It might feel like just yesterday that the CPA exam was made up of four fixed sections, offering little flexibility for your individual career goals or interests. But the exam has gone through some major updates in recent years. From new licensure paths and continuous testing windows to ongoing format tweaks, the 2025 CPA Exam introduces changes you can use to your advantage as you move closer to becoming a CPA.
In this guide, you’ll find the latest updates, plus expert tips on how to stay qualified and succeed.
The CPA Evolution framework launched in 2024, introducing a new structure known as the Core + Discipline model. This model gives candidates more flexibility while making sure they maintain a strong foundation in essential accounting knowledge. Let’s break it down further:
Core sections that all candidates must complete include:
In addition to the core sections, there’s also a discipline section that allows test takers to choose based on their professional goals, including:
In addition to the major changes introduced in 2024, the CPA exam continues to evolve in 2025 with updates designed to make the process more flexible and accessible for candidates:
With even more CPA exam updates rolling out in 2025, preparation is about more than just practice tests. Here are a few ways to confidently navigate the new format and walk into test day ready to succeed:
Presented by our AACSB-accredited College of Business, UT Permian Basin’s online Master of Professional Accountancy program helps you become eligible to sit for the CPA exam by empowering you with comprehensive knowledge of contemporary accounting principles and business applications. You’ll master traditional and modern accounting practices while developing skills that help you expertly navigate an ever-evolving business landscape.
Presented in a 100% online, asynchronous format, our program allows you to complete coursework on your own schedule from practically anywhere in the world. And that’s just one of the many benefits:
Our program meets the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requirements to sit for the CPA exam and attain certification in Texas. You can confirm whether it also meets your state’s board of accountancy requirements here.
After you complete our Master of Professional Accountancy program, you’ll have met important requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Texas. Once you become a CPA, you’ll be able to enjoy higher earning potential and compete for many more professional opportunities.
Prepare yourself for success as a CPA with an online Master of Professional Accountancy from UT Permian Basin.
Sources:
https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam
https://future.aicpa.org/resources/download/learn-what-is-tested-on-the-cpa-exam
https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/licensure.html
https://www.netsuite.com/portal/business-benchmark-brainyard/industries/articles/cfo-central/cpa-exam-changes.shtml
Picture this: You’re a junior accountant, and your manager asks you to tweak a report to make the numbers look better. The request sounds harmless enough—just a small tweak—but you know it’s not above board. Now you’re stuck. Do you follow orders and risk crossing an ethical line, or do you push back and risk…
You’ve always been an analytical thinker. A problem solver. Maybe a math whiz, too. There’s a career that matches your strengths. Certified Public Accountants—or CPAs—excel in these qualities. Let’s explore why a CPA is no ordinary accountant and what it takes to become one. Want to Be a CPA? Here’s What You Need to Know …
It’s tax season. Your spreadsheets are a mess, your coffee’s cold, and it’s month-end close—again. Enter blockchain technology: a secure system that delivers real-time updates, lets you safely share data … and makes your job much easier in the process. Not exactly sure what blockchain is? Don’t worry! You’re in the right place. Let’s break…
Social responsibility is a virtue that we can demonstrate through our buying habits and living practices and through an awareness of how these behaviors affect others around us. In the petroleum industry, which has a global footprint and the power to impact many economies and ecosystems, social responsibility takes on monumental importance. Companies in this field must incorporate corporate social responsibility (or CSR) into their business models to ensure that they wield their influence with the necessary forethought, perspective, and restraint.
According to Investopedia, corporate social responsibility is “a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable—to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental.”
In more concise terms, corporate entities need to be responsible global citizens in multiple respects.
What Are the Types of Social Responsibility?
There are many differing views on exactly what constitutes social responsibility in a corporate setting. Some commonly accepted examples of social responsibility include:
Dr. Archie B. Carroll, a noted business management author and professor, suggests a pyramid of social responsibility for corporations comprised of four hierarchical levels including, from top to bottom, philanthropic, ethical, legal, and economic considerations.
Who’s Being Responsible in the Petroleum Industry?
A list of the world’s 100 most reputable companies for corporate responsibility includes enterprises that manufacture and sell toys, software, coffee, furniture, cars, and more. However, not a single petroleum company appears on the list. The list may not be definitive, but clearly, the petroleum industry can do more.
Among petroleum companies alone, there are some standouts in terms of efforts to safeguard the environment. For example:
BP, formerly British Petroleum, has invested significant capital into renewable forms of energy, such as solar, wind, biofuel, and hydrogen, and has been recognized for its operational transparency.
Petroteq Energy has developed a unique process to extract oil from sand that creates no greenhouse gases or waste and involves the use of what the company calls “benign chemicals.”
Royal Dutch Shell is seen as a clean energy leader and is gearing its operations toward carbon reduction and investment in electricity. The company is also investing in solar energy in different parts of the world.
Total, one of the world’s largest oil producers, has a subsidiary company that’s dedicated to increasing the availability of renewable energy sources including hydropower and biomass. The company’s goal is for up to 20% of its sales to come from renewable energy by 2040.
In addition to petroleum producers, other organizations within the petroleum industry are fostering greater social responsibility. IPIECA is a not-for-profit association dedicated to responsible practices within the petroleum industry. The association also acts as a conduit for information between the industry and the United Nations.
How the Petrochemical Industry Can Do Better
How can petroleum companies earn a place among the world’s most reputable companies for corporate responsibility? The companies mentioned above are obviously going in the right direction and may inspire others in the industry to follow suit. All must work toward clean, renewable, sustainable forms of energy while pursuing their business interests. All must avoid polluting the environment and take responsibility by cleaning it up if they do.
Responsibility is not just about having good environmental practices, however. To be considered a corporate responsibility leader, a company must contribute to the greater good in a variety of ways. That includes allocating more time, money, and effort to charitable organizations and maintaining safe, inclusive, and ethical workplaces.
Online Programs to Advance Your Energy Career
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online degree and certificate programs that can help you start or advance within a career in the petroleum industry or another energy-related field. All programs are provided 100% online through our AACSB-accredited College of Business.
This bachelor’s degree program gives you a foundation in fundamental management concepts, supply chain management, and other areas that will help you tackle technical and industrial issues for your employer. The optional graduate certificate helps you develop a comprehensive understanding of petroleum industry technology.
Master of Business Administration with Certificate in Energy Business
This graduate-level program helps you develop highly marketable operational knowledge and leadership proficiencies with regard to the energy industry.
Graduate Certificate in Energy Business
This certificate program is available as a 12-credit stand-alone credential and translates your accounting, business law, finance, management, and marketing expertise to the rapidly expanding energy industry.
Career-Friendly Online Convenience
All courses for these programs are presented in an asynchronous online format that enables you to earn a valued credential at your own pace while maintaining your professional and personal responsibilities. Our program courses are taught by the same acclaimed faculty who teach them at our campus, and many of the courses last just eight weeks!
Build the expertise needed to excel as a socially responsible leader in an energy-related career with a UT Permian Basin online program.
Sources:
https://www.fundera.com/blog/corporate-social-responsibility
https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/corporate-16-brands-doing-corporate-social-responsibility-successfully
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4679-corporate-social-responsibility.html
https://insights.energydais.com/corporate-social-responsibility-in-oil-and-gas-industry/
https://growensemble.com/socially-responsible-companies/
Are you deciding between an MBA in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy (MAcc)? Both graduate programs open doors to rewarding accounting careers, but they offer different paths depending on your goals.
Whether you’re aiming for a CPA or want to pursue broader business opportunities, understanding the MBA vs. MAcc differences is key. In this guide, we’ll explore how each program prepares you for accounting jobs and help you choose the best degree for your future.
The Master of Professional Accountancy is solely focused on CPA certification and prepares you to sit for the CPA exam. The degree is a must if you wish to work as a certified public accountant and advance into management-level roles. The program is geared toward accounting undergraduates who need to get their 150 hours for the CPA exam and individuals with a non-accounting bachelor’s degree who wish to transition into an accounting career.
A Master of Professional Accountancy and CPA certification set you up for success in top management roles including:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that some employers give preferential treatment to job candidates who’ve completed a master’s degree. In combination with a CPA license, a graduate degree can give you an even greater competitive advantage in the working world.
Yes, our Master of Professional Accountancy program offers courses on all the CPA exam topics. It also provides a comprehensive grounding in accounting standards and business applications.
During your course of study, you’ll become proficient in traditional and contemporary accounting practices as you build skills that will enable you to expertly navigate today’s quickly changing business landscape.
When you finish our Master of Professional Accountancy program, you’ll have fulfilled the main requirements to sit for the CPA exam and gained a respected master’s degree that will bolster your resume and your employment potential.
Program at a Glance
Our MBA in Accounting program is geared toward working professionals and recent graduates from undergraduate programs of various types. It provides a functional knowledge of accounting principles and business applications.
This degree is a must if you desire the flexibility to work in a variety of business-oriented careers. It provides a broader business focus with an emphasis on accounting that gives you the ability to choose what you want to do.
To that end, it has two tracks that you can choose based on your career goals:
Graduates of this program have gone on to pursue roles such as:
Program at a Glance
Both of UT Permian Basin’s accounting-oriented master’s programs are offered online through our AACSB-accredited College of Business. Each is taught by the same doctoral-level professors and CPAs who teach the programs on campus and features the identical curriculum.
When you enroll in either of these programs, you will experience the benefits of 100% online, asynchronous learning, which allows you to complete coursework on your own schedule from virtually any location in the world—from Texas to Tasmania. This flexibility is a tremendous advantage when you’re simultaneously juggling professional, personal, and educational commitments.
In addition, both programs help you develop skills that will benefit you in a range of rewarding jobs in accounting and related fields. Compensation is generally higher in those jobs, too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2024, professionals who have completed a master’s degree have some of the highest earnings and an impressively low unemployment rate.
If you definitely plan to pursue a career as a CPA, the Master of Public Accountancy is your best bet. If you want to build a foundation in accounting as part of a broader business career, choose the MBA in Accounting. Again, it’s all about your professional goals.
We’d be happy to tell you more about these programs and what they can do for you! Reach out to us anytime.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2025/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
Other articles you may be interested in:
Picture this: You’re a junior accountant, and your manager asks you to tweak a report to make the numbers look better. The request sounds harmless enough—just a small tweak—but you know it’s not above board. Now you’re stuck. Do you follow orders and risk crossing an ethical line, or do you push back and risk…
Video calls. Robot vacuums. Voice assistants. Thirty years ago, we only saw this technology in cinema or on TV. Today, they’re billion-dollar industries. Many of the technologies now reshaping how we live and work first appeared in movies or on TV. While most viewers were happy to lose themselves in the narrative, an enterprising few…
Forget everything you think you know about management roles, like the idea that for the rest of your life, you’ll be chained to a desk under a ceiling of fluorescent lights. That’s not what management looks like—or at least, it doesn’t have to be. A business management degree doesn’t condemn you to a cubicle; it…
The clock strikes midnight, and the doors burst open. A crowd of people rush in, many of whom camped outside to hold their place in line, some of whom have looked forward to this day all year. Pushing through the throng, shoppers spread out and hunt for the lowest prices. The fervor is highly contagious, and there’s a collective feeling that a brawl or stampede could break out at any moment.
Yet, for many, there’s an easier way. Enter Cyber Monday: a day of deep discounts and online deals, where shoppers can snag the best prices from the comfort of their own homes. No lines, no crowds—just one-click access to serious savings.
Since its inception in 2005, Cyber Monday has exploded in popularity, with 2024 breaking records. In just two hours, consumers spent a whopping 15.8 million every sixty seconds! With e-commerce continuing to dominate, Cyber Monday’s influence shows no signs of slowing down.
But how did this online shopping phenomenon begin? Let’s dive into the history of Cyber Monday and its lasting impact on retail.
Even after a full weekend of in-store shopping, many people still had holiday gifts left to buy. But instead of heading back to the mall, shoppers discovered a better alternative: browsing online—often right from their desks at work. With easy access to high-speed internet and a quieter environment, online shopping on Monday felt easier, more efficient, and far less chaotic.
Retailers quickly caught on. They began offering limited-time deals the Monday after Thanksgiving, turning what was once a casual trend into a full-blown shopping event. Still, not everyone was convinced at first. In 2005, the The New York Times wrote:
“Hence the catchy Cyber Monday, so called because millions of productive Americans, fresh off a weekend at the mall, are expected to return to work and their high-speed internet connections on Nov. 28 and spend the day buying what they liked in all those stores.”
Turns out, that’s exactly what consumers did. They returned from their Thanksgiving weekend shopping and picked up exactly where they left off—this time online.
The name “Cyber Monday” was coined in a 2005 press release from Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF). The term itself was proposed by Ellen Davis, a PR executive at the NRF at the time. “It’s a random bit of cocktail party conversation I like to bring up sometimes,” Davis told Fast Company. “It’s surreal to think that I’m associated with a term that has taken off like this.”
Before settling on Cyber Monday, the team considered the name Black Monday to match the already-established Black Friday—but that name was already tied to the 1987 stock market crash.
Online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving had been steadily increasing in the early 2000s. Retailers, always eager to promote the holiday season, responded by offering special promotions and discounts on that day. Experts lacked a definitive reason for the spike in sales but suspected it was a combination of better internet access at work, leftover shopping lists from the weekend, and the looming pressure of holiday gift-giving.
What started as a catchy marketing term quickly became an industry-changing phenomenon—and a new kind of holiday tradition.
By 2008, the housing bubble had burst, the Great Recession was in full swing, and millions of Americans were left without their careers, homes, or savings. Cyber Monday became less a convenience and more of a way to cover expenses during the holiday season.
Cyber Monday deals drove consumers online (many during work hours), and sales continued to tick upwards. Amazon was the most visited retail website visited on Cyber Monday, with traffic to the website up 21% from the previous year. But a rising tide lifts all boats, and Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers began extending Cyber Monday days throughout the week. Cyber Monday had become “Cyber Week.”
Cyber Monday sales continued their rapid ascent and reached $1 billion for the first time in 2010, confirming it as the largest online shopping day in the U.S.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are now joined by Small Business Saturday, a celebration of local brick-and-mortar stores, and Giving Tuesday, a day to donate to charitable causes. Amazon Prime Day is yet another e-commerce holiday to spawn in recent years. Total online retail sales during Prime Day surpassed $11 billion, beating out Cyber Monday. The only thing keeping Prime Day from taking the top spot as the world’s largest online shopping day is its 48-hour time frame.
Cyber Monday has forever altered how people wield their purchasing power, especially online. No matter when you read this, Cyber Monday is sure to be one of the largest, if not the largest, online shopping events of the year. It’s one of the few days of the year when frugal shoppers open their wallets and click “Buy Now.”
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing. This 12-credit certificate program can be completed in tandem with any of UT Permian Basin’s bachelor’s degree programs, such as our online Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.
Courses like Digital Branding, E-Marketing, and E-Commerce empower students in our certificate program with the tools they need to establish a company’s digital presence and connect with consumers on multiple communication platforms. Cyber Monday may only come once a year, but the lessons taught in our virtual classrooms will prove invaluable throughout a graduate’s career.
Digital commerce is an ever-changing landscape, and only professionals with specialized knowledge can hope to keep up. Apply now to our online undergraduate certificate program and evolve alongside online retailers.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/03/business/cyber-monday-record-sales/index.html
https://money.cnn.com/2010/12/01/news/economy/billion_cyber_monday/index.htm
https://www.inc.com/anna-meyer/holiday-cyber-monday-sales-forecast-golden-hours-retail.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/12/01/the-surprisingly-political-origins-of-cyber-monday/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-commerce-sales
https://www.businessinsider.com/2008/12/cyber-monday-traffic-amazon-killed-amzn
Did you know that there are approximately 33.2 million small businesses in America? About 46% of workers in the United States are employed by these tiny but very mighty companies. However, larger businesses employ numerous expensive marketing strategies to increase their visibility, customer base, and revenue, so how are small businesses supposed to keep up? …
Honoring and celebrating our mothers has been a global tradition throughout history. Although Mother’s Day was officially declared a U.S. holiday in 1914, its origins date back centuries. People have honored their mothers across cultures and time periods through festivals, religious observances, and communal gatherings. Understanding the historical significance of holidays like Mother’s Day provides…
No one likes to admit it, but we’ve all been drawn into purchasing a product or service by the subtle techniques advertisers use. Most of the time you may not even be aware of these efforts, but many of these tricks have been around for years and transitioned seamlessly from traditional advertising into the digital…
A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree is your ticket to the world of business. A BBA provides a comprehensive overview of business, touching on foundational concepts like accounting, finance, marketing, and management. Typically, undergraduate students also choose the major that best aligns with their interests. This specialized focus allows students to explore a subject deeply, through theoretical and practical lenses, preparing them for success in their chosen fields.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online BBAs with majors in accounting, finance, healthcare management, management, and marketing.
These programs are accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education alliance. They also share a convenient online format. Entirely online, our BBA programs can be completed anywhere and at any time, assuming you have a Wi-Fi connection.
We’ve touched on the quality and convenience of our BBA programs, but now we’re going to discuss the unique qualities of our degree options. This breakdown should provide some added insight to help you apply to your preferred major with confidence.
Accountants are the stewards of financial records, ensuring their accuracy and compliance with state and federal laws. Their financial insights are invaluable for organizations. They must be technically skilled, able to automate a number of their routine tasks. They are also expected to possess communication skills, attention to detail, poise under pressure, and other soft skills. Accountants are, above all else, expected to hold a degree that affirms their accounting competencies.
Our online BBA in accounting program provides the knowledge and skills needed in the evolving field of accounting. Courses like Auditing, Accounting Information Systems, and Cost Accounting Principles empower students to measure, record, summarize, and report financial data for business enterprises. Graduates leave our program with a competitive edge that allows them to thrive in a number of positions, including:
Financial professionals are highly sought after in the world of business. The employment outlook for financial analysts, for example, is expected to grow 5% by the year 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.
Financial professionals help businesses assess their health and make sound financial decisions. Before becoming valued a valued asset within an organization, however, aspiring professionals must expand their knowledge of accounting, finance, and investments.
Professionals interested in developing well-rounded financial management skills can pursue a BBA in finance at UT Permian Basin. Undergraduate students enroll in business and finance courses and have the opportunity to tailor their education to fit their interests with business and finance electives. Through our program, students explore many of the topics needed to earn career-transforming Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations, if they so desire. For example, our online course Financial Markets and Institutions covers government and corporate debt, determinants of interest rates, and mortgage-backed securities, among other essential topics.
Graduates of our BBA in finance program are positioned for a number of rewarding roles, including:
Healthcare managers help with business activities, not unlike the other occupations we’ve mentioned. They are, however, employed exclusively at hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing homes, and other patient care facilities. Their duties entail managing finances, recruiting staff, organizing records, and, above all else, ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare. Performing these tasks to the best of their abilities requires healthcare managers to remain abreast of the ever-changing healthcare landscape.
UT Permian Basin’s online BBA in healthcare management program prepares students to excel as decisive leaders in the dynamic healthcare field. Through our online program, students learn to apply business fundamentals in a healthcare setting. Business courses provide students with foundational knowledge that courses like Accounting for Healthcare, Healthcare Finance, Healthcare MIS, and Healthcare Marketing build upon.
This major can help aspiring professionals become healthcare managers, but there are also a number of other healthcare roles ideal for graduates of our online healthcare management program, including:
The U.S. job market is expected to add 505,000 new management careers by the year 2029. Demand for qualified managers is driven by the creation and expansion of organizations. These companies are looking for professionals who understand not only the inner workings of an organization but also the motivations that drive employees.
Undergraduate students in our BBA in management program are given a comprehensive education encompassing the fundamentals of communication, finance, marketing, and law. Through our program, students gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a business leader while sharpening their decision-making and problem-solving skills. Additionally, our online program’s environment option allows students to tailor their education by enrolling in one of three courses: Project Management Elements, International Management, or Business and Ethics.
Whether you’re a freshman or transfer student, our online program will empower you to take on competitive leadership roles, including:
Marketing efforts are essential for ensuring an organization’s success and longevity. Professionals with a mind for marketing are increasingly valued by companies as advertisements continue to dominate digital spaces. Regardless of the medium, these professionals are expected to manage client expectations, deploy marketing strategies, and oversee marketing staff, among other responsibilities. To do so effectively, they need an education encompassing the fundamentals of business and marketing.
UT Permian Basin’s online BBA in marketing empowers students to promote organizations through the most effective avenues, whether traditional or digital. Through our program, students learn to analyze demographics and consumer behavior to build marketing strategies and overcome challenges during the marketing life cycle.
Students also have the opportunity to add our Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing to their BBA in marketing without needing to take additional credits. This certificate helps students strengthen their understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) tools and further prepares graduates for a number of rewarding careers, including:
At UT Permian Basin, you’ll find convenient online programs that prioritize your growth as a professional, regardless of the major you choose. Our programs are entirely online and feature asynchronous elements, allowing you to engage with course content at your own pace. They are led by the same educators—experts with years of experience in their respective fields—who lead our on-campus programs. Finally, they share a straightforward application process that can be completed in a single sitting.
Our BBA programs are unique in their focus but connected by our college’s commitment to student success. Apply to the online program of your choice, and see for yourself why UT Permian Basin is the ideal home for aspiring business professionals.
Sources:
https://study.com/articles/What_Can_You_Do_With_a_Bachelors_in_Finance.html
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm#tab-2
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm#tab-2
The energy industry is experiencing growing pains. The increased deployment of renewable energy is juxtaposed by the growth of shale oil and gas, and the threat of climate change looms over the entire industry. This shifting landscape demands that energy companies proceed with caution and carefully consider every outcome when conducting business. To do so, they need the assistance of a professional with a mind for business: someone familiar with the capabilities and limitations of companies in the energy sector. In other words, they need an analyst.
Let’s look at three analyst careers and the important role these professionals play in energy-related fields.
Business analysts define the capabilities of an organization to understand how it can better deliver products and services. To accomplish this, an analyst will interview leaders, team members, and subject matter experts: anyone who can provide a unique perspective. They take an objective approach to solving problems and in doing so help companies overcome challenges and meet their objectives.
Business analysts are critical in the energy sector, where their business and technical knowledge allow them to consider multiple perspectives when problem-solving and articulating solutions to stakeholders of varying skill sets. For example, a professional with a Master of Business Administration with Certificate in Energy Business could help a power or utility company transition to renewable energy while taking into account the legal, financial, and organizational aspects unique to the energy industry.
Think of financial analysts as fortune tellers who, rather than gaze into a crystal ball, pore over financial data to predict market trends. Industry insights allow financial analysts to help organizations make strategic decisions and turn a profit. Before developing a strategy, however, an analyst must meet with leaders to assess a company’s prospects and financial health. Only by considering factors that affect a specific industry (microeconomics) and the economy as a whole (macroeconomics) can a financial analyst recommend an appropriate course of action, usually in the form of an investment.
Financial analysts do their best work when turning their attention to a particular industry, such as the energy sector. In energy-related fields, where energy prices can fluctuate wildly, a financial analyst can mitigate risk by helping companies invest in energy commodities. Known as hedging, this process allows energy companies to lock in the price of a commodity, such as natural gas, and meet their financial goals.
Energy risk management is invaluable in the energy industry, but it’s only one area a financial analyst must be familiar with. Energy Finance, for example, explores value chain analysis, oil and gas financial statement analysis, and financing energy companies and projects. Available to students pursuing an MBA with Certificate in Energy Business or a Graduate Certificate in Energy Business, this online course can help professionals adopt a skill set sought after by energy companies in need of financial guidance.
Budget analysts, more so than financial analysts, oversee a company’s financial health. These professionals help public and private companies plan their finances, developing budgets an organization can follow to meet their future financial needs. Budget analysts do far more than develop budgets, however. They are gatekeepers who evaluate budget proposals, financial requests, and funding methods. If an initiative isn’t deemed cost-effective, a budget analyst may recommend making changes or nixing it altogether. Final budget decisions are left to leadership, but without the expertise of budget analysts, a company could find itself in the red.
The price of an energy commodity is incredibly volatile, as it’s susceptible to changes in weather, storage, and regulations. In a sector where the future is uncertain, budget analysts must be on top of their game. They must account for not only previous and future expenditures but also actual expenditures. Ensuring compliance with budgetary allocations, maintaining spending records, and establishing budgetary control processes are all responsibilities of a budget analyst in the energy industry.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers two online programs with an emphasis on energy business:
Entirely online and featuring asynchronous elements, our programs will allow you to pursue graduate credentials on your own time, at your own pace. Through Canvas, you’ll be able to connect with your professors and peers on 24-hour discussion boards. Online tools like these will facilitate your learning and help you develop the soft skills analysts need to interact with stakeholders and articulate their findings. Finally, our programs are taught by the same experienced professionals who teach on campus. Every measure has been taken to help ensure that you receive the highest quality education possible, comparable to anything found on UT Permian Basin’s campus.
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, our programs will provide you with the skills needed to thrive as an analyst or any number of other careers in energy-related fields. Apply now to your program of choice if you’re interested in putting your analytical mind to work in the energy industry.
Sources:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/government-job-profile-business-analyst-1669620
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-1
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm#tab-2
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andystone/2020/03/02/a-preview-of-key-energy-challenges-for-the-2020s/?sh=243f65277c05
We hear a lot about “green jobs,” but do you know exactly what that phrase means? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines green jobs in these two ways:
Green energy jobs utilize wind, solar, geothermal (using heat from the earth), biomass (natural waste products), and hydroelectric power (dams), among other environmentally friendly technologies.
Perhaps the most important question is, “What do green energy jobs mean for you?” Tremendous career potential is just one answer. Let’s look at some promising green energy job statistics, a few specific roles that you can pursue within the field, and education programs that can help you qualify for those roles.
The Green Energy Job Market Is Booming
There’s no shortage of green energy jobs right now. Growth in this field has been underway for a few years, and the numbers will only increase with time. As one example, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported the addition of 700,000 green energy jobs globally between 2017 and 2018, for a total of about 11 million jobs. In its Global Renewables Outlook: Energy Transformation 2050 report, IRENA also projects the number of green energy jobs to quadruple over the next three decades.
While the green energy field is expanding, new green ventures are only part of that picture. Many traditional energy companies are leading the drive toward greater dependence on green energy sources. Others are modifying their operational practices to reduce negative impacts on the environment.
Potential Careers in Green Energy
There are numerous professional roles available in green energy, including some you may not have thought of. Many technical and hands-on positions are available for those with the passion and qualifications, as you might expect. But not all jobs in energy involve getting your hands dirty, especially when it comes to clean energy. Qualified professionals are also needed on green energy’s business side to fill many rewarding, high-paying positions, including:
Some of these positions are experiencing considerable growth. For example, the BLS states in its Occupational Outlook Handbook (updated April 2021) that financial analyst jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 5% between 2019 and 2029—faster than average for all occupations. BLS also reports that financial manager jobs are anticipated to grow at a whopping 15% through 2029. That’s much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. Further, the median annual salary for financial managers is $138,180. And these are just a few examples. There are many more jobs available in the green energy sector. Having the right credentials can give you a leg up in the green energy job boom and position you for a career that helps protect our planet and its precious resources.
The Right Credentials
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers energy-focused online degree and certificate programs that can equip you with the knowledge and credentials you need to transition into (or advance within) a career in green energy. Both of these 100% online programs are offered through UT Permian Basin’s AACSB-accredited College of Business:
Master of Business Administration with Certificate in Energy Business
This graduate degree program helps you build highly marketable operational insight and leadership capabilities that will be beneficial to you in the energy industry. By taking specified electives, you can also earn a second credential—a Graduate Certificate in Energy Business—without needing any extra time to complete your MBA. Many people finish this Master of Business Administration degree in as little as four semesters!
Graduate Certificate in Energy Business
If you already have an undergraduate degree and are looking to build some additional energy business expertise without pursuing a graduate degree, this 12-credit stand-alone certificate program is ideal. Through four courses, you’ll adapt your current proficiencies in management, business law, finance, accounting, and/or marketing to a career in the energy industry.
Programs Made With Working People in Mind
All of the courses for these online programs are delivered in an asynchronous format that allows you to complete coursework on your own schedule, 24/7, from virtually any location. That means that you can continue to meet your work and family responsibilities while earning a valuable career credential. Program courses feature the same curriculum and acclaimed faculty as the corresponding on-campus programs, but with added convenience. You can finish most courses in just eight weeks, with summer courses lasting just seven weeks!
Gain the knowledge and credentials required to thrive in a green sector job with one of UT Permian Basin’s online programs.
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/what-green-power
https://www.irena.org/publications/2018/May/Renewable-Energy-and-Jobs-Annual-Review-2018
https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/Jun/Renewable-Energy-and-Jobs-Annual-Review-2019
https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-and-resilience-2019
https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/data-on-display/green-growth.htm?view_full
https://www.businessinsider.com/high-demand-renewable-energy-jobs-of-the-future-2019-8#4-software-developers-and-software-quality-assurance-analysts-and-testers-are-expected-to-see-215-job-growth-by-2029-18
“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” — Warren Bennis
Do you dream of making a real impact in the healthcare field—not just treating patients, but shaping the systems that care for them? Becoming a healthcare leader gives you the power to influence policies, drive innovation, and improve lives on a broader scale.
Whether you see yourself managing a hospital department or overseeing vital healthcare projects, this step-by-step guide will show you how to turn your passion into a purpose-driven leadership career.
A healthcare leader is someone who oversees key services that directly or indirectly impact patient care and organizational outcomes. This includes:
To succeed in a healthcare leadership role, you’ll need a combination of personal drive, practical skills, and real-world experience. Here are some key qualities and steps to help you get there:Be driven by a genuine passion for helping others.
Becoming a healthcare leader takes more than ambition. t requires a unique mix of skills, experience, and education. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to move up, this infographic breaks down the essential steps to help you rise to the top and make a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.
As you work toward a leadership position in healthcare, you’ll need to develop the skills required of a leader in practically any profession, including:
If you already possess some of these, you’re ahead of the game. But leadership is about lifelong learning, and even natural leaders benefit from refining their skills.Do You Need a Degree to Become a Healthcare Leader?
In addition to personal development, you also need to have formal credentials in healthcare leadership that show you’ve been educated by a credible source. This typically means earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.Why Now Is a Great Time to Enter Healthcare Leadership
The healthcare industry is growing rapidly due to an aging population, technological advancements, and policy changes. This growth has created demand for professionals who can lead teams, manage systems, and improve outcomes.
Here are in-demand leadership roles and their average salaries and job outlooks:
The University of Texas Permian Basin is doing its part to nurture tomorrow’s healthcare leaders. Our AACSB-accredited College of Business offers two online bachelor’s degree programs that will help you develop effective healthcare leadership skills:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
Learn demonstrated ways to implement BBA business fundamentals in a healthcare context through courses focused on financial management among healthcare providers, patient services, and the legal and regulatory environments of the healthcare industry.
In this program, you’ll learn proven strategies for complex problem-solving, project management and forecasting, and overcoming common limitations in the workplace regarding budget, time, and resources that every healthcare leader needs to know.
Most courses for both of our healthcare management/leadership degree programs last just eight weeks, and all are delivered in an asynchronous, 100% online format. You can complete coursework on your own schedule, 24/7, from anywhere in the world while tending to ongoing work and family responsibilities. You’ll learn the same curriculum from the same renowned faculty who teach the programs on campus at UT Permian Basin, with added flexibility.
Hone your leadership skills for a rewarding career in healthcare. You’ll find the foundation you need in one of UT Permian Basin’s online healthcare management and healthcare leadership bachelor’s degree programs.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/10/16/quotes-on-leadership/?sh=5037370c2feb
https://nurse.org/healthcare/how-to-become-a-healthcare-administrator-executive
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/leadership-skills
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimberlyfries/2018/02/08/8-essential-qualities-that-define-great-leadership/?sh=43e380b93b63
Future healthcare leaders are made here at The University of Texas Permian Basin, where we proudly offer an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Healthcare Leadership and an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management. Without question, both programs confer skills and credentials that are invaluable for anyone aspiring to a leadership…
“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” — Warren Bennis Do you dream of making a real impact in the healthcare field—not just treating patients, but shaping the systems that care…
During the remainder of this decade, the U.S. healthcare industry is expected to undergo a tremendous expansion, with an anticipated growth rate of 16%. That translates to roughly 2.6 million new jobs in the U.S. alone. Globally, the healthcare market will have an estimated value of more than $300 billion by 2027 and exceed $665…
Earning a university degree can equip you with skills and credentials that will be a tremendous asset in your professional life. As Abigail Johnson Hess reports on CNBC.com, the long-held notion that a college degree “can be a clear path to stronger job opportunities and higher earnings” still holds true. College graduates take home about $30,000 more each year than those whose highest level of education completed is high school.
When choosing a college degree, it’s important to follow your passion, but you should also consider whether the field you’ve chosen has growth potential. Once you’ve found a promising professional area, having an educational credential that employers value can help you compete for emerging positions.
With these facts in mind, let’s look at the added benefits of a degree in business. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in business and financial operations occupations is expected to grow by 5% by 2029, which is faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. That amounts to nearly half a million new jobs for which a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement. If you’re a business-oriented job seeker, or plan to be one, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration can be the differentiator that gets you in on the ground floor.
A four-year degree is not your only option for professional advancement, however. You can add an undergraduate certificate in digital marketing to any online bachelor’s degree program at The University of Texas Permian Basin. If you have a passion for business, mastering digital commerce is a shrewd career move. Commerce in the digital realm is growing and is expected to continue doing so, creating more job opportunities in this innovative field. Let’s look at digital commerce a little more closely and see why a BBA degree combined with an undergraduate certificate can benefit you.
What Is Digital Commerce?
According to one definition, digital commerce “enables customers to purchase goods and services through an interactive and self-service experience. It includes the people, processes and technologies to execute the offering of development content, analytics, promotion, pricing, customer acquisition and retention, and customer experience at all touchpoints throughout the customer buying journey.” Some of the most popular digital marketing channels include social media, paid search, search engine optimization (SEO), affiliate marketing, and email.
The Future of Digital Commerce
Digital commerce, also referred to as e-commerce, has been growing steadily for some time. What’s more, COVID-19 has hastened a digital-first strategy among retailers in a market where brick and mortar commerce was already on the decline, according to an Entrepreneur.com article. In parts of the world where the coronavirus was particularly prevalent, Facebook marketing jumped 50%. The increase in digital commerce is expected to spur a corresponding increase in job growth in roles as diverse as sales, operations, software and app development, and content creation. As of 2020, purchases through digital commerce channels made up 10% of all retail sales, a number that’s predicted to increase by 15% annually.
Our Online Bachelor of Business Administration Programs
UT Permian Basin offers four AACSB-accredited BBA programs online, each in a vital and dynamic business field:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Build a wide-ranging skillset in analyzing and solving financial problems as you receive expert guidance for accounting careers in nonprofit, government, public, or private organizations, or as a CPA.
Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
Learn how to apply business fundamentals within a healthcare setting through courses covering topics including ethics, patient care, and regulatory environments.
Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
Gain an in-depth theoretical understanding and practical working knowledge of business and leadership fundamentals.
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
Prepare to expertly promote an organization through both traditional and digital marketing efforts based on effective analyses of demographics and consumer behavior.
Our Online Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing
You’ll compound the skills and credentials gained from our BBA programs with a specialized undergraduate certificate. Certificates will expand your expertise and help position you for a broader choice of professional roles.
Our online undergraduate certificate in digital marketing is a 12-credit certificate program comprised of your choice of four eligible courses, all of which are offered as electives in our BBA programs. By choosing these applicable electives, you’ll earn an additional credential while completing the same number of total credits in the same amount of time—with no delay in graduation.
Our digital marketing certificate program will help you understand and succeed within the rapidly evolving digital landscape. You’ll gain a foundational understanding of the differences between traditional and digital marketing, build proficiency in Google Analytics and other search engine optimization tools, and master social media’s unique marketing tactics.
Advantages of Earning College Credentials Online
Our Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and undergraduate certificate in digital marketing are presented in a 100% online asynchronous format. This allows you to complete your coursework anywhere with internet access, 24/7, at your own pace. If you have professional or family responsibilities to attend to, or both, our flexible program is just what you need. Most of our program courses last just eight weeks, and all are taught by the same acclaimed faculty who teach them on campus. When you’re done with your degree program, you’ll graduate with two respected, career-enhancing credentials that can help you in many business roles.
Expand your business acumen and career potential by adding our undergraduate certificate in digital marketing to your UT Permian Basin BBA program!
The energy sector is growing steadily, and that means that there will be many jobs available to those with the right qualifications for years to come. If you’re already in one of these roles, an advanced degree or certificate can position you for management-level roles within your organization. However, at any stage of your career, you may be able to directly benefit from: A credential from an accredited, renowned business school on your resume.
Let’s examine what types of energy business roles are available and the educational credentials that can help keep you competitive for them at hiring time.
Rewarding Career Paths
Here are three vital business roles that you can pursue within an energy organization:
Financial Manager
Financial managers develop financial documents, guide organizations’ investments, and map out future financial objectives. Financial management is experiencing an employment boom, and with that boom comes highly competitive compensation rates. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that financial manager jobs will grow by 15%—much faster than the average growth rate for all jobs—from 2019 to 2029. Perhaps even more notably, median annual pay for financial managers in 2019 was $129,890.
The BLS also reports that many businesses favor candidates who have a master’s degree in business administration or a related field, making our Master of Business Administration degree, which includes financial management as a core part of its curriculum, a sound professional investment.
Marketing Manager
Marketing managers are in charge of promoting a business’ brand, and their field is also a growing and highly lucrative one. According to the BLS, there will be a 6% increase in the number of marketing management jobs in the United States between 2019 and 2029. That’s faster than the average growth rate for all jobs, which is 4%. Further, median pay for marketing managers is $135,900 per year. Marketing management is also included as a core part of our Master of Business Administration degree program.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts guide organizations and individuals in their investment choices. Right now, there’s a strong need for financial analysts in the U.S., and that trend will continue. The BLS forecasts a 5% increase in financial analyst jobs from 2019 through 2029, representing a growth rate faster than the national average. Median annual pay for financial analysts is estimated at $81,590, but some sources suggest those who work as financial analysts in the renewable energy sector can earn even more per year. In addition, the BLS states that a Master of Business Administration can boost a financial analyst’s potential for career advancement.
Online Programs to Accelerate Your Energy Business Career
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online graduate degree and graduate certificate programs that can help you launch or advance within a career in the energy industry or an energy-related field. Both of these programs are delivered 100% online through our AACSB-accredited College of Business.
Master of Business Administration with Certificate in Energy Business
This graduate-level degree program helps you develop highly marketable operational expertise and leadership competencies related to the energy industry.
Graduate Certificate in Energy Business
This graduate certificate program is offered as a 12-credit stand–alone credential and translates your expertise in accounting, business law, finance, management, and marketing to the rapidly expanding energy industry.
Career-Friendly Online Convenience
All program courses are presented in an asynchronous online format that allows you to earn a respected credential on your own schedule while upholding your professional and personal responsibilities. Our program courses are taught by the same celebrated faculty who teach them here on campus, and most of the courses last only eight weeks!
Build the expertise needed to excel as a leader in an energy-related career with a UT Permian Basin online MBA or Graduate Certificate in Energy Business.
