[Anonymous]

I just started at a regional firm in NJ as a staff. Is an MBA something I should actively pursue early? Can I just put it off until I move up in rank? How do MBA classes differ from undergrad accounting classes in terms of structure and difficulty?

[Anonymous]

Also agree with everything M.O.D. said, I have an MSA and many of our courses were cross-listed with the MBAs. An MBA is more focused on business management, but the few technical accounting/finance courses you take will not be any more difficult than an undergrad course.

[tough_kitty]

I didn't think my MBA classes were too difficult. If anything, they were very time consuming. And yes, I agree with what others said – a lot of team work, papers, and oral presentations.

If I were to do this again, I'd consider MS in Finance instead.

So, to answer your questions:

MBA – difficult? No. Necessary? Not really. Depends on your future plans. You might also consider MS in Taxation if you prefer tax to audit. Getting an MS in Accountancy would be redundant if you have an undergrad degree in accounting already.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I didn't think my MBA classes were too difficult. If anything, they were very time consuming. And yes, I agree with what others said – a lot of team work, papers, and oral presentations.

If I were to do this again, I'd consider MS in Finance instead.

So, to answer your questions:

MBA – difficult? No. Necessary? Not really. Depends on your future plans. You might also consider MS in Taxation if you prefer tax to audit. Getting an MS in Accountancy would be redundant if you have an undergrad degree in accounting already.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[M.O.D.]

Some more thoughts:

You may be able to get graduate credit for the accounting courses you took (such as managerial accounting), especially if you passed the CPA test. Or offer to take other, more advanced accounting courses instead.

Keep in mind that many (if not most) in the MBA program do not work in any financial field, nor do they plan to. I am talking about HR manager-trainees, IT managers, retail store managers, even social work/public administration managers. Anyone who wants to work in management goes for an MBA/MPA.

So the financial courses are geared to beginners like them. @CPAmommy, Porter, co101 are correct in that their accounting courses are easier than undergraduate intermediate accounting, and certainly any CPA preparation.

Knowing that though, you should question why take the program if it does not add to your existing knowledge. A professor explained it best: most anyone can do business, but very few can do accounting, because it is a specialized field, (like law, medicine, engineering, etc.)

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

Some more thoughts:

You may be able to get graduate credit for the accounting courses you took (such as managerial accounting), especially if you passed the CPA test. Or offer to take other, more advanced accounting courses instead.

Keep in mind that many (if not most) in the MBA program do not work in any financial field, nor do they plan to. I am talking about HR manager-trainees, IT managers, retail store managers, even social work/public administration managers. Anyone who wants to work in management goes for an MBA/MPA.

So the financial courses are geared to beginners like them. @CPAmommy, Porter, co101 are correct in that their accounting courses are easier than undergraduate intermediate accounting, and certainly any CPA preparation.

Knowing that though, you should question why take the program if it does not add to your existing knowledge. A professor explained it best: most anyone can do business, but very few can do accounting, because it is a specialized field, (like law, medicine, engineering, etc.)

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[tough_kitty]

@M.O.D.

MBA program doesn't teach you how to “do” business. It's more about business management as the name itself implies. It's a good degree for someone who is planning to become a manager one day. Managing people seems easy in theory…but it really helps to have some academic knowledge about leadership skills and the basics of all aspects of business. The only “but” that I see is MBA programs are more geared toward manufacturing/sales companies as opposed to services so not very useful for CPAs unless someone is planning to become a CFO of company selling products as opposed to services.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@M.O.D.

MBA program doesn't teach you how to “do” business. It's more about business management as the name itself implies. It's a good degree for someone who is planning to become a manager one day. Managing people seems easy in theory…but it really helps to have some academic knowledge about leadership skills and the basics of all aspects of business. The only “but” that I see is MBA programs are more geared toward manufacturing/sales companies as opposed to services so not very useful for CPAs unless someone is planning to become a CFO of company selling products as opposed to services.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

Thank you everybody!! Keep the posts coming!

[Anonymous]

Thank you everybody!! Keep the posts coming!

[impska]

I think you'll find that your MBA classes have a completely different atmosphere than what you experienced in your undergrad/5th year MAcc. Generally, they will be smaller and stocked with adults with established careers/families. Discussion/projects will happen on a more mature level and your professors tend to interact with you differently too.

A decent MBA program puts a lot of effort into attracting quality/interesting professors with industry experience – so see if you can drop into a couple of classes and see how they do.

Difficulty depends entirely on the professor/class/program.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[impska]

I think you'll find that your MBA classes have a completely different atmosphere than what you experienced in your undergrad/5th year MAcc. Generally, they will be smaller and stocked with adults with established careers/families. Discussion/projects will happen on a more mature level and your professors tend to interact with you differently too.

A decent MBA program puts a lot of effort into attracting quality/interesting professors with industry experience – so see if you can drop into a couple of classes and see how they do.

Difficulty depends entirely on the professor/class/program.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[jeff]

What does this MBA program cost Didmy?

[jeff]

What does this MBA program cost Didmy?

[Anonymous]

I would most likely enroll at Rutgers as a Flex-Time MBA student. The estimated cost for tuition, related fees, books, and transportation is about $61,000 and $66,000 at this moment.

[Anonymous]

I would most likely enroll at Rutgers as a Flex-Time MBA student. The estimated cost for tuition, related fees, books, and transportation is about $61,000 and $66,000 at this moment.

[Author]

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