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1. • CommentAuthorimpala
   • CommentTimeSep 24th 2007 edited

    
   Hello,
   
   I am looking into obtaining my BS in Accounting with the long-term goal of becoming a CPA. In my search for school, I stumbled across WGU in Utah. They have a great accounting program, and they are regionally and nationally accredited. However, they use a non-standard approach in tracking student progress - so called "competency" units, which can be converted to more common semester units on transcripts, but they do not provide a letter grade. CA Board of Accountantcy said that credits earned at WGU should be acceptable for CPA prerequisite fulfillment since they are accredited. I am still a little apprehensive though because the letter grade and GPA are not used. Is there anybody who graduated from WGU and was able to obtain CPA license or to transfer education credits elsewhere for MBA program?
2. • CommentAuthorGwen Castaldi
   • CommentTimeSep 27th 2007 edited

    
   Dear Impala:
   
   I came across your blog inquiry and would like to try to address it. I may be able to answer some of your questions about Western Governors University. I'll be honest--I am the Director of Public Relations here, and my purpose here is not to pitch an entire slate of reasons as to why you should attend WGU in this case; rather, I can attempt to address a few issues you brought up. Your first concern--about no letter grade and GPA used: we have found that our graduates from the WGU competency-based model have had great success with acceptance of WGU degrees as they move onward to perhaps a master's degree at either another online university or a traditional brick-and-mortar university. Regional accreditation (Northwest Commission and Distance Education Training Council in our case) is key, which means we meet the standards involved for specific degree programs we offer. As for your questions about CPA exams--- please keep in mind that each state has its own requirements for their CPA exams, and in fact, some of them require a certain amount of work experience, often including 150 semester hours of college work and certain specific upper level classes. And it varies from state to state. Our faculty in the WGU College of Business tell me that in general, if you have a bachelor's degree in accounting--whether from a traditional university or an accredited online university like WGU--more than likely you would still have to take specific additional classes somewhere that will help you meet the skills and competencies required for your state's CPA exam. Our bachelor's degree in accounting does not cover everything you would need to pass a CPA exam. This is also true with many other undergraduate accounting programs at various institutions. Some master's degrees (from any institution) may or may not provide the specific domains of study you would need in order to pass a particular state's exam. Again, it would be a matter of finding out what combination of in-depth knowledge, classes and work experience are required for the exam in your state and what your prospective university degree program covers. WGU does not at this time offer a master's degree in accounting. However, I am told by our staff that you could certainly get your bachelor's at a university like WGU and then take any additional classes that might be needed to meet the CPA exam requirements at a local institution that offers individual classes on that subject. It's my understanding that you would not necessarily have to have the master's in some cases, to pass a specific CPA exam. Again, all of this depends on the exam for each state and the content of the degree program-- and matching them up as best you can or working the gap so you take any additional classes needed elsewhere. You will probably need to do some more detailed research of both your state CPA exam requirements and your university choices. I hope this assists you.