Change in Accounting Education.

Abstract The article focuses on changes in accounting education in the U.S. In the past few months the convergence of several forces has created an unusually high level of energy supporting changes in accounting education. Primary among these forces have been the reports of the Committee on the Future Structure, Content, and Scope of Accounting Education, the establishment of the AACSB Accreditation Review Task Force, the vote in favor of the 150-hour AICPA membership requirement, and a white paper published and endorsed by all managing partners of the Big Eight accounting firms. Two factors — the four million dollars pledged by the Big Eight firms and their strong support for an organized effort to stimulate changes in the education of accountants, have enabled the American Accounting Association Executive Committee to take an unprecedented and important step. At its April 1989 meeting, the Executive Committee authorized the president and president-elect to organize an Accounting Education Change Commission.