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 Moodle.

Office:  Hipp Hall 201 F
Office hours: MWF 11:30 to 12:30 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,  http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073526878/student_view0/index.html, has many resources to help you in your study of intermediate accounting

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 homework assignment.  Certain assigned items will be reviewed in class in groups.   Questions that cannot be resolved within the group setting will be addressed in class.  For items not reviewed in class, you should compare your solution to the solutions manual which is available on Moodle.  If you do not understand the solution or have questions about it, you should raise questions in class or see me outside of class.  The IFRS exercises will be collected and graded and are worth a total of 10 points.

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. Certain homework will be reviewed in groups as discussed above; assigned groups will be required to create an exam practice problem with a correct and explained solution for an assigned area during the term; and group exams will be used 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. Such 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.

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.    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.

Take Home Exam:  A significant portion of the material in Chapter 18 - Shareholders' Equity - is review.  Accordingly, class time will be spent on new material only and exam coverage will be limited to this material.  There will be a take home exam on the remainder of this chapter worth a total of 5 points.

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.  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.

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 prior to the first exam.  After meeting with her, contact me.

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