EC - B.S. Lib Studies, Accounting emphasis

[Kelly Green]

If I were to earn a "plain" B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from Excelsior - no Major, no Area(s) of Focus - but with approximately 24 hours of accountancy coursework (in preparation for the CPA exam), would it be misleading/unethical/wrong to list the degree on a resume as follows?

Excelsior College, Albany, New York
B.S., Accounting emphasis, 2010

(or I could spell out the degree title):
Excelsior College, Albany, New York
Bachelor of Science, 2010
Emphasis in Accounting

I specifically chose the word "emphasis" because I can't have a Major in Accounting with the Liberal Studies degree, and to just list it as "B.S., Accounting, 2010" would definitely be misleading, I believe.

Just as a bit of background, I have a Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from the business college (AACSB approved) at my state university, but it's from the 80's and my GPA was nearly underwater (below C level, get it? ha ha).

I want an updated degree with a solid GPA and plenty of Accounting coursework, but I don't want to do the Business Degree program at Excelsior because it means repeating all the business coursework that I previously completed, including Introductory Accounting courses, Ops Management, Business Policy (capstone course). I plan on testing out (DSST, ECE exams) of most of the Liberal Arts coursework, and do the Accounting coursework through LSU.

Thank you for your opinions/thoughts on this matter!

[dc67]

I would think you would have to say " B.S. of Liberal Studies or it will be missleading. It isn't a B.S. in Accounting or with an accounting emphasis. It could be a BSLS With a focus on accounting.

Just my 2 cents

[irnbru]

Hi Kelly,

Curious as to why you are looking to do this

EC handbook states 21 credits (6 UL) qualifies for the Area of Focus denomination.

If the plan is for someone to skim-read your CV and see "BS Accounting", then you could potentially get your foot in the door. On the other hand, it might require some explaining at the interview if it gets picked up

If you're looking to do the professional accounting exams, you might want to look at the ACCA. If you work through/get exemptions for the first half dozen or so, then register with Oxford Brookes university and complete the suite of exams, the university will confer an honours degree in applied accounting.

More information at:

ACCA/Oxford Brookes Degree Partnership | Study, exams & exemptions | Students | ACCA

Oxford Brookes is not 'Oxford-Oxford' university, but it's the real deal

[Kelly Green]

Hi Kelly,

Curious as to why you are looking to do this

EC handbook states 21 credits (6 UL) qualifies for the Area of Focus denomination.

It is my understanding that Excelsior won't allow an Area of Focus in a subject for which they offer a major, which includes most traditional business disciplines - Accounting, Finance, Marketing, etc.

(I would probably wind up with enough credits for an Area of Focus in Administrative/Management Studies, but that isn't important to me since I plan on going on for an MBA.)

If the plan is for someone to skim-read your CV and see "BS Accounting", then you could potentially get your foot in the door.

Yes, that's exactly the plan!

On the other hand, it might require some explaining at the interview if it gets picked up

True. But hopefully I'll pass the CPA exam and then it won't matter!

I've just always been ashamed of my crappy GPA from my original B.S. degree; I could have done better, I was just waaaaay too distracted by the social aspects of college life.

Thank you for the information on ACCA, I had never heard of that before!

[irnbru]

At least you have a degree, Kelly

You could fire a couple of copies of your CV off to recruitment agencies and see how they respond. Likewise, if you have the time, you could go along to any interviews that come off the back of this and see if they pick it up. If you get an offer there's no obligation to start a role, etc. Usually the HR instincts of agencies (tick the boxes) are pretty strong so see what comes of it?

Good luck

[NAP]

Hi Kelly!

Where did you see this statement?

It is my understanding that Excelsior won't allow an Area of Focus in a subject for which they offer a major, which includes most traditional business disciplines - Accounting, Finance, Marketing, etc.

I hope it’s not true. I read the Area of Focus info on pages 22-23 of the Liberal Arts Catalog which says in part: “An area of focus allows students the opportunity to recognize a prominent accomplishment of study in a specific discipline for which a formal college major is unavailable. It also benefits students who have not met the requirements for a major but would like to document the achievement of substantial coursework completed in a specific academic area.” This shows that an Area of Focus works for 2 situations: one where this is no major available and the other where the requirements are not met for the major. I thought that meant I could still get an Area of Focus (in Math) with 21 credits including 6 upper-level even if I don’t meet the requirements for a math major which is 33 credits.

I have also looked at the Student Policy Handbook page 27 for getting a second degree. Their rules seem pretty strict about when they will and will not award a second degree. Be sure to talk that over with an advisor, so that you know exactly what you need to do to get a second degree and how many credits you will need for it.

I’m not completely convinced that you really need a second degree before going on to an MBA. If for some reason getting a second degree doesn’t work out, don’t let that stop you from pursuing the job/MBA/grad school that you want. Here is my favorite post on the grad school topic:

http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...#post44987

I really like the last part of this post on the topic. It shows that there are other ways to get to the graduate degree program we want when the direct route doesn’t work out for some reason.

Keep us posted on your progress!

NAP

[Kelly Green]

I thought that meant I could still get an Area of Focus (in Math) with 21 credits including 6 upper-level even if I don’t meet the requirements for a math major which is 33 credits.

I'm pretty sure you CAN get an Area of Focus in Math, since that's an Arts & Sciences discipline. My understanding (mostly from reading this board) is that any majors offered under the B.S. Business degree (Accounting, Finance, Marketing, etc.) aren't eligible as Areas of Focus for the B.A. or B.S. in Liberal Studies degree; that's why people who have enough business credits for their Liberal Studies degree get credited on their transcript with an Area of Focus in "Administrative/Management Studies" as opposed to, say, Accounting.

Thank you for the link to the other post! It's true that there are ways around a low GPA. But I actually want a better GPA just for my own satisfaction! (Trying to undo the sins of my youth....)