BA 215 – Fundamentals of Accounting
Spring 2005

[Schedule][Problem Sets][Problem Solutions][Other Material]

Syllabus

Instructor: Madeleine Brady Romero
Office: Bexell Hall 311
Office Hours:
Tuesday 3:50-4:50 p.m.
Thursday 3:50-5:50 p.m.

E-mail: Madeleine.Romero@bus.oregonstate.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course covers essential topics in accounting and finance, exclusively designed for non-business students. Both financial and managerial accounting will be covered, utilizing basic accounting principles and procedures. Topics include: understanding, developing, and evaluating income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements; forecasting financial statements; cost analyses and budgeting; time value of money evaluation techniques to determine present and future values, evaluate investments, calculate loan payments, and apply financial problems; and types and sources short-term and long-term financing. An integration of the concepts of accounting and financial management into a total system approach to business decision making will be facilitated with the use of cases.

PREREQUISITES

(1) No prior coursework required.

(2) Open to students with Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing.

(3) Non-business students only.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the conclusion of the course, you will be able to perform the following financial decision making analyses, given the pedagogical approach and the materials to be covered:

· understand cash flow versus accrual accounting concepts

· analyze basic business transactions and determine effect on accounts & financial statements

· develop and interpret income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements

· evaluate the financial positions of organizations through the calculation, application, and interpretation of basic financial ratios, utilizing time-series and cross-sectional analyses

· construct projected financial statements and budgets

· understand and develop EXCEL computer spreadsheets to forecast financial statements, run sensitivity analyses, and solve financial problems

· understand the nature of fixed versus variable costs in budgeting

· understand time value of money calculations and applications in corporate and personal finance, utilizing a financial calculator and EXCEL spreadsheet functions

· understand capital markets and sources of short-term and long-term financing

· understand the interrelationships between person and corporate financial management, especially as it applies to investments

More specific daily learning objectives are itemized in the attached course schedule.

REQUIRED TEXT & MATERIALS

1) Finance for Non-Financial Managers, by Gene Siciliano

2) Romero Lecture Notes (see Course outline, 5/10 through 5/19), Cases, and Problem Sets and Solutions – available on my website.

3) Financial Calculator-HP12C,HP10B,or TI BA2+ recommended - tutorials on my website

4) EXCEL Tutorials: Library reserve or www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/Excel/homepage.html

GRADING PROCEDURE

Activity	Points
Midterm exam #1	30%
Midterm exam #2	30%
Homework assignments	5%
Comprehensive final exam	35%
Total	100%

1. You are guaranteed at least the following grade if your weighted average course score falls within the following percentiles:

A 93-100	B+ 87-90	C+ 77-80	D+ 67-70
A- 90-93	B 83-87	C 73-77	D 60-67
	B- 80-83	C- 70-73	F below 60

Additionally, a curve may be applied to these scores. Class participation is encouraged, and may be used in the final grade evaluation if the student is border-line between two grades. It is necessary to pass the final exam to pass the course.

2. NO MAKE‑UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. NO EXCUSES ACCEPTED. The course outline lists TENTATIVE dates for the exams. You are responsible to take the exam whenever it is given, even if the tentative date changes.

3. Homework assignments are detailed in the attached Course Outline, and consist of Problem sets which are available on Romero’s website. It is fully expected that the student will do all the homework to be prepared for class discussion, understand the material, and perform well on the exams. Problem Sets will be handed in and graded on a completion basis; due dates and specific instructions will be announced in class. Once homework is turned in, subsequent additions or corrections will not be accepted. Late assignments will be penalized and will ONLY be accepted at the beginning of the next class session.

Homework assignments can be done in groups, but each student must hand in a complete, separate, individual assignment for credit. (A photocopy of another group members’ work is not acceptable.) Only printed hard-copies of homework (not electronic e-mailed versions) will be accepted. Show all your work.

4. Occasionally class sessions will be held in Bexell Hall 324 computer lab room for instruction in accounting/finance applications in Excel; lab dates will be announced in class.

COURSE POLICIES

1. Dates and terms for class withdrawal are as outlined in the Winter OSU Course Schedule; note that April 8 is the last day to withdraw by the web.

2. OSU student ID must be displayed during all exams. Personal digital assistants, calculators with text storage, or mini-computers are NOT allowed for exams. Only approved financial calculators ARE allowed.

3. During class lectures, please TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS.

4. Failing to demonstrate honesty and integrity will result in a grade of ZERO for that exam. Academic dishonesty takes place whenever a student attempts to take credit for work that is not his/her own or violates test taking rules. Examples of academic dishonesty during test taking include looking at other student's work, passing answers among students or using unauthorized notes. When students sitting next to each other have identical answers, especially the same mistakes, this may indicate academic dishonesty.

5. Students are held responsible for all announcements made in class.