Actg 500, Financial Accounting, should be a required course for all university students, regardless of major or level. The course, as taught by Brian Leventhal, provides students with an invaluable set of skills, tools, and appreciations that can be applied to an unlimited range of academic and professional pursuits.

Over the course of a semester, a financial vocabulary is built, financial assessment abilities are developed, and both Excel and Powerpoint presentation skills are honed,. Although the course highlights the analysis of corporate financial statements, the lessons learned expand far beyond balance sheets and income statements.

As a manager, I have found that my newly acquired knowledge has provided me with a more sophisticated vocabulary, analytical tools for interpreting and assessing finances, and has eliminated my reluctance to give multimedia presentations.

Overall, the course has significantly increased my leadership confidence. Beyond the job, the course has helped me make better personal financial decisions, reassess my investments, and the Wall Street Journal finally makes sense! As a foundation course for business and life, this course is a must - a perfect 10!

LESLIE HERZOG