Best Online Doctorate in Accounting Programs

A doctoral degree is the highest level of education an accountant can pursue and earning one can help you take your career to the next level. A Doctor of Business Administration in accounting degree will prepare you to become a business leader and teach you the skills you will need for many career opportunities. Not all doctorate programs require incoming students to have a master's degree in accounting to apply, but you will need at least a bachelor's degree. Perhaps you have a bachelor's degree and a business certificate in the area of bookkeeping and have been working in the accounting field but are ready for something more. Earning an online doctorate in accounting can qualify you for positions with more salary potential. Most businesses irrespective of the type of organisation require the services of accountants to examine and organize their finances, which means accounting positions will always be in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for accountants matches the average.

Although the information in this article is mostly about a Doctor of Business Administration in Accounting degree, it is also possible to earn a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., in accounting online. Both types of degrees are quite rigorous and can take years to complete, and both have the potential to help students advance their careers greatly. The easiest difference to note between a DBA and a Ph.D. is the type of training and research required for students to complete before graduation. Typically, a graduate of a Ph.D. in accounting program will enter the field of academia as an educator or researcher. On the other hand, graduates of a DBA in accounting program tend to work in business. Someone earning a Ph.D. in accounting may be able to study analytics, financial theory, or other financial research topics. While a person earning a DBA may study forensic accounting, managerial accounting, or other topics related to business.

Admissions requirements for online Doctor of Business Administration in accounting programs vary by school. Some programs will require applicants to have a master's degree while others only require a bachelor's degree for admission. Although professional experience as an accountant may be helpful, it most likely will not be required when applying. Even though many programs have similar admissions requirements, you should study program websites or consider meeting with admissions counselors before applying.

Here are some admissions requirements that are similar among online accounting doctorate programs:

• Completed application
• Transcripts
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Personal statement or letter of intent
• Letters of recommendation
• GRE or GMAT scores
• Application fee

You can expect to complete an average of 48-75 credits in an online Doctor of Business Administration in accounting degree. The courses you complete to earn these credits will cover accounting and business topics like supply chain management, strategy, quantitative research, tax research, advanced auditing, accounting ethics, and leadership. Programs are often structured in a way where course topics build on each other and the subjects advance throughout the program, with a dissertation or capstone project taking place in the final year.

How Long is an Online Doctoral Accounting Program?

One of the great things about an online program is that you can often complete the program in your own time. The average length of an online doctorate in an accounting program is three years, but some schools will give students up to eight years to complete their courses and a capstone project. You can expect to spend your time in lecture-style classes and researching on your own for your final project or dissertation. As a student in an online doctoral accounting program, you will be able to complete the majority of the required credits online. But you will most likely be required to spend some time on campus for meetings or other study events.

When earning a DBA in accounting, you will be required to take general business courses in addition to your accounting concentration courses. Many courses will be research-focused leading up to your dissertation. Courses will be laid out in sequence for doctoral students and will cover many topics. There may be some foundational courses that you will need to complete prior to starting your degree if you haven't already taken these in a previous bachelor's or master's program.

Here are some of the common courses included in an online accounting doctoral program:

• Business Strategy
• Business Ethics
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Components of the Dissertation
• Dissertation Proposal
• Managerial Accounting
• Advanced Accounting Theory
• Advanced Auditing
• Tax Research

Business Ethics

Organizations are required to have ethics in place as required by legislation. Ethics and social responsibility are increasingly important to businesses. This course will teach students various policies and laws and how these apply in the accounting field. Students will learn how to approach accounting from an ethical perspective.

Quantitative Research Methods

In preparation for your dissertation, you will need to learn various research methods. This course will teach accounting doctoral students how to design and analyze quantitative studies, as well as how to interpret research results. What you learn from this course can be applied to the research you will need to do for your final project.

Advanced Auditing Methods

The advanced auditing course will build on knowledge students already have from their careers or previous accounting degrees. Students will learn how to apply auditing standards in their work as accountants. A further important aspect of this course is looking at ethical auditing and how to detect fraud. In some programs, students in this course will be provided with real auditing scenarios to learn from.

Advanced Accounting Theory and Policy

The topics of theory and policy are quite broad and may help accountants understand the history of their jobs and how their roles developed. Students will learn to apply accounting theory to their roles as accountants. They will also look at different aspects of accounting, such as financial and managerial accounting while learning to apply theory to various issues.

Although not always required when completing a Doctor of Business Administration in accounting degree, some programs do require students to complete a dissertation before graduation. Typically, a dissertation is due at the very end of a program, but students often start preparing their work early, perhaps in the first year. You will most likely learn the process of completing and submitting a dissertation in the required courses of the program.

Completing a dissertation will take many hours of intensive research and work. The first step of a dissertation is to choose a topic, which is typically done after some coursework has been completed and students have identified which subjects are of interest. Students will also need to choose a committee and mentor who will help guide their work. Creating a proposal will be an important step in the dissertation process. The proposal must be approved by the committee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before you can continue working on your research and compiling your final project. See for example the guidance provided by Oregon State University about their IRB. Once the dissertation has been properly formatted, most likely in book form, it will need to be presented and approved by the committee. You will have to verbally defend your research as part of the approval process.

Choosing the best online DBA in accounting program for you is an important first step to earning this high-level degree and advancing your career. You will need to do plenty of research on various programs before deciding where to apply. You may even want to consider meeting or talking with a representative from the programs before making a decision.

When choosing a program, you will want to make sure it is accredited. Besides accreditation, there are many other things to consider in choosing the right online accounting doctorate program for you. While many programs take about three years to complete, some allow students extra time and flexibility to graduate. This may be especially important if you are working while enrolled in classes. Also, some online accounting doctorate programs allow students to start at practically any time throughout the year. Program cost is a deciding factor for most students and can range greatly, with some programs costing anywhere from $36,000 to $140,000 total.

Below are some factors that you may want to consider before you choose a program:

• Length of the program
• Cost of the program
• Courses offered
• Financial aid availability
• Enrollment size
• Start date
• Ability to transfer credits or not
• Degree program outcomes

There are many reasons why you must earn your online accounting Doctor of Business Administration degree from an accredited program. First, some employers will only hire employees who graduated from accredited programs. This is because accreditation means programs have gone through a voluntary process of evaluation that establishes that they have met certain education standards set by the accreditation organizations. Students attending accredited programs can rest assured that they are receiving a quality education. Finally, attending an accredited program also means you will have more access to federal financial aid should you need it.

Accreditation may come from regional, national, or specialized organizations. Accreditation organizations for online accounting doctorate programs may come from The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or other business school accreditation organizations. You should be able to easily find a school's accreditation status on their website or in an informational brochure.

Earning a doctorate in accounting can elevate your career and earning potential. While the median salary for accountants with a bachelor's degree as of 2020 is reported to be $73,560, the median salary for accountants with a doctorate degree is $109,000. Accountants work in many roles and may work for the government or corporations, or as management or public accountants. If you describe yourself as an introvert, there are plenty of accounting job options for you, like an internal auditor or budget analyst. Some accountants find themselves working in the hospitality industry doing market research or managing finances. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports expected job growth for accountants to be 4%, or as fast as the average for other job positions, from 2019-2029.

Certified Public Accountant

Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs, work with companies as consultants regarding various financial issues, such as taxes and financial planning. As a CPA, you can work for a large business, or as an entrepreneur. You will have to take an exam to become a licensed CPA. Additional education may be required to start working as a CPA, although an employee with a doctorate in accounting may not need additional training. You should find out what your state requires for CPA licensure before getting started on this career path. Your salary as a CPA will depend on the state you are working in and how much experience you have. CPAs with years of experience do of course increase their earning potential.

Forensic Accountant

A forensic accountant works in the field of law enforcement and investigates fraud. Forensic accountants will use skills like financial analysis, auditing, and investigation to complete their jobs. The average salary for forensic accountants is about $72,000 but pay can range from $49,000 to $118,000 per year. This role may be a good fit for you if you have excellent attention to detail and an interest in law. Forensic accountants are often called to testify in courts of law to provide expert evidence. According to the Forensic CPA Society, forensic accountants may work in litigation support or an investigation.

Chief Financial Officer

The role of a Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, is one with many responsibilities, such as financial management, business strategy, and risk management. A CFO must help companies make important decisions regarding the business's finances. A person in this role must feel comfortable assessing risk and coming up with strategies that promote the financial well-being of the company. The average CFO salary is $136,944 but can be well over $200,000 per year. The job outlook for Chief Financial Officers is excellent, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting projected growth of 15%, or must faster than the average, from 2019-2029.

An online Doctor of Business Administration in accounting degree can be expensive, and many students will need to use financial aid to pay for their education. When starting to look for financial aid, the first step is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After filling out a FAFSA, you will learn if you are eligible for federal scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study programs. You should also review your school's website to learn of possible financial aid options, as you may be able to find scholarships and assistantships through your doctorate program. There are also websites where you can search for other types of financial aid from organizations and individuals. If you are a minority, you may be able to find funding through the Ph.D. Project. You will most likely have to go through an application process for various scholarships, grants, and loans, so be sure to understand what information you will need to have to apply.