- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
PhD in Higher Ed Admin or start accounting courses?
Posted on 7/19/15 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 7/19/15 at 8:25 pm
I recently took a job with LSU, one of the benefits is free tuition for 6 hours a semester.
I definitely want to take advantage of this but I'm confused about what I want to do.
Don't have any undergraduate business courses, some graduate econ and finance..but I have noticed a lot of jobs at LSU that are available only to those who have 24 hours of accounting classes. I have only taken ACCT 2001..managed a C. (but that was with 12 hours of graduate courses along with it, all of which I received A's in). I did not enjoy accounting, but I've heard it gets better after the first course, and I would just do 1 course per semester.
What should I pursue? PhD in higher ed admin or take 7 more accounting courses so I can be eligible for more business-oriented jobs?
GRE and GPA are good enough to get in PhD program, but it would take about 5 years to finish. To finish accounting courses would take about 3 and 1/2 years, but I could stop and start those if I needed a break, whereas the PhD requires continuous enrollment. (but I've heard you can take "dissertation research" hours if you need to, just to stay enrolled?)
thanks in advance.
I definitely want to take advantage of this but I'm confused about what I want to do.
Don't have any undergraduate business courses, some graduate econ and finance..but I have noticed a lot of jobs at LSU that are available only to those who have 24 hours of accounting classes. I have only taken ACCT 2001..managed a C. (but that was with 12 hours of graduate courses along with it, all of which I received A's in). I did not enjoy accounting, but I've heard it gets better after the first course, and I would just do 1 course per semester.
What should I pursue? PhD in higher ed admin or take 7 more accounting courses so I can be eligible for more business-oriented jobs?
GRE and GPA are good enough to get in PhD program, but it would take about 5 years to finish. To finish accounting courses would take about 3 and 1/2 years, but I could stop and start those if I needed a break, whereas the PhD requires continuous enrollment. (but I've heard you can take "dissertation research" hours if you need to, just to stay enrolled?)
thanks in advance.
This post was edited on 3/31/16 at 3:42 pm
3
Posted on 7/19/15 at 9:38 pm to Pelfan8104
quote:
some graduate econ and finance
1. Take Actuarial classes
2. Pass exams
3. ???
4. Profit
Posted on 7/19/15 at 10:25 pm to Plankton
Being an actuary has to be the most soul crushing job in the world.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 8:32 am to reb13
I would go PhD route and I am an accountant.
The regulatory and SOX world has taken the fun out of accounting.
And what reb13 said - why do that to yourself??
The regulatory and SOX world has taken the fun out of accounting.
And what reb13 said - why do that to yourself??
Posted on 7/20/15 at 9:08 am to Pelfan8104
The immediate outlook for higher ed in LA is bleak...I don't know that I'd be looking at a PhD in higher ed right now. Besides, what exactly does that degree get you in terms of knowledge/skill set? You already have a graduate degree in public admin--the higher ed admin stuff isn't rocket science. If you're already working in the univ setting, you will acquire knowledge of what you will study through experience.
Hint: go look at the higher ed admin PhD dissertations and tell me you can't already write/research/think at that level. If so, why bother getting the formal degree?
Use your free educational opportunity to gain skills/knowledge you don't already have.
If I were in your situation, I'd definitely do some accounting courses; the weak spot of so many higher ed/ public sector managers is indeed accounting. If you can find formal courses in fundraising/development, definitely take those.
Also consider another MA in a field like library/info science: a relatively easy program to complete, plus it would open up an entirely new segment of jobs in both higher ed, public sector, and private industry (law library, med library, etc).
Hint: go look at the higher ed admin PhD dissertations and tell me you can't already write/research/think at that level. If so, why bother getting the formal degree?
Use your free educational opportunity to gain skills/knowledge you don't already have.
If I were in your situation, I'd definitely do some accounting courses; the weak spot of so many higher ed/ public sector managers is indeed accounting. If you can find formal courses in fundraising/development, definitely take those.
Also consider another MA in a field like library/info science: a relatively easy program to complete, plus it would open up an entirely new segment of jobs in both higher ed, public sector, and private industry (law library, med library, etc).
Posted on 7/20/15 at 9:56 am to Pelfan8104
I have to say, I don't know a lot of people who would cross over from higher ed admin to accounting - talk about two completely different worlds.
I'm curious who you heard this from. If you did not like principles of accounting... you aren't going to like the higher levels of accounting classes. A lot of people really enjoy principles, then when they get into intermediate, they run for the hills.
I know it sounds strange being that you live in Louisiana, but there are some places in this country that actually do care about higher ed. If you enjoy that field, I'd use the free classes to further your studies there. Just understand you may need to leave the state at some point.
quote:
I did not enjoy accounting, but I've heard it gets better after the first course,
I'm curious who you heard this from. If you did not like principles of accounting... you aren't going to like the higher levels of accounting classes. A lot of people really enjoy principles, then when they get into intermediate, they run for the hills.
I know it sounds strange being that you live in Louisiana, but there are some places in this country that actually do care about higher ed. If you enjoy that field, I'd use the free classes to further your studies there. Just understand you may need to leave the state at some point.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 10:10 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
but there are some places in this country that actually do care about higher ed.
Indeed...but the higher ed admin degree isn't exactly a hot commodity, even in those areas. OP should go look at the Chronicle of Higher Ed and see what sort of credentials are required for the positions he/she finds interesting. Often, a PhD in a traditional discipline is valued far more than a PhD in ed admin. Ed admin is NOT well respected in the university setting; those degree holders are almost always relegated to student affairs & similar "soft" areas, while asst/associate dean, sr VP positions in academic areas are all held by PhDs in academic disciplines....the more selective the school, the more this is true. Drop down to the community college level and you'll see plenty of ed PhDs, but not so many in Research I institutions.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 3:09 pm to hungryone
Higher Ed Admin is a great field, especially for the higher ups.
Just looked up 2 salaries for associate provosts at AU, both were north of 200K.
Just looked up 2 salaries for associate provosts at AU, both were north of 200K.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:56 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
I'm curious who you heard this from. If you did not like principles of accounting... you aren't going to like the higher levels of accounting classes. A lot of people really enjoy principles, then when they get into intermediate, they run for the hills.
One of my friends who majored in business said the first course is so broad that it gets better..I was skeptical but hopeful. Thanks for clearing it up for me.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:58 am to AUjim
Thanks, I had also considered PhD in human resource education but that seems pretty useless to me because all of the HR jobs I find require HR experience. I took several HR graduate courses for my graduate degree and tried to apply for HR jobs (mainly at LSU), but was told I would not be eligible for any without experience.
The age-old dilemma, you can't get experience without a job and can't get a job without experience.
The age-old dilemma, you can't get experience without a job and can't get a job without experience.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 12:23 pm to Pelfan8104
My company HR always complains they can't fill some entry level positions not realizing that they screen out anyone under 2 years experience for a position title "Marketing I" or BS like that.
No person good at their job will leave after 2 years in a lateral move. No person with potential to be good qualifies in experience.
Congrats HRSHR
No person good at their job will leave after 2 years in a lateral move. No person with potential to be good qualifies in experience.
Congrats HRSHR
Posted on 7/21/15 at 8:46 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
I'm curious who you heard this from. If you did not like principles of accounting... you aren't going to like the higher levels of accounting classes. A lot of people really enjoy principles, then when they get into intermediate, they run for the hills.
This. I'm really good at accounting and don't really enjoy it. I actually didn't mind most of my classes (other than auditing and AIS) but if you don't like the simple debits and credits, then you will HATE a job in accounting.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News