Financial Accounting Syllabus
Description
This course is designed to give students an introduction to financial accounting and reporting concepts, including an overview of the accounting cycle, financial statements, related disclosures, and the ethical responsibility of accountants in business. Students will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in applying technical concepts to selected homework problems. Students will also need to demonstrate writing proficiency in their assignments.
Outcomes
- Develop a working vocabulary of accounting terminology.
- Gain an understanding and ability to work with accounting principles including, but not limited to, debits and credits, journalizing, posting, adjusting and closing entries/procedures, financial statements, internal controls, and corporate accounting.
- Gain an ability to analyze transactions, apply them to the accounting cycle, prepare a trial balance, and compile financial statements.
- Develop an understanding of and exposure to ethical issues and responsibilities of accountants.
- Provide the foundations for advanced work in accounting and business-related subjects.
Prerequisites
Students should have completed 20 credits and have maintained a 2.5 GPA prior to enrolling in this course.
Learning Model Architecture
It is important you understand the approach to online learning used at BYU-Idaho. Familiarize yourself with this by viewing the Orientation to Online Learning.
As in other BYU-Idaho courses (both on campus and online), the structure of this course is founded on the BYU-I Learning Model. It utilizes the following elements: Prepare, Teach one Another, and Ponder and Prove. These elements will be implemented in the following ways in this course:
You will Prepare using the following:
- Reading the textbook
- Reading/viewing materials in WileyPLUS (an online environment in which most coursework will occur)
- Viewing weekly instructor meeting
Teach One Another will be implemented in this course through these activities:
- Virtual dialogue with students through the Q&A Support Forum discussion boards
- Other discussion boards in Weeks 1 and 8
- Peer review of a writing assignment
You will Ponder and Prove as you complete the following:
- Weekly homework assignments (one to three every week)
- Weekly quizzes (one quiz with one attempt)
- Exams (one exam every two to three weeks; six exams total)
- Writing assignment summarizing a journal article
Materials Required
- Textbook and WileyPLUS Account (See “Purchasing Your Textbook” section at the end of this document.)
- 4 Function Calculator
Compare Prices for your textbooks through the University Store Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.
Optional
- Excel Software
Additional Costs
As explained in the Exams section below, all exams in this course must be proctored. Depending on the individual or agency you select as your proctor, you could have some additional costs for proctoring this semester.
Grading
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 94 - 100% |
| A- | 90 - 93% |
| B+ | 87 - 89% |
| B | 84 - 86% |
| B- | 80 - 83% |
| C+ | 77 - 79% |
| C | 74 - 76% |
| C- | 70 - 73% |
| D+ | 67 - 69% |
| D | 64 - 69% |
| D- | 60 - 63% |
| F | 0 - 59% |
Exams
Each of the six exams are closed notes/closed book and must be taken in a proctored setting. They are administered through I-Learn and have a specific time limit (time varies for each exam). Read the information below that applies to you regarding proctoring.
Proctorio
Instead of finding a person to proctor the exam(s) in your course, BYU-Idaho has purchased an online proctoring software called Proctorio that allows you to take the test at home, at the library, anywhere without a live proctor.
Proctorio isn't a person looking at you through your webcam. Instead, it's a system of computers that keep an eye on you while you take the test. This system will work with you to record your exam whenever you are ready. Only your instructor and Testing Center administrators will have access to these recordings.
When you take your exam, you will access it like you normally would through I-Learn. Proctorio will simply use your webcam to record you during the exam. It will also record everything that is on your computer screen.
Note for All Students
Exams are for summative assessment purposes only and are not used as a learning tool. Accordingly, questions missed on exams are not reviewed afterward with students.
Reading, Required Resources, and Homework
A significant part of this class is reading. Each student should read the assigned material carefully enough to be familiar with its contents and prepare to adequately complete the course activities.
This course uses required online resources in WileyPLUS. As an online student, these resources are required to be viewed and thoroughly understood. I-Learn is integrated with WileyPLUS, so you can access the Wiley items directly from the course. (See the statement in the Materials section above.) There are also many optional resources available in WileyPLUS that can be used as additional aids in learning accounting concepts.
Homework will be completed in WileyPLUS. (Again, due to the integration with I-Learn, this can be accessed from the course itself.) This homework is presented as a formative assessment tool (one that allows you to gain experience through practice), and will need to be completed prior to the posted due dates. Homework submitted after the due date will receive 50% credit.
Tips for Success
This course will provide valuable experiences for you if you are willing to put forth the effort to fully engage in the designed activities. As with most things in life, what you get out of this course will depend upon what you put into it. As a student at BYU-Idaho, sacred funds are used to make a substantial investment in your education. Therefore, you have an obligation to put forth your best effort. The following are recommendations for success in this class:
- Plan to spend 9 to 12 hours per week on this course. You may need to spend more, depending upon your own learning style and skill set.
- Read all instructions in the course. The information in Week 02 is particularly important since it sets the pattern for the remainder of the course.
- Frequently check the course Announcements and your BYU-I email account for messages from your instructor.
- On Monday of each week, read the Introduction, then plan your work for the week.
- Plan your time so that you work consistently throughout the week. You will have a quality learning experience and less stress if you spread the work out through the week.
- It is crucial you carefully read all of the assigned textbook chapters. As you do so, focus on the concepts taught and how they are applied. Also, concentrate on learning the vocabulary terms and their specific meaning in accounting. Simply completing homework assignments is not sufficient preparation for exams. You are responsible for all content in the textbook readings, regardless of whether it is specifically practiced in the homework.
- As you complete homework assignments, go beyond simply completing accounting steps. Consider the concepts applied in each problem and why they are applied. Students who do this are successful in the course, while students who do not, find the exams very difficult.
Accounting Lab and Tutoring
Students in the BYU-Idaho area:
Experienced accounting students staff the Accounting Lab and are available to help you. The Accounting Lab is located in SMI 383. Check the lab for scheduled hours.
All students:
All students may arrange for tutoring through the Academic Support Center, which is dedicated to assisting online and campus students in their coursework. This is a free service for BYU-I students.
Drop Policy
The last day to drop a class without receiving a “W” is in the University Calendar. Please take note of it.
Mutual Respect
All of your correspondence with the instructor and your classmates must be respectful. Writing something disrespectful or "venting" is unprofessional and not becoming of a BYU-Idaho student. In addition, it is not in accordance with the Honor Code and you will be subject to discipline accordingly.
University Policies
Read the University Policies. See information about the following: Student Honor, Students with Disabilities, Sexual Harassment, and Complaints and Grievances.
Honor Code
Following the Honor Code is of great importance as you strive to be a disciple of Christ. Your commitment to live the Honor Code will contribute to the overall BYU-Idaho community. Your actions should be respectful and should foster an environment where all can feel the Spirit.
BYU-Idaho’s Dress and Grooming standards apply to all students, including online students. By adhering to the Honor Code you will create a learning environment, “consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” For more detailed information, see the Honor Code web page.
Academic Honesty
As followers of Christ, all BYU–Idaho students, staff, and faculty are expected to be honest in all their dealings. This also applies and extends to behavior and actions related to academic work. It is critical for students to understand the seriousness of academic dishonesty and misconduct, which are not tolerated by the University, and strive to produce and submit only the results of their own effort and original work.
To copy another person’s work from the Internet, a book, or from any other source and claiming it to be your own work, is plagiarism. Read the official definitions of plagiarism and cheating from the Academic Honesty portion of the Honor Code.
It is worth remembering that while students are encouraged to work with one another and share ideas, the sharing of text, code, or anything like unto it is inappropriate. When working on a group project, you have the responsibility to assure that others in the group do not plagiarize. Remember: There is never an acceptable excuse for plagiarism or cheating.
Penalties for Academic Dishonesty
Although the Academic Honesty section of the University Policies explains what constitutes each of the many forms of academic dishonesty, as well as procedures and guidelines for handling such incidents, specific application of consequences are left up to each individual instructor.
In this course, instructors will be responsible for creating and applying their own policy regarding penalties for academic dishonesty. Penalties may vary from point deductions to receiving a zero on the entire assignment. In some cases, the instructor may report an incident to the University Honors Office. Cases will be analyzed on an individual basis and penalties applied according to the severity of the misconduct.
Purchasing Your Textbook
Special Notes
- The Accounting instructors have arranged for a special BYU-Idaho edition of the textbook to allow you to get a better price on it. It is not necessary that you purchase the BYU-Idaho edition. There are no differences in the actual text; only the cover and pricing are different.
- The textbook, Financial Accounting, 8th edition, by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso with WileyPLUS is used for the course.
- WileyPLUS, an online companion to the textbook, is required for the course. You will need to purchase it using one of these methods:
- Purchase the registration code with the book through the University Store.
- Purchase a registration code from another vendor.
- Purchase registration to WileyPLUS online directly from Wiley.
- If you plan to purchase WileyPLUS online, you can choose to register initially without purchasing. You will have a 2-week grace period. After the 2 weeks, you will need to purchase WileyPLUS, or you will be locked out of the system.
- Specific instructions related to WileyPLUS are found in this course page: Week 01.
- WileyPLUS includes an electronic version of the textbook regardless of which of the following options you choose. However, there is a limitation that you cannot access the textbook readings included with WileyPLUS and the homework in WileyPLUS at the same time.
Option 1: Hard-copy Textbook
Financial Accounting, 8th edition, by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso with WileyPLUS (special BYU-Idaho edition); Wiley Pub.
ISBN: 978-1119316428
Bundled with: WileyPLUS registration code
Available only through BYU-Idaho Bookstore; text will be shipped to you.
Option 2: Electronic Textbook
All Access Pack - Financial Accounting, 8th edition, by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso with WileyPLUS; Wiley Pub.
ISBN: 978-1119311737
Bundled with: WileyPLUS registration code
Available only through BYU-Idaho Bookstore; packet will be shipped to you.
Description: Allows you four electronic copies of the textbook that can be downloaded onto four different electronic devices. Therefore, you could save all four copies of the text onto a computer, laptop, iPad, and/or other electronic device(s).
Option 3: Rent or Purchase a Hardcopy Textbook from Another Source
Financial Accounting, 8th edition, by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso; Wiley Pub.
ISBN: 978-1-118-95390-7 (binder-ready version)
AND
WileyPLUS: purchased directly online (Week 01).
Option 4: Online Textbook (Electronic Version Included with WileyPLUS)
Financial Accounting, 8th edition, by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso with WileyPLUS; Wiley Pub.
WileyPLUS: purchased directly online (Week 01).