FollowWhile earning your accounting degree online might sound like a great idea, you need to make sure that you have the necessary computer skills for obtaining an online accounting degree. With an online degree, you won’t have a professor behind you or a librarian across the room who can explain how to use different programs. Students enrolling in online accounting programs must have skills relating to a number of different computer topics.
Knowing how to send and receive emails are just two of the necessary computer skills for obtaining an online accounting degree that you must possess. In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to imagine someone who doesn’t know how to do these simple things, but you will likely find that your professors require you to check your email for updated information at least once a day. You must also know how to send mass emails to other students in your courses and how to attach files and documents to your correspondence. Some schools require students to use new email programs, and it might take you some time to adjust to that new system.
Work with Blackboard and Other Programs
Blackboard is one of the most popular systems used by online schools and for online courses. After logging into the program with a user name and password given to you by the school, you can register for classes, check your grades and transcripts and connect with professors and other students. You typically need to post an answer to a question each week on a course message board and respond to posts on that same topic from other students. You will also use this system to submit papers and assignments and take tests and quizzes.
Research and Writing Skills
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants make a median annual salary of $63,550. Those accountants know that they use the research and writing skills they developed in college nearly every day. Whether you complete your undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting, you must take general education courses as well. Your professors expect you to research topics on your own and write papers, but they also expect you to understand the difference between a good resource and a poor one. You must also posses skills in regards to spelling, editing and grammar.
Familiarity with Computers
If someone told you to go to a certain web page, download and save a file on your computer and open that file, would you know what to do? Would you know how to edit that file, save the edited version and upload it on a different site? The necessary computer skills for obtaining an online accounting degree include some basic computer skills. You must know how to open, edit and save files, but you should also know how to transfer files between two machines, download documents and upload files. Many accounting programs also ask that students know how to download and use new software required for the program onto their home computers.
Taking accounting classes online comes with a number of benefits. You set your schedule and decide when you do your work, and you save money on textbooks and other supplies. Before enrolling in one of those programs, make sure that you have the necessary computer skills for obtaining an online accounting degree.
Related Resource: Pros and Cons to Online Accounting Degrees
