COURSE POLICIES
INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING I
Fall Quarter - 1999
Objectives of the course: This course is the first of three in-depth studies of financial accounting policies and procedures and is a required course in the accounting major. When you have completed the course, you should be able to analyze and account for financial transactions involving cash, accounts receivable, inventories, fixed assets, and time value of money applications. You should also be more proficient at analyzing situations for their financial reporting implications, and more proficient at determining what information is necessary to solve intricate accounting problems.
Professor: Prof. Sharon M. Bruns, PhD
Office: 404 Hayden Hall
Telephone: 373-4648
Email: sbruns@mediaone.net (home) sbruns@cba.neu.edu (office)
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00-3:00 pm and by appointment
Required Texts: Intermediate Accounting, Ninth Edition;by Keiso & Weygandt, Wiley Publishers and
Class Pack including notes and assignments (at Gnomen Copy)
Grading Basis:
| Material | Percent |
|---|---|
| Homework Assignments | 8 |
| Attendance & Participation | 5 |
| 3 exams (29% each) | 87 |
| Total points | 100 |
Explanation of Grading Basis:
1. Homework Assignments: There are 9 homework assignments designated to be turned in for credit. These are located in your case pack at the appropriate class dates and noted on the class assignments syllabus attached. The lowest grade will be dropped. Do not ask me for help on the problems assigned to turn-in before you turn them in. You may, however, work with your classmates on these assignments. BUT, please do not simply copy your classmates’ work. Your ability to do these problems will directly affect your ability to do the exams, as the exams will contai n similar problems. Homework must be turned in at the beginning of class. No late homework will be accepted for any reason. These problems are designed to test material covered in class and in the K&W problems assigned for each day. No material will be tested on the turn-in problems before it is covered in class.
2. Attendance & Participation: The most important steps for you to take in succeeding in this course are to attend all classes and to keep up with assignments. To encourage this, attendance will be taken in all classes (although you may not realize it after the first week) and participation in class discussions and homework will be noted by the professor after each class. You are allowed one absence after the first week without consequences. For each absence after the first, ½ point will be deducted from your participation grade.
3. Exams. Each exam will count equally toward your grade, with the final covering the last third of the material. Although it is technically not cumulative, in reality the mechanics of accounting build throughout the course. The dates of exams will not be changed unless the university is closed on exam day. In general, I do not give make-up exams. Illnesses must be documented by Lane Health Center. In extreme circumstances, you may be allowed to have the final count for two exams.
Teaching Philosophy
My job is to help you learn as much as you can in a 10 week period, given the knowledge that you have other courses competing with your time. I have tried to make your task as easy as possible by preparing an extensive course packet to help you. I have written notes about the major subjects covered in the text that I think will help simplify some difficult material. I’ve included many of the examples we will cover in class so you can be freed from much note-taking in order to concentrate on understanding the material.
In class, I will try to treat each student with respect. This means that you should feel free to offer your questions and opinions without fear of being put down or being made to feel stupid. Some of this material is very difficult, and if you are having problems with it, others probably are, too. Please ask any questions you wish. In return, students in the class must treat the professor and other students with respect. This means you should keep discussions with each other during the class to a minimum level which doesn’t disturb others; you should arrive ON TIME for class; and you should tell me in advance if you will have to leave early. Late arrivals will detract from your participation scores. Despite these requests, I hope that we will have fun in class, even though accounting topics can get quite complex at times.
In addition to facilitating your learning of accounting, I want to get to know you as individuals. I will take your picture on the first day of class, and ask you to fill out a card with information about yourself. By the second week of class, I intend to know your names. Please drop by my office so that I might get to know you, even if you have no accounting questions. I will be happy to help you with career advice, or steer you to individuals in the university who can help with any other problems or issues you may have.