Implementing Curricula To Meet The Needs Of Financial Professionals

Abstract

Major changes in the financial profession warrant assessment of current practices and strategic planning for the future education of such professionals. This article discusses the core competencies, obtained from numerous studies, of accounting and finance professionals. After common core competencies are identified for the both accounting and finance professions, the need for change in accounting and finance curricula are discussed. Next, a combined undergraduate curriculum for both the accounting and finance students, which incorporates the common core competencies, is proposed. Finally, the authors issue a call for further research.

Developing And Implementing An Undergraduate Finance Capstone Course For Both Onground And Online Course Delivery

“…Technology proficiency is a core competency necessary for most finance professionals (French & Coppage, 2004). The weekly Excel assignments allow the student the opportunity to learn new skills as well as practice the technology and analytical skills they already possess.…”

“…A capstone course is beneficial to students because it helps them to synthesize the material they have learned in several previous courses to construct an integrated whole (Heinemann, 1997). Capstone course could have one or more of the four main purposes: (1) integration (consolidating the several years of college education), (2) breadth (providing the students with a general education experience to enhance their specialized field of study), ( 3) application (provide the student with the opportunity for additional research in their specialization), (4) or transition (to aid the student in their life after their degree) (Levin, 1998).…”