We recently wrote an article about receiving an associate degree in accounting. Depending what you want on your career, this may or may not be a good idea. However, we wanted to provide some additional information on receiving an associate degree in accounting online.
Almost everyone knows the benefits of getting a degree online: (1) you can complete the course work on your own time, (2) you can complete the course work from home, and (3) the classes are usually a bit more practical as opposed to theoretical.
Being able to complete the course work from home and on your own time may be absolutely necessary for you depending on your situation. The third advantage listed above about being practical is also important. Having a practical experience will allow the student to contribute immediately.
Some potential disadvantages of receiving an online associate degree in accounting may include (1) lack of credibility and (2) lack of networking opportunities.
A lot of the online schools provide great training in accounting, but a lot of people look down upon online educations, believing that they don’t provide the same rigor that a normal university does. Yes this applies even to the schools who are professionally accredited.
To understand this train of thought, one must realize that students who go to a physical university have an experience that changes their lives. When these students graduate and go on to become managers who are in a position to hire, they believe that for someone to be a good employee they needed to have the same experience. This is not necessarily true, but it is definitely a disadvantage of receiving an associate degree in accounting online.
Those who receive their accounting degrees online will also miss out on the experience to network. While the Internet has made great strides in technology, it still can’t replicate the experience of having classmates that you sit down next to and interact with. These “contacts” that you make in college become very valuable as they go on to become prominent accounting leaders. You simply won’t make these types of contacts online.
Some popular schools that offer associate degrees in accounting online are listed below:
Phoenix University
Strayer University
Devry University
In summary, receiving an associate degree in accounting online will be an excellent opportunity for those looking to learn the practical skills of accounting. This will open up opportunities for entry level jobs that can lead to higher paying jobs later in the career cycle. However, it also has the disadvantages of respect and lack of making friends or contacts. As always, let us know about your experiences below.
