Accounting. Especially since the two different classes are math classes. Business Administration degrees even with an accounting focus usually need less accounting classes than an accounting degree.
But I will check to see if they have some kind of enrollment where I can get my masters too, because I do plan on getting my masters on accounting.
I imagine that if I get a masters, my undergraduate degree won't matter. But seeing as I'm not sure if I should get my masters right away, then I'll have to use my bachelors to look for employment, so it would matter then.
I saw that but assumed it was a mistake since the OP mentioned that there was only a 2 class difference between the two degrees. If it wasn't a mistake it doesn't make sense that there could be only a 2 class difference between a Bachelors in Accounting and a Bachelors of Business Administration - Accounting. Especially since the two different classes are math classes. Business Administration degrees even with an accounting focus usually need less accounting classes than an accounting degree.
That used to be the case, but things have changed at many (most?) schools. Now, there is little, if any meaningful difference in the major coursework between a BS in accounting, and a BBA in accounting.
After looking at the website you provided, I don't see much advantage of getting the BS. The additional courses aren't even accounting courses, they are math and statistics. If you have the interest, go ahead, otherwise I would go the route that requires fewer classes overall. Get done, and move onto your Master's so you can sit for the CPA exam.
I am a CPA and graduated with a BBA in accountancy. My school didn't offer a BS in accountancy, just a BBA. Nobody has ever even noticed/mentioned/questioned the BBA, they just say "what was your major" and I reply "accounting". Even the Big 4 accounting firm I used to work for didn't bring it up, and they see accounting degrees of all types.
So unless you're great at math and want to use it as a way to get a higher GPA, I'd say skip the BS.
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