BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

 

Course: AF 240 Principles of Accounting I                                                                        Fall 2002

 

Professor:  Shannon Donovan, BA, MFS, DBA

222 Maxwell Library, 1-508-531-2684, S1donovan@bridgew.edu, website: http://webhost.bridgew.edu/s1donovan or from the faculty web pages at the Bridgewater site www.bridgew.edu.  Class information will be available on Blackboard (http://plato.bridgew.edu).

 

Office Hours: MWF: 8:30am – 9:00am, M: 11:50am- 12:50pm, W: 11:50am- 1:50pm & 8:40pm-9:10pm,  and by appointment. I also respond quickly to e-mail. 

 

Course Description: This course is an introduction to accounting intended to familiarize students with accounting theory, accounting procedures, and accounting applications.

 

Method:  Instructional methods employed may include lecture, cases, skill-building exercises, problem solving, student presentations and other activities.  These events heighten understanding of the course material.  The student’s preparation before class and serious participation in these activities will contribute to learning in this course.

 

Each chapter and each class will build upon one another in this course, so students need to be prepared prior to each class.  If you find yourself falling behind, please see me right away.  As you can see from my schedule above, I am available often and in many different formats (class, office, phone and e-mail), so there is no excuse for you not to contact me.   

 

Course Objectives/Outcomes

 

Objectives

Outcomes

1. To familiarize students with concepts and principles of accounting.

Students will pass in-class examinations and quizzes.

2. To let students demonstrate their ability to use the techniques they have mastered.

Students will present at least one problem in which they will use the techniques examined in the course.

3. Give students the opportunity to learn collectively and to exchange ideas in accounting.

Students will participate both individually and in teams in problem solving and discussion in class to demonstrate their working knowledge of the subject.

               

 

Required Reading: Financial Accounting, Porter and Norton, 3rd Edition, Harcourt.

 

Other Reading as assigned.

 

Student Evaluation

 

1.             Class Participation and homework                                                                                              10%

2.                Presentations                                                                                                                       10%

3.             Exams (3)                                                                                                                           36%

4.             Quizzes                 (bottom 2 will be dropped)                                                                      14%                       

5.                 Comprehensive Final                                                                                                           30%

 

1.       Class Participation: Attendance, timeliness, preparation of assigned readings, and constructive comments and activity during class sessions are included in Class Participation.  Assigned readings, problems, and cases should be done prior to the class meeting for which it is assigned in the schedule (below) or in class.  Participation in in-class activities is necessary for enhanced learning in the course.  Quality participation is more important than mere attendance. Participation is graded in each class and includes preparation of the material, thoughtful questions, and insights.  The text provides the foundation of knowledge for class activities and discussion. The course assumes that the student has read the text and that the student’s role is active and dynamic. The final grade in this area will reflect the student’s oral contribution to the classroom learning environment. 

 

Three unexcused absences will be allowed, for every two classes missed after that the grade will be dropped by 1/3, In other words, if you miss five classes and have a B average, then you will receive a B-.  If you miss nine classes and you have a B average, then you will receive a C.    

 

Participation and attendance is important.  Each chapter builds on the other and there will be information and discussion given in class that will be included in exams and is not in the text.   You will be responsible to get every assignment, so it is advised that you exchange phone numbers or e-mails with class mates if you miss class.

 

2.       Presentation: The presentations will give students the ability to demonstrate their knowledge of the techniques. This project may be a group or an individual effort depending on the size of the class.  More details will be given in class.

 

3.       Exams : Three exams will be given covering about two chapters at a time. A detailed study guide will be given before the exam to help you prepare.

 

4.       Quizzes: Approximately 9 quizzes will be given throughout the course.  These quizzes will be very short and may be unannounced. The bottom two quizzes will be dropped for grading purposes. 

 

5.       Comprehensive Exam: This exam will test the student’s comprehension of all the material in the course.  This will be given during the final exam period.

 

Schedule

 

Module

Week of

Topic

Assignment

1

9/2

(no Monday Class)

Ch. 1: Accounting as a form of Communication

Read Chapter 1

2

9/9

Cont. Ch. 1

Complete assigned Problems 

 

3

9/16

Chapter 2: Financial Statements and the Annual Report

Read Chapter 2 &

Complete assigned Problems

4

9/23

Cont. Ch. 2  & Start

Ch.3: Processing Accounting Information

Exam 1

& Read Ch. 3

 

5

9/30

Cont. Ch. 3

Complete assigned Problems

6

10/7

 

Finish Ch. 3 & Start

Ch. 4: Income Measurement and Accrual Accounting

Read Ch. 4 and

Complete assigned Problems

7

10/14

(no Monday class)

Cont. Ch. 4

Complete assigned Problems

8

10/21

Cont. Ch. 4

Exam 2

9

10/28

Ch. 5: Merchandise Accounting and Internal Control

Read Chapter 5

& Complete assigned Problems

10

11/4

Cont. Ch. 5 and Start

Ch. 6: Inventories and Cost of Goods Sold

Read Chapter 6 &

Complete assigned Problems

11

11/11

(no class Monday)

Cont. Ch. 6

Complete assigned Problems

12

11/18

 

Finish Ch. 6

Exam 3

13

11/25

(no Friday Class)

Ch. 7: Cash, Investments and Receivables

Read Chapter 7 &

Complete assigned Problems

14

12/2

Cont. Chapter 7

Complete assigned Problems

15

12/9

(no Friday Class)

Review

Review

Final Exam

 

 

Final Exam

 

Problems and cases will be assigned each class.

Schedule is subject to change.