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eman12771
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 15 Mar 2020, 08:16
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Hello,

I have a strong interest in accounting research/teaching and I'm in the early steps of working towards the PhD route. I graduated from Iowa State University in accounting with a cumulative GPA of 3.62 and an accounting GPA of roughly 3.8. Since graduating, I've gained 3 years of experience working at an F500 company and got my CPA.

My next step is to obviously take the GMAT, but before that, I'm seeking some advice about what type of master's program to choose. I know a master's degree isn't necessarily required, but I've looked up the credentials of accounting faculty at multiple universities across the United States, and I would say at least 90% hold a master's degree.

My main question is if I'm hoping to get into a low to a mid-tier PhD program, how important is the ranking of my master's degree program? I work full-time and can't afford to leave my job for a full-time program or spend $50K. My only option for an in-person, part-time master's (an MBA with a specialization in accounting), would be at Iowa State's Ivy College of Business (decently ranked) or Drake University (comparably priced to Iowa State University, but hold a lower ranking). Both of these programs are around $30K. I've also found a few AACSB schools that offer an MBA in accounting, costing around $15K and 100% online. (University of Southern Indiana, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and University of Texas Permian Basin, for example). Would pursuing an MBA from one of these programs make me less desirable for a low-tier program? And as an FYI, I would like to go the MBA route as it seems most Master of Accountancy programs are geared towards students wanting to gain the 150-credit requirement for the CPA. I already have the CPA, and I think an MBA would be more valuable if I decide not to pursue a PhD (or don't get into a program).
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CAMANISHPARMAR
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 16 Mar 2020, 23:14
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eman12771
Hello,

I have a strong interest in accounting research/teaching and I'm in the early steps of working towards the PhD route. I graduated from Iowa State University in accounting with a cumulative GPA of 3.62 and an accounting GPA of roughly 3.8. Since graduating, I've gained 3 years of experience working at an F500 company and got my CPA.

My next step is to obviously take the GMAT, but before that, I'm seeking some advice about what type of master's program to choose. I know a master's degree isn't necessarily required, but I've looked up the credentials of accounting faculty at multiple universities across the United States, and I would say at least 90% hold a master's degree.

My main question is if I'm hoping to get into a low to a mid-tier PhD program, how important is the ranking of my master's degree program? I work full-time and can't afford to leave my job for a full-time program or spend $50K. My only option for an in-person, part-time master's (an MBA with a specialization in accounting), would be at Iowa State's Ivy College of Business (decently ranked) or Drake University (comparably priced to Iowa State University, but hold a lower ranking). Both of these programs are around $30K. I've also found a few AACSB schools that offer an MBA in accounting, costing around $15K and 100% online. (University of Southern Indiana, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and University of Texas Permian Basin, for example). Would pursuing an MBA from one of these programs make me less desirable for a low-tier program? And as an FYI, I would like to go the MBA route as it seems most Master of Accountancy programs are geared towards students wanting to gain the 150-credit requirement for the CPA. I already have the CPA, and I think an MBA would be more valuable if I decide not to pursue a PhD (or don't get into a program).
Show more

I also feel a master's course will definitely be very useful before you embark on your PhD journey, however, MBA is not the right degree.

Go for a master's degree, which will have lots of Probability theory, statistics theory, linear algebra, econometrics, research-based courses, accounting seminars, improve your programming skills, work on SAS/STATA/LATEX/PYTHON etc. Why do you want to spend time learning OB, HR, marketing, and operations related courses when you are clear that you want to do an accounting Ph.D. I am not saying that learning MBA courses is bad and they will not be useful. My point is you can invest your time in a better way and make your application better. Do a research masters instead. You can also think of becoming a research associate and simultaneously do research-based courses and help the professor who would give you a letter of recommendation. Think of all these lines rather than doing an MBA. According to me, MBA will require you to spend lots of money and return on your investment will be less.
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eman12771
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 17 Mar 2020, 05:12
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eman12771
Hello,

I have a strong interest in accounting research/teaching and I'm in the early steps of working towards the PhD route. I graduated from Iowa State University in accounting with a cumulative GPA of 3.62 and an accounting GPA of roughly 3.8. Since graduating, I've gained 3 years of experience working at an F500 company and got my CPA.

My next step is to obviously take the GMAT, but before that, I'm seeking some advice about what type of master's program to choose. I know a master's degree isn't necessarily required, but I've looked up the credentials of accounting faculty at multiple universities across the United States, and I would say at least 90% hold a master's degree.

My main question is if I'm hoping to get into a low to a mid-tier PhD program, how important is the ranking of my master's degree program? I work full-time and can't afford to leave my job for a full-time program or spend $50K. My only option for an in-person, part-time master's (an MBA with a specialization in accounting), would be at Iowa State's Ivy College of Business (decently ranked) or Drake University (comparably priced to Iowa State University, but hold a lower ranking). Both of these programs are around $30K. I've also found a few AACSB schools that offer an MBA in accounting, costing around $15K and 100% online. (University of Southern Indiana, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and University of Texas Permian Basin, for example). Would pursuing an MBA from one of these programs make me less desirable for a low-tier program? And as an FYI, I would like to go the MBA route as it seems most Master of Accountancy programs are geared towards students wanting to gain the 150-credit requirement for the CPA. I already have the CPA, and I think an MBA would be more valuable if I decide not to pursue a PhD (or don't get into a program).

I also feel a master's course will definitely be very useful before you embark on your PhD journey, however, MBA is not the right degree.

Go for a master's degree, which will have lots of Probability theory, statistics theory, linear algebra, econometrics, research-based courses, accounting seminars, improve your programming skills, work on SAS/STATA/LATEX/PYTHON etc. Why do you want to spend time learning OB, HR, marketing, and operations related courses when you are clear that you want to do an accounting Ph.D. I am not saying that learning MBA courses is bad and they will not be useful. My point is you can invest your time in a better way and make your application better. Do a research masters instead. You can also think of becoming a research associate and simultaneously do research-based courses and help the professor who would give you a letter of recommendation. Think of all these lines rather than doing an MBA. According to me, MBA will require you to spend lots of money and return on your investment will be less.
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Thank you for your feedback! I did notice many accounting faculty members had MBA degrees, so I assume it won't necessarily hurt. At this point in time, my options are kind of limited since I can't afford to leave my full-time job yet. I was lucky enough to find an MBA program that had several research-based courses at a price in my budget, so if anything, that may give me some decent experience before applying for a PhD program.
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 18 Mar 2020, 22:39
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eman12771


Thank you for your feedback! I did notice many accounting faculty members had MBA degrees, so I assume it won't necessarily hurt. At this point in time, my options are kind of limited since I can't afford to leave my full-time job yet. I was lucky enough to find an MBA program that had several research-based courses at a price in my budget, so if anything, that may give me some decent experience before applying for a PhD program.
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The faculty you are talking about (I am assuming in most cases) decided to pursue a PhD after MBA. You are already clear that you want to do a Ph.D. That's the difference. Why don't you write emails to 4-5 professors who have done an MBA and then a Ph.D. and check for yourself? Having been into the thick of the things for so long, they will surely give you the right advice, and what would be the best course of action for you.

Furthermore, the question is not whether an MBA will hurt your application or not? The question is where should you put your resources to strengthen your application in a better way. I will still advise you to do a part-time master's in econometrics.

All the best!
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eman12771
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 19 Mar 2020, 05:38
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CAMANISHPARMAR
eman12771


Thank you for your feedback! I did notice many accounting faculty members had MBA degrees, so I assume it won't necessarily hurt. At this point in time, my options are kind of limited since I can't afford to leave my full-time job yet. I was lucky enough to find an MBA program that had several research-based courses at a price in my budget, so if anything, that may give me some decent experience before applying for a PhD program.

The faculty you are talking about (I am assuming in most cases) decided to pursue a PhD after MBA. You are already clear that you want to do a Ph.D. That's the difference. Why don't you write emails to 4-5 professors who have done an MBA and then a Ph.D. and check for yourself? Having been into the thick of the things for so long, they will surely give you the right advice, and what would be the best course of action for you.

Furthermore, the question is not whether an MBA will hurt your application or not? The question is where should you put your resources to strengthen your application in a better way. I will still advise you to do a part-time master's in econometrics.

All the best!
Show more


Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to look at econometrics programs as well. The MBA I'm looking at does have a thesis option; if I did do it, would it be beneficial to choose the thesis option?
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PhD in Accounting - Purse a Master's First? 20 Mar 2020, 01:01
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eman12771
CAMANISHPARMAR
eman12771


Thank you for your feedback! I did notice many accounting faculty members had MBA degrees, so I assume it won't necessarily hurt. At this point in time, my options are kind of limited since I can't afford to leave my full-time job yet. I was lucky enough to find an MBA program that had several research-based courses at a price in my budget, so if anything, that may give me some decent experience before applying for a PhD program.

The faculty you are talking about (I am assuming in most cases) decided to pursue a PhD after MBA. You are already clear that you want to do a Ph.D. That's the difference. Why don't you write emails to 4-5 professors who have done an MBA and then a Ph.D. and check for yourself? Having been into the thick of the things for so long, they will surely give you the right advice, and what would be the best course of action for you.

Furthermore, the question is not whether an MBA will hurt your application or not? The question is where should you put your resources to strengthen your application in a better way. I will still advise you to do a part-time master's in econometrics.

All the best!


Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to look at econometrics programs as well. The MBA I'm looking at does have a thesis option; if I did do it, would it be beneficial to choose the thesis option?
Show more

Yes, thesis option is better but as I said check with accounting faculties at Iowa if at all you should do an MBA at the first place?
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