GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY School of Accounting Acctg 1A Introductory Financial Accounting Spring Semester 2012 - Online Instructor: Ahmet Cagin Email: acagin@ggu.edu 1. Course Description Introduces financial accounting emphasizing accounting terminology, ethics and the role of accounting information in business decisions. Course work will provide you with a basic understanding of the accounting process; financial statements; and the content of certain asset, liability and owners equity accounts. The corporate form of business is discussed in detail. The focus of the course will provide you with an understanding of accounting information in a decision context. 2. Course Objectives Describe and explain the purpose of each of the principal financial statements: balance sheet (statement of financial position), income statement, statement of cash flows and retained earnings. Prepare from an adjusted trial balance the above financial statements. Analyze and record common types of business transactions (sales, cash receipts, purchases on account, cash disbursements, etc.) in proper form, in both a 2-column journal and in T-accounts. Analyze financial statements using common financial statement ratios and other means. Discuss the purpose of adjusting journal entries. Prepare closing entries. Explain what is meant by the term "depreciation" in the context of accounting and how to record it in a journal. Explain the meaning of "accrual basis" of accounting, and how it differs from the "cash basis" of accounting. Explain the meaning of "perpetual inventory system" and how it differs from the "period method" of accounting for inventory. Apply and understand the alternative methods of costing inventory FIFO, LIFO, and other methods. Discuss what is meant by "Internal Control" and why it is important for any enterprise. Understand the difference between internal and external users and accounting.
3. Required Materials Textbook: Meigs, Williams, Haka, and Bettner, (2010), Financial Accounting, (15th ed.) NY: Irwin McGraw Hill. ISBN-978-0-07-732870-2 BookStore: To purchase course books and materials from efollett, GGU's official online bookstore, go to www.ggu.bkstr.com/. University Library University Library There are several databases available through the Golden Gate University Library for students to conduct research on various topics. Remote (off campus) access to the databases requires your last name and student ID# (located on the front of your ID card). Be sure to type in ALL 7 digits, including the starting 0. Example: 3 0123456. You may access the library from GGU s homepage at http://www.ggu.edu. 4. Course Requirements, Student Responsibilities, Evaluations HOMEWORK Many times a concept will not be clear from reading, but by working your way through the problems, many questions will be answered. I suggest that you try your best to figure our questions independently before asking for help. Be certain to check announcements daily. You will see changes and updates to assignments. All answers to homework assignments will be accessible per chapter for each week. Please do not be tempted to copy these answers for your assignments; I will be able to tell. Additionally, by making a good faith effort to do the homework before reviewing the answers you will be better able to meet the challenges of the closed-book final. The homework will not be graded for accuracy, but is designed to reinforce what you have learned. Late homework will not be accepted. Place each homework on one document. The most preferable type is Excel Spreadsheet (Except for Case Study) I will not accept answers placed into multiple-type documents. All homework will be turned in by Wednesday midnight. The course will begin on Thursday January 5. (Through Wednesday, April 25)
DISCUSSION Participation is mandatory in discussions to achieve a passing grade in this class. I will log-in often but not for long periods of time. For an online, class participation is more important than in a face-to-face classroom environment. The discussions are 4 points per session. The discussions are accessed per the Discussion button. The discussion section is where class interaction takes place. This is where you participate in the course by talking to me or to your classmates. I can review homework questions that may come up. If the problem is complex please e mail me and I will respond. If relevant I will share the answer with the class. Note the down arrow next to the topics, scroll down to the topics and respond to the discussion questions. You may cut and paste or type directly into the discussion. Discussions after the end of the session will not be accepted. To receive all 4 points, all topics must be addressed fully and completely. COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEMS You will be able to get 24 points if you complete the three comprehensive problems 8 points each. Additional relevant articles and possibility projects will be available in DocShare and noted in Announcements. THE CASE STUDY I will also provide a case study in advance with detailed instruction on how to approach the problem, and you will then have five weeks to prepare your solution. The case study is designed for you to analyze the case and then apply what you have learned in class in helping to come up with your solution to the specific transactions. 5. Course Evaluations The course has two midterms and one comprehensive final. The midterm will be open book. The Final exam will be close book and will be supervised. You will be allowed a calculator and hand written notes. There is no limit on the number of pages. You will also need some 8 ½ by 11 blank paper rather than a blue book for the exam answers. There will be no make-up exams unless an extremely critical emergency. The midterm will be open for 5 days and consist of three parts. The computational portions will be placed in DocSharing. While the True/False and Multiple Choices will be located in a session tab. The final will be 3 hours and administered with a proctor. You will be notified of the date through Announcements.
6. Assignments 1/5/2012 1/11/2012 Week 1 Ch 1 Introduction and Information for Decision Making and Ch 2 Basic Financial Information 1/12/2012 1/18/2012 Week 2 Ch 3 the Accounting Cycle: Capturing Economic Events 1/19/2012 1/25/2012 Week 3 Ch 4 The Accounting Cycle: Accruals and Deferrals 5 1/26/2012 2/1/2012 Week 4 Ch 5 The Accounting Cycle: Reporting Financial Results 2/2/2012 2/8/2012 Week 5 Ch 6 Merchandising Activities 2/9/2012 2/15/2012 Week 6 Midterm 1 2/16/2012 2/22/2012 Week 7 Ch 7 Financial Assets 2/23/2012 2/29/2012 Week 8 Ch 8 Inventories and the Cost of Goods Sold; Case study assignment and instruction will be given 3/1/2012 3/7/2012 Week 9 Ch 9 Plant and Intangible Assets 3/8/2012 3/14/2012 Week 10 Ch 10 Liabilities 3/15/2012 3/21/2012 Week 11 Midterm 2 3/22/2012 3/28/2012 Week 12 Ch 11 Stockholder s Equity 3/29/2012 4/4/2012 Week 13 Ch 12 Income and Changes in Retained Earnings 4/5/2012 4/11/2012 Week 14 Ch 13 Statement of Cash Flows 4/12/2012 4/18/2012 Week 15 Case Study Due 4/19/2012 4/25/2012 Week 16 Comprehensive Final Exam (Supervised) Please check important dates on document for detailed deadlines, topics and points. Supervised Exam information All Cyber Campus (entirely online) courses require at least one supervised exam per term. For additional information and instructions on selection of a proctor see Cyber Campus website and on the right side you will find link for exam information. 7. Grading Policy Assignment Points Percentage Homework Problems 48 12% Discussions 48 12% Comprehensive Problems 24 6% Midterms 2X (40 points each) 80 20% Case Study 40 10% Comprehensive Final 160 40% TOTAL 400 100%
Grading Percentage A+ 99 100% A 93% -98.9 % A- 90% - 92.9% B+ 87% - 89.9% B 83% - 86.9% B- 80% - 82.9% C+ 77% - 79.9% C 73% - 76.9% C- 70% -72.9% D+ 63% - 66.9% D 60% - 62.9% F 0% - 59.9% 8. Instructor Bio Ahmet Cagin graduated from U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. After his graduation, he spent his entire career in the banking industry. Before joining to Wells Fargo Bank, he was Vice President with JP Morgan Chase responsible for cost accounting practices related to direct mail marketing initiatives. 9. Academic Integrity Policy GGU's Policy on Student Academic Integrity is in effect at all GGU teaching locations, including regional classroom sites, corporate sites, and distance courses delivered in any medium. This policy applies to all business, taxation, and technology students at Golden Gate University. Academic integrity means doing academic work in a manner that strives to achieve the learning objectives your courses have set out for you. It means that you follow the rules and procedures prescribed by your instructors so that you acquire the skills and knowledge your courses are designed to give you. It means that you engage in ethical practices in taking tests and doing assignments and that you respect intellectual property rights by fully disclosing sources of information that appear in your papers and presentations. GGU provides many resources and services that assist you in learning the required research and documentation skills.