BA, BABA, BLS - Accounting, which one?

[lllunchbox]

Your Location: Louisiana, USA
Your Age: 32

What kind of degree do you want?: Accounting

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 24
Community College (RPCC):
Priciples of Accounting
Intro to Spreadsheets
Basic Word Processing
Intro to Keyboarding
Financial Accounting
Macroeconomics
English Comp I
College Prep Algebra I

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 53
Sophia:
Art History I
Business Law
Critical Thinking
Developing Effective Teams
Intro to Business
Intro to Chemistry
Intro to Chem Lab
Intro to Ethics
Intro to Nutrition
Intro to Sociology
Intro to Stats
Intro to Web Development
Microeconomics
Project Management
Spanish I
U.S. Government
U.S. History I
Visual Communications

Any certifications or military experience?
None.

Budget: I qualify for FAFSA max of ~7,300. I'm flexible in my budget after that.

Commitments: I work full time and am a full time single dad. However, my work is ~8 hours of doing nothing but staring at a computer and waiting for the occasional phone call/customer (tattoo shop).

Dedicated time to study: I get an hour before work, 8 hours at work, and 3 hours after my daughter is in bed before I go to bed.

Timeline: I have a lot of time to commitment and I want to get this done as fast as possible. 

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Work is not providing reimbursement or assistance.

I want to get an Accounting degree, but I do not plan on pursuing a CPA. I don't know if I should get a BA, BABA, or BLS in Accounting. I've done theory-crafting on the various degrees and if I go BA-Accounting I will need to take 18 courses. If I go the BABA-Accounting route I will need to take 17 courses. And I think if I go BLS I can do BLS-Accounting+MIS (double minor) and only need to take 16 courses (plus more electives from Sophia maybe but I'm not including that). I don't really know how employers look at the various degree types, which one seems better on a resume or if it really matters. I'm not planning on going to a Big 4 Firm or anything, I just want a job that pays better than my current $10/hr front desk job. The reason I'm pursuing a Bachelor's is because I was offered some good job opportunities, made it to 2 different final round interviews, and was overlooked because I didn't have my Bachelor's and someone else did. Either of those 2 jobs would have been a 2x income increase.

My question is, do I go for BA/BABA/or BLS(double minor)?

[bjcheung77]

@lllunchbox, Welcome to the board, that's a very short post with what you're looking for, but there's not much details on what you currently have as credit, commitments, study habits, and so on, we don't know your full situation to properly advise you which one would be better.  You really need to fill the template/last post addendum as the template asks you to provide your previous credits, the addendum asks for more detailed info. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works 

To answer your question: Most people wanting to get into accounting would choose the BA Accounting or BABA Accounting... As it seems you're not really looking for the CPA or be fully immersed into accounting, the BLS with accounting minor would be sufficient (this is going by the very limited info in your post).  Here's a recent post you should review to see the differences: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid390713

[rachel83az]

A BLS has the least "prestige". This doesn't mean it's bad. It's still a solid choice for many students. But it is a liberal studies degree and is little more than a check-the-box option for most. If that works for your needs, great! Otherwise, you'll probably want something else. It's usually the fastest option for most people, though.

The BABA Accounting will be faster for most people than the BA Accounting. The BABA is a business degree. This means slightly fewer accounting courses, more generic-type business ones. If you have no interest in becoming a CPA, this is probably what you want. The BABA part may also help facilitate promotions to a managerial position later.

The BA Accounting will have the most "prestige", but only if you're hopping to be a CPA. It has most, but possibly not all, of the subjects one needs to be allowed to sit for the CPA exam. It's also possible to add another minor to this degree to meet the 150+ credit requirement for CPA exams. If you're not going to be a CPA, you probably don't need this degree. But it really depends on what your career plans are.

[lllunchbox]

@lllunchbox, Welcome to the board, that's a very short post with what you're looking for, but there's not much details on what you currently have as credit, commitments, study habits, and so on, we don't know your full situation to properly advise you which one would be better.  You really need to fill the template/last post addendum as the template asks you to provide your previous credits, the addendum asks for more detailed info. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works 

To answer your question: Most people wanting to get into accounting would choose the BA Accounting or BABA Accounting... As it seems you're not really looking for the CPA or be fully immersed into accounting, the BLS with accounting minor would be sufficient (this is going by the very limited info in your post).  Here's a recent post you should review to see the differences: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid390713

Updated the post, thanks!

A BLS has the least "prestige". This doesn't mean it's bad. It's still a solid choice for many students. But it is a liberal studies degree and is little more than a check-the-box option for most. If that works for your needs, great! Otherwise, you'll probably want something else. It's usually the fastest option for most people, though.

The BABA Accounting will be faster for most people than the BA Accounting. The BABA is a business degree. This means slightly fewer accounting courses, more generic-type business ones. If you have no interest in becoming a CPA, this is probably what you want. The BABA part may also help facilitate promotions to a managerial position later.

The BA Accounting will have the most "prestige", but only if you're hopping to be a CPA. It has most, but possibly not all, of the subjects one needs to be allowed to sit for the CPA exam. It's also possible to add another minor to this degree to meet the 150+ credit requirement for CPA exams. If you're not going to be a CPA, you probably don't need this degree. But it really depends on what your career plans are.

I guess I just don't know how employers look at a BLS. But before I even saw the BLS, I had BABA in mind, I don't think the BA is something I want/need to do. BABA would open more doors for a more accounting-forward job I think, since it has more accounting classes.

[bjcheung77]

Budget: I qualify for FAFSA max of ~7,300
Commitments: I work full time and am a full time single dad
Dedicated time to study: I get an hour before work, 8 hours at work, and 3 hours after
Recap: I want to get an Accounting degree... BLS-Accounting+MIS (double minor)

My suggestion has changed from the initial BLS with minor to a double major instead! Yes, with that budget, study time, and desired degree, even though you work full time and also being a dad, you still have just enough dedicated study time to get the double degree completed for the max ROI/Value.

1+8+3=12 hours a day free, just in case something comes up, let's half that to 6x7 days = 42/week, with that number of hours/week, it's like a second job! You can probably finish this double major within the two sessions or at most 3 sesions for just $4500, it falls within budget. The double major should be the BA Accounting & BABA Project Management & Info Systems!

[rachel83az]

BLS is a check-the-box degree. It's not bad, but it's not good either. Always try to choose a subject degree over a liberal studies degree, whenever possible.

Because the BABA should work for you, I'd choose that one. No need to bother with the BA Accounting if it's not something you'll need.

[allvia]

If you want to apply for jobs in accounting then you would want the BABA-Accounting or the BA-Accounting, Not the BLS (as it is not an accounting or business degree it is a liberal studies degree - don't do it, professionally it is not sufficient to be considered an accountant on its own). Don't let one extra course sway you between the BABA or the BA, decide which remaining class list interests you the most; especially since the Pell Grant will cover either (so speed to save money is not your concern, one or two extra 8 week terms at your young age is worth the long term ROI). With that said, the BABA would likely get you everything you'd ever want out a bachelor (long term) - checks the box plus. Also, I believe you could add the PM/MIS minor as well (again may take an extra term); that is an upgrade option to the BABA-Accouting. If you do that, focus on getting the Accounting courses done first (so you'd be 'done' with the requirements, in case life gets in the way and you need to drop the additional minor).

[ss20ts]

If you already have years of experience as an accountant, then the BLS would be fine. But if you're brand new to accounting, then you need the BABA or BA in Accounting for your new career. The BA in Accounting is your best option. The BLS will not get your foot in the door in a new career in accounting. You won't have enough accounting background to compete with people who have degrees in accounting.

[lllunchbox]

Okay so the BLS is out of the question, thanks! These are my different classes from BABA/BA:

BABA:
Management Info Systems
Legal & Ethical Environment of Business
Math for Business
Business Communication

BA:
Spreadsheets
Cost Accounting
Business Policy & Strategy
Operations Management
Organizational Communication

To me, it doesn't look like the BA list is much harder than the BABA list. In the end, from what I've looked up, a BABA/BA-Accounting are practically the same thing. So I guess out of these classes, which would be the easiest of the 2 sets?

[turbotortuga]

Okay so the BLS is out of the question, thanks! These are my different classes from BABA/BA:

BABA:
Management Info Systems
Legal & Ethical Environment of Business
Math for Business
Business Communication

BA:
Spreadsheets
Cost Accounting
Business Policy & Strategy
Operations Management
Organizational Communication

To me, it doesn't look like the BA list is much harder than the BABA list. In the end, from what I've looked up, a BABA/BA-Accounting are practically the same thing. So I guess out of these classes, which would be the easiest of the 2 sets?

The BABA Accounting is hands down an easier degree. All four of those courses you listed can be taken via alternative credit (Saylor/Sophia) for less than $130 depending on how many tries it takes you to pass the Saylor exams and one month of Sophia. Personally, after trying to choose between the two, I went with the BA in Accounting with a second major in BABA Management and Leadership. It was only a few classes (~4-6) more for the extra degree in my case.