[mockingbird1991]

So I’m an Accounting major pursuing a CPA. I want the CPA for security, the ability to always have a job, and the ability to be able to capitalize on opportunity. BUt long term, my dream has always been to become a lawyer or a college professor.

To take the CPA exam in my state, you need 150 credits. I will graduate with a bachelor’s at 120 credits. The plan originally was get a Masters in Accounting to get me the necessary credits to take the CPA, but recently I’ve been considering adding a double major in PoliSci (36 credits).

It is a cheaper way that gets me right to my goal of taking the CPA exam, while leaving doors open in other career opportunities (professor/lawyer).

Is this too unconventional? Am I reaching here? I love Politics/American government/history so it would be very interesting on top of its other benefits.

[Anonymous]

Hasn't affected me, but I did get an MPA (not MA in Poli Sci) which I could spin off as the public sector equivalent of an MBA since I wasn't eligible to do an MBA.

[Anonymous]

Hasn't affected me, but I did get an MPA (not MA in Poli Sci) which I could spin off as the public sector equivalent of an MBA since I wasn't eligible to do an MBA.

[Double A]

Not at all. A few first year accountants I talked to at some firms had a similar situation. One of them had a double major in history and Accounting. That firm actually picked her over someone else that didn't have the credits. So I wouldn't say it would hurt you to have 150 credit hours where 30 of them aren't related to accounting at all.

[Double A]

Not at all. A few first year accountants I talked to at some firms had a similar situation. One of them had a double major in history and Accounting. That firm actually picked her over someone else that didn't have the credits. So I wouldn't say it would hurt you to have 150 credit hours where 30 of them aren't related to accounting at all.

[fuzyfro89]

Once you pass the CPA exams, no one cares what degrees you had (related to getting your credits). It might even be helpful to have a major or minor in something random, ornithology perhaps?, just to make yourself interesting.

[fuzyfro89]

Once you pass the CPA exams, no one cares what degrees you had (related to getting your credits). It might even be helpful to have a major or minor in something random, ornithology perhaps?, just to make yourself interesting.

[fuzyfro89]

I've heard from partners/managers that they don't care where you get your Masters from. It's generally seen as just a bs degree that a lot of people need in order to get enough credits to sit for the exam or get licensed.

… some might not call it bs, but rarely will you see a higher value placed on a CPA with a masters than a CPA without a masters.

As long as you have enough accounting credits, some require 30 total upper level, study whatever you want.

[fuzyfro89]

I've heard from partners/managers that they don't care where you get your Masters from. It's generally seen as just a bs degree that a lot of people need in order to get enough credits to sit for the exam or get licensed.

… some might not call it bs, but rarely will you see a higher value placed on a CPA with a masters than a CPA without a masters.

As long as you have enough accounting credits, some require 30 total upper level, study whatever you want.

[mockingbird1991]

Thank you so much, may go with history here.

[mockingbird1991]

Thank you so much, may go with history here.

[mockingbird1991]

Looking for more input if anyone has any, but like what I've seen so far!

[mockingbird1991]

Looking for more input if anyone has any, but like what I've seen so far!

[Anonymous]

One other thing came to mind. My mother, also a CPA, said that if you had a degree in accounting and a CPA; just go for whatever you want to do with the other degree because you don't need any more accounting. So for me, I decided to focus more on public policy courses in my master's degree. It's not that I hate accounting, it's just that generally speaking, I like the more peripheral aspects of it as well as other subject areas. And you never know, you may end up with a job that fits you really well. For me, my position is part cost accountant, part government compliance for a biofuels company. So it has worked out really well for me.

[Anonymous]

One other thing came to mind. My mother, also a CPA, said that if you had a degree in accounting and a CPA; just go for whatever you want to do with the other degree because you don't need any more accounting. So for me, I decided to focus more on public policy courses in my master's degree. It's not that I hate accounting, it's just that generally speaking, I like the more peripheral aspects of it as well as other subject areas. And you never know, you may end up with a job that fits you really well. For me, my position is part cost accountant, part government compliance for a biofuels company. So it has worked out really well for me.

[Author]

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