SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY
COURSE EXPECTATION FORM
INTERSESSION 2012
ACC 407 HY – Contemporary Topics in Accounting
PROF: Joseph Ragan
OFFICE: MV 370
PHONE: (610) 660-1654
EMAIL: jragan@sju.edu
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment or online by email
This course is underwritten by a development grant from PwC.
Special thanks for their encouragement and support.
DESCRIPTION: This course explores current issues in the field of financial accounting,
reporting, display, and disclosure as reflected in the current CPA examination. The impact of
IFRS implementation, changing valuation techniques, and other contemporary topics on
professional practice are considered.
Prerequisite ACC 206.
TEXTBOOK: CPA Review Financial, Irvin N. Gleim. 2012 Edition.
Access to Gleim Online Financial CPA Review
***THE TEXT BOOK AND ONLINE ACCESS MUST BE PURCHASED USING THE FOLLOWING LINK***
http://www.gleim.com/accounting/
***STUDENTS WHO DO NOT USE THIS LINK WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURSE***
Web sites will be identified that will serve as a very important secondary sources of material. All
supplemental material will be posted on Blackboard under our course title. Students are expected
to access Blackboard and their SJU email address on a regular basis. Material will be posted at
least 24 hours in advance of the next class.
INSTRUCTION: Interactive lectures and online material. This course is being presented in a hybrid
lecture/online format. Lectures will be held on the main campus at the following times:
Monday, January 2 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – The Financial Reporting Environment
Wednesday, January 4 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m – Financial Statements * Income Statement Items
Tuesday, January 10 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m – Inventories
Thursday, January 12 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m – Property, Plant, Equipment, & Depletable Resources
Saturday, January 14 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Professional Panel and Course Wrap-up
As this is a hybrid course, the alternating days are to be spent online using Gleim according to the
schedule of deliverables on the final page of the syllabus. Submissions must be done by the day and time
requested. Late submissions will not be graded.
COURSE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES: To gain a working knowledge and understanding of
the theories and applications of modern accounting issues.
• You will become proficient with some of the tools used by accountants to make decisions.
• You will demonstrate comprehension of the theories and practical applications via CPA review
simulations.
EXAMS & MAKE-UP POLICY: There will be two exams throughout the intersession (one at
the end of each week) and a series of quizzes. In addition, students will use a simulation to create
real life CPA adapted exams in Financial Accounting. These exams will be taken by the students
and system graded.
Summary of Grading Components and Grade Scale:
CPA Adapted Simulations / TF / MC1 / MC2 / Participation
Mid Term Exam
Final Exam
Total Points
Points
200
100
100
400
Final letter grades will be determined on a standard scale where:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
372 to 400 points
360 to 371 points
348 to 359 points
332 to 347 points
320 to 331 points
308 to 319 points
292 to 307 points
280 to 291 points
268 to 279 points
252 to 267 points
240 to 251 points
Below 240 points
WHAT WILL I LEARN? In addition to its many topics, this will teach you a lot about
professional judgments in accounting. It is specifically designed around topics that have
significant profile on the CPA Exam. We look not only at those topics but also in efficient
solutions using technology. Please note that I will be willing to give you any extra help
throughout the semester, as you may need. Plan to spend 5-6 hours of study between each class.
The biggest problem creating low grades in this class is inadequate preparation before class.
Participation in class is also important. Students should come to class having read material to be
covered during class. Class attendance will be taken.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
All students are subject to the official Academic Honestly Policy of the University. Students
caught cheating on any examination of assignment, or found copying materials from
examinations, assignments or individual projects submitted by other students will receive a
failing grade
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO STUDENTS
This section of ACC 407 is being offered as a hybrid course. Hybrid means that at least half the
course must be offered online in order for students to receive the 3 credits allowed for this
course. The online work is to be done in Gleim, and will be demonstrated during the first class.
To participate online, students must have a reliable Internet connection to the Saint Joseph’s
University Blackboard site (http://blackboard9.sju.edu) and have purchased and be able to access
the CPA Gleim Online. Access through high-speed cable or DSL is strongly recommended.
Students should be online regularly throughout the course to access “Audiovisual Presentations”
(narrated slide presentations) as well as participate in the CPA Gleim Online Tutorial to
complete the True/False, Multiple Choice, and Simulation exercises. Fifty percent of your
course grade is based on the tutorial.
During this semester, a maximum of six (6) Live Classroom sessions are scheduled. These
sessions will be used primarily for a brief lecture focusing on “where we’ve been, where we are
and where we’re going” in the course. Some computational problem examples will typically be
provided. Student attendance/participation is required for these sessions. Please see the
Schedule of Readings and Assignments posted in the Schedule/Due Dates link on the Blackboard
site for specific date information. The online class experience must be completed in between
each classroom session. These online tutorials typically run 4-5 hours. The Gleim Tutorials will
be demonstrated during our first class session.
E-MAIL POLICY
As noted above, e-mail is a very effective means of communication in a hybrid course. Students
are encouraged to use e-mail to contact the professor. Every effort will be made to answer all emails within two working days of the date and time of receipt (Sunday is not considered a
working day) – under normal circumstances, e-mails will be answered on the day received,
assuming they arrive prior to 6:00 p.m. Students may e-mail the professor directly jragan@sju.edu. Alternately, students may use the “E-mail” function of Blackboard to send emails to the professor and/or other members of the class.
For technical problems in the use of Gleim, this course has an assigned STAR Leader who will
assist. His name is JC Hosler and he can be reached at jh475399@sju.edu. Please CC the
professor of this course with any technical questions.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
In accordance with state and federal laws, the University will make reasonable accommodations
for students with documented disabilities. For those who have or think that you may have a
disability requiring an accommodation (learning, physical, psychological) should contact
Services for Students with Disabilities, Room G10, Bellarmine, 610-660-1774 (voice) or 610660-1620 (TTY) as early as possible in the semester for additional information and so that an
accommodation, if appropriate, can be made in a timely manner. You will be required to provide
current (within 3 years) documentation of the disability.
For a more detailed explanation of the University’s accommodation process, as well as the
programs and services offered to students with disabilities, please go to
www.sju.edu/studentlife/studentresources/sess/ssd. If you have any difficulty accessing the
information on-line, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at the telephone
numbers above.
Date of
Subject
Scope of
Topics
Readings
Homework
Deliverables (due date)
1/2/12
In Class
Introduction
Syllabus
Financial Reporting
Environment
Overview of
Gleim Unit 1
Gleim pp. 19-61
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 1
Review the Audiovisual Presentation
and Knowledge Transfer Outline for
Unit 1
UNIT 1
Overview of
Unit 1 using
CPA Gleim
Gleim pp. 19-61
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 1
Complete Study Unit Menu
Do MC1, TF, MC2, and SIM
(simulation) no later than 10pm (1/3)
Late submissions are penalized
Overview of
Gleim Unit 2 &
Unit 4
Gleim
pp. 63-96
pp. 125-170
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 2
Online Study Unit 4
Review the Audiovisual Presentation
and Knowledge Transfer Outline for
Unit 2 & Unit 4
Overview of
Unit 2 using
CPA Gleim
Gleim
pp. 63-96
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 2
Complete Study Unit Menu
Do MC1, TF, MC2, and SIM
(simulation) no later than 10pm (1/5)
1/3/12
Online
1/4/12
In Class
1/5/12
Online
Financial Reporting
Environment
UNIT 2 & 4
Financial
Statements &
Income Statement
Items
UNIT 2
Financial
Statements
Late submissions are penalized
1/7/12
Online
1/8/12
Online
Income Statement
Items
Overview of
Unit 4 using
CPA Gleim
Gleim
pp. 125-170
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 4
Complete Study Unit Menu
Do MC1, TF, MC2, and SIM
(simulation) no later than 10pm (1/7)
EXAM 1
Units 1, 2, & 4
Gleim
Units 1, 2, & 4
Gleim
Units 1, 2, & 4
Exam setup in Gleim to be
completed no later than 10pm (1/9)
UNIT 8
Overview of
Gleim Unit 8
Gleim
pp. 277-318
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 8
Review the Audiovisual Presentation
and Knowledge Transfer Outline for
Unit 8
Complete Study Unit Menu
Do MC1, TF, MC2, and SIM
(simulation) no later than 10pm (1/11)
UNIT 4
1/9/12
In Class
Inventories
1/10/12
Online
Inventories
Overview of
Unit 8 using
CPA Gleim
Gleim
pp. 277-318
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 8
UNIT 9
Overview of
Gleim Unit 9
Gleim
pp. 319-362
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 9
Overview of
Unit 9 using
CPA Gleim
Gleim
pp. 319-362
CPA Gleim
Online Study Unit 9
1/11/12
In Class
1/12/12
Online
UNIT 8
Property, Plant, and
Equipment
UNIT 9
Property, Plant, and
Equipment
Late submissions are penalized
Review the Audiovisual Presentation
and Knowledge Transfer Outline for
Unit 9
Complete Study Unit Menu
Do MC1, TF, MC2, and SIM
(simulation) no later than 10pm (1/13)
1/12/12
In Class
Wrap-up with
Panel of
Specialists
Overview of
course
Final Overview of
CPA Gleim
Handouts
Overview of course with panel
presentation offering best-bets on
how to quickly pass the CPA Exam
1/12/12
EXAM 2
Units 1, 2, 4, 8,
&9
Gleim
Units 1, 2, 4, 8, &
9
Gleim
Units 1, 2, 4, 8, & 9
Exam setup in Gleim to be
completed no later than 10pm (1/14)
Online
(After
Class)
*For a student to complete the study unit menu for CPA Gleim Online, the student must have
performance scores for TF, MC1, MC2, and SIM. To maximize your score, MC1, MC2 and T/F
can be taken more than once. As these are based on a preconfigured set of CPA adapted
questions, many of the same questions reappear, often slightly reworded with different answer
options. It is therefore often in your interest to take the Multiple Choice several times.