BA 211 - Financial Accounting

Catalog Description

BA 211 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (4) Accounting information from the perspective of external users, principally investors and creditors. Emphasis on the preparation and interpretation of financial statements, income recognition and determination, and asset valuation.
PREREQ: MTH 111 and sophomore standing.

CLASS SCHEDULE: Winter Term, 2007. See individual instructor’s pages.

Jim Byrne

Amy Bourne

Common Syllabus for all BA211 Sections

This syllabus page describes policies that apply to all sections of BA211, Financial Accounting. Individual instructors may have additional policies that apply only to his or her course section.

COURSE MATERIALS

REQUIRED TEXT: Financial Accounting, Harrison & Horngren, 6th Edition

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Each student shall be able to analyze basic business transactions to determine their effect on accounts and financial statements.
• Each student shall have a basic understanding of the accounting cycle and be able to prepare simple entries for transactions and adjustments.
• Each student shall be able to prepare a classified Balance Sheet, classified Income Statement and Statement of Changes in Retained Earnings from a trial balance for relatively simple situations.
• Each student shall be able to prepare a simple Cash Flow Statement from appropriate information for relatively simple situations.
• Each student shall have a basic understanding the principles of internal control and be able to apply them to relatively straight forward situations.
• Each student shall have a basic understanding of the issues relating to inventory, accounts receivable, long-lived assets, liabilities and stockholders equity and be able to use that understanding to analyze those items.
• Each student shall be able to evaluate the financial position of organizations through the use of financial statements using horizontal, vertical and ratio analysis along with a basic understanding of accounting principles and practices. 

GRADING:

There will be two midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.  Your grade for the course will be determined on the following basis:

Activity	Percent
Instructor Discretion (e.g. quizzes, homework, attendance etc.)	20%
Midterms	50%
Final exam	30%
Total	100%

Calculation of Overall Grade: We intend to grade on a scale no stricter than the following: 90% = A- ; 80% = B- ; 70% = C- ; 60% = D-.

At your instructor's discretion, we may consider class participation and other subjective course-related factors when assigning grades to students whose overall score is less than 70% and just below a grade cutoff (both conditions must apply). If you have any questions about any aspect of the grading, please speak with your instructor.

ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT POLICIES REGARDING EXAMS

· CALCULATORS  No programmable calculators, cell phones, head phones or computers may be used during exams.  Only departmental approved calculators will be allowed.  Currently, only simple 4 function calculators and financial calculators such as the TI BA series are approved for exam use.  The bookstore sells simple 4 function calculators for about $4. 

· NO NOTES will be allowed on exams.

· MIDTERM EXAMS  Attendance is mandatory on scheduled test dates in the section in which you are enrolled.  There will be no "make-up" midterm exams.  If you are unable to take an exam for a legitimate reason acceptable to the instructor, your final exam will be given additional weight proportional to the missing exam score. 

· NO MAKE UP OR EARLY FINAL EXAMS will be allowed.  An exam session will be scheduled following the regular scheduled exam time for students with exam conflicts.  Only students with a valid excuse for missing the regularly-scheduled final exam are eligible to take the make-up exam.  In other cases students will be encouraged to take the final the following term. 

· All exams (midterm and final) will be retained by the department.  Any student who fails to turn in all or part of an exam will receive an F (zero points) on the exam.

Extra Credit: There will be no opportunities for extra credit in this class.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.  

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students are expected to follow University [http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm] and College policies.

FINAL EXAM

The final exam will be given during finals week. It will consist of multiple choice questions. If you become aware of a conflict that might cause you to miss the final exam, you should inform me immediately. One (and only one) make-up exam will be scheduled, following the regularly-scheduled exam. Only students with a valid excuse for missing the regularly-scheduled final exam are eligible to take the make-up exam.

DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT

• Discrimination or harassment will not be tolerated in the classroom. Most cases of discrimination or harassment violate Federal and State laws and University Policies and Regulations. Intentional discrimination or harassment will be referred to the Affirmative Action Office and dealt with in accordance with the appropriate rules and regulations.
• Unintentional discrimination or harassment is just as damaging to the offended party, but it usually results from people not understanding the impact of their remarks or actions on others, or an insensitivity to the feelings of others. We must all strive to work together to create a positive learning environment. This means that each individual should be sensitive to the feelings of others and tolerant of the remarks and actions of others. If you find the remarks and actions of another individual offensive, please bring it to their attention. If you believe those remarks and actions constitute intentional discrimination or harassment, please bring it to your instructor's attention.