What Are the Different Types of Accounting Degrees?

If you’re just beginning your education, an undergraduate-level accounting certificate or degree program can serve as a starting point and help you develop a foundational understanding of many of the principles and practices in the accounting field.

An associate-level degree introduces students to foundational concepts in accounting, finance and business. These programs typically require 60 credit hours for completion, which usually takes about 2 years for students who are enrolled full time. 

Graduates of an associate degree program may qualify for entry-level jobs like bookkeeper or accounting clerk. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), although a bachelor’s degree is generally required for accountants and auditors, associate degree holders can advance to junior-level accounting jobs after gaining on-the-job experience. 

At DeVry, students enrolled in our Associate Degree in Business program can choose our budgeting and forecasting concentration that introduces accounting principles, design and implementation of budgets and the use of accounting information to analyze data. Courses completed in this program stack into our Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Management, should you wish to continue your education with us.¹

A bachelor’s degree is the highest level of undergraduate degree and can be awarded in various aspects of accounting. At DeVry, our Bachelor's Degree in Accounting teaches many of the accounting skills that you’ll need as you prepare to pursue a career in this field. Offered in both an online and hybrid format², this degree program gives you the opportunity to build a foundational understanding of accounting, economics, finance and more.

A Bachelor's Degree in Business with a Specialization in Accounting may be a good fit if you're interested in getting a better grasp on how to apply accounting in a business environment. This degree program covers the foundational accounting principles along with courses that delve into business administration.

A Bachelor's Degree in Business with a Specialization in Finance is designed to cover the principles of finance while exploring their relationship to business practices. You may be interested in this particular degree program if your career goals are to help companies plan and make important financial decisions.

If you've already earned your bachelor's degree and are looking to further your education, a graduate-level accounting degree program might be the right move for you.

A Master's Degree in Accounting can help you deepen your understanding of the accounting field, or help you brush up on your knowledge as you prepare to take the CPA Exam³. During this program you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of hands-on learning experiences to help you build your skills in areas like accounting theory and practice, advanced accounting studies, accounting research and more.

A Master's Degree in Accounting and Financial Management blends accounting concepts with financial management skills. This program may be a good fit if you're looking to transition your career into the accounting field, work toward meeting the minimum education requirement for CPA certification and licensure³, or have a passion for making financial decisions that drive business goals. This program also works for those who are already working in accounting or finance but with their undergraduate education rooted in a different field.

An MBA with a Specialization in Accounting is a Master of Business Administration degree that covers high-level accounting concepts as well as business administration skills. You may be interested in an MBA with a Specialization in Accounting if you want to pursue a managerial role in a business environment where accounting knowledge can help you make more effective business management decisions.

An MBA with a Specialization in Finance can help you hone your managerial skills as well as your understanding of high-level finance concepts. It might be a great choice if you are looking to pursue management roles or are looking to apply finance concepts to a business environment. Some of the topics you'll cover during this program include advanced financial statement analysis, securities analysis and real estate finance.

Students who want to build a career in research or lecture at the university level may want to pursue a PhD in Accounting or PhD in Accounting and Finance. This doctorate is considered a terminal degree because it is the highest level of education that can be attained in the field. Doctoral accounting programs typically last 4 to 5 years, much longer than other accounting programs, with advanced coursework in data analysis, mathematical modeling, advanced accounting theory and economics in the first 2 years, then completion of a dissertation in a specialized field during the final 2-3 years. At DeVry, we do not offer PhD programs. 

A graduate certificate is an option if you want to build your accounting knowledge, learn foundational skills to transfer into a new industry or advance your education without investing the time it takes to earn a master's degree.

A Graduate Certificate in Accounting can be a great choice if you're interested in building your accounting skills but aren't sure if you want to pursue a master's degree just yet. During this program, you'll have the chance to explore concepts such as tax accounting, investments, working capital management and financial forecasting. And if you choose to continue your education by earning a DeVry master's degree, this certificate is designed to stack  into our MBA with a Specialization in Accounting program.¹

At DeVry, our Graduate Certificate in Accounting Certification Preparation allows you to customize your learning experience with your choice of graduate accounting courses that align with your professional goals. Choose between two emphases: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam Preparation or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Exam Preparation.