Financial / Managerial Accounting
(BUS205C and BUS205D Fall 2011)
Sec. C: Tues/Thurs 12:30 - 1:50 pm;
Sec. D: Tues/Thurs 2:00 - 3:20 pm;
McIntyre 103; Exam: Tues. 12/13, 12-2 pm
McIntyre 103; Exam: Thurs. 12/15, 4-6 pm
Gail Hecmanczuk, JD, LL.M., CPA(retired)
Office: McIntyre 111J
Office Hours: Wed. 1-3 and by request: See Moodle to schedule an appointment
ghunter@pugetsound.edu
Office Phone: 253-879-3154
Prerequisites
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Comfort with numbers and arithmetic.
Basic algebra.
Ability to communicate your analysis in writing.
Comfort with computerized spreadsheet software (entering data, using formulas, sensitivity analysis,
and proper business formatting) or willingness to learn, and with word processing software.
Sophomore standing or higher.
Required Text and Other Materials
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Financial Accounting by Holye and Skender and the BUS205 Coursepack (both will be available in
the Bookstore). The Hoyle textbook is available to read online free of charge. A link to the Hoyle
book is posted on our Moodle page.
Access to the Internet, computerized spreadsheet software and word processing software. Laptop
computers will be allowed only on those days when our work requires us to use computer software.
Calculator for use during class and in-class exams. Bring a calculator to class every day. Cell phone
calculators will NOT be allowed for exams.
Important Information
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This is a demanding course. Students are expected to master important material, some of it complex
and technical. Students are expected to complete problems that require numerical analysis and well
crafted written work.
Students are expected to attend and contribute meaningfully to each class.
Students are expected to complete reading assignments before class for the day they were assigned.
Students are expected to bring paper, pencil, and a calculator (not a phone or PDA) to each class.
Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior in class, to be respectful of each other
and to be honest with the class in order to ensure a positive learning environment. Students are
encouraged to discuss homework with your classmates and to work together. However, to receive
credit for assigned work, each student must complete the homework individually, unless otherwise
noted. This means students need to use their own words to respond to questions, must complete their
own analyses, and must input and format any computerized spreadsheet analyses individually.
Copying another student's work, whether electronically or by hand is considered plagiarism. The
course syllabus may be adjusted during the semester to better serve the course objectives and to
meet students’ needs.
BUS 205 Course Details Page 1
Graded Components
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10% Homework: Problems and short cases to apply knowledge of accounting. Focus on concepts,
process, and application. Homework for each student will be collected for credit only.
45% Three In-class Tests (15% each test): Tests will examine understanding of key concepts, the
ability to apply knowledge in a new context and to analyze and interpret information.
10% Master Budget Project: Apply knowledge of budgeting by creating a master budget using
computerized spreadsheet software. Students will work with a self-selected partner.
15% Financial Statement Project: Engage in research and analysis of a U.S. publicly traded
company. Teams of 4 or 5 students will be assigned
20% Final Exam: Comprehensive exam.
Homework:
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Homework assignments will be posted to Moodle as early as possible.
Unless otherwise indicated homework is due electronically before class by 11 am on the day it
is due. Homework credit will be awarded as follows: 100% for substantial completion submitted
on time and 70% for substantial completion submitted late. Homework gives students the
opportunity to apply concepts and decision tools to new situations. The purpose of homework is to
help you learn the material. Mistakes are acceptable and a part of the process of learning.
Homework will not be graded and individual feedback will not be provided by the instructor. Class
time will be allocated to ensure that all student questions about homework are answered.
Some homework assignments will take 30 minutes or less and others may take up to three hours. If you
find that you cannot complete the work in three hours per assignment, please let me know.
Tests and Final Exam:
During the semester, four tests are given: three during classes and one during the finals period. Exams
will test understanding of key concepts, problem solving skills, the ability to apply knowledge in a new
context, and the ability to evaluate accounting information.
The final exam is comprehensive and will cover managerial and financial accounting. Note that
university policy requires that the final exam must be taken during the regularly scheduled time. Please
do not ask to take the final at a different time.
If a student cannot make one of the three in-class exams and informs the Professor by email before the
exam starts, the student’s final exam percentage will be weighted 35 percent instead of 20 percent of the
course grade. Otherwise, the student will earn a zero for the missed exam. Make-up tests are not offered
in this class.
Projects:
Students working in pairs will prepare a master budget with computerized spreadsheet software. The
main purpose of the master budget project is to give students experience creating several interdependent
budgets for one organization. A secondary purpose is for students to experience the power of technology
in making accounting easier. The project will also highlight both the simplicity and complexity involved
in creating budgets. The master budget project constitutes 10 percent of the course grade.
BUS 205 Course Details Page 2
Students will work in groups of four to five to complete a financial statement analysis project. The main
purpose of this project is to give students experience applying financial analysis tools to publicly traded
companies. Students will engage in research, perform financial analysis, evaluate the financial health of
two companies and decide which of the two companies exhibits the strongest health. The financial
statement project is worth 15 percent of the course grade.
Contribution and Attendance:
Ideally, each student will contribute to the class conversation at least once a week. Students who
demonstrate a positive commitment to the classroom learning environment and community will have the
option of replacing the lowest in-class test score with the final exam score, if the final exam score is
higher. This option gives students who are actively engaged in the class a second chance to demonstrate
understanding if needed.
Re-grading:
If you believe your work or exam has been incorrectly graded, you have five school days to
communicate a typed explanation to me in writing, clearly describing the nature of the complaint and
providing references to sources which you believe support your position, and a recommendation for a
grade on the particular question. I will respond to you after reviewing the request for reevaluation.
GRADING CRITERIA: Your work will be assessed based upon your performance level or points earned
as shown in the table below. Remember that I do not “give” grades; rather, you earn your grade.
Grading Criteria
Grade Percent Earned
A
94-100
AB+
B
90-93
87-89
84-86
BC+
C
80-83
77-79
74-76
CD+
D
70-73
67-69
64-66
DF
60-63
0-59
Performance Level
Student demonstrates excellent performance in written work and oral
presentations. Content, organization, analysis, demonstration of
understanding, and application of course material significantly exceed the
minimum requirements.
Student demonstrates above average performance in written work and
oral presentations. Student exceeds the minimum requirements in some,
but not all, of the above mentioned areas.
Student demonstrates average performance in written work and oral
presentations. Student has satisfactorily completed the content and
structure of the assignment.
Student demonstrates below average performance in the quality of the
written and oral presentations.
The quality of work is not acceptable for a college student
BUS 205 Course Details Page 3
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is highly valued at the University of Puget Sound. Academic dishonesty can take a
variety of forms and includes, but is not limited to the following: plagiarism, which is taking someone
else’s ideas, words, research, images, computer analyses and misrepresenting it as one’s own;
submitting the same paper or work for credit in more than one course without the prior permission of the
professor; copying homework or analyses completed by someone else; cheating on tests. I will not
tolerate academic dishonesty and will seek the harshest penalties possible. Please read and understand
the University’s policy on academic honesty.
CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY
Turn your phones completely off before entering the classroom. If there is a need to be available by
phone, please talk to me before class starts.
Laptop computers will not be allowed during class until we begin working with the Master Budget,
sometime after midterm.
CLASSROOM EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDANCE
Please review university emergency preparedness and response procedures posted at
www.pugetsound.edu/emergency/. There is a link on the university home page. Familiarize yourself
with hall exit doors and the designated gathering area for your class and laboratory buildings.
If building evacuation becomes necessary (e.g. earthquake), meet your instructor at the designated
gathering area so she/he can account for your presence. Then wait for further instructions. Do not
return to the building or classroom until advised by a university emergency response representative.
If confronted by an act of violence, be prepared to make quick decisions to protect your safety. Flee the
area by running away from the source of danger if you can safely do so. If this is not possible, shelter in
place by securing classroom or lab doors and windows, closing blinds, and turning off room lights. Stay
low, away from doors and windows, and as close to the interior hallway walls as possible. Wait for
further instructions.
In the event of a building evacuation during class, students should convene in the grassy area just east
and south of McIntyre.
BUS 205 Course Details Page 4
Class
1
2
3
Day
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Date
8/30
9/1
9/6
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
9/8
9/13
9/15
9/20
9/22
9/27
9/29
10/4
10/6
10/11
10/13
10/18
10/20
10/25
10/27
11/1
11/3
11/8
11/10
11/15
24
25
26
27
29
30
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
11/17
11/22
11/24
11/29
12/1
12/6
Topic
Introduction to the Course and Accounting
Introduction to Financial Accounting
The Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Statement of Retained
Earnings
Cash vs. Accrual Accounting
More Financial Accounting
More Financial Accounting and Test 1 Review
U.S. Financial Reporting Framework
Test 1
Introduction to Managerial Accounting
Cost Volume Profit Analysis
Cost Behavior
Cost Measurement
The Student Budget and Test 2 Review
Test 2
FALL BREAK
Introduction to the Budget and Excel Review
Master Budget (In Library 118)
More Master Budget
More Master Budget: Budgeting for Cash Flow
The Flexible Budget and Analysis of Variances
Master Budget Workshop (In Library 118)
Internal Control
Financial Statement Project: Public Company Research
(In Library 118 with Rebecca Kuglitsch)
Test 3
Financial Statement Analysis
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
The Statement of Cash Flow
WorldCom or WorldCon?
Last Class: review accomplishments and prepare for Final
BUS 205 Course Details Page 5