IT Knowledge: What Do Accounting Students Think They Know? Do You Know More Than I Do? An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In recognition of the growing role of information technology (IT) in teaching accounting, we surveyed students at three Midwestern universities to determine their self-reported knowledge levels of 36 specific information technologies and difference in those IT knowledge levels between universities.  Unlike other areas of accounting, there are no set standards for the IT curriculum for accounting education.  Because of this, we expect to find significant differences in IT knowledge between these three universities.  These findings are analyzed in light of authoritative guidance on appropriate accounting technology topics and research on the current status of IT in accounting education.  We find accounting students have a low level of self-perceived IT knowledge.  These students are not proficient in requisite technologies even after completing most of their undergraduate course work.  We also find that there are significant differences in IT knowledge between the three universities in the study.  These findings imply that we may be doing a disservice to accounting students and the accounting profession by not having a set IT curriculum.  We conclude that it is time to assess IT knowledge and IT skill requirements necessary for accounting students and develop a standard IT curriculum in accounting education.