Acct 301 -- Intermediate Accounting I
Course Syllabus -- Fall 2011

Acct 301 Home Page
Updated on 12-September-2011

Course Description

Intermediate Accounting I is the first of a three-semester sequence of courses which provide detailed study of the theory and practice of financial accounting in the United States. Intermediate I prepares you to handle matters related to GAAP financial reporting: asset, liability and equity classification; revenue/expense recognition and income determination, cash flow analysis, and financial statement analysis.

Assessment examination. There will be an assessment test of prerequisite material (Acct 202 content) in the first week of the semester. The assessment examination consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Students not achieving 75% or higher on this examination have one chance to retake the assessment examination in the second week of the semester. If 75% cannot be achieved after two attempts at the assessment examination, students need to meet with me to talk about a plan for developing a solid understanding of the prerequisite financial accounting material.

Business & Economics Department Mission, Accounting Learning Objectives, and the College's Core Values

Business & Economics Depatrment Mission: Students enrolled in the Department of Business & Economics will develop competencies in their specific fields of study. In addition, they will graduate with the essential analytical, problem solving, computer, and communication skills to excel in their chosen career or graduate studies. Upon their graduation, students also will have the necessary interpersonal skills to function as effective team players with people from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, students will be able to demonstrate competency in conducting research, a commitment to ethical and professional behavior, an understanding of the international marketplace, and an appreciation of the importance of lifelong learning.

Accounting Program Objectives: Students of accounting and public accounting will apply the basics of financial reporting and internal control, understand how managers use accounting information, appreciate how technology impacts the accounting profession, and possess basic skills to pass a professional examination.

The Department supports the College's Core Values, and this course directly addresses several of the Core Values.

Course Competencies

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

Textbook and Materials

REQUIRED:

Course Components

You shall complete assigned readings from the textbook and various business and accounting periodicals. These readings, which you should view with professionally skeptical eyes, serve as the basis for class discussions and application of textbook topics. Outside assignments provide additional opportunities for you to apply material discussed in class or to discover information related to class topics. Two examinations provide me with more formal opportunities to evaluate your progress.

Before the start of class you are to complete that chapter's RAT (Readiness Assessment Test). The sole purpose of the RATs is to make sure you keep up with chapter reading assignments and are ready to apply what you learn from reading your textbook. RAT questions come from the Interactive Quizzes available on your textbook website.

We will use brief lectures, in-class discussions and team activities, homework, and outside assignments as the means of learning and applying textbook concepts. I expect active class participation from all students. You can be expected to be called on in class. Oral communication skills are a critical factor for the success of accountants -- or any business person for that matter! Those who participate in class tend to be more academically stronger, as they know they must prepare ahead of class, read assigned materials and review those materials already covered, and keep up with homework in order to meet the demands of class participation. Participation includes, but is not limited to asking questions and responding to questions during class, responding to homework reviews, sharing personal experiences or making comments about class topics, finding relevant articles in newspapers or journals and introducing them to the class, etc. In addition to participating in class, you can pose questions and carry on electronic discussions by way of our class e-mail list.

Class Attendance

Attendance is not taken. You will be treated as an adult in this regard, responsible for the outcomes of the choices you make. Please realize that because of the various teaching and learning methods employed in our class it is not possible to recreate the learning that takes place during class time. Absences impact your class participation grade; if you're not in class, you can't participate!

While in class, please turn off your mobile phones. If you are awaiting an emergency phone call, please set your mobile's alert mode to "vibrate" and immediately leave the classroom to take the call.

To stay comfortable with and continuously work to improve my routine for Marietta College emergency preparedness, periodically we will not meet and instead conduct classes using alternate means. Just as in an emergency, you will not receive advance notice about these changes. Thus it is extremely important for you to regularly check your Marietta College e-mail for instructions. Sometimes you will get notification via e-mail, other times via a notice posted on the doors of Thomas Hall (perhaps just as in a situation when electric service to the campus has been cut).

Computer Fluency Requirements

You are expected to have a working knowledge of e-mail and a Marietta College e-mail account, fluency in simple applications of Microsoft Excel and Word, using Internet search engines, and using the Legacy Library online databases.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with learning or other disabilities are encouraged to contact me at the beginning of the semester to discuss their needs for accommodation. Students with learning or other disabilities are encouraged to contact me at the beginning of the semester to discuss their needs for accommodation. Any student needing accommodations due to a documented disability should notify the Academic Resource Center, located in Andrews Hall, at the beginning of the semester for further instructions.

Examinations

Examinations are designed to encourage you to synthesize the textbook and outside readings, in-class exercises, homework, and material discussed on our e-mail group list. Examination questions focus on concepts, application of financial accounting principles, and analysis of financial information for business decision making. Examinations are not comprehensive, but represent the cumulative nature of the discipline.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty occurs when a student represents someone else's work as his or her own; it includes actions such as, but not limited to:

Any student who engages in academic dishonesty or plagiarizes from published material (e.g. websites, books, or magazines) or from unpublished material (such as another student's writing or your own work previously submitted for another assignment), is subject to a range of penalties depending on the extent of the academic dishonesty -- from a zero on the assignment to an F for the course. Please make yourself familiar with the College's attitutes about academic dishonesty by reading the Student Handbook and the Campus Writing Center's website.

I want you to know that I am very persistent and diligent about investigating suspected academic dishonesty and reviewing your research and writing. I deal with offenders as stated in my policy: from issuing a zero on an assignment to an F for the course. Students frequently forget that the impact of academic dishonesty goes well beyond the assignment or the semester. It results in a long-term loss of my trust and confidence in you. As such, I would be unable to write an objective letter of reference for you for campus activities or work, awards, internships, jobs, or graduate school. Simply stated: please avoid any temptation to engage in academic dishonesty!

Evaluation System

Examinations Financial accounting assessment examination -- 50 points
Examination I -- 100 points
Examination II -- 200 points
350 points
RATs 5 @ 10 points each 50 points
Project: semester-long research paper (100 pts.) or AICPA Accounting Competition (50 pts.) and shorter reflective paper (50 pts.) 100 points
Class Participation Includes participation during class, on the class e-mail list, and collected assignments
55 points
Total Points Available
555 points

Late assignments will have points deducted. The deduction is 10% of the value of the assignment for each 24-hour period after the due date/time it is late, including weekends.


Evaluation Scale:
94% and above
90-93%
87-89%
84-86%
80-83%
77-79%
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
74-76%
70-73%
67-69%
64-66%
60-63%
Below 60%
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F


Any student (with the exception of first year students) on academic probation will also be placed on co-curricular probation. At the end of spring semester first year students can be placed on co-curricular probation effect for the fall semester. Refer to p. 133-134 of the 2011-12 College Catalogue for more information about co-curricular probation.

Acct 301 Home Page
Updated on 12-September-2011