Online Accounting Degrees in Alabama

Athens State University

College of Business

Athens State University is one of the oldest colleges in the state. Established in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, the school originally opened with the intention of training and educating the female students who had little opportunities elsewhere. The college didn’t admit male students until the 1930s. Though the school had a close relationship with the Methodist Church for a number of years, it now operates independently of any other institution. Students interested in history will appreciate the Athens State College Historic, which is a National Register Historic District that includes Founders Hall and other buildings that date back to the 1840s.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The College of Business at Athens State University maintains a number of programs and courses for students interested in business. Designed for future accountants, the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program helps students build a strong foundation through a number of general education courses. You’ll learn how to discuss issues with clients in communications and public speaking courses, and you’ll learn how to get inside the minds of your clients in behavioral and social sciences courses. If you want to work as a Certified Public Accountant, you will spend 150 semester hours working on your degree, which qualifies you to sit for the CPA Examination. Many students earn the necessary credits with a combination of undergraduate and graduate level studies. The program prepares students for future careers working for government agencies, private companies, nonprofit organizations and in a wide range of other careers. ASU also offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with a minor in accounting.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
300 N. Beaty Street
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-8100
linda.hemingway@athens.edu
Website

Auburn University

Raymond J. Harbert College of Business/School of Accountancy

Auburn University opened as the East Alabama Male College in 1859, but it closed just a few years later due to the outbreak of the Civil War. The school experienced a number of problems during World War I when its population dropped as students enlisted in the war effort. After admitting female students and expanding its course catalog, the school rebounded from those trying years. Now known as Auburn University, the college ranks as one of the top 85 colleges in the country and one of the top 40 private colleges in the nation, and it has a total student enrollment of more than 25,000 students.

Master of Accountancy

The Master of Accountancy program is a joint program available through the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business and the School of Accountancy. This graduate program is open to students with an undergraduate degree in accounting or a similar field, and as it is a non-thesis program, students do not complete a large project or paper before graduating. For online students, the school requires that they take 30 semester hours of work and complete a short residency on campus. During your last semester, you spend 4.5 days living and working on campus. This lets you work with the professors you learned from during the program, and those professors will evaluate your work to ensure you meet the minimum standards. Required courses for all students include federal tax research, research in accounting, advanced auditing and assurance services and integrated accounting applications. Students also take various elective courses on information systems, investing and other topics.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact
405 W. Magnolia Ave.
Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-6118
amy.murphy@auburn.edu
Website

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB Online

The University of Alabama at Birmingham opened as the Birmingham Extension Center in 1936. As a branch of the parent school, this campus came about after the school noticed a growing need for a college in the Birmingham area. The gorgeous campus now covers more than 80 blocks in the city and ranks as one of the top 151 schools in the country. UAB Online, which awards undergraduate and graduate degrees to online students, started as a distance learning program. Students originally completed work and sent projects and assignments through the mail. After transitioning to an online system, the program became UAB Online.

Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Designed for students who could not attend classes on the UAB campus, the Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting is a completely online program. While other schools require that students spend a small amount of time on campus, this program lets students earn their degrees without stepping foot on campus. The program ranks as one of the top 10 online accounting programs in the country, and some students live in other cities around the world and take classes through UAB. Many of the professors working in the program have years of experience, and those professors offer networking opportunities for students. Those opportunities help you work with people in the field and gain the experience that employers require. After finishing the program, you qualify to sit for the examinations required of Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Management Accountants and Certified Internal Auditors. Most full-time students complete the program and earn their degrees in four years or less.

Master of Accounting Programs

The Master of Accountancy program is a more advanced program available through UAB Online. Certified Public Accountants must pass a professional examination before receiving their licenses, and Alabama requires that accountants have at least 150 semester or credit hours of college experience before taking that test. This program and your undergraduate program will give you those necessary hours of experience. UAB believes in personalized education, which means that every student has a different experience in the program. The same professors working on campus are the ones teaching your courses, and those professors go out of their way to ensure you’re happy with the program. All online students have the chance to attend networking events on campus, and the relationships you form there can help you after you complete your degree. Students gain more experience in accounting research, communicating with others, using technology and software and with forming interpersonal relationships with others.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Contact
1720 2nd Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0113
(205) 934-4011
chooseuab@uab.edu
Website 

University of Phoenix – Birmingham

Business and Management

Though the student enrollment at the University of Phoenix now includes a number of recent high school graduates, the school initially opened as a way to educate adult students. Found John Sperling wanted those students to feel comfortable taking classes without experiencing the stigma they felt at other schools. The university opened in 1976 with one campus in Phoenix, but it later opened a campus in California. In 1989, the university began offering courses and programs online. The Birmingham campus offers classes through a large office complex that sits in a convenient location right off Highway 280 and through its online system.

Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Accounting

Are you worried that accounting might not be the right choice for you? Do you want to start your education off slowly but on the right foot? The Associate of Arts with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Phoenix might be the right choice for you. Designed for students interested in business, the program gives you a strong foundation in courses that you’ll need as you complete additional degrees. The program typically takes two years from start to finish, and you can take a combination of courses online and on campus or take all classes online. Core courses for accounting students include survey of accounting, accounting ethics, financial reporting, financial accounting and foundations of personal finance. Students also take introduction to college algebra, college algebra and other math classes, which teach them the basic skills that they need in more advanced accounting and mathematics courses. Many students receive a Bachelor’s degree later.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The University of Phoenix designed its Bachelor of Science in Accounting program as a way to fill the growing need for licensed and qualified accountants in the country. The StarTrack program is a unique program available for accounting students. You take a specific number of courses to earn a certificate before working in the field. You can later take additional courses to earn other certificates before finishing out your degree. This gives you the chance to earn a degree and gain more experience at the same time. Students take a total of 120 credit hours of courses, which include 72 credit hours of general education classes. Those required general education courses cover topics relating to humanities, social sciences, math and natural science. Some of the required accounting courses that students take include business communication for accountants, management theory and practice, introduction to computer applications and systems and contemporary business law.

Master of Science in Accountancy

After completing the Master of Accountancy program through the University of Phoenix, students will have the necessary skills required by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The required accounting ethics course teaches you how to look at issues on a larger scale, how to make informed decisions based on the knowledge you have and how to handle problems with clients. The communications for accountants required course shows you how to work with clients, identify their needs and find ways to help them with their needs. Successful completion of the program requires a total of 36 credit hours, but you can take a combination of electives and required courses to complete that requirement. Students often take electives relating to accounting and specific areas of business, but they also take courses on accounting theory and research, internal control systems, forensic accounting, not-for-profit and government accounting, managerial accounting and legal aspects of business and taxation.

Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)

Contact
100 Corporate Pkwy #250
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 747-1001
Website

University of West Alabama

College of Business

When the Livingston Female Academy first opened in 1839, it offered female students the chance to earn a teaching certificate and take courses relating to education. Originally maintained by the Presbyterian Church, the school later separated from that religious institution and now operates as a public university. Though the school was once a normal school and went through several name changes, the college is now the University of West Alabama. Located in downtown Livingston, the 600-acre campus is home to a number of historic and modern buildings and a large lake. Students enjoy the relatively peaceful campus, which is within driving distance of several large cities.

Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting

The University of West Alabama noticed an increased interest in online courses, which led to the school introducing a few courses for its students. This later led to the formation of online programs that let students earn a degree online. The Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting is available online through the College of Business and the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics. Designed specifically for students who need more time to finish a degree and those who work full-time, the program offers a variety of courses each semester. Students take 13 classes to complete the business component of the program, and those courses include business law and legal environment, finance, management, strategic management, marketing and business communications. Students take an additional 30 credit hours in courses that include intermediate accounting, federal income tax, advanced accounting and auditing. Those interested in taking the CPA examination will need to take an additional 30 credit hours of work at the graduate level.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Contact
The University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama 35470
(800) 621-8044
admissions@uwa.edu
Website

Alabama institutes of higher education want its students to graduate with the skills that employers want. Whether you have an interest in tax preparation, accounting for small businesses or working with larger companies, online accounting degrees in Alabama can help prepare you for everything that your future holds.

For more information on obtaining your Online Accounting degree, please see Top 10 Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs.