ACCT 124, 124H (Honors) - FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING –
Principles of Accounting I
Mt. San Jacinto College - Menifee Valley Campus
Sections 3778/3779, MW 11:00am-12:20pm, Rm. 969
Sections 3781, 3783
Fall Semester, 2011
Associate Professor: David Candelaria, CPA, MST
OFFICE
Location: Room 962
Phone: 951-639-5522
Email: dcandelaria@msjc.edu
Office Hours: M 9-9:30am; 12:30-2:00pm
W 9:00-9:30am, 12:30-1:00pm
Th 9:00-11:00am Via Email
Or By Appointment
The best mode to contact me is via email. Include your name, course, and section number in
the subject line of your email (ie: John Doe, Acct 124, Section ____). Also include your
name in the body of your email message. During the email office hours described above, I
should respond quickly. I usually respond to emails outside the email office hours time frame
within the same day unless on weekends, which I usually check at least once. Regardless, I will
respond to emails sent to me M-Th within 24 hours, with an extra 24 hours allowed for holidays.
I will respond to emails sent to me F-Su within 72 hours, with an extra 24 hours allowed for
weekday holidays. Emails are expected to include proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
Emails received not following these expectations will be ignored.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the basic structure of financial accounting as it relates to business enterprises.
INTRODUCTION
This course presents fundamental accounting concepts and principles as used in business. The
"double entry system", "accrual" method of record keeping is the basic structure of accounting as
taught in this class. The student is introduced to accounting techniques applicable to corporate
entities such as merchandising enterprises and service business entities.
The textbook has been organized to facilitate learning by presenting the concepts and principles
in a logical, step-by-step process. Learning is reinforced by using resource materials on the
Internet.
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Each chapter builds on the terminology, concepts and principles introduced in previous
chapters. It is important to understand each chapter thoroughly since it becomes the
building block for the next chapter. It is also important to keep up with the class.
Homework is designed as a practical illustration of the principles presented in the chapters.
Learning is best achieved by reading the material from the textbook and Internet resources, and
by doing the homework. It is very difficult to understand the accounting concepts without the
"hands-on" experience of doing the homework. You will not be able to proceed to the next
chapter’s homework without completing the prior chapter’s homework satisfactorily.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Identify and define the major accounting concepts and principles within the financial
structure of business enterprises.
2. Prepare accounting documents that demonstrate ability to use accounting journals and
their concepts.
3. Calculate and prepare reports using typical financial accounting functions of businesses
and corporations.
4. Prepare typical documents used in merchandising and service businesses.
5. Prepare typical financial statements for businesses and corporations.
6. Perform financial statement analytical procedures, interpret and explain.
7. Identify the ethical implications inherent in financial reporting and be able to apply
strategies for addressing them.
This class provides a sound foundation in the preparation needed to enter the business world of
today. Many students, who have applied themselves and mastered an understanding of the
principles taught, have obtained bookkeeper or entry level accounting positions upon successful
completion of this course.
HONORS ADDENDUM
Students enrolled in the Honors section of the course will receive an addendum to this syllabus
within the first few weeks of class.
TEXT AND MATERIALS
Financial and Managerial Accounting, Warren/Reeve/Duchac, Edition 11E, South-Western
Cengage Learning, bundled with access to CengageNOW.
The textbooks may be purchased online through the College bookstore at
http://eagleshop.msjc.edu/msjcme. You may also purchase the textbook bundle inside the
campus bookstore. I highly recommend purchasing through our bookstore to ensure proper
textbook materials. In the past, students have tried to save money by purchasing elsewhere
only to find that they have purchased the wrong text and materials and have had to spend more
time and money to get the proper ones.
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A description of the technology supplements available with the text are listed and described in
the beginning of the textbook. Additional materials are also available at the publisher’s website,
which is http://www.thomsonedu.com/accounting/warren. You will have to select the proper
textbook and do some navigating after entering this site. I highly recommend checking it out.
There are a lot of extras available. You may also access this site with a more direct link in
CengageNOW.
In-class tests will require the use of SCANTRON sheets for the multiple-choice portion. The
problems portion of the exams will be completed on the test forms provided by the instructor.
SCANTRON Form No. 882-E is required for each exam. Failure to use the correct
SCANTRON form will result in an automatic loss of five (5) percent on the exam.
HOMEWORK ON CENGAGENOW
Most of the homework will be completed in CengageNOW (NOW), the Web-based supplement
that, among other things, duplicates structures directly from the end-of-chapter material in your
textbook. You will be given instructions to access NOW in a document I will post in
Blackboard. You are required to access the website and register as a student using the access
code bundled with your textbook. It is imperative that each student complete this process before
the end of the first week of class to avoid potential disasters that can occur from not completing
homework in a timely manner. The two lowest “regular” textbook homework scores will be
dropped. “Regular” homework is defined as the set of homework that corresponds to the end of
chapter material in the textbook worth a total of 20 points per chapter (excluding PS Music and
Blue Print Problems). You will also not be able to access a given chapter’s “regular” homework
without satisfactory completion of the previous chapter’s “regular” homework, for which late
penalties will apply to this late work.
There are 3 “Takes” allowed for each assignment. You will usually be able to print the
assignment before taking it. I highly recommend each student do this so that you may work on
the assignments outside NOW and go back to enter and check your answers later. This has
proven to be very helpful to past students. You will not be able to take a particular chapter’s
“regular” homework without successful completion of the prior chapter’s “regular” homework
with at least 75% accuracy, or 15/20 points. Each assignment will allow for 5 “Check My
Works”. There is a 5% penalty for turning in any assignment late with an additional 5% penalty
applied daily. The penalty structure is designed to provide that much more incentive to stay
current in the class. Experience has shown that students not completing homework timely
generally do not do well in this class. Accounting is learned with practice, not with simple
memorization.
GRADING POLICIES
You will be evaluated on homework exercises and problems assigned from the textbook and
CengageNOW, Internet research, and discussion group projects. Your final grade for accounting
will be determined by the number of points you earn on assignments, group projects, discussion
groups, and examinations.
Irregular attendance will cause you to fall behind. Once you fall behind it will be very difficult
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to catch up. After six hours of absence you may be dropped from the course. Late homework
will not be accepted unless special arrangements are made with the instructor prior to the
due date.
Examinations will be given on the dates indicated unless otherwise announced. All of the
material presented in the text, lectures, handouts, online, etc. is considered fair game for the tests.
Tests may consist of true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and problem-solving questions.
No make-up tests will be given except for special circumstances, which must be individually
arranged with the instructor prior to the test date. Class notes may be allowed for some
tests.
Points & Letter Grades
Total points available for the semester include:
Assignment Zero in NOW
Textbook Homework – approx. 20 pts each chapter
Continuing Problem PS Music – 20 pts each chapter 1-4
NOW Blue Print Problems – approx. 20 pts each chapter*
Chapter Quizzes – 30 pts each chapter
Chapter Tests – 100 pts per chapter tested including Final
Approximate Total - Sections 3778 & 3779
Discussion Boards – 10 pts each (approx. 14)
NOW Individual Study Plans – 15 pts each chapter
Approximate Total – Sections 3781 & 3783
10
280
80
280
420
1400
2470 pts
140
210
2820 pts
*Some chapters may not have one.
To earn a letter grade for three semester units, you must accumulate a percentage of the total
points available according to the following:
90% to 100% = A
80% to 89% = B
70% to 79% = C
60% to 69% = D
Each student has access to Blackboard via http://my.msjc.edu. Instructions for access are
available at the site. Each student may access his/her own grade book that is available in the
course’s Blackboard site. Grades will generally be posted for homework and tests within seven
working days following the due date. While the online grade book function in Blackboard
provides the student quick access to assignment scores, etc., the official grade book is
administered by the instructor. To calculate your current grade, simply divide the total points
earned at a particular point in time by the total points possible at that same point in time. The
percentage calculated may be compared to those above. Should a student see a discrepancy in
the Blackboard online grade book, he/she should contact the instructor immediately.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
All students are entitled to an environment that encourages learning. If a student behaves in a
manner that negatively affects other class members, he or she is guilty of disruptive behavior.
Such behavior will be dealt with in a manner consistent with school policy. When participating
in discussion boards, chat rooms, or e-mailing your classmates, students are expected to behave
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with the same level of courtesy as in a face-to-face classroom. Obscene and other inappropriate
messages will result in dismissal from the class. Chain letters, forwarding jokes or other items
that do not pertain to the course are strictly prohibited.
DISABLED STUDENTS POLICY STATEMENT
Mt. San Jacinto College abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits federal and state agencies or programs from
discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a documented
disability that limits a major life activity which may have some impact on your work in this class
and for which you may require accommodations, please contact Disabled Students Programs and
Services (DSP&S).
DSP&S is in the following locations: San Jacinto Campus – room #1112, Menifee Valley
Campus - #1019 or visit the DSP&S webpage at http://www.msjc.edu/dsps.
GENERAL POLICIES
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All assignments and examinations must be completed when due.
Late assignments and examinations may not be made up unless special arrangements are
made with the instructor.
Announcements of assignments for extra credit, etc. may be given. It is the student's
responsibility to attend classes and keep informed of such announcements and to check
for announcements in Blackboard.
Final examination is mandatory and attendance is required at final class meeting.
If student finds it necessary to drop the course, it is his/her responsibility to submit a drop
card to the Admissions Office.
Cheating/plagiarism is not allowed, discovery of which may result in student being
dropped from the class. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct presented in the MSJC
general catalog.
Pager and cell phone noise will not be tolerated.
Computers are available for student use in various locations on both the Menifee and San
Jacinto campuses. Ask your instructor for details. Student use of school computers must
meet the MSJC Acceptable Use Policy.
Each student is responsible for having his/her own calculator for exams. The calculator
available on the computers and on cell phones will not be allowed. No PDAs or other
electronic devices are allowed either.
Attendance Policy – For face-to-face classes, after six hours of absence you may be
dropped from the course. For online classes, after seven consecutive days of not
accessing the course or if the instructor deems that you have not completed enough recent
tests, quizzes, and/or assignments, you may be dropped.
Students are responsible for their own work. It is suggested that each student create a
folder containing all work completed, both a physical and an electronic folder.
Any problems encountered with the course in the Blackboard course management system
should be reported to the instructor immediately via email. If the problem is generic to
Blackboard and not course specific, contact the Support Center. Details are posted in the
Blackboard Help navigation area in your Blackboard course shell.
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ASSIGNMENTS
Textbook & Internet
The weekly assignment schedule outlines the textbook chapters to be studied and the assignment
to be completed by the student that week.
Included as part of each chapter assignment from the text, it is recommended that the student
complete the multiple-choice questions at the end of the chapter. The answers to these
questions may be found on the last page of each chapter. They are not graded.
The student is expected to be prepared for each class, which includes, at the very least,
reading the chapter ahead of time. Chapter handouts will assist in following the lectures
and will be available in Blackboard within a few days before coverage of the chapter
material begins. It is recommended that each student print a copy and bring them to class.
The procedure to be followed in class will be:
1. Discuss material from the textbook.
2. Go over assigned problems as time permits.
3. Complete and turn in homework and quizzes as indicated on the Assignment
Schedule.
The successful student will participate in class discussions, answer questions, complete all
homework assignments and tests, and demonstrate mastery of chapter learning objectives with a
minimum of 70% accuracy.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVE SUMMARY
Abbreviations used in reference to assignments from the textbook:
CH = Chapter
EO = Eye Openers
EX = Exercise
PR = Problem
PE = Practice Exercise
CP = Comprehensive Problem
SA = Special Activities
QUIZZES
The quizzes will be completed on the computer in Blackboard for each chapter. They are to be
completed by 11:55pm of the date given in the assignment schedule, unless otherwise announced.
Each quiz is worth a total of 30 points. Make sure you are ready to take the quiz before accessing it.
You will only have one attempt. To access the quizzes, enter the Blackboard site for the course,
click on the Test and Quizzes button in the Navigation Bar, then click on the appropriate quiz. You
will have 45 minutes to take the quiz. After completion, click on the submit button at the bottom
right hand corner of the screen following the last question. You will get immediate feedback and
you may view your grade in the grade book. The two lowest quiz scores will be dropped. Late
quizzes will not be accepted unless special arrangements are made with the instructor prior to
the due date.
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QUIZ PRECAUTIONS
The following are precautions and suggestions to have a positive quiz experience and avoid
problems. This list is an accumulation of issues that have surfaced in the past.
1. It is highly recommended that the student take the quiz with a high speed connection, such as
DSL or Cable.
2. Do not rush through the screens during the quiz. Make sure a requested screen is fully
loaded before requesting another. Pushing Blackboard to move the quiz along faster than it
is capable of will cause it to lock up.
3. Be careful of Blackboard’s timeout feature. Move the mouse periodically to engage the site.
This will assist in avoiding Bb from timing out.
4. AOL is known to have issues with Blackboard. Please do not take the quiz using AOL. Use
Internet Explorer (IE) or another popular browser. I use IE 8 in compatibility view, have
cleared out the cache, and answer NO to the security question that periodically pops up. Pop
ups must be enabled in the Bb site. Version 9 of IE appears to have issues with Bb. Please
do not use it.
5. Do not use any of the browser functions (ie: back, forward). These will instantly lock up the
quiz.
6. Do not try to alter the display, ie: collapse menus to increase display size of quiz view.
7. Do not exceed the allotted time. Watch your time closely with a clock or watch.
8. User environment variables to be concerned with:
a. Wireless connections are not recommended. You can use an Ethernet cable to
hardwire a laptop or other computer.
b. Network connection stability
c. Internet Connection such as ISP policies including timing out of sessions
d. Stability of computer (i.e., viruses, malware, spyware, etc.)
e. User actions
9. Make sure there is only one Blackboard session open at a time. In other words, do not have
one window open while you are taking a quiz and another open for course navigation. The
multiple logins may cause an error.
10. If possible please have only the browser window where you are taking the quiz open. Closing
all other unrelated browser windows will give you the best chance of completing your
assessment without errors.
11. While you are taking your quiz you should also close any other programs or applications that
are not essential for completing your quiz (e.g. RealPlayer, MusicMatch, Adobe Photoshop,
QuickTime, Microsoft Outlook, MSN Messenger etc.)
12. Take caution if you plan to wait until the last day to take the quiz. In the past, some of the
students have waited until the last evening to take the quiz and experienced technical
difficulties during the quiz. This required a restart of the exam; however, the student was not
able to contact the instructor in a timely manner, which caused both the student and the
instructor quite a bit of grief. This may also cause the student to receive a zero on the quiz
for not completing it in a timely manner.
13. There will only be one restart available per student for the entire semester. This is
being made available in case someone has a computer glitch, etc. that causes them to be
unable to complete a quiz the first time. It is the student's responsibility to contact the
instructor via email in time to have the restart done. Extra credit of 10 points will be
awarded to each student at the end of the semester that does not require a restart on any quiz
or online test for the entire semester.
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