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Top 5 Online MBA Programs in Acquisitions

  2. 1University of Phoenix

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    Similar to the University of Phoenix's other progressive online MBA programs, the school's online MBA in accounting provides an extensive staff of knowledgeable academic advisors to prepare its students for management-level accounting work. Focusing on contemporary economic conditions, Phoenix's program will give MBA graduates a cutting-edge understanding of current accounting technology and tools, as well as an understanding of financial statements, cost behavior, budgets, and how to make informed executive decisions. Along with CPA test prep courses, students will be required to take a graduate-level accounting course and courses, such as Applied Business Research and Statistics, Corporate Finance, Economics, and Strategic Planning and Implementation.

  4. 2Capella University

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    As the brainchild of a former CEO, Capella University has become one of the most well respected online educational institutions for adult learning. Capella today offers 136 specialized areas of study, including an online MBA in accounting. Capella\’s online master\’s of business administration in accounting pairs general business courses such as Applied Managerial Statistics, Leading for Results, and Leading Teams with specialized accounting courses such as Budget Planning and Control, Accounting Information for Decision Making, and Advanced Accounting. All students in the MBA accounting online program are also required to take an accounting capstone course in their final quarter to tie all of their new skills and knowledge together.

  12. 6Benedictine University

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    The online MBA program in advanced accounting offered by Benedictine University is designed to provide students with a solid background in high level corporate financing and advanced accounting methods in particular. All facets of accounting theory and practice are covered as part of the program. There are both standard and advanced accounting courses to choose from, and the popular courses, including Financial Accounting and the Theory and Practice of Financial Reporting, are perfect examples of these different levels offered within the program. For individuals who are considering a full-fledged MBA at some point in the future, the credits accrued as part of this program may be applied toward that degree.

  18. 9Jones International University

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    Jones International University prides itself on creating an accounting program specifically designed to meet the American Institute of Certified Public Account's 150 credit hour requirement. This includes an excellent program for an online MBA in accounting. The accounting MBA online includes courses in accounting and management, as well as business administration courses, such as Making Ethical Management Decisions, Economic Theory and Applications, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, and Marketing Management. There are also accounting-specific courses in Auditing, Advanced Accounting, and Forensic Accounting. The online MBA in accounting requires prior coursework in accounting and an understanding of strategic management. A capstone course and five specialization courses are also required before graduation.

  20. 10Grand Canyon University

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    Grand Canyon University's accounting MBA online program seeks to help transform students into community leaders who are dedicated to enacting change and improving both their professional and business lives. Students enrolled in the program will develop their skills through a comprehensive course series, including classes in Organizational Behavior, Accounting Practices, Finance Principals, Applied Business Probability and Statistics, Economics, Quantitative Methods, Marketing Management, Managerial Accounting, Operations Management, Managerial Finance, and Strategic Management. Students who do not work full-time are encouraged to participate in internships during their course of study, and consult with the advisors at Grand Canyon University to find and apply for these opportunities.

  22. 11Strayer University

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    Strayer University has developed a reliable reputation with employers as an institution that produces quality graduates and valuable employees through its strong curriculum and quality of instruction. Students seeking an online MBA in accounting from Strayer University will find that they have many excellent job opportunities upon graduation. Courses for this program include Financial Accounting, Contemporary Business, Leadership and Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Law, Ethics, Corporate Governance, Quantitative Methods, and Marketing Management. Accounting students are also encouraged to take additional courses that focus on accounting, like Managerial Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, and Organizational Tax Research and Planning.

  24. 12Florida Tech University Online

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    U.S. News & World Report ranks Florida Tech University as a Tier 1 Best National University, making programs such as its online MBA accounting programs highly respected and successful. As part of the program, students will complete five core business courses, including Managerial Accounting and Managerial Finance. They will also complete the specialized accounting curriculum, which includes Advanced Problems and Current Topics, International Accounting and Reporting, Advanced Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, and Strategic Cost Management. Before graduating, students are required to complete a strategic management capstone course in addition to satisfying other degree requirements, which allows them to explore their individual interests and demonstrate their learned skills.

  26. 13Saint Leo University Online

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    An online MBA in accounting from Saint Leo University provides graduates with quality skills in all areas of accounting. The program also uses innovative and creative delivery tools and was voted into the Top 100 Degree Producers in Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Students at Saint Leo University complete courses in advanced business practices, including Managerial Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Decision Support Systems. They also take accounting-specific courses, such as Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Global Business Management. The program focuses on managerial skills and the courses are designed to fit into an 8-week term in order to give students focused, specific skills to implement in their current and future careers.

  30. 15American InterContinental University

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    American InterContinental University prides itself on providing a culture of diversity and acceptance to each student's individual goals through carefully designed degree programs. Students pursuing an online MBA in accounting from American InterContinental University take core MBA courses, including Strategic Management, Global Finance Management, and Business Research in order to strengthen their fundamental business skills. Specialized courses, such as Accounting for Managers and Public & Not-for-Profit Accounting, help students focus on their training on important skills. Students use real-life case studies and business plans in their classes, and also have the opportunity to earn credits for internships or work experience in order to further hone their practical skills and increase their potential for career success.

Online MBA in Acquisitions

This MBA is a two-year graduate program designed to provide students with a thorough training in business administration and leadership with a specialized focus on acquisitions. When they’re finished, students will be ideally poised to take up positions in acquisitions at businesses and corporations in a variety of industries. The advantage of the online program is that you can log in to all of your MBA acquisitions courses from your home computer without ever having to come to a campus.

What Does an MBA in Acquisitions Cover?

An online MBA in acquisitions is a rigorous program that requires a commitment of two years of full-time graduate work. However, some students opt for more intensive programs that they can complete in a shorter amount of time, and others take longer to finish the program by choosing to go to school part time. Students in this type of program will receive a comprehensive business education, with instruction in organizational leadership, financial accounting, management strategies, group dynamics, communication and conflict resolution, as well as the legal and ethical components of business. Courses in an online acquisitions MBA program start out foundational, bridging students from their undergraduate to their graduate work. From there, students move on to complete their core work. In addition to this, students must complete three to five courses pertaining directly to acquisitions to fulfill the acquisitions specialization requirement. Such classes might include government acquisition, drafting and submitting business strategies and proposals, and government contract law. The number of credit hours you must complete in an online acquisitions MBA will vary from program to program, but you can expect to complete at least 54. The highlight of good MBA in acquisitions programs is a capstone project, in which you apply what you learned in the classroom to a real-world situation. Some programs require or encourage an internship during which students demonstrate their newly acquired skills in an actual workplace. Still other programs require both qualitative and quantitative research into effective business practices in acquisitions.

Getting Into an Acquisitions MBA Program

As with most master’s degree programs, those interested in applying for admission into an acquisitions MBA program should have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The bachelor’s degree does not need to have been earned in the business field, but all applicants should possess basic business and mathematical knowledge. For this reason, those who did not earn their undergraduate degree in business or a related field should take certain classes before applying, such as:

  • College Algebra
  • Introduction to Accounting
  • Foundations of Business Management

A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 is typically necessary for entry into acquisitions MBA programs, such as with Jones International University. JIU does not require any other documents, aside from an official transcript and completed application form, but all applicants should check with their prospective schools to ensure that nothing else is needed, as some institutions may also require letters of recommendation or GMAT scores.

Why Should I Get an AACSB Accredited Acquisitions MBA?

Individuals who want to complete their MBA in acquisitions online should make sure that their program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB). The AACSB is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing quality management education and serves as an accreditor for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs in business and accounting. Accreditation gives you a reasonable assurance of the quality of your degree program as well as ensuring that you are not paying money to a degree mill that will give you easy classes in exchange for a worthless diploma.

Who Should Pursue an Acquisitions MBA?

The types of people who should consider enrolling in accredited online MBA acquisitions programs are business professionals who want to move up in their current line of work or career changers who want to move into business. Although most MBA online acquisitions programs prefer applicants who have at least one to two years of business experience, there are some programs that welcome people who want to transition to the business world after working in another field entirely, such as teaching. Another reason to consider enrolling in an online acquisitions MBA program is that even though it includes a specialization, you still receive a generalist education in business administration, which makes your degree versatile in the job market. This means you are not limited to acquisitions; you can qualify for a variety of careers in the business realm, including in finance, banking and marketing. The fact that you have completed a hands-on internship or capstone project shows employers that you are ready to hit the ground running, making you even more marketable to hiring managers.

What Jobs Can an MBA Acquisitions Online Get Me?

  • Financial Manager: A financial manager’s primary job duties are dependent upon the industry or organizations he or she is working for. Financial managers have a significant impact on mergers or any global expansion that is related to financing. They help minimize risk while maximizing profits.
  • Acquisitions Manager: Acquisition managers assist an organization with increasing revenues in a region or country. Their primary goal is to help bring in new customers. These managers are typically very familiar with the marketing aspect of business as well as what is being distributed by their companies’ competitors.
  • Financial Analyst: Firms rely on financial analysts to provide them with strong guidance—particularly on wise decisions when it comes to investing. They follow the performance of stocks, bonds, commodities and other investments that a company may be interested in pursuing. A large number of analysts work for banks and big insurance companies. Well-trained financial analysts can offer organizations comfort in times of uncertainty. As they analyze an organization’s financial situation, they can then make a recommendation that could be promising for their company. These recommendations are based on set costs, expenses and profit margins.

Top Earning Industries for Jobs

Financial Manager:

  • Manufacturing and Distribution: $58,958-$105,142
  • Information Technology Services: $76,000-$142,000

Acquisitions Manager:

  • Financial Services: $44,764-$92,602
  • Health Care: $54,617-$72,790

Financial Analyst:

  • Investment Banking: $44,279-$66,259
  • Information Technology Services: $44,446-$61,824

How Do I Find Online Acquisitions MBA Programs?

A good place to start looking for acquisitions MBA schools online is the AACSB website. If you let your cursor rest over the “accreditation” tab, the site will allow you to click on “accredited institutions” to browse a full list of such schools. From here you can begin your search into each school and narrow down the ones that offer online programs, further narrowing your search to online programs with specializations or concentrations in acquisitions. For rankings, check out:

  • U.S. News & World Report
  • Bloomberg Businessweek
  • Financial Times
  • The Economist

Macquil.com has compiled a useful top 10 list of online MBA programs that you can look at to see which has a solid focus on acquisitions. You can also search the Online Education Database for a ranking of online schools, which you can examine further to see which schools offer MBA programs with a specialization in acquisitions. The Online Education Database uses such metrics as retention and graduation rates as well as student to faculty ratio to gauge the quality of each school.

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