Course Information Sheet
Bus 1A, Financial Accounting
Spring 2012 Section 4109 ONLINE
Monterey Peninsula College
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen
Contacts:
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen – Phone: 646-4072, Email:jmikkelsen@mpc.edu, Office: BMC203A
**Class website: http://ilearn.mpc.edu/index.php Login then find the Busi1A section 4109**
Homework and test site: www.pearsonmylab.com
Instructor website: www.mpcfaculty.net/jon_mikkelsen Find office hours and other information.
Academic Support Center/tutoring phone: 646-4176
Student supportive services: 646-4070. Or see www.mpc.edu/GotSuccess
Textbook and Other Materials:
Required:
Text Book: Financial Accounting 3rd Edition with MyAccountingLab, Horngren, etal. Paper or
ONLINE version okay
MyAccountingLab access (included with specified text, or buy separately from link on our class
website)
Broadband (fast) internet access (available in MPC’s library, BMC labs, and worldwide)
Microsoft Excel or equivalent (available in library and BMC labs), some skills advised
Windows computer or tolerance with occasional reports of Mac compatibility issues
Student Learning Outcomes:
The successful student should be able to prepare basic reliable corporate financial information, and analyze,
communicate, and make decisions based on financial information.
Goals:
This course is designed to help you learn accounting principles and methods of creating and interpreting the primary
financial statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Statement of Cash Flows. Topics covered include
accounting fundamentals, internal controls, ethics, analyzing, and communicating information. This curriculum
requires and develops responsibility, initiative, ethics, decision making, and teamwork skills.
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. effectively integrate the basic vocabulary of accounting into business discussions and writing,
2. properly complete the basic accounting cycle including preparing the primary financial statements,
3. identify and use various accounting methods and techniques involving revenues, expenses, assets,
liabilities, equity, and cash flows,
4. analyze the performance and standing of a firm based on the financial statements,
5. utilize appropriate technology to complete assignments,
6. complete assignments on time and at a high level of quality.
Evaluation:
260
100
140
500
Chapter tests 20 points each (One missed/poor test omitted from points possible)
*Discussion forum contributions – research and analysis topics from most chapters
Homework assignments (about 10 points per 14 chapters)
Total (approximate and subject to change)
+20
Extra credit Q&A forum participation
+20
Extra credit forum discussion summary paper
*Successful completion is required to earn passing grade even if passing points are earned.
Grading:
90 – 100% = A,
80 – 89% = B,
70 – 79% = C,
60 – 69% = D,
<60% = F
Rev 01/24/12
Course Information Sheet
Bus 1A, Financial Accounting
Spring 2012 Section 4109 ONLINE
Monterey Peninsula College
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen
Special Requirements:
The building-block nature of accounting requires consistent participation and timely completion of assignments to
keep up with this fast-paced class. Therefore reading, homework, discussion posting, and other assignments must be
completed on time. No make ups are allowed, and no assignments are accepted late for credit. The trick to
mastering this class is to put in the time consistently and aggressively resolve difficulties well before the due dates.
Evaluation details
Homework Assignments:
Each chapter’s homework assignment is completed using online software accessible from links on the class web
page. The textbook homework assignments listed on the course schedule share the same content as the assignments
online. The homework software changes the numbers for each student requiring different answers on line than in
the paper text. You are encouraged to work together to help each other master the homework, but each student
needs to do their own work. Large scale sharing of answers becomes plagiarism and is not acceptable. Chapters 2
through 4 require a practice set to enable you work through a full accounting cycle. Use this tool to help you
connect all of the separate learning points of those chapters into one cohesive experience. You are done with your
homework only when you can complete it error free without using any references to help you get through it.
Discussion Forum Participation:
Topics from each chapter will be highlighted for more extensive coverage in the discussion forums each week.
Early in the semester you will be required to select a company of interest. Most of the discussion forums from then
on will involve doing specific research and posts on the company that you chose. Your original postings coupled
with at least two responses demonstrating meaningful engagement to other students’ postings will earn between 5-10
points depending on the nature of the assignment. General topics are listed on the assignment sheet, and specific
information is offered in each discussion forum. During the last week of class you will have the opportunity to earn
up to 20 extra credit points for submitting a paper summarizing your discussion forums.
Chapter Tests:
Weekly tests are administered using online software accessible from links on the class web page. These are
generally multiple choice questions, many of which require working out problems to answer the questions. These
tests have time limits, so you will not have time to learn materials during the tests. Once started, there are no breaks
allowed, the time will continue to run until expired. There is only one attempt available for each test. Please take
each test only after you finish all section assignments and have studied the materials. Tests are to be completed
individually, without assistance.
Extra Credit Q&A forum participation:
Thoughtful accounting content questions and answers earn Q&A participation points up to 20 bonus points for the
semester. First answer gets the points, adding more information gets more points, duplicate posts and minimalist
responses do not earn points. You are always welcome to ask questions to your instructor directly, but you earn
points for posting them for everyone’s benefit instead.
Policies
Dropping:
Students who fail to fully utilize the orientation materials or successfully complete the first assignment set on time
are subject to being dropped from the class. Students may be dropped from the class roster during the semester due
to insufficient class activity as determined by the instructor. The final responsibility to drop is the responsibility of
the student. Lost? Contact me early. I am here to help you succeed.
Plagiarism and Cheating:
The accounting profession cannot tolerate fraud so integrity must start here. Any student found to have plagiarized
or otherwise cheated will automatically receive a zero grade on the entire series of related assignments, and could be
subject to further action. Teamwork is encouraged on homework assignments and other projects. However,
teamwork does not include copying from or giving multiple answers to others. Tests are to be performed without
assistance. Cheating in this class destroys the foundation of future learning. Please ask for help at the first sign of
trouble, and get the legitimate assistance you need to really succeed.
Rev 01/24/12
Course Information Sheet
Bus 1A, Financial Accounting
Spring 2012 Section 4109 ONLINE
Monterey Peninsula College
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen
Etiquette:
Maintain integrity. Be polite. Be decent. Welcome alternative points of view. Start your work early, especially
when in need of help and when others depend on it. This class is a profanity and hostility free environment. Have
patience and work towards positive outcomes.
Grading:
Credit/No-Credit grading is facilitated through the Admissions and Records Office. Please contact the Admissions
and Records Office for appropriate deadlines and other information. Letter grades are calculated based on points
accumulated. Intermediate points tracking is the student responsibility. The instructor reports individual assignment
grades to the student, then compiles and reports final grades once at the end of the semester according to the
guidelines set forth in the evaluation section above.
Student Supportive Services:
Students with special needs are encouraged to contact Student Supportive Services for accommodations and a
variety of available resources. Learn more about this here: http://www.mpc.edu/GotSuccess
Individual responsibility:
It is solely the student’s individual responsibility to meet all deadlines and requirements for this course. It is the
student’s responsibility and right to ask for help and to proactively overcome any obstacles to successfully complete
this course. Your initiative may be the most important factor in making this a successful class. Make sure we give
you your money’s worth and tell us if we need to do something different to help you.
Rev 01/24/12
Course Information Sheet
Bus 1A, Financial Accounting
Spring 2012 Section 4109 ONLINE
Monterey Peninsula College
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen
**All activities open Friday, and close late Thursday night.**
Dates
Topic
Book homework details
ENDS
Thursday
Feb 2 by
11:55PM
Introduction: course overview, introductions
Deadlines occur throughout this week. Please visit the class
site Monday, then schedule your time to get the work done.
Feb 3-9
Chapter 1, Accounting
Environment & Fundamentals
Feb 10-16
Chapter 2 Recording
Transactions
S1-1, S1-7, E1-14, E1-16, E117, E1-19, E1-21, P1-35A
Major events
F: Forum topic
Get comfortable,
solve technology
issues, intro’s,
F: CalCPA
Practice Set: Page 57
First chapter test
First text work
F: profitability &
strength
S2-1, S2-6, S2-8, E2-17,
S2-11, Practice Set: Page
127
F: www.sec.gov,
revenue
recognition
S3-2, S3-3, E3-19 & E3-20, F: www.sec.gov,
adjustments
E3-22, E3-17, P3-33A,
Practice Set: Page 193
Note: This week opens one day early to provide flexibility in Presidents’ weekend
Feb 16*23
Chapter 3 Adjusting entries
Feb 24Mar 1
Chapter 4 Closing
S4-1, S4-4, S4-5, S4-11,
P4-24A, Practice Set: Page
250
F: debt analysis
Mar 2-8
Chapter 5 Merchandising
E5-14, P5-28A, E5-20, S5-
F: gross profit
12, P5-33A
Mar 9-15
Chapter 6 Inventory
E6-15, E6-16, E6-24, E625, E6-27, E6-28
F: inventory
analysis
This schedule is subject to change. Students are responsible for having a current schedule at all times.
Rev 01/24/12
Course Information Sheet
Bus 1A, Financial Accounting
Spring 2012 Section 4109 ONLINE
Monterey Peninsula College
Instructor: Jon Mikkelsen
**All activities open Friday, and close late Thursday night.**
Dates
Topic
Homework
Major events
F: Forum topic
Mar 16-22
Chapter 7 Internal Controls &
Cash
P7-25A, E7-18, E7-21, E722, P7-32A
F: Sarbanes Oxley
Mar 23*Apr 5
Chapter 8 Receivables
E8-13, S8-4, E8-14, E8-22,
S8-4, E8-15, P8-30A
F: A/R management
*Note: This section is open two weeks to allow flexibility in Spring Break scheduling.
All deadlines occur in the second week.
Apr 6-12
Chapter 9 Plant Assets &
Intangibles
E9-13, E9-14, E9-15, P928A, E9-20, E9-23, P9-31A
F: asset turnover
Apr 13-19
Chapter 10 Current Liabilities
E10-9, E10-10, E10-12,
E10-14, P10-15A
F: compensation
investigation
Apr 20-26
Chapter 11 Long Term
Liabilities
E11-13, E11-14, S11-5, E11-
16, E11-17, P11-24A
F: bond risk &
return
Apr 27May 3
Chapter 12 Paid-In Capital
S12-7, E12-15, E12-21,
E12-23, E12-24, E12-25,
P12-27A
F: price to
earnings ratio
analysis
May 4-10
Chapter 13 Retained Earnings
& Income Statement
E13-12, E13-14, E13-15,
E13-16, P13-24A, E13-21,
P13-28A
F: DuPont method
return on equity
analysis
May 11-17 Chapter 14 Cash Flows
E14-13, S14-4, E14-17,
E14-19, P14-26A
F: cash flow
analysis
May 18Optional forum discussion
25*
summary paper window
*Note: This deadline extends to Friday to
include our section of finals week.
Completed papers due no
later than Friday May 25th
Rev 01/24/12