University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
Department of Accounting and Finance
ACC 201-04: Financial Accounting
Spring 2014 T/Th 3:30-4:45 BRYN 122
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Irfan Safdar, PhD
OFFICE: Bryan 325
E-MAIL: musafdar@uncg.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday 2:30-3:30pm and by appointment
TUTORING: Bryan 335; days and times TBA
Course Objectives:
 Demonstrate an understanding of basic accounting terminology and procedures
 Create the financial statements which flow from the accounting process
 Understand the accounting cycle and the accounting system
 Develop an understanding of how business organizations operate and the events which have a
financial impact upon them
 Understand the time value of money concepts
 Facilitate the development of the student’s written communication skills through an essay
assignment, essay assessment and/or business memo assignments
 Contribute toward the Bryan School’s commitment to information technology by requiring
students to use the internet, e-mail, word processing software where appropriate.
IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE
This is a very demanding and time-intensive course. It is not a course you can study for the night before
an exam. I cannot stress enough the importance of (1) attending each class, (2) actively listening in each
class, (3) reading the text and doing homework on a daily basis, and (4) developing a sound foundation
by understanding the basic concepts in Chapter 1 through Chapter 3 of the text.
Grades will be determined by:
 Class Participation (i>clicker): 5%
 Quizzes (i>clicker): 5%
 Homework (14 assignments @ 1% each): 14%
 Four mid-term exams (lowest grade dropped, 3 exams @ 18% each): 54%
 Final Exam (cumulative): 22%
Grading Scale: (final course grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number)
A+ = 97-100
B+ = 87-89
C+ = 77-79
D+ = 67-69
F = 59 and below
A = 93-96
B = 83-86
C = 73-76
D = 63-66
A- = 90-92
B- = 80-82
C- = 70-72
D- = 60-62
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COURSE RESOURCES
1. Blackboard: http://blackboard.uncg.edu
2. Text: Financial Accounting: A Business Process Approach by Jane L. Reimers.
3. MyAccountingLab (MAL): http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com/
We will use MAL for homework assignments in this class (see “Homework Policies” below for
additional information). This is required for the course. 365 days of access to MyAccountingLab is
included with a new textbook purchase or can be purchased online. You may register for free access
for the first 14 days. Please go to the MAL website to register. You will need to know the course id
to register. The course ID is safdar08586.
4. i>clicker / i>clicker2: The i>clicker will be used in this class to determine your quiz and
participation grades. You are responsible for registering the i>clicker and bringing it to class.
Detailed registration information is posted in Blackboard.
5. Class handouts: Handouts for class will be posted on Blackboard. You must bring the handout with
you to each class, either in hard copy or electronic form. I will not provide copies in class. Solutions
will not be posted on Blackboard.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
I expect students to attend every class and to pay attention during class. I expect you to come to class
on time and stay for the entire period. It is extremely disruptive when students come in late or leave
early.
There are no excused absences. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes and any
materials you missed from another student in the class. I will not give out notes or any other materials
to a student who misses class. You do not need to let me know if you miss class.
PARTICIPATION
In certain classes you will be given one or more questions related to the material from that day and/or
from the previous class. Participation grades are either a 0 or 1; you must use your i>clicker to respond
to all questions presented during the class to get credit for participation. This means that if you arrive
late or leave early and do not answer all questions, you will not get any credit for participation that day.
If you forget to bring your i>clicker, you will not be able to earn participation for that day. I will drop
the lowest participation grade so that all students can miss one class without penalty.
QUIZZES
In certain classes you will be given a pop quiz related to the material from that day and/or from the
previous class. Quiz grades are either a 0 or 1; you must use your i>clicker to correctly respond to at
least 50% of the questions that are presented in order to get credit for the quiz. These quizzes must be
answered individually (no talking to your classmates) but you can use your notes. You cannot get credit
for the quiz if you do not have your i>clicker with you or if you are not in the classroom to answer at
least half of the questions. I will drop the lowest quiz grade so that all students can miss one quiz
without penalty.
HOMEWORK POLICIES
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MyAccountingLab (MAL) can be accessed using the course ID and following the website link above
or the link posted in Blackboard.
Late homework will not be accepted. There are no exceptions. Completing the assignment before
the due date reduces your chance of missing an assignment because of an illness or emergency.
You are allowed 3 attempts at each homework question and you have the availability of the “Help
Me Solve This” function.
If you are having trouble with your homework, please use the tutoring available from the accounting
department or see me before or after class.
The due dates for all assignments are listed on the syllabus. If, for some reason, an assignment due
date is changed, the change will be announced in class and posted as an announcement in
Blackboard. You will also be able to see the updated due date in MAL. You are responsible for
checking the syllabus and reading all announcements in Blackboard.
If you are experiencing a problem with the MAL website, please call the MAL Customer Help Desk
at (800) 677-6337 or visit http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com/students/support/. If the problem
you are experiencing means that you cannot complete or submit your assignment, please send me an
email before the assignment is due to let me know.
EXAM POLICIES
 You will need a scan sheet, pencil, eraser and calculator for every exam.
 You may not borrow or share calculators during exams. Cell phones may not be used in place of
calculators. No electronic devices other than calculators may be used during exams.
 Four midterms will be given during the semester (plus a comprehensive final exam during finals
week). Your lowest midterm grade (not including the final exam) will be dropped.
 If you do not show up for a midterm exam for any reason, your grade will be a zero. There are no
excused absences and no make-up exams for any midterms.
 Exams will not be returned. You may review your exam during tutoring hours beginning the day
after grades are posted and continuing for the next two weeks. If you would like to review an older
exam, you will need schedule a time to meet with the TA to do so.
 Students with more than two final exams within 24 hours and whose ACC 201 final exam is the
middle exam in a sequence of three may take the final exam on the make-up day. To do so, you must
provide me with documentation from the University Registrar's Office, 180 Mossman Building, by
5pm on December 2. The make-up exam will be held on Thursday, December 12.
GRADES
 Grades will be posted to Blackboard the day after the assignment is due or exam is given. If a grade
in Blackboard is not correct, please email the TA as soon as you notice the issue.
 If you need documentation of your grades at any point during the semester for a fraternity/sorority,
scholarship, or any other reason, please email me your request 24 hours before you need the
documentation so that I have time to review your grades in Blackboard.
 To determine your grade at any point during the semester, use the grade calculation spreadsheet
posted on Blackboard.
 There are no opportunities for extra credit in this course. Each assignment/exam is an opportunity to
improve your grade.
TUTORING
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Tutoring for this course is available for free in BRYN 335. No appointment is needed – just drop in
during scheduled tutoring hours.
Be sure to bring your notes and other relevant materials. If you have a question about a homework
problem, you will need to either have your book or your laptop/tablet with you to access MAL.
The tutors will not do your work for you. Please be prepared with specific questions.
Tutoring is available to students in all sections of ACC 201, ACC 202, ACC 218 and FIN 315 so
please be considerate of others that are waiting when you are receiving help.
STUDY GROUPS
If you would like to meet and study with other students in this class, please sign up with
UNCG’s Student Study Program (SSP). SSP will coordinate study groups of up to 4 students. This is a
great way to meet some of your classmates and study together when it is convenient for you and your
group. I highly recommend these study groups! To learn more about this program or to sign up, please
go to http://success.uncg.edu/ssp/.
PROFESSIONALISM
I expect you to conduct yourself professionally throughout the semester. This means that you arrive to
class on-time, stay for the entire class and pay attention during class (no talking, texting, or using the
Internet). If you send me or the TA an email, please be polite and professional and please allow me 24
hours to respond. Please do not repeatedly send me the same email if you do not hear back from me
right away.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES & RESOURCES
I expect students to abide by UNCG’s Student Code of Conduct which can be found at:
http://studentconduct.uncg.edu/policy/code/. I will not tolerate disruptive behavior in the classroom. I
follow UNCG’s Student Code of Conduct which defines disruptive behavior as “behavior which the
UNCG regards as speech or action which 1) is disrespectful, offensive, and/or threatening, 2) impedes or
interferes with the learning activities of other students, 3) impedes the delivery of university services,
and/or 4) has a negative impact in any learning environment.” The code allows the instructor to
“withdraw a student from a course for behavior that is deemed by the instructor to be disruptive to the
class. The grade assigned will be “W” if the behavior occurs before the deadline for dropping a course
without academic penalty, and the instructor has the option of giving a “W” or a “WF” if the behavior
occurs after the deadline.”
I expect students to abide by UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at
http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/academic-integrity-policy/. Any evidence of cheating, plagiarism,
falsification or facilitating academic dishonesty that is brought to my attention is considered a violation
of UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy and will be documented as such. Students found guilty of
violating the policy will receive grade-related sanctions determined on a case-by-case basis.
Student Disabilities - Any request for special accommodations must come through the Office of
Disability Services with the appropriate paperwork. Please visit http://ods.dept.uncg.edu/services/ for
further information.
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SCHEDULE OF CLASS TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
All assignments shown in bold are due at 11:59 on the date noted. Other assignments (those not in bold) will not
be collected. Solutions are at the end of the study guide and review questions.
Day
Date
Tue
Jan. 14
Thu
Chapter/Topic
Assignment
1
Chapter 1: Business:
What’s It All About?
Read text pages 1-27
Jan. 16
2
Chapter 1: Business:
What’s It All About?
Ch.1 Study Guide: Featured Exercise, Exercises 1-5
Tue
Jan. 21
3
Chapter 1: Business:
What’s It All About?
Thu
Jan. 23
4
Chapter 2: Qualities of
Accounting
Information
Tue
Jan. 28
5
Chapter 2: Qualities of
Accounting
Information
6
Chapter 2: Qualities of
Accounting
Information
7
Chapter 3: Accruals
and Deferrals
Thu
Jan. 30
Tue
Feb 4
Thu
Feb 6
Sun
Feb 9
Handout #
Chapter 1 Review Questions
MAL Assignment 1 due 1/21 at 11:59pm
Read text pages 51-62
MAL Assignment 2 due 1/26 at 11:59pm
Read text pages 62-74
MAL Assignment 4
Chapter 2 Review Questions
Ch. 2 Study Guide: Featured Exercise, Exercises 1 and 2
MAL Assignment 3 due 1/30 at 11:59pm
Read text pages 97-104
Ch.3 Study Guide: Exercises 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8
Midterm Exam 1 – Chapters 1 and 2
MAL Assignment 4 due 2/9 at 11:59pm
5
Day
Tue
Date
Feb 11
Handout #
8
Chapter/Topic
Chapter 3: Accruals
and Deferrals
Thu
Feb 13
9
Chapter 3: Accruals
and Deferrals
Tue
Feb 18
10
Chapter 4: Cash and
Accounts Receivable
11
Chapter 4: Cash and
Accounts Receivable
Thu
Feb 20
12
Chapter 4: Cash and
Accounts Receivable
Assignment
Read text pages 104-109
Ch.3 Study Guide: Exercises 2, 6 and 7
Read text pages 109-120
Ch.3 Study Guide: Featured Exercise, Exercise 9
Chapter 3 Review Questions
MAL Assignment 5 due 2/13 at 11:59pm
Read text pages 153-160
Ch.4 Study Guide: Exercises 1 and 2
Read text pages 161-165
Ch.4 Study Guide: Exercises 3, 4, 6 and 7
MAL Assignment 6 due 2/20 at 11:59pm
Read text pages 165-174
Ch.4 Study Guide: Featured Exercise (parts A and B
only), Exercises 5 and 8
Chapter 4 Review Questions
Tue
Feb 25
Wed
Feb 26
MAL Assignment 7 due 2/26 at 11:59pm
Thu
Feb 27
Midterm Exam 2 – Chapters 3 and 4
Tue
Mar 4
13
Chapter 5: Inventory
Thu
Mar 6
14
Chapter 5: Inventory
Read text pages 201-210
Ch. 5 Study Guide: Exercises 1-4
Read text pages 211-218
Ch. 5 Study Guide: Featured Exercise (parts 2, 4 and 5)
MAL Assignment 8 due 3/6 at 11:59pm
6
Day
Mar 816
No Classes – Spring break
Date
Handout #
Chapter/Topic
Assignment
Tue
Mar 18
15
Chapter 5: Inventory
Read text pages 222-230
Ch. 5 Study Guide: Exercises 5, 7 (parts b, d, and e)
Chapter 5 Review Questions
MAL Assignment 9 due 3/18 at 11:59pm
Thu
Mar 20
16
Chapter 6: Long-term
Assets
Read text pages 267-275
Ch. 6 Study Guide: Exercises 1, 2 and 4
Tue
Mar 25
17
Chapter 6: Long-term
Assets
Read text pages 276-280
Ch. 6 Study Guide: Exercise 3
MAL Assignment 10 due 3/25 at 11:59pm
18
Chapter 6: Long-term
Assets
Read text pages 281-289
Ch. 6 Study Guide: Featured Exercise, Exercise 5
Chapter 6 Review Questions
Thu
Mar 27
Sun
Mar 30
MAL Assignment 11 due 3/30 at 11:59pm
Tue
Apr 1
Midterm Exam 3 – Chapters 5 and 6
Thu
Apr 3
19
Chapter 7: Liabilities
Read text pages 317-325
Ch. 7 Study Guide: Exercises 1, 2, 3 and 4
Tue
Apr 8
20
Chapter 7: Liabilities
Read text pages 325-337
Ch. 7 Study Guide: Featured Exercise (part B)
MAL Assignment 12 due 4/8 at 11:59pm
7
Day
Date
Handout #
Chapter/Topic
Assignment
Read text pages 371-377
Chapter 7 Review Questions
Thu
Apr 10
21
Chapter 7: Liabilities
Chapter 8:
Shareholders’ Equity
Tue
Apr 15
22
Chapter 8:
Shareholders’ Equity
Read text pages 377-383
Ch. 8 Study Guide: Exercise 2
MAL Assignment 13 due 4/15 at 11:59pm
23
Chapter 8:
Shareholders’ Equity
Read text pages 383-388
Ch. 8 Study Guide: Featured Exercise, Exercise 1
Chapter 8 Review Questions
MAL Assignment 14 due 4/20 at 11:59pm
Thu
Apr 17
Tue
Apr 22
Thu
Apr 24
Tue
May 6
Midterm Exam 4 – Chapters 7 and 8
24
Review for final exam
Final Exam - Chapters 1-8
3:30-6:30pm
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