Integrating Financial Literacy Concepts into the Introductory Financial Accounting Course

Abstract

Financial illiteracy is a growing problem in this country and college students are amongst those not knowing enough about personal finance. However, few colleges and universities require or offer a course in personal finance, but we believe accounting educators are uniquely qualified to improve their students’ financial literacy. This paper describes an effective and efficient way to introduce some basic personal finance concepts to freshman business students in a Financial Accounting course while minimizing class time. In addition, the assignments require an active writing learning approach which addresses the numerous calls for incorporation of writing assignments into the business school curriculum. The assignments improved students’ interest in personal finance, made connections to the Financial Accounting course creating a more interesting and relevant course, and provides a rewarding teaching experience for instructors. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}