Syllabus
Syllabus
Syllabus
Summer 1 2019
Lisa Lightfoot, MPA
Terms of Use
A student's continued enrollment in this course signifies acknowledgment of and agreement with the
statements, disclaimers, policies, and procedures outlined within this syllabus and elsewhere in the WTClass
environment. This Syllabus is a dynamic document. Elements of the course structure (e.g., dates and topics
covered, but not policies) may be changed at the discretion of the professor.
Learning Objectives of the WTAMU Paul and The learning objectives of the Paul and Virginia
Virginia Engler College of Business Programs Engler College of Business are as follows:
The Engler College of Business (COB) at West Texas Leadership
A&M University (WTAMU) seeks to prepare Communication
students in the Bachelor of Business Administration Critical Thinking
(BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Integration
Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), and the Core Business Knowledge
Master of Science, Finance and Economics (MSFE) Global Business Environment
degree programs for careers in business and to Business Ethics and Corporate Governance
foster their professional growth and advancement
via key learning goals and objectives.
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Course Description
Financial Accounting explains and illustrates how accounting data are accumulated and how the resulting
reports are prepared so students can interpret and use accounting information intelligently and effectively.
The structure of accounting, income determination, asset valuation, liability recognition, accounting for
ownership equity, and interpretation and analysis of financial statements will be emphasized in this course.
Course Objectives
By the end of the semester, the student should:
1. be able to demonstrate, through testing and assignments, a basic understanding of the principles of
financial accounting.
2. be able to demonstrate, through testing and assignments, the ability to apply the procedures of
financial accounting.
3. be able to complete an analysis of a publicly-traded retail company.
4. be able to demonstrate through written discussions, an understanding of the current accounting
environment and various ethical and global factors.
Recommended software: word processing software preferably Microsoft Word; spreadsheet software
preferably Microsoft Excel; and Adobe Reader (which can be downloaded for free) to open the pdf files.
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Course Grading Policies
Grades in this course are based on performance on three exams, homework, a financial statement analysis
project, and several discussion questions. Each one of these assignment areas will be explained in detail
before you are expected to complete it.
The distribution of points per assignment and the tentative grading scale are as follows:
Discussion Questions
You will be given several questions throughout the semester related to ethics, global considerations, and other
current accounting issues. These questions will be answered in a discussion forum format on the WTClass
course website so that your answers will be shared with your classmates. More details will follow.
Homework
You will have homework problems assigned for each unit or lesson. The homework will be completed and
submitted online through WileyPLUS, outside of WTClass. Homework may be attempted three times, only the
highest grade counts. After the third attempt, you can see the solution. Assignments will be due based on the
due dates in WileyPLUS which are also listed on the WTClass website and the schedule below. Assignment
details will be provided within each unit or lesson.
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Financial Statement Analysis Project
This project will require you to use all the knowledge you have learned in this course. Each student will
perform an analysis of the financial statements of a publicly traded retail company. The project will include a
discussion of the company's financial performance based on ratios and other calculations. The analysis should
also provide a conclusion on how the company has performed in the past and what its future looks like. More
details will follow.
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Additional Course Policies
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of department head. This course is specifically designed for
students who have not had prior accounting courses. If you have had three hours of accounting or more and
have not discussed this course with your advisor, please contact me as soon as possible.
Electronic Class Participation: Electronic class participation is required. Please check the course website
several times each week. I will contact the class during the semester via announcements, emails and
assignment feedback. In addition, I will present several discussion questions throughout the semester in a
discussion forum format.
Virtual Office Hours: For questions concerning course material or assignments, contact me using email option
through WTClass and always include a subject. I will try to check emails daily and respond within 24 hours,
Monday through Friday. You are also welcome to call or come by my office and ask questions.
Important Dates
June 24 Last day to drop or withdraw
Code of Ethics
Do not use notes, texts, solution Do not forge the signature of an
manuals, or other aids for a quiz or exam instructor, advisor, dean, or another
without instructor authorization. student.
Do not copy the work of others and/or Provide truthful information for class
allow others to view your answers or absences when asking faculty for excused
copy your work during a quiz, exam, or absences or for a make-up for a quiz,
on homework assignments. exam, or homework.
Do not allow other parties to assist in the Provide truthful information on your
completion of your quiz, exam, resume including work history, academic
homework, paper, or project when not performance, leadership activities, and
permitted. membership in student organizations.
Do not work with other students on Respect the property, personal rights,
projects or assignments without and learning environment of all members
authorization from the course instructor. of the academic community.
Properly cite and specifically credit the Live up to the highest ethical standards in
source of text, graphic, and web all academic and professional endeavors.
materials in papers, projects, or other
assignments.
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Students violating the Student Code of Ethics will be reported to the Dean’s office and are subject to penalties
described in the West Texas A&M University Code of Student Life, which may include suspension from the
University. In addition, a violator of the Student Code of Ethics may become ineligible for participation in
student organizations sponsored by the COB and for recognition for College academic honors, awards, and
scholarships.
Academic Integrity
All work must be completed individually unless otherwise stated. Commission of any of the following acts shall
constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any
unauthorized source; informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the exam
is given in any subsequent sections of the course or as a makeup; plagiarism; submission of a paper or project that is
substantially the same for two courses unless expressly authorized by the instructor to do so. For more information,
see the Code of Student Life.
Neither the professor, the COB, nor WTAMU are responsible for the content of external websites discussed in
the classroom and/or linked to via online course materials, emails, message boards, or other means. Referred
websites are for illustrative purposes only, and are neither warranted nor endorsed by the professor, COB, or
WTAMU. Web pages change frequently, as does domain name ownership. While every effort is made to
ensure proper referencing, it is possible that students may on occasion find materials to be objectionable for
reasons beyond our control.
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Technology Requirements
All technological requirements for the successful completion of this course are the responsibility of the
student, including access to a working computer and or to a device with secure broadband Internet
connection, data storage and retrieval, and state-of-the-art security. The student is responsible for all
technological problems not related to WTAMU, including but not limited to equipment failures, power
outages, and Internet breakdowns. Furthermore, students are responsible for all necessary technical and
operational skills for completing this course, and for being familiar with WTClass (the Blackboard Learning
System) both in a general sense and in a specific sense as pertaining to this course and any materials stored
within. The professor is not responsible for any technical matters related to WTClass. Students must contact
WTClass if they have problems accessing and/or using the WTClass environment.
Title IX Statement
West Texas A&M University is committed to here:
providing a learning, working, and living WTAMU Title IX Coordinator Becky Lopez –
environment that promotes personal integrity, Kilgore Research Center 147, or call
civility, and mutual respect in an environment free 806.651.3199
of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Title IX WTAMU Counseling Services – Classroom
makes it clear that violence and harassment based Center 116, or call 806.651.2340
on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject WTAMU Police Department – 806.651.2300, or
to the same kinds of accountability and the same dial 911
kinds of support applied to offenses against other 24-hour Crisis Hotline – 800.273.8255, or
protected categories such as race, national origin, 806.359.6699, or 800.692.4039
etc. Harassment is not acceptable. If you or Visit the Notalone website
someone you know has been harassed or For more information, see the Code of Student Life.
assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources
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Evacuation Statement
If you receive notice to evacuate the building, please evacuate promptly but in an orderly manner. Evacuation
routes are posted in various locations indicating all exits, outside assemble area, location of fire extinguishers,
fire alarm pull stations and emergency telephone numbers (651.5000 or 911). In the event an evacuation is
necessary; evacuate immediately do not use elevators; take all personal belongings with you; report to outside
assembly area and wait for further information; students needing assistance in the evacuation process should
bring this to the attention of the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
Copyright
All original content in this document, all web-based course materials (be they text, audio, and/or video),
and/or classroom presentations are subject to copyright provisions. No distribution without the express
written consent of the author. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this
course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor.
* Syllabus template approved by COB Curriculum Committee May 2018. Annual review of the syllabus is a
formal part of the COB continuous improvement process.