Different Types of Accounting Degree Programs

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Are Their Different Types of Accounting Degree Programs?

Different Types of Accounting Degree Programs

Not long ago, you would have been limited to only a few choices in accounting degree programs. You had the choice of a B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) Degree in Accounting or a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) Degree in Accounting. Now, the many changes in corporate responsibilities, the well-publicized problems of some major companies that have failed and the explosion of the number of online universities offering accounting programs has given rise to areas of concentration within the accounting major college program itself.
There are now accounting degree programs structured to the three primary accounting licensing specialties: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). If you know that one of these licensed categories is for you, understand that the degree requirements vary for each. CPA studies are concentrated on the outside audit function and financial statement interpretation, while CMA-related subjects lean heavily on the management function of accounting information. CIA licensing has become widely popular in the 21st century because of the failure of some major corporations (Enron, WorldComm, etc.) which led to passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These new regulations apply to financial reporting requirements for public companies and the function of internal auditing has gained new importance

Forensic accounting, a term not even in existence until fairly recently, has become another area that is now popular. While all auditing-related functions are technically “forensic,” since you are looking at prior period company operations and accounting entries, this new field specifically focuses on potential fraud or other prohibited types of financial reporting. If you already have a specific goal for your accounting training, you can now find accounting degree colleges that offer courses on your projected career specialty.

   

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