How similar is CMA to MBA course content?

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  • #182746

    I was wondering whether me taking my MBA with a dual concentration in Accounting and Finance will be beneficial at all to studying for the CMA. I tried looking it up but couldn’t find any conversation relating to it.

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    A: 77 11/4/13 Wiley Test Bank
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    MBA 06/2012 - ?

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  • #504847
    jaredo155
    Member

    This is going to be a question that is tough to answer because MBA's can be so different, but generally speaking there are going to be 3 or 4 courses that should be included in every MBA program (regardless of concentration or school) that are going to directly cover the content from the CMA. In full disclosure I don't have my CMA, and I am only partially through my MBA, but I have looked over the content of the exam as I have considered taking it when I am finished with school.

    The courses that are going to directly relate to one section or the other on the CMA that are in almost all MBA's are:

    – Managerial Accounting – this course in my program covered probably 60% – 70% of entire exam material.

    – Financial Management

    – Managerial Economics

    So to your actual question I think that an MBA will absolutely brush up the skills covered on the CMA, but I wouldn't plan to use that as your actual study preparation for the exam. Based on what I have seen even if you just finished your MBA, you are still going to need the specific study materials to help you zero in on how they test you on the topics.

    AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
    BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
    FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
    REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
    "Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

    #504898
    jaredo155
    Member

    This is going to be a question that is tough to answer because MBA's can be so different, but generally speaking there are going to be 3 or 4 courses that should be included in every MBA program (regardless of concentration or school) that are going to directly cover the content from the CMA. In full disclosure I don't have my CMA, and I am only partially through my MBA, but I have looked over the content of the exam as I have considered taking it when I am finished with school.

    The courses that are going to directly relate to one section or the other on the CMA that are in almost all MBA's are:

    – Managerial Accounting – this course in my program covered probably 60% – 70% of entire exam material.

    – Financial Management

    – Managerial Economics

    So to your actual question I think that an MBA will absolutely brush up the skills covered on the CMA, but I wouldn't plan to use that as your actual study preparation for the exam. Based on what I have seen even if you just finished your MBA, you are still going to need the specific study materials to help you zero in on how they test you on the topics.

    AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
    BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
    FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
    REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
    "Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

    #504849

    Thanks Jaredo!

    F: 76 8/31/13 Wiley Test Bank
    A: 77 11/4/13 Wiley Test Bank
    R
    B

    MBA 06/2012 - ?

    #504900

    Thanks Jaredo!

    F: 76 8/31/13 Wiley Test Bank
    A: 77 11/4/13 Wiley Test Bank
    R
    B

    MBA 06/2012 - ?

    #504851
    M.O.D.
    Member

    @Turk

    I am studying part I CMA and there are echoes of Management Theory, Operations Management, Information Systems. I suspect part II will be heavy on finance and investments.

    Though this material is not hard (to me), you can learn it from the study guide, if you have not had it as an undergraduate. I know the CMA is “sold” to MBAs but part I does require heavy knowledge of accounting, especially cost accounting, and also auditing (internal), constant reference to external financial statements.

    So to answer your question, yes such concentrations would be helpful, though a good MBA curriculum will have the topic courses as part of its “core”.

    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)

    #504902
    M.O.D.
    Member

    @Turk

    I am studying part I CMA and there are echoes of Management Theory, Operations Management, Information Systems. I suspect part II will be heavy on finance and investments.

    Though this material is not hard (to me), you can learn it from the study guide, if you have not had it as an undergraduate. I know the CMA is “sold” to MBAs but part I does require heavy knowledge of accounting, especially cost accounting, and also auditing (internal), constant reference to external financial statements.

    So to answer your question, yes such concentrations would be helpful, though a good MBA curriculum will have the topic courses as part of its “core”.

    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)

    #504854

    I know this is an old post, but as somebody who has both a CMA and an MBA I wanted to share a couple of thoughts. Most MBA programs (as apposed to MS or MA programs) are not geared for intense detail (for the most part). They focus on some core concepts, sure, but much of the focus tends to be on written and formal/informal verbal communicaton of fairly complex business topics.

    The CMA, as most may expect, is very detailed. A significant part of Part I material, for example, is Cost Accounting, calculating variances and allocation methods. I don't know many MBA programs that cover that stuff. Some of the part II material might interconnect with the MBA, but to echo others comments it is by no means a prep for any exam. I would look at it as an opportunity to understand some of the concepts from a top level approach, so that when you study the CMA in detail you will already have a head start of sorts…

    MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

    #504906

    I know this is an old post, but as somebody who has both a CMA and an MBA I wanted to share a couple of thoughts. Most MBA programs (as apposed to MS or MA programs) are not geared for intense detail (for the most part). They focus on some core concepts, sure, but much of the focus tends to be on written and formal/informal verbal communicaton of fairly complex business topics.

    The CMA, as most may expect, is very detailed. A significant part of Part I material, for example, is Cost Accounting, calculating variances and allocation methods. I don't know many MBA programs that cover that stuff. Some of the part II material might interconnect with the MBA, but to echo others comments it is by no means a prep for any exam. I would look at it as an opportunity to understand some of the concepts from a top level approach, so that when you study the CMA in detail you will already have a head start of sorts…

    MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

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