Course Syllabus ACCT School of Management The University of Texas at Dallas

Transcription

1 Course Syllabus ACCT School of Management The University of Texas at Dallas Course Information Course: ACCT 3341 Section: 501 Course Title: Cost Management Systems Meets: 7:00 pm to 9:45 pm on Thursdays Location: SOM Semester: Fall 2011 Instructor Contact Information Instructor: Jason Rodrigue, CPA Office Location: SOM Cell Phone: Office Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, or by appointment Prerequisites The prerequisites to this course are ACCT 2301 and ACCT 2302 (principles of financial and managerial accounting). That is, I will assume that you have a solid foundation in basic financial accounting principles, including journal entries, and a good introduction to cost/management accounting concepts. Course Description This is an advanced course in management/cost accounting. The topics in this course include: (1) Cost/Volume/Profit analysis; (2) Relevant costing; (3) Job-order and Process Costing; (4) Activity-Based Costing; (5) Support Department Costing; (6) Joint Product Costing; (7) Budgeting; and (8) Standard Costing with an emphasis on Variance Analysis. Spreadsheet applications are used to reinforce some course concepts, and some writing is required. 1

2 Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes The overall learning objective of this course is to learn cost accounting concepts and techniques used to support decision-making by managers. Specific objectives are to: 1. Develop an appreciation for the various types of Cost Accounting Systems; 2. Learn to differentiate between variable and fixed costs and to recognize the importance of distinguishing between them in decision-making and cost allocation settings; 3. Learn to perform basic cost allocation exercises including product cost determination; 4. Learn to calculate, use, and understand basic variance analyses within the context of a standard costing system; 5. Learn to use the CPAexcel software to study for and pass the US CPA exam; and 6. Become more proficient in your use of Microsoft Excel for business purposes. Required Textbooks and Materials (1) Textbook: Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis (14 th Edition) Author(s): Horngren, Datar & Rajan Publisher: Pearson/Prentice Hall ISBN #: (2) A valid UTD address (3) Access to an internet connection and an internet browser (for CPAexcel) (4) Access to Microsoft Word and Excel (5) Access to elearning (6) 882-E Scantrons for exams (7) UTD Student ID (required for exams) CPAexcel This is an online software and textbook tool that is being used to help reinforce and supplement the course material. This software is being provided free of charge during the course. Login and access information will be provided to you by the instructor or TA via elearning. The software requires you to have available an internet browser and internet connection. Mozilla Firefox version 5 or higher is recommended. Attendance It is critical to your success that you attend each class and take notes during the lectures. You should come to class prepared, which means that you should have read the assigned chapter and worked the suggested homework prior to attending class. This will enhance your understanding of the material discussed in class. As a courtesy to others, please turn off your cellular phones during class. 2

3 You will be asked to sign the roll sheet at the beginning of each class period as evidence that you attended class on that day. Your attendance, or lack thereof, will never count against your final grade; however, I do consider an exceptional attendance record as a strong signal of effort, and I do carefully consider attendance in the analysis of final grades at the end of the semester. Instructor Assistance Office hours are not a substitute for coming to class. Accordingly, I will not go over material covered in class with you if you have missed class. Additionally, if you are unable to attend office hours, please me with any questions. CPAexcel Quizzes An additional tool called CPAexcel will be provided to you during this class to supplement the course material. You will take six quizzes using this tool. Additionally, this tool provides text, lectures, practice problems and information related to the topics covered on the US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. This course is a key component of the BEC section of the US CPA exam. The CPAexcel tool and quizzes helps to reinforce key concepts and knowledge that is expected to be known by students who study Cost Accounting. Each of the six quizzes is worth a total of 50 points. I will allow you to drop your lowest quiz score. The quizzes contain up to 20 multiple choice questions. The due dates of each quiz are listed on the Course Calendar on the last page of this syllabus. If you miss a quiz you will not be allowed to take it late. And I used this breakout to assign points. * The points earned for the CPAexcel quizzes will be based on the following scale: Grade Earned on the CPAexcel Quiz Points Earned for ACCT <45 0 3

4 Case Studies You will be given 6 case studies to complete during this semester. The due dates of each case are listed on the Course Calendar on the last page of this syllabus. Each case is worth 50 points, and I will allow you to drop your lowest case grade. The purpose of each assignment is two-fold: (1) to enhance your ability to use spreadsheet software in decision-making; and (2) to test your ability to analyze complex business problems. Each case will have instructions and a template that will require you to input numbers and formulas into Excel and to analyze the spreadsheet results. Details for preparing and submitting the assessments will be posted on elearning. All case assignments are due by the beginning of class on the due date. Any work submitted after the beginning of class will receive a grade of 0. Exams There will be three non-cumulative examinations worth 100 points each and one cumulative final exam worth 200 points. All examinations will be closed-book and closed-notes, will require many calculations, and will be administered on the dates listed in the course calendar section of this syllabus. The non-cumulative exams will be 75 minutes long and will be comprised of multiple choice questions and work-out problems. The cumulative final will be four hours long and will be comprised of multiple choice questions, true-false questions, matching problems, discussion questions, and several work-out problems covering material presented over the entire course of the semester. You will need to bring three items to every exam: (1) your UTD ID; (2) an 882-E scantron; and (3) two or more number two pencils (or lead pens). I prefer that you do not take the exam in ink. Advanced calculators with memory functions, cell phones, iphones, Blackberry phones and other devices (including language dictionaries) are not allowed during the exams. I will provide you with a calculator. Makeup exams are not given; however, I will allow the cumulative final exam to count toward missed exams (and/or assignments & quizzes) but only if the student has a legitimate verifiable excused absences. The absence must be approved prior to the missed exam if applicable. Excused absences are given only for verifiable medical or family emergencies, and written documentation must be provided for substantiation of the absence. Students who do not show up for an exam, and for whom prior arrangements have not been made will receive a score of 0. There is no guarantee that the level of difficulty of the cumulative exam will be comparable to that of the original missed exam. 4

5 Grades The total number of points awarded for work performed in this course is 1,000 calculated as follows: 3 Non-cumulative Examinations 300 Points (100 Points each) 1 Cumulative Final Examination 200 Points 6 CPAexcel Quizzes 250 Points (50 Points each, drop lowest score) 6 Case Studies _ 250 Points (50 Points each, drop lowest score) TOTAL 1,000 Points Each student s total score will be translated into a letter grade based on the following scale: Letter Point Range Grade Min Max A A A B B B C C C D D D F BELOW 639 Please note that there will be NO extra credit opportunities for this course. CPAexcel Policies and Procedures As part of the course you are provided access to CPAexcel online software and tools. You agree to review and abide by the policies and procedures as noted by CPAexcel when using mentored discussions, student discussions and postings, and other items as noted in the CPAexcel software. Student Conduct & Discipline The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student 5

6 conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/ ). A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct. Academic Integrity The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one s own work or material that is not one s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective. Use The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an exchange. The university encourages all official student correspondence be sent only to a student s U.T. Dallas address and that faculty and staff consider from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each 6

7 student with a free account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts. Withdrawal from Class The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled. Student Grievance Procedures Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called the respondent ). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations. Incomplete Grade Policy As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F. 7

8 Disability Services The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22 PO Box Richardson, Texas (972) (voice or TTY) Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance. It is the student s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours. Religious Holy Days The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that 8

9 exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC (b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee. 9

10 ACCT COURSE CALENDAR FALL 2011 Date Topics Suggested Practice Problems 8/25 Syllabus, Course Introduction, CPA Excel Demo Chapter 1: The Accountants Role in the Organization 1-6, 9, 12 9/1 Chapter 2: An Introduction to Cost Terms and Purposes 1-12, 19-21, 23, 26, Chapter 10: Determining How Costs Behave 1, 4-5, 7, 9,13-14, 16-17, /8 Chapter 3: CVP Analysis (Case 1 Due) 1-5, 8-15, 16-22, 24-25, 44 (CPAexcel Quiz 1) 9/15 Chapter 11: Relevant Costing (Case 2 Due) 2-4, 6-8, 10-15, 18-19, 25, 29, 40 (CPAexcel Quiz 2) 9/22 Exam 1 (Chapters 1-3 and 10-11) (CPAexcel Quiz 3) 9/29 Chapter 4: Job Costing 2, 6, 8-14, 16-17, 19, 24-25, 30, , 5, 7-8, 10-11, 13-15, 19-22, 24-25, Chapter 17: Process Costing (Case 3 Due) 10/6 Chapter 18: Spoilage, Scrap & Rework (Case 4 Due) 2-6, 8-13, 16-18, Chapter 5: Activity-Based Costing 2, 4-7, 11, 21 10/13 Exam 2 (Chapters 4, 5, and 17) 10/20 Chapter 15: Support-Department Costing 1, 3-4, 7-8, 11, 13, Chapter 16: Joint Product Costing (Case 5 Due) 1-3, 7-9, 11-14, /27 Exam 3 (Chapters 15 and 16) (CPAexcel Quiz 4) 11/3 Chapter 6: Master Budget 2, 5, 7-9, 13-15, 17-19, 22, /10 Chapter 7: Flex. Budgets & Direct-Cost Variances 1, 3-14, 17, 24, /17 Chapter 8: Overhead Cost Variances (CPAexcel Quiz 5) 2, 6-7,9, 11, 16-19, (Case 6 Due) 11/24 Thanksgiving Break 12/1 Chapters 9 & 20: Variable vs. Absorption Costing and EOQ & JIT 12/8 Chapters 22 & 23: Transfer Pricing and Performance Measurement (CPAexcel Quiz 6) 12/13 Exam 4 (Cumulative with emphasis on Chapters 6-9, 20, 22, 23) 9: 1, 4, 7, 9-10, 14, 16 20: 3-4, 8, 12-13, 15-16, : 3, 6, 8, 11, 13-14, 17, 21 23: 4-7, 10-13, 16, 18-19, 23 Room :00-11:00 pm These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. 10