Shorter University's online Master of Accountancy degree caters to CPA requirements, accounting professionals

March 11, 2011 - In the fall of 2010, Shorter University announced the addition of an online Master of Accountancy degree. Since that time, 20 students have enrolled in the program and the numbers continue to grow. Many are professionals already working in the accounting field; others have enrolled in order to fulfill the requirements of obtaining a CPA license.

The course, which is 100 percent online, can be completed in one year. “Typically, students that enroll in this program have a business-related undergraduate degree,” explained Dr. Melissa Hickman, assistant professor of accounting at Shorter and director of the Master of Accountancy program. “However anyone with a bachelor’s degree can apply into the program.”

Because the program is online, it offers flexibility that a traditional class cannot offer. It’s that flexibility that drew Robert Staten into the program. “The fact that this degree was online made it very attractive to me,” he said. Staten earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Shorter in 1996 and now works in the accounting industry for private companies. Going back to attain his master’s was something he had always thought about, but was not able to commit to since his work schedule keeps him busy. “I work a ton of hours, and I don’t have time to sit in a typical classroom. This program is unique because you can set your own hours in a way, but it is also regimented so that you don’t get overwhelmed and you are able to keep up with your coursework. It gives you just enough flexibility to make it fit your life.”

Dr. Hickman also said that the program is popular with traditional accounting students already enrolled at Shorter.  “Many of our current students will enroll in this program after they graduate with their bachelor’s degree. It’s great because in five years, they will have completed an undergrad and also a master’s degree. That certainly gives them the edge in the industry. The accounting field is wide-open, so having a master’s degree can certainly set you apart from the crowd.”

For more information on the Master of Accountancy program, visit online.shorter.edu.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian college committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and the Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges.The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.

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