BA/BS in Accounting and Finance

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: The aim of the study programme is to prepare broadly educated, highly qualified, and versatile accounting and finance professionals who are knowledgeable in the principles and methods of accounting management, audit organization, financial analysis, and management. They should be able to independently formulate and critically evaluate financial and tax accounting policies, creatively solve accounting and financial management problems, collect financial data using information technology, plan, organize, control, and evaluate the finances of business and public organizations while justifying financial management decisions in a constantly changing environment. Learning outcomes: Knowledge and its application. 1.1. Recognizes and describes concepts related to economics, accounting, auditing, finance, management, and related study fields, explaining the phenomena and processes studied in these disciplines, management functions, marketing tools, social research methods, fundamental business principles and the specificities of applying modern information technology. 1.2. Understands accounting theories, describes the functions of financial, tax, management and social accounting, principles and methods of accounting organization and management, defines forms of presenting information to users, and explains the importance of applying accounting methods in shaping accounting policies and addressing relevant accounting management issues; describes the functions of internal control, internal and external auditing, the coherence of the audit process, and the requirements for formalizing audit results. 1.3. Understands and applies principles and methods of financial management, analysis, and control in business and public organizations, financial management theories and models, as well as econometric and mathematical methods; independently identifies and solves financial management problems, understands the mechanism of financial systems, and explains the impact of changes in financial markets on businesses and the relationship between public finances and the finances of business and public organizations. Analyses and critically assesses various economic, social and environmental processes, organizations' behaviour and their environment, legislation and application it in practice. Special skills 2.1. Independently analyses and critically evaluates the business environment and behaviour of organizations, selects comprehensive technological, organizational, and methodological measures, and applies them in planning, organizing, and controlling accounting activities and processes. 2.2. Demonstrates the ability to select accounting principles and methods in shaping accounting policies, ensuring the effectiveness of the accounting system and the reliability of information in managing financial, tax, and management accounting, and controlling organizational assets, equity, business processes, and performance. 2.3. Identifies accounting problems and independently selects possible problem-solving approaches; demonstrates the ability to independently prepare and present objective and timely financial and tax accounting information to users in accordance with ethical principles, perform analysis of this information, organize, and conduct audits, and formalize their results. 2.4. Demonstrates the ability to independently plan, organize, control, and critically evaluate the activities of business and public organizations, calculate and analyse their financial indicators, interpret and present research results, independently justify strategic, tactical, and operational financial management decisions, analyse and evaluate public financial policies, the impact of financial markets on business and public organizations, and personal finances. Scientific research skills. 3. Demonstrates the ability to independently collect, systematize, analyse, and interpret information necessary for addressing scientific and practical issues in accounting, finance, and their management; defines the scope of research in financial accounting, reporting, auditing, and financial management, considering economic, legal, social, ethical, and political contexts, and conducts empirical research employing a systematic and global perspective, utilizing modern information technologies, search sources, and methods of information processing and analysis. Social skills. 4. Takes responsibility for the dissemination of professional knowledge, ensuring honest and ethical performance of their own duties and those of their subordinates, maintaining a high level of professional culture, and addressing the social needs of society. Demonstrates the ability to work in teams, engage in constructive discussions, and communicate respectfully in multicultural and international groups and organizations. Personal skills. 5. They responsibly and thoroughly organize their work, think systematically and creatively, and independently assess accounting and finance changes by collaborating with professionals from various fields and taking responsibility for their work outcomes; continuously improve their professional skills, adapt flexibly to changes, and are open to changing their work or learning environment. Activities of teaching and learning: Studies include face-to-face studies (lectures, exercises, seminars, field visits to companies, etc.) and individual students work. The studies of each study course are concluded with an assessment of the student's knowledge and skills – an exam or other final assessment, the study programme ends with a final thesis and its defense. In the study process, in order to promote student activity and creativity, active learning study methods such as interpretation are used, discussion, debate, case studies, problem solving based learning, brainstorming, independent performance and presentation of an individual task, work in groups, performance of practical tasks. Methods of assessment of learning achievements: The cumulative score evaluation system is used for the assessment of achievements in all courses. Applied assessment methods: midterm; tests; individual tasks; defenses of practical works; presentation and defense of individual and group works; exam. Exams are conducted in writing. Intermediate assessments and the exam are assessed using the following assessment methods: written survey (during the midterm, exam, tests); evaluation of case studies; evaluation of the defense of practical works; evaluation of independent individual or group tasks and their presentation; monitoring and evaluating discussions. The final grade integrates the grades of the midterms and the exam. The value of the of the constituent parts midterms and the exam for the final grade are determined by the course teacher. Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: The study programme is designed in such a way that the knowledge and abilities of two interrelated areas of accounting and finance studies are developed. In the first year of study, the courses intended to develop fundamental knowledge of economics, management, and law are provided. In the first year of study, analytical abilities are deepened by studying the course "Mathematics". Knowledge and skills in the field of accounting are also being formed (course "Fundamentals of Accounting"). During the first two years of study, the general courses of group A and B of university studies are studied in artes liberales Considerable attention is paid to the education of the English language (students who complete the program must have reached the C1 level of English). In the second year, in addition to the courses for the development of fundamentals of finance, taxes, statistics, econometrics, managerial competences, knowledge is deepened and competences are developed in the field of accounting. The courses of the accounting direction are arranged in the structure of the programme by gradually deepening the knowledge in the field of financial accounting: "Financial accounting 1", "Financial accounting 2". In the second year, 8 ECTS of optional alternative courses of another direction are provided: in the third semester, the courses can be chosen " Business Social Responsibility and Ethics" or "Rhetoric and Communication" and in the fourth semester – the courses "Business Planning and Forecasting" or "Agricultural and Food Technologies" or "Marketing" or "International Business Law" or "Labor Law". The third year of study is dedicated to further, consistent deepening of knowledge and competences in the field of accounting, the courses of this field make up the majority of compulsory courses: in the field of financial accounting ("Financial Accountability", "Accounting information technologies", "Accounting in the public sector"), in the field of management accounting ("Fundamantals of Management Accounting"), in the field of audit ("Internal audit and control"). Knowledge in the field of finance is deepened ("Public finance", "Financial analysis") and the development of knowledge and competences in the field of financial management ("Fundamentals of financial management") is initiated. In addition, students start preparing for the final thesis: in the sixth semester, they go to internship in selected organizations ("Internship 1") and prepare a coursework ("Financial accounting Term Paper"), disclosing in detail the topic chosen from the studied accounting areas. In this semester, students can choose an alternative course of accounting or finance (optional courses: "Accounting and Finance in Non-Profit Organizations" or "Personal Financial Management" or "Banking"). In the seventh semester of the fourth year of study, students deepen their knowledge of financial management by studying the course " Management of Company Finance " and preparing a coursework ("Financial Management Term Paper "). It also deepens the knowledge of accounting in the courses "Accounting Information Systems", "Agribusiness Accounting", "International Accounting Regulations", "Fundamentals of Audit". In the eighth semester of the fourth year of study, students apply the acquired knowledge in internship by performing professional practice in selected organizations ("Internship 2") and prepare a internship report and study the course "Entrepreneurial Training" by simulating business in a simulated company at the university. In this semester, they also prepare, present and defend their bachelor's thesis. Internships: 15 credits in total. Final Bachelor thesis – 15 credits. Specialisations: there is no Optional courses: Students can choose artes liberales general courses of group A and B of university studies (32 credits in total) in the first and second study courses; in the second and third study year, alternative courses of accounting, finance or other fields of study (12 credits in total). Distinctive features of a study programme The artes liberales study model is applied. Study program is interdisciplinary, focusing not only on in-depth knowledge of accounting in various fields of activity, but also on the areas of taxation, auditing, finance and financial management and their synergy. The programme is conducted in Lithuanian and English languages. Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: Graduates will be able to work as leading specialists in the field of accounting, financial analysts, financial managers, internal auditors in national and international business enterprises, public sector organizations, audit firms, tax, insurance, control, and consulting institutions, financial institutions. They can also independently provide accounting, tax, and consulting services. Access to further study: Graduates have the opportunity to continue their studies in the master's programs of accounting, finance, economics, management and business administration, and other social sciences.