<p>So currently I am an anthropology major about to transfer from a small state university to a much bigger and more prominent state university. I went into anthro thinking I'd pursue research and become a professor. However, seeing as tenured positions are drying up, and more and more part time adjuncts are being hired it seems like a little ridiculous of me to think I can stand out amongst the hundreds of other anthro students who are all vying for what's left of tenure track positions. In addition, after this spring semester I really don't know if I have the intellectual stamina to really be a professor. I managed to get my first ever 4.0 but had absolutely no life what so ever, found myself horribly stressed from the moment I woke up to the moment fell asleep (after staring at the clock for hours thinking about everything I had to do the next day, week, and month), and had constant chest pain which I can only attribute to stress because I feel fine now that the semester is over. In short, it was a horrible semester, but I did better than I ever have academically. It allowed me to really think about if I truly want to pursue a career in academia.
I talked with an advisor at the school I will be transferring to about a possible double major in something else, and he told me it probably wouldn't be possible because the university wants me to finish my last two years and graduate on time. I wouldn't mind taking an extra year but it doesn't seem like I'll be allowed to. My question is do you think it is worth it to pursue a minor in accounting or business administration and work my way into doing international business? I love other cultures and feel my anthro degree would show that I am prepared and able to navigate different cultures, but with only a minor in accounting am I being realistic to think that I could be hired by a company looking for individuals who are business savvy? Do you think I could get internships over other students who have actual business majors? I've always been told that any college degree can allow you to do just about anything, but obviously I can't do accounting with a liberal art degree. Do you think a minor would give me enough knowledge to land an internship or job?
I'm sorry if I come across as unknowledgeable. I don't know much about business seeing as I've focused on the liberal arts very heavily. However, after this semester I know that I can excel in anything, including business, if I really apply myself.</p>
<p>Seeing as this has gotten so many views I figured I’d post back in case anyone was in the same predicament or was just interested. I scoured the CC forums looking for posts dealing with similar issues, as well as to learn as much about accounting as possible. I read one post that said one guy had a BA in biology with an accounting minor and got an accounting job. I would assume it wasn’t for the big 4 but it was a job none the less. Of course this is the internet so maybe it wasn’t true, but I read another post that talked about firms hiring liberal arts majors and how they sort resumes my major. Again, it’s the internet so who knows, but it sounds like it’s possible to land a job with only an accounting minor and a BA.</p>
<p>Some schools offer minors in accounting, but being prepared for a worthwhile accounting career makes accounting too specialized to just minor in. The goal of nearly everybody who goes into accounting is to become a CPA. And there is no way that a minor in accounting will give you enough credits to take the CPA exam. Most states require 150 credits to sit for the CPA exam, including at least 24 credits in accounting and 24 more business/econ credits.</p>
<p>Your anthropology major won’t help you get a job in accounting. One option is to major in anthropology if you must, and take some basic accounting courses as an undergrad-- enough courses to get you into a master’s in accounting program without having to take a bunch of basic accounting courses in order to be accepted to the MSA program. Take courses like intro financial and managerial accounting, calculus, basic federal tax, etc.-- whatever prerequisites the MSA program requires. You might be able to come out of undergrad with a minor in accounting and at the same time meet MSA program entry requirements, but that minor won’t be worth much compared completing the MSA, which along with the undergraduate degree will put you over the 150 credit mark. You could probably take some general business/econ classes as an undergrad to meet that CPA exam eligibility requirement, too. If you pick your MSA program early and plan carefully you should be able to get to 150 credits and not take any unnecessary classes that would make you go over 150 and cost extra money. </p>
<p>Also, it might be an option to double major in anthropology and accounting undergrad, which might take more than 150 credits and at least five years at many schools (since business schools and liberal arts schools don’t always have a lot over overlap in degree requirements); but that route still might be less expensive than taking a year’s worth of MSA classes at graduate level tuition rates.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the minor is meant to prepare students to get into the masters program. But I would much prefer to double major while in undergrad. I don’t think the university will let me. They’ve made it pretty clear that they want me out in 2 years so that I can graduate on time. But I’ll be speaking with another advisor there soon so I’ll see what they say and hope for the best.</p>