Ronald O. Reed

Characteristics of accounting programs: A survey of students' perceptions

Abstract The American Accounting Association (AAA) has recommended that accounting programs have certain characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to determine (a) if a selected sample of accounting students feel that those characteristics are present in their accounting programs, and (b) if there is a relationship between demographic characteristics and student perceptions of accounting program characteristics. Three hundred and twenty-five accounting students responded to a survey questionnaire about their accounting education. In general, students believe that professors and their accounting classes provide the learning experiences called for by the AAA. However, there are several specific areas where additional efforts are needed. The analysis also isolated several attitudinal differences based on the demographic characteristics of the students and their schools.

Accounting for Excess Purchase Price: Goodwill or Expense? Instructional Issues

Abstract The current trend of accounting for excess purchase price that relates to intangible items not identified as separate assets, in a business acquisition, is to account for it either by expensing or capitalizing it. Even though current standards suggest that companies capitalize the excess as goodwill, in many instances, the current practice is to expense it. In this article, we discuss the issue as an example of how accounting is being challenged constantly by unique and sometimes very aggressive accounting policies for managing net income by management. The example also gives instructors an opportunity to incorporate several issues related to accounting policy, accounting alternatives, and subjective judgment into their financial accounting courses.

The 150-Hour Requirement and the Supply of Graduate Accounting Programs.

Abstract During the past 10 years, many states and U.S. jurisdictions have established 150-hour CPA licensing requirements. Simultaneously, the supply of graduate accounting programs in the United States has increased dramatically. This article (a) describes that recent increase in graduate programs, (b) provides evidence of an association between the proportion of universities offering graduate accounting degrees and implementation of the 150-hour requirement, and (c) projects the expected growth in graduate accounting programs over the next 10 years. Our results suggest that higher education is responding to state-mandated 150-hour requirements by increasing the supply of graduate accounting programs. Moreover, there is likely to be a growth of approximately 17% in graduate accounting programs over the next 10 years.