TROY UNIVERSITY
ACT2291 Section TGWA
Principles of Accounting I
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2011
January 5 – May 3, 2011
NOTE: For course syllabus and schedule posted prior to the beginning of the term, the instructor reserves the right to make minor changes prior to or during the term. The instructor will notify students, via email or Blackboard announcement, when changes are made in the requirements and/or grading of the course.
OFFICE HOURS:
M W 8:30 - 9:45
1:00 – 2:00
Tu 8:15 – 11:30
1:00 – 2:00
F 8:30 – 9:45
Or by appointment
I'm available by email at any time or by phone on weekdays between the hours listed above (Central Time).
PREREQUISITES:
None
COURSE INFORMATION:
Class Time: M W F 1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Class Location: General Academic Building (GAB) 301
ENTRANCE COMPETENCIES:
The student must possess the knowledge and skills of a high school graduate and the capability to perform on a college level. Knowledge of basic mathematics, such as multiplying and dividing fractions and using percentages, and simple algebra, is assumed.
STUDENT EXPECTATION STATEMENT:
· The student is expected to participate in the course via email exchanges (or other communication) with the instructor, by reading the assigned readings, submitting assignments using CengageNOW, and completing exams in a timely fashion.
· The student is expected to attend class and participate in class discussions. Students should treat others with respect and conduct themselves with a professional demeanor while in the classroom.
· Students are expected to check their emails daily and the announcements at least every 48 hours.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Modern financial accounting theory and practices applied to business entities.
PURPOSE:
To enhance understanding of how basic financial transactions are recorded and analyzed. This class is a core requirement for all undergraduate business programs.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the basic assumptions, principles, and mechanics of financial accounting.
After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Journalize and post transactions, including adjusting and closing journal entries
2. Prepare unadjusted, adjusted, and post-closing trial balances and basic financial statements
3. Record, analyze and evaluate activities of merchandising businesses, including calculating cost of goods sold
4. Account for assets and current liabilities
5. Apply the basic assumptions and principles of financial accounting
TEXTBOOK(S) AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS NEEDED:
Warren, C. S., Reeve, J. M., & Duchac, J. E. Accounting (23ed). Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western/Cengage Learning **bundled with CengageNOW in the Troy University bookstore
Important Note: Homework for this course is required to be completed using CengageNOW. The acquisition of the correct textbook with access to CengageNOW is critical for a student’s success in this course. Merely getting the “right” version of the textbook without access to the CengageNOW tool will not be sufficient to participate in the course. CengageNOW is a very useful assessment tool for textbook assignments, quizzes, and examinations. The electronic resource is especially useful in assisting a student to successfully complete textbook assignments, while providing quick feedback. Links to an electronic version of key pages to the textbook’s examples enable the student to replicate a similar task. In addition, Excel “smart” worksheet setups inform the student when an error has been committed. The failure to acquire the proper course materials will significantly reduce a student’s ability to be successful in this course. Access to CengageNOW requires a special access code for each student that is bundled with the required textbook. So if a student opts to acquire their textbook from another source, be sure that the textbook is bundled with CengageNOW. No substitutes!
To purchase a CengageNOW access code ($89.49):
CengageNow on BB code
http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/US/storefront/US?cmd=DisplayLandingPage&id=1419&cid=MS1021&entityNumber=4027
To rent the text from Cengage or purchase Echapters:
http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/US/storefront/US?cmd=catProductDetail&ISBN=978-0-324-66296-2
Students should have their text AND access to CengageNOW the first week of class. Not having your book will not be an acceptable excuse for late work. Students who add this course late should refer to the “Late Registration” section for further guidance.
Other materials: Pencil, paper, calculator. No translating devices or cell phones will be allowed during exams. PowerPoints are provided by the instructor for student use.
Supplements: CengageNOW access; Other as deemed appropriate
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
ACT2291 students will be required to take a formative assessment as the comprehensive final exam in ACT2292. The exam will relate to both Principles of Accounting I and II concepts.
INTERNET ACCESS
§ Students must have access to a working computer and access to the internet. Students can use the Troy University computer lab, a public library, etc., to ensure they have access.
§ “Not having a computer” or “computer crashes” are not acceptable excuses for late work. Have a backup plan in place in case you have computer problems.
SITE MAP FOR YOUR BLACKBOARD COURSE SITE:
To obtain a site map to enable the student to navigate through the Blackboard course site, please go to the Blackboard course site and click on the “Site Map” button found on the left side of the computer screen.
TROY EMAIL:
All Students
Effective July 1, 2005, all students were required to obtain and use the TROY email address that is automatically assigned to them as TROY students. All official correspondence (including bills, statements, emails from instructors and grades, etc.) will be sent ONLY to the troy.edu (@troy.edu) address.
· All students are responsible for ensuring that the correct email address is listed in Blackboard by the beginning of Week #1. Email is the only way the instructor can, at least initially, communicate with you. It is your responsibility to make sure a valid email address is provided. Failure on your part to do so can result in your missing important information that could affect your grade.
Your troy.edu email address is the same as your Web Express user ID following by @troy.edu. Students are responsible for the information that is sent to their TROY account.You can get to your email account by logging onto the course and clicking “email link.” You will be able to forward your Troy email to your earmy email. You must first access your Troy email account through the Troy email link found on the website. After you log in to your Troy email account, click on “options” on the left hand side of the page. Then click on “forwarding.” This will enable you to set up the email address to forward your email to.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
· Upon Enrollment: check email address; purchase and register CengageNOW
· Participation in class discussions
· Homework assignments using CengageNOW
· Quizzes
· Required examinations
STUDENT/FACULTY INTERACTION:
· Interaction will take place via email, telephone, comments on written assignments, or office visits.
· The student will participate in this course by following the guidelines of this syllabus and any additional information provided by the instructor or Troy University.
· The student is expected to remain in regular contact with the instructor and class via email or other communication means, by submitting assignments and taking exams, all in a timely fashion.
· TROY requires instructors to respond to students’ e-mail within 24 hours M-Th, and 48 hours Fri-Sun.
· As instructor, I will communicate on the Blackboard.com Announcement page and/ or via e-mail.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class. Students that miss attendance, whether late or absent, will be marked absent. Students should present documentation for excused absences on the first class day following the absence (i.e. doctor’s excuse, Troy University excuse). Students are allowed three (3) unexcused absences. For each additional absence, participation points will be deducted.
For any quizzes, problems, exams, or other activities that are completed in class, you must be present to receive credit. Unannounced quizzes may be given for extra credit on days when attendance is poor.
You are expected to have attempted the assigned material before the material is covered in class. You should be prepared for all assigned problems during each class. If called upon, you are expected to be an active participant in this class. Routine absences from class will have a large, negative impact on your grade.
Students are expected to punctually attend all scheduled classes. People who arrive late disturb everyone else!! Students who arrive at class after roll call will be counted absent.
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY:
Missing any part of this schedule may prevent completion of the course. If you foresee difficulty of any type (i.e., an illness, employment change, etc.) which may prevent completion of this course, notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in failure for an assignment and/or failure of the course. See “Attendance,” above.
If you miss a test for a University approved function that is an excused absence, I will allow a make-up exam with advance notice to me. If you miss a test for a University approved function and cannot make it up before the next class meets or you miss a test for any other reason, you can take a make-up test during a scheduled time for the tests you missed. You will receive a zero (0) grade for any missed exam.
If I have not heard from you by the deadline dates for assignments or exams, no make-up work will be allowed (unless extraordinary circumstances existed, such as hospitalization). Requests for extensions must be made in advance and accompanied by appropriate written documentation if the excuse is acceptable to the instructor. "Computer problems" are not an acceptable excuse.
INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY:
Missing any part of the Course Schedule may prevent completion of the course. If circumstances will prevent the student from completing the course by the end of the term, the student should complete a request for an incomplete grade.
Note: A grade of incomplete or “INC” is not automatically assigned to students, but rather must be requested by the student by submitting a Petition for and Work to Remove an Incomplete Grade Form. Requests for an incomplete grade must be made on or before the date of the final assignment or test of the term. A grade of “INC” does not replace an “F” and will not be awarded for excessive absences. An “INC” will only be awarded to student presenting a valid case for the inability to complete coursework by the conclusion of the term. It is ultimately the instructor’s decision to grant or deny a request for an incomplete grade, subject to the policy rules below.
Policy/Rules for granting an Incomplete (INC):
· An incomplete cannot be issued without a request from the student.
· To qualify for an incomplete, the student must:
a. have completed over 50% of the course material and have a documented reason for requesting the incomplete. (50% means all assignments/exams up to and including the mid-term point, test, and/or assignments.)
b. be passing the course at the time of their request.
If both of the above criteria are not met an incomplete cannot be granted.
· An INC is not a substitute for an F. If a student has earned an “F” by not submitting all the work or by receiving an overall F average, then the F stands.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:
The chapter material will be discussed in class. Lecture notes and PowerPoint slides are posted for your use in Blackboard.
The student is responsible for all instructions and assignments given in class, as well as for the supporting textbook content. The student should read the textbook material before the lecture covering that material. This leads to a better understanding of the lecture, as well as the opportunity to ask questions about material(s) in the text that were unclear or that the student did not understand.
Exercises and problems will be assigned for each chapter. These assignments are made for the sole purpose of allowing the student to see if they understand the material. These assignments will be turned in for grading using CengageNOW. Students who do not work the homework problems perform very poorly on the tests.
The labs in McCartha are available for student use and tutors are available.
Poor preparation for business meetings may create the impression that an individual lacks the
necessary attributes to be effective in performing their business related tasks. On time arrival for class is important so as to not disturb fellow classmates. Furthermore, talking to one’s neighbor during inappropriate times, speaking out without permission from the professor, leaving the room while class is in session, ringing cell phones, and text messaging also disturb fellow classmates. Every time someone causes a disturbance, the group loses their focus which results in a loss of effectiveness and efficiency for all. The development of good behavior is a prerequisite to be successful in business.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Exam 1 60 points
Exam 2 60
Exam 3 60
Exam 4 60
Exam 5 60
Comprehensive Final Exam 175
Participation 50
Homework (100 of 145) 100
Quizzes 100
Total 725 points
ASSIGNMENT OF GRADES:
All grades will be posted and assigned according to the following or similar scale:
A 90 – 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
D 60 – 69%
F 59% and below
Postings: Grades will be posted in the Blackboard grade book during the course and final grades will be posted in Trojan WebExpress.
FA: “FA” indicates the student failed due to attendance. This grade will be given to any student who disappears from the course for three or more weeks. See the Attendance section of this syllabus for additional information.
You may withdraw from this course with a DP anytime before the last day of class. Drop forms may be obtained from the Records office in Adams Administration. Complete the drop form and bring it to me to sign.
The minimum cutoff point for each of these letter grades may be reduced at the end of the semester, but this is not likely. A grade will be assigned to you at the end of the course based on your performance on tests, your class attendance, and participation. In borderline cases, subjective evaluation by the professor will determine if a higher grade is appropriate.