Robert J. Ramsay, CPA, Ph.D.
Office Phone: 257-3702
355M B&E Building
Home Phone: 268-7718*
Office Hours: By appointment

This course is the first of a two-course financial accounting series, providing in-depth study of the accounting cycle, conceptual framework of financial accounting, valuation of balance sheet accounts, recognition of revenues, matching of expenses, and the reporting of the financial condition, operating results and cash flows of an entity. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ACC 201, ACC 208, and ACC 211.

Text:

Required:

Bart P. Hartman, Robert M. Harper, James A Knoblett, and Phillip M. Reckers, Intermediate Accounting, Third Edition, SouthWestern College Publishing company, 2000.

Optional:

Myrtle Clark, Study Guide, Intermediate Accounting, Third Edition, Southwestern College Publishing company, 2001

Hartman, Harper Knoblett, and Reckers, The Student Solution Manual, Intermediate Accounting, Third Edition, SouthWestern College Publishing company.

The Best Approach

This course is designed for accounting majors. It assumes that you have a sound foundation in the principles of financial accounting. It requires a strong commitment of your time and effort, both inside and outside the classroom. You are expected to attend each class and to complete all assigned work in a timely manner. A key component to your successful completion of this class is to keep up with the material. Do not let yourself fall behind!

As you study the text material for ACC 301 please note that you must understand the concepts of each chapter and be able to apply them. A suggested approach for each chapter in this course follows:

Before the chapter is discussed in class:

• Review the chapter’s learning objectives (in the front of each chapter).

• Read the chapter to become aware of the content and organization.

• Carefully study the chapter’s examples and illustrations; note that you must understand both the concepts and the applications

After the chapter is discussed in class:

• Note any questions that you have on the chapter’s material. (During the related class period pay close attention to our discussion of these points. If you still have questions after the class discussion, please do not hesitate to ask me to better clarify these areas of difficulty.)

• Reread the chapter, comparing your notes from the class session(s) to the chapter material

• Practice applying the concepts presented in each chapter, by working questions, exercises, and problems from each chapter. Hint: answer the chapter’s questions, exercises, and problems before you review the correct solutions. (A solutions manual will be available in my office or at the reserve desk of the William T. Young Library. The manual will be under the title, ACC 301 – Ramsay.

• Discuss with me any difficulties that you are still having with the chapter’s material.

Examinations

Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answers and problems. Spelling and grammar will be graded. The final exam will be 50% over chapters 9 and 10 and 50% cumulative.

You are responsible for taking all scheduled exams at the designated times. An unexcused absence from a regular examination will be recorded as a zero grade. Should an excused absence (as specified in the Students Rights and Responsibilities) from a scheduled regular examination occur, I will specify the time of the make-up exam.

Note: In the case of an excused absence from scheduled examinations, please notify me, if possible, prior to the exam. If this is impossible due to an emergency, please notify me as soon as possible. Sufficient supporting documentation must be provided to verify the conditions causing the absence.

You are also entitled to excused absences for the purpose of observing your major religious holidays. However, you must notify me in writing of these anticipated absences.

During the quizzes and examinations, you may use a calculator, provided that I have approved it and the following guidelines are followed:

1. Calculators may not be shared

2. Calculators must be removed from their cases and no instruction booklets or printing tapes may be used.

3. You are responsible for providing the power source and backup for your calculator.

4. Calculators may not have word processing capabilities.

5. Programmable calculators may not be used.

Quizzes

Three regular quizzes (10 points each) and three team quizzes (10 points each) will be given during the semester. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped. (You will be randomly divided into groups of three or four individuals for each team quiz.)

Writing Assignments

This semester’s writing assignments will each be worth a maximum of 25 points each. These will consist of one page single spaced memos (12 point font) explaining topics that I will assign.

Expanded Problem

The Expanded Problem will be worth a maximum of 25 points. It should be treated the same as a take-home exam. Each student will be expected to complete the problem without assistance from others and will be asked to acknowledge this on the Expanded Problem.

Professional Conduct

Professionalism is defined as conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize a professional person. In my opinion, these include coming to class, being on time, participating in discussions, and asking thoughtful questions. It also includes being courteous to your classmates and to me.

An Important Part of Learning - Questions. Exercises. And Problems

Suggested questions, exercises and problems are shown on the course syllabus. Although the suggested questions, exercises, and problems will not be collected, you are responsible for knowing how to work these exercises/problems and how to answer these questions.

Remember that a solutions manual will be available to be checked out on a two-hour basis at the Reserve Desk of the William T. Young Library. Also, a solutions manual will be available in my office.

Late Assignments. One letter grade (i.e. 10% of the maximum points) will be deducted at the end of class on the due date. An additional 10% will be deducted on the morning of each day thereafter. For example, the expanded problem is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, September 17th. Any assignments received on the 17th after class will be reduced 2.5 points. Assignments received any time on the 18th will be reduced 5 points and so on.

Midterm Progress

Midterm is Monday, October 21, 2002, and the last day to withdraw from a class is Friday, October 25, 2002. Therefore, at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 22, 2002, I will have available the points earned to date and the current letter grade for each student.

E-Mail Addresses

As an important additional way of communicating with the students in my classes, I will require each student to provide me with her/his e-mail address.

Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawals from this course require full compliance with all relevant University Regulations.

Please Remember...

Academic Honesty: Cheating will not be tolerated. Any suspected plagiarism or cheating will be reported immediately in accordance with section 6.4 of the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Grading:

Students taking this course on a Pass/Fail basis must achieve 60% or more of the total available points to earn a “P.”

Students auditing the class must attend 80% of the class sessions to receive “audit” credit for the class. Any student auditing the class is responsible for documenting his/her attendance.

SCHEDULE

*Turn in write up of case/article

* Do not call after 9:00 P. M.