Modifying the Collegiate Accounting Curriculum to Prepare for the CPA Evolution Project

Incorporating Advances in Technology into Accounting Programs

Kathleen M. Bakarich, PhD, CPA, and Jacqueline A. Burke, PhD, CPA, and John “Jack” Castonguay, PhD, CPA (Va.), and Ralph S. Polimeni, PhD, CPA

In BriefTechnological innovation in the business environment has significantly impacted how CPAs work. In response to these technological advances, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and National Association of State Boards of Accounting (NASBA) have launched the CPA Evolution Project, which represents the greatest transformation of the Uniform CPA Examination in decades. Although the CPA exam has changed over the years to meet the needs of practice, the proposals currently on the drawing board will dramatically change the format and content of the exam. This article presents how one university has enhanced and adapted its curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels to both better prepare its students for the changing professional landscape, while anticipating the new CPA Licensure Model and the AICPA/NASBA CPA Evolution Model Curriculum.