This syllabus and related point allocations for purposes of grading may change during the term.  Any changes will be announced in class and posted to this web site.

Office:  Hipp Hall 201 F
Office hours: 1:00 to 2:00 and by appointment
Email:  sandy.roberson@furman.edu
Home phone:  246-5642

Course Objectives:
1. To help you gain an understanding of the foundations, concepts, and standards underlying accounting practices. (theory)
2. To help you gain an understanding of the knowledge and skills used in financial accounting. (practice)
3. To help you develop analytical skills, logical thinking abilities and written and oral communication skills.
4. To increase your awareness of the ethical issues facing accountants today.
Prospective accounting majors should participate in the Furman University Accounting Society.

Text:  Intermediate Accounting - J. David Spiceland, James Sepe, Mark W. Nelson, Lawrence A. Tomassini, 5th edition, McGraw Hill

Text Web site:  The text web site has many resources to help you in your study of intermediate accounting.  It is located at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073526878/student_view0/index.html

Solutions Manual: The solutions manual is available at the course website on Moodle.

Class Format:  We will generally begin the study of each chapter with a discussion of the chapter, focusing on the more complex material.  You are responsible for all chapter material covered via lecture, in class activities and written assignments.  Some of these items may not be discussed in class and if you have questions regarding them it is your responsibility to raise them.  Intermediate Accounting II involves the study of complex business concepts and the accounting associated with them.  Because of the complexity involved, you may be tempted to memorize the related accounting; however, you should avoid doing this.  Throughout the course you should keep in mind that a true understanding of how a procedure is applied demands a clear understanding of why it is applied.

Written Assignments from the Text: Each reading assignment will be accompanied by a written assignment to test your understanding of the material and to reinforce what you have learned.  Intermediate accounting concepts are mastered by working through questions, problems and cases that allow you to practice their application; therefore, it is important that you complete all written assignments.  Certain written assignments  will be collected as discussed on the schedule of assignments linked to this web page.  Prior to turning in the assignments, you will meet with your homework group and compare solutions, attempting to resolve any differences noted.  If your group cannot come to an agreed upon solution, you should consult with other groups.  If agreement cannot be reached, I will address questions that remain.  The collected assignments are worth a total of 5 points (1/2 point for each chapter).  Late written assignments will not be accepted unless you have an excused absence.

Group Activities:  Due to the importance of teamwork skills in the workplace, groups - formal as well as informal - will be used for several class activities. Turn-in homework will be checked and discussed in groups prior to being turned in as discussed above.  Additionally, assigned groups will be required to create an exam practice problem with a correct and explained solution for an assigned area during the term.  The problem must be in narrative form and should ideally be prepared in excel.  If not prepared in excel it must be prepared using Word.  The problem must be turned in with a correct solution at least 2 days prior to the related exam so that it can be distributed to the class as a practice problem for the exam.  Problems turned in with a correct solution will earn 5 points.  Those turned in with an incorrect solution may be corrected (I will provide direction but not the correct solution) and resubmitted for 4 points.  Each time the problem is resubmitted after that, 1/2 point will be deducted until a correct solution is provided.  Problems not corrected will receive 0 points.  For each day the problem is turned in late, 1/2 point will be deducted.  There will also be a group component to each exam (except the final) as further discussed below.

Outside Readings and Communication Exercises: Because it must meet the needs of an ever changing business environment, Accounting is a discipline that is constantly evolving.   To give you an understanding of this aspect of accounting and to insure that you are aware of the most significant issues facing the profession today,  I may occasionally assign outside readings relating to current accounting issues which we will discuss in class.  The readings may also be a source for exam questions.

Effective communication skills are important in this class and in the "real world".  Accordingly, during the term I may assign short papers, cases or other written communication exercises.  These exercises may, among other things, require you to read an article and provide your reactions to the material read, further research an accounting theory that we are studying or apply it to a specific fact situation, or complete a group exercise.   Your grade will be based on the substance of your comments as well as your ability to communicate your thoughts clearly and succinctly.     Written assignments should be prepared in good form.  Among other things, good form means the assignment should be typed and free of spelling and grammatical errors.  While these assignments will be graded primarily on content, organization and conceptual understanding, grammar, punctuation and spelling will be considered in the overall grade.  A due date will be announced at the time the assignment is given.  If an assignment is submitted after class on the due date, it will be considered "late" by one day. Your grade will be reduced by one full grade each day it is late.  Communication exercises will make-up no more than 10% of your total grade.

Exams:  There will be  4 exams during the term.  Exams will be held outside of normal class meeting hours to allow for adequate time.

Exams may consist of true false, multiple choice, problems or short answer questions.  Exams are designed to test your comprehension of the material and your ability to apply the concepts studied.  Accordingly, exam problems will not  mirror the format found in  the written assignments and may challenge you to apply the skills learned in class in NEW ways (in other words, you cannot just memorize problem formats and data and expect to do well).

Group Exams:  Following each of the first three exams (and prior to the return of the graded exams), you will be given the opportunity to retake a portion of the exam as part of a small group.  Each group exam will be worth up to 5 points (or more at my discretion) and all members of the group will receive the same grade.   This is regardless of whether the group exam grade is better or worse than your individual exam grade.  Note that if you receive less than a 70% on the individual exam your individual exam percentage will be used to calculate your group exam grade.  After each group exam you will be asked to complete a brief survey regarding how your group functioned.  You must turn in the survey to receive the group exam grade earned.  New groups will be assigned prior to each group exam.

Class Attendance and Participation: Attendance is a very important part of this course and is expected.  Although no specific points are given for participation, your participation  is encouraged and may marginally effect your grade.  On occasion, the class will be divided into groups to work particularly challenging problems.  When this occurs, please keep in mind that your participation and contribution to the group effort is important to the learning process of the entire group. You will be held accountable for material discussed in class that is not in the text.  University policy will be followed regarding the handling of excessive absences (see the current Furman University Catalogue).

Final Grade:  Your final grade will be determined based on your total number of points earned as a percentage of the total points available.

Academic Integrity:  Your enrollment in this class signifies that you accept the rules of academic honesty provided in the Helmsman. Any violation is grounds for an "F" in this course.  Cheating on assignments, plagiarism, and other similar conduct will result in immediate dismissal from this course.

Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations should contact Ms. Gina Parris in the Office of Disability Services.  After meeting with her, contact me.   It is important that you do this early in the term.

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