ACCT 230 – Principles of Accounting I (3 credits)
Section 2 (On-line M6/27/11-Th8/4/11, Course ID 000259)
Course Syllabus Summer 2011 (revised 6/23/11)
Instructor: Mr. Kim T. Mollberg, CPA, MBT, School of Business
Office Location: Center for Business 207E
Office Telephone Number: 218-477-4647 (MSUM) or 218-847-3879 (Detroit Lakes-please note I will only be checking messages at
my MSUM office while there for office hours)
Email Address: mollberg@mnstate.edu Web Site: www.mnstate.edu/mollberg/
Office Hours (at MSUM): Mondays and Thursdays; both days 930am-noon; other hours by appointment
Course Description: From a user’s perspective, an introduction to the content and concepts underlying the four basic financial
statements prepared by management for use by investors and creditors. Includes financial statement analysis.
Required Texts/Readings: Financial Accounting, 2nd edition, by Spiceland, Thomas, and Herrmann, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2011.
Students are also required to acquire access to the textbook publisher’s internet homework manager product called Connect.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes: This introductory accounting course has three major goals: (1) instill in
students a basic understanding of accounting and its role in business operations, (2) develop communication skills, and (3) introduce
students to problem solving.
Students have a responsibility to learn by accomplishing specific objectives. Specific objectives expected to be accomplished by the student
may include:

Identify users of accounting information and discuss kinds of information an accounting information system can provide each user.

Prepare a set of financial statements.

Analyze a set of financial statements.

Solve a specific business problem using accounting and non-accounting information.
Course Requirements: Moodle and McGraw-Hill/Irwin’s Connect will be used extensively: We will be using MSUM’s Moodle
learning management system and the textbook publisher’s internet homework manager called Connect in conjunction with this course. As
discussed below, note that Connect Plus will also work with this course.
To access Moodle, go to http://teach.mnstate.edu/, and then go through the steps on the “First Time User” tab. Once you are ready to launch
Moodle, click on “Go” on the Moodle main page, and follow the instructions provided. I would recommend that you start in Moodle each time
you work in this course. Moodle will have links to the exam reviews, the student online learning center at http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0078110823/student_view0/index.html, the narrated powerpoint slides, the textbook review question solutions, the practice
quizzes, the Connect homework, the Connect quizzes, the Connect exams, the projects, the course gradebook and much more.
To access Connect (which is where you will submit your on-line homework, quizzes, and exams), you will need the numbers off your
preprinted Connect access card when you go to the course website http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/mollbergacct230summer2011. Do
not throw away your access card as you may need it again at some point during the course should you experience technical difficulties.
McGraw-Hill/Irwin actually has two on-line products which will work with this course but only one of the two is required: Connect (which has
no eBook) or Connect Plus (which has an eBook). It is my understanding that the textbooks sold by the MSUM bookstore are bundled with
Connect Plus (meaning students who buy their textbook from our bookstore will have both a physical textbook and an eBook, as well as
access to Connect). Both Connect and Connect Plus are also available for purchase directly from McGraw-Hill/Irwin (you will see this option
the first time you try to do homework or a quiz in Connect).
Homework, Quiz, Exam, and Project Schedule:
Chapter
On-line Homework Due By On-line Quiz Due By
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 & App C
10
11
12
T7/5
T7/5
T7/5
T7/5
T7/19
T7/19
T7/19
T7/19
T8/2
T8/2
T8/2
T8/2
T7/5
T7/5
T7/5
T7/5
T7/19
T7/19
T7/19
T7/19
T8/2
T8/2
T8/2
T8/2
On-line Exam
Testing Window
Other
F7/1 Add/Free Drop 4pm
M7/4 MSUM Closed
T7/5 Proctor Agreement Due
W7/6-Th7/7 Ch1-4
Th7/14 Project1 Due
T7/19 “W”
W7/20-Th7/21 Ch5-8
Th7/28 Project2 Due
W8/3-Th8/4 Ch9-12
M8/7 Grades Due
Evaluation Standards/Course Grading Policy: Except as noted herein, you are responsible for all the material in the textbook
whether or not it is specifically covered by the Instructor. Your grade will be based on the following points available during the semester:
1. Proctored On-line Examinations (3)
300 Percentage of total cumulative points
2. On-line Quizzes (top 10 of 12)
120 A:94%-100%, A-:90%-93%, B+:87-89%,
3. On-line Homework (top 10 of 12)
120 B:84%-86%, B-:80%-83%, C+:77%-79%,
4. Projects (2)
60 C:74%-76%, C-:70%-73%, D+:67%-69%,
600 D:60%-66%
Keep a personal record of scores for all examinations, quizzes, homework, and projects. Late examinations, quizzes, homework, and
projects will be scored zero. Periodically, the Instructor will update the Moodle gradebook (note that your scores in Connect will not
automatically show up in Moodle). If any error has been made, it is the student’s responsibility to present written proof of the correct point
total as soon as possible after the posting. That means you should SAVE ALL of your work until the end of the semester. If your grade falls
below what is acceptable to you, take immediate action. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER TO SEEK HELP.
Consider the following, not necessarily in this order: (1) Are you working more hours and studying less? Can you correct that situation? (2)
Form a study group. (3) Work extra problems and see the Instructor for solutions. (4) seek assistance through the Academic Resource Office
(go to Flora Frick Room 151, or call 218-477-2996) and (5) finally the most important, see the Instructor on a regular basis.
If you are repeating this course, note that only the higher grade will be used to compute your grade point average (GPA). Repeating a
course more than once will result in the removal of only one previous grade from the student’s GPA computation. To assure that the GPA is
correct, the student must submit a “Repeated Course” form to the Records Office. All course attempts will remain on the student’s
permanent academic record.
Examinations: Three (3) proctored examinations with time limits must be taken on-line in Connect during the testing windows indicated on
the Homework, Quiz, Exam and Project Schedule. The examinations might include multiple choice, true/false, matching, or essay questions.
All on-line examinations are DUE BY 1155pm ON THE LAST DAY IN THE TESTING WINDOW for each examination as per the Homework,
Quiz, Exam, and Project Schedule. If a student will miss an examination for a valid reason (death in family or sickness which requires
student hospitalization—documentation will be required for either event) and notifies the Instructor before the examination, the student may
be given the opportunity to take the examination at another time. The third examination will be considered your final examination and will
emphasize Chapters 9-12.
You will need to secure a Proctor (ie, an unbiased, unrelated individual with no personal association or affiliation to you) to make sure you
use no notes, textbooks, or other aids during the examinations. There is a link in Moodle to a Proctor Agreement which your Proctor must
complete and email back to Instructor by Monday 7/5/11 so that Instructor can send further instructions to Proctor. Proctor will need to see
your student photograph and Dragon ID each time you take an examination. Proctored exams cannot be taken at residential locations. Note
Instructor must send Proctor password before you can access the first exam so timely submission of Proctor Agreement is critical. For your
convenience, Instructor is willing to serve as Proctor for those students who want to take exams during his MSUM office hours (Th7/7/11 for
Ch1-4 exam, Th7/21/11 for Ch5-8 exam, and Th8/4/11 for Ch9-12 exam); if you want Instructor to be your proctor, please ask Instructor to be
your Proctor by Monday 7/5/11. See Moodle for more information on finding a Proctor.
On-line Quizzes: A total of twelve (12) on-line quizzes with time limits will be given during the Semester, of which you can throw out the two
(2) lowest scores. You will be using Connect to take the on-line quizzes. All on-line quizzes are DUE BY 1155pm ON THE ON-LINE QUIZ
DUE DATE for each Chapter as per the Homework, Quiz, Exam, and Project Schedule. The on-line quizzes will generally consist of
worksheet, problem-solving type questions (for example, some might require that you fill-in-the-blank, others might involve you choosing the
best answer from the alternatives given). You are expected to do the on-line quizzes on your own without the help of others.
Note that a particular quiz (or homework) in Connect might be worth (for example) 90 points according to Connect. However, when Instructor
transfers that particular score over to Moodle, he will convert to a 12-point scale (since all quizzes and homework are worth 12 points each
per the syllabus).
You can review your answers from a previously submitted on-line quiz for which the due date has passed by clicking on the particular quiz
or homework in the Connect gradebook.
Note that many of the questions in Connect (whether in exams, quizzes or homework) are algorithmic (meaning your current version of the
question has the same words as another version, but the numbers have changed).
Online Homework: You will be using Connect to submit your twelve (12) on-line homework sets, of which you can throw out the lowest two
(2). All homework is DUE BY 1155pm ON THE ON-LINE HOMEWORK DUE DATE for each Chapter as per the Homework, Quiz, Exam,
and Project Schedule. You are expected to do the homework in a study group or on your own. Each student must submit his/her own
homework to get credit. Late homework will be scored zero. You can attempt the homework multiple times to improve your score (but again,
remember that the numbers may change if the second time around if it was set up as an algorithmic problem), check your answers as you
go, and print out the homework in advance (when made available by Instructor).
You can review your answers from a previously submitted on-line homework by clicking on the particular quiz or homework in the Connect
gradebook. This feature is available before the due date has passed, in the event you want to see what you did wrong, then retry for a better
grade.
Projects: There will be two (2) excel/word projects, an accounting cycle project and a financial statement analysis project. See Moodle for
additional information. Projects must be uploaded to Moodle DUE BY 1155pm ON THE PROJECT DUE DATE as per the Homework, Quiz,
Exam, and Project Schedule.
Course Outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Accounting Information and Decision Making (cover Appendix Ch1)
The Accounting Information System
The Financial Reporting Process
Cash and Internal Controls
Receivables and Sales (skip Appendix Ch5 Percentage-of-Credit-Sales Method)
Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold (cover Appendices A&B for Ch6)
2
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Long-Term Assets (cover Appendix Ch7)
Current Liabilities
Long-Term Liabilities & Time Value of Money (and end-of-book Appendix C)
Stockholders’ Equity
Statement of Cash Flows (Skip Appendix Ch11)
Financial Statement Analysis (Skip end-of-book Appendices A, B, D, and E, unless told otherwise by Instructor)
Other:
School of Business Mission: We provide a quality undergraduate business learning experience designed to prepare students for
successful and responsible careers. Faculty intellectual contributions are focused on learning and pedagogical research, discipline-based
scholarship and contributions to practice. Through involvement in professional activities, the faculty also serves students, the University, and
the community.
School of Business Student Learning Goals: Students who graduate from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a major from the
School of Business should be able to:
-Exhibit basic knowledge of business principles and processes
-Write in a clear and professional manner
- Prepare and deliver an effective business presentation
-Identify and analyze ethical issues in a professional context
-Demonstrate basic understanding of business from a global perspective
Time Requirements: Each student should expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in completing this course. This includes
reading the text, viewing the Narrated Slides, and completing homework, quizzes, exams, and projects; anything less and you will be
depriving yourself from obtaining your best grade.
General: The course syllabus is subject to change. In particular, use the due dates in Moodle and/or Connect if different than the dates in
this syllabus. In the event of a change, an announcement will be made in Moodle, or through an email. It is the responsibility of the student
to keep current and develop a clear understanding of all course policies, and to determine that student has the computer technology and
equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this course. If you find errors or inconsistencies in the syllabus, Moodle or Connect,
please let the Instructor know as soon as possible so that they can be addressed.
Communications: If I need to contact the class, I will use Moodle or email. Check the “General News and Announcements Forum” in
Moodle and your email regularly to determine whether I have sent you a message. I have provided you with a Detroit Lakes MN telephone
number (218-847-3879, my DL office number) which you can call anytime. I may not always be available (especially, if I am at MSUM). I
would recommend you not leave messages at my MSUM office number since I will only be there half-days Mondays and Thursdays each
week. I will take calls if available, and return phone messages or emails as soon as possible. Long distance phone calls may not be
returned until after 7pm. Please use email whenever possible when trying to contact me.
Academic Honesty: The University expects all students to represent themselves in an honest fashion. In academic work, students are
expected to present original ideas and give credit to the ideas of others. The value of a college degree depends on the integrity of the work
completed by the student. When an Instructor has convincing evidence of cheating or plagiarism, the following actions may be taken: assign
a failing grade for the course in which the student cheated or Instructors may choose to report the offense, the evidence, and their action to
the Dean of their college or the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the Instructor (or any other person) feels the seriousness of the
offense warrants additional action, the incident may be reported to the Student Conduct Committee through the Student Support Services
Office. The Student Conduct Committee will follow procedures set out in the Student Conduct Code. After its review of the case and a fair,
unbiased hearing, the Student Conduct Committee may take disciplinary action if the student is found responsible (see Student Conduct
Code for details).
A student who has a course grade reduced by an Instructor because of cheating or plagiarism, and who disputes the Instructor’s finding, may
appeal the grade, but only using the Grade Appeal Policy, which states that the student must prove the grade was arbitrary, prejudicial, or in
error.
Special Accommodations: Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to
contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-2131 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY) , CMU114 as soon as possible
to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
I hope you have an enjoyable learning experience. Good luck!
3