ACCT 203-001: Survey of Accounting Syllabus Fall 2010 Instructor: Syd Hasan, MBA, CPA, CMA, EA Class Time:

M 12-1.15 PM Recitation/Lab: See student schedule Tel: 703-993-9871 Office: Enterprise Hall, Room 111 Course Pre-Requisites C or higher in ECON 103 Text and Required Materials Financial and Managerial Accounting, Wild, Shaw and Chiappeta, 3rd Edition, McGraw Hill, 2009 Scantron Form 882-E (please bring this to every lab) Course Website Blackboard Learning Systems Course Description This is an introductory course in financial and managerial accounting which emphasizes the user of accounting information in an ethical manner. Topics include: transactions analysis; the accounting cycle; financial statement analysis; revenue recognition and cost measurement; present value; costs systems; analyzing cost-volume-profit relationships and operating budgets and ethical decisionmaking. Course Objectives 1. To provide the opportunity and obligation for the student to learn how to read, understand, and interpret financial statements for the purposes of making decisions and informed judgments about an entity in an ethical manner. Primary emphasis will be given to the measurement of results of operations, financial position, and cash flow of business organizations. 2. To provide the opportunity and obligation for students to learn how to apply accounting information in the management planning and control processes, which includes budgeting, the use of standard costs, and the analysis of differences between actual and budgeted results. 3. To provide a broad introduction to current business and financial management activities, and assistance and practice in the development of the ability to think effectively about solving business problems, using current business situations involving ethical decision-making. Our students will recognize the importance of ethical decisions. (See # 6 below.)
Page 1 of 6

Email: shasan2@gmu.edu Class Location: LH 1 Fax: 703-436-8180 Office Hours: MW 1.30-2.30 PM and by appointment only

4.

To provide a challenge to the student to be responsible for his/her own learning and performance to a greater extent than the student might be used to. Our students will be critical thinkers. (See #10 below.)

Learning goals for the SOM Undergraduate Programs 1. Our students will be competent in their discipline. 2. Our students will be aware of the uses of technology in business. 3. Our students will be effective communicators. 4. Our students will have an interdisciplinary perspective. 5. Our students will be knowledgeable about global business and trade. 6. Our students will recognize the importance of ethical decisions. 7. Our students will be knowledgeable about the legal environment of business. 8. Our students will be knowledgeable about team dynamics and the characteristics of effective teams. 9. Our students will understand the value of diversity and the importance of managing diversity in the context of business. 10. Our students will be critical thinkers. This course attempts to cover material and situations for the highlighted learning goals, # 6 and # 10. Approach to Learning The course utilizes a mixture of lecture and lab. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters in advance of class. Student participation in class and in lab is strongly encouraged and expected. Student Responsibilities You are expected to attend all classes and labs and to participate fully. Reading and homework assignments are expected to be completed before coming to class. You are responsible for any material covered during an absence, even if it was supplementary material and not in the textbook. When a class is canceled, scheduled assignments or tests are re-scheduled for the next time the class meets. Students are required to regularly check Blackboard for updates and announcements. Demo Problems Please note that I will provide handouts of demo problems relevant to a chapter only on the day the chapter is taught. If you miss the lecture, the class handouts will not be given in the next class or sent by email. As such, it is imperative that you know your classmates, so that you can ask them about any handouts that you missed. Professionalism You are expected to behave in a professional manner in the classroom. As a result, during class you should turn off all cell phones, blackberry, and other electronic devices. You are expected to behave courteously and politely towards other students and the instructor. Disciplinary action will be taken against a student who disrupts the class environment. The email should only be used to communicate extremely important information to me such as death in family, medical issues, and accident. I will not answer any question relating to content or exams by email. This information will be provided in class and you should pay attention to the class lecture. If a student sends rude, nasty or disrespectful emails to me, then I will assign a grade penalty of 10% and the final grade will be lowered by a letter grade. Grading Letter grades will be assigned based on total points earned by students completing all course requirements as follows:
Page 2 of 6

Item Exam 1 (in Lab) Exam 2 (in Lab) Exam 3 (in Lab) Final Exam (in Class) Total

Points 100 100 100 200 500

The final grade will be based on the following scale. The instructor may curve the final grades or give plusses and minuses depending on the performance and participation of the class as a whole. Grade A B C D F % Earned 90 -100 80 89 70 79 60 69 Below 60 Points Earned 450-500 400-449 350-399 300-349 0 -299

Exams Exams i1, 2 and 3 will be in the Lab and the final exam will be in class on the days specified in the class schedule and will consists of multiple choice questions and/or problems. You must present your student identification card at each examination. Students without identification cards are not allowed to take the examination. You must have a #2 pencil. You must bring a Scantron Form 882-E (green) answer sheet to each exam. You may use a basic, nonprogrammable calculator if you wish. Students found using a programmable/text entry calculator (this includes graphics calculators) will be in violation of the honor code, and will receive a Zero. The grade you receive is entirely up to you. Grades will be assigned on the basis of the absolute number of points you earn during the semester. I do not release grades over the phone or by e-mail. Final grades will be available from Patriotweb. Exam Material Exams can only be reviewed during the lab session when they are returned for review. Students missing that lab session forfeit the opportunity to review their exams. Failure to return the exam to the instructor, both after it is completed and after its distribution in class, is considered an act of academic dishonesty and a violation of the Honor Code. Failure to return the exam will result in a grade of zero being awarded for the exam and the student being reported to the Honor Code Committee. Make Up Exams You are expected to be present for all examinations. If a last minute emergency arises that will prevent you from taking the exam, you must get in touch with me as soon as possible before the start of the exam either by phone or email. Students may only have one excused exam absence. Unexcused exams count as a zero. If the absence is excused, the makeup test date is Friday, December 3, 12-1.15 PM Room TBA. Study Groups and E-mails Each student needs to form a study group of four to five students. If a student misses class, then the student should contact a person in the study group to find out what was covered in class. It is each
Page 3 of 6

students responsibility to find out what was covered in each class. E-mails should not be sent to the Instructor requesting this information. The necessary information should come from the study group and/or the class website site. Unless an emergency arises which causes a student to miss a large number of classes, do not e-mail the instructor about absences. Contact your study group to gather necessary information. Attendance To maximize your learning experience, attendance is essential. The chapter should be read before attending the lecture. Homework should be completed before attending the lab/recitation. Homework It is extremely important to keep up to date and be prepared for class. Honor Code Statement This class has a Zero Tolerance policy for any Honor Code violations. You are expected to understand and follow the Honor Code as mentioned in the University Catalogue. To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the University Community have set forth this: Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or lie in matters related to academic work. It shall be a violation of this Honor Code to Lie, Cheat or Steal. The following list is illustrative of Honor Code violations but is not exhaustive: Assignments (including examinations) are to be the sole work of the student unless specifically authorized otherwise by the professor. To give, receive, or utilize unauthorized assistance in preparation for or during an assignment is a violation of this Honor Code. To continue working on an assignment or an examination beyond the allotted time period. To plagiarize. To fail to report a suspected violation when a student has reasonable cause to believe that an Honor Code violation has occurred. I encourage you to work with other students to help one another understand the material. However, all examinations, quizzes and projects are expected to be original work. The hallmarks of the accounting profession are integrity, objectivity, and independence. Cheating in this class will result in a grade of F in the exam and your name being referred to the Honor Code Committee for additional sanctions (this includes being prevented from graduating or possible expulsion from the school). Classroom Conduct and Etiquette Please remember that this is a classroom. No laptops are permitted. Arrive on time. Students arriving a few minutes late should sit in the last four rows to avoid disrupting the class. Do not walk in the front of class once class has started. No leaving class early. If you have an urgent need to leave, and you know this prior to class, please inform the instructor. Please sit in an area of the room that would minimize the distraction when you leave. No food may be consumed inside the classroom. No texting during class. No music playing in the classroom, even through earphones. All cell phones need to be turned off. Bring you student ID with your at all times. They need to be shown during tests and exams.
Page 4 of 6

Students with Disabilities If you have a diagnosed learning disorder or disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 703-993-2474 and register with them. If you need special consideration, please see me after the first class. Withdrawal The last day to drop is Friday, October 1. Inclement Weather and Emergency Contact the Mason website or campus phone number, 703-993-1000, for information on university closings, delays or cancelations due to inclement weather or other issues Course Schedule The schedule for the course is given below. Please note that this schedule may be changed at the discretion of the instructor during the term. Week 1 Date M 8/30 T 8/31 2 M 9/6 T 9/7 3 M 9/13 T 9/14 4 M 9/20 T 9/21 5 6 M 9/27 T 9/28 M 10/4 T 10/5 7 M 10/11 T 10/12 8 M 10/18 Topics Lecture: Chapter 1 Introducing Accounting in Business Lab: Labor Day Holiday. No Lecture. Lab Lecture: Chapter 2 Analyzing and Recording Transactions Lab Lecture Chapter 3 Adjusting Accounts and Preparing Financial Statements Lab Lecture Review Exam 1 in Lab Lecture Chapter 6 Cash and Internal Controls Lab No Lecture Monday classes meet on Tuesday 10/12) Lecture Chapter 14 Managerial Accounting Concepts and Principles (No Lab) Lecture Chapter 15 Job Order Costing and Analysis E: 6-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 E: 3-1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, P3-1A E 2-1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12 E 1-12, 17, P 1-1A Assignment

E 1- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

E: 14-1, 2, 3, 6, 8, P14-3A

Page 5 of 6

T 10/19 9 M 10/25 T 10/26 M 11/1 T 11/2

Lab Lecture Chapter 18 Cost Behavior and Cost Volume Profit Analysis Exam 2 in Lab Lecture Chapter 20 Master Budget and Performance Planning Lab

E: 15-1, 3, 4, 8, P 15-3A

10

E: 18-2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, P18-1A E: 20-1, 3, 8

11

M 11/8 T 11/9

Lecture Chapter 21 Flexible Budgets and Standard Costing Lab P20-1A E: 21-1, 2, 3, 5, 8, P 21-1A (#1 and 2 only)

12

M 11/15 T 11/16

Lecture Chapter 22 Decentralization and Performance Evaluation Lab Review Exam 3 in Lab. Lecture Chapter 23 Relevant Cost for Managerial Decisions Lab Lecture Chapter 24 Capital Budgeting and Investment Analysis Lab No Class. Reading Day Final Exam Room TBA 10.30-1.15 PM E: 23-1, 3, 6, 8 E: 22-1, 2, 3, 4, 10

13 14

M 11/22 T 11/23 M 11/29 T 11/30 M 12/6 T 12/7

15

E: 24-1, 2, 5 (#1 only), 6

16 17

M 12/13 M 12/20

Page 6 of 6