MIRACOSTA COLLEGE

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

ACCOUNTING 101 – PRACTICAL ACCOUNTING

ONLINE

 

 

FACULTY  INFORMATION

Professor Christina Hata

Office: Room 4810, Oceanside Campus

Tel: (760) 757-2121 ext. 6399

Fax: (760) 795-6770

Email: chata@miracosta.edu

 

 

TEXT AND STUDY GUIDE

1.                  College Accounting – Heintz & Parry, Southwestern Publisher, 19th edition, Chap 1-15,

ISBN: 0-324-38249-9

2.                  Practice Set – Balloon Adventures, Houghton & Mifflin Publisher,

ISBN 0-618-77716-4

3.                  Study Guide with Working Papers, 1-16, to accompany Heintz & Parry text, bundled with Study Guide Solutions, ISBN 0-324-60560-9 (optional)

 

 

DAYS AND TIME       This class is taught entirely on the Internet

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12:30-1:00, Wednesdays 12:30-1:00, Thursdays 2:00-3:00PM and by appointment

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to introduce students to the field of accounting.  The following topics will be addressed over the course of the semester: recordkeeping for sole proprietorships in service and trade businesses, including worksheets, adjusting and closing journal entries, payroll, cash reconciliation, and preparation of financial statements.  Practical problems are stressed, and students will be required to complete an accounting practice set for a company. Formerly BUS 101

 

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to do the following:

 

1.                  Judge the meaning of financial statements and the means by which they are constructed.

2.                  Explain the procedures of the accounting cycle.

3.                  Complete an accounting simulation either manually or using a computer.

4.                  Demonstrate an understanding of annual reports through analyzing the Annual Report of a major corporation using complete sentences, spelling accounting terms correctly and writing with reasonable clarity.

5.                  Discuss opportunities and professional career ladders in the accounting field.

 

COURSE PHILOSOPHY

Together the students and instructor in this course will be creating a learning community.  All members of this community are responsible for ensuring that learning takes place.  Thus, preparation and contribution to discussion are very important.  Students are expected to complete the assigned reading and preparatory assignments, contribute meaningfully and substantively and complete and submit all assignments by their due dates.  The nature of the learning activities includes lecture, discussion, homework, practice set problems, and short writing assignments.

 

COURSE GEOGRAPHY

ACCT 101 online will use course software called Blackboard.  Blackboard is an e-learning platform that organizes and manages the online information flow (readings, exercises and problems, tests, questions, discussions, etc.) between students and between students and the instructor.  It is installed on the MiraCosta College server.  When you log in with your user name and password you must then select ACCT 101 as the course you are participating in.  After you make that selection, you will get a screen with these Tool Buttons on the left side.  Each button accesses a module, and in each module you can find specific information.  Explore the following modules.

 

  • Announcements: Check this regularly for timely instructor communication and direction.
  • Syllabus: Syllabus you can print out and refer to
  • Lecture: This is where you will find the lecture for each week
  • Assignments: Specific assignments you must complete in a specific scheduled time period.  Assignments include chapters to be read, exercises and problems to be completed; self-study test questions to answer; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to review; chapter tests to take for practice, chapter tests to be graded; and instructions for starting and completing Balloon Adventures Practice Set. 
  • Discussion Board:  Post for participation to Discussion Boards for each assigned chapter and Balloon Adventures Practice Set.
  • Communication:  Address and send email.
  • Student tools: Personal information, grade check, etc
  • Faculty Information: Background and contact information.  Campus office hours.
  • Course Documents:  Here you will find miscellaneous documents such as extra credit information, directions to change your email, etc.
  • Exam: This is where you will find exams.

 

GENERAL CONDUCT OF COURSE

 

For online purposes, all calendar days in the week are available for you to do the assignments.  A set time schedule will be followed, but within that time schedule you may select the times convenient for you.  Generally, one chapter will be covered in a specific seven-day period, exams will be administered periodically.  Read the Chapter Assignments Schedule and the accompanying notes at the end of this Syllabus.  Print out all pages of the Syllabus for ready and frequent reference.

 

The Chapter Assignments Schedule allows you considerable flexibility regarding the times within which you find it convenient to work.  However, although the course is online and allows a range of times within which to do the assignments, it is NOT self-paced.  We will progress together through the semester following the Chapter Assignments Schedule. 

 

For EACH assigned chapter (other than the first chapter) you will generally have seven calendar days to complete the chapter assignments.  Along with other course work, tests will be used to evaluate your understanding of the material, and are used as part of your grade calculation.   For each assigned chapter you will take the following steps: (At the start of each scheduled period, the specific assignments that you will complete for that period will be listed in the Assignments module.)

 

1.      Review the Chapter Assignments Schedule in this Syllabus to see what you should be doing at that particular time.

2.      Access the Assignments module in Blackboard at the start of each scheduled period.  For each scheduled period, the starting time will be 1:00am and the ending time will be 11:55pm.  

3.      Read the assigned chapter. It is not uncommon that you will find it necessary to reread portions of a chapter several times for comprehension.  However, the text is written for the grade level of the course.  If your reading and comprehension ability is at this grade level, the text is expected to be within your reading ability.

4.      Read online the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in the Assignments module.

5.      Complete offline the Self-Study Test Questions at the end of each chapter in the text, and check with the answers provided at the end of the text.

6.      Complete offline the assigned exercises.

7.      Complete offline the assigned problems.

8.      Check the online Discussion Board as you are working a chapter.  Post any questions or respond to classmates’ questions as you work a chapter.  Be willing to help your classmates. (Chapter Discussion Boards appear on the left side of the Blackboard screen).

9.      Complete online each exam for grade within the time allowed (in the Assignments module).    These tests will be graded, and the grade will be used in calculating the final grade.  A test not taken within the allowed seven-day period cannot be made up.  There will be no exceptions.  The first test will cover chapters 1, 2, and 3.  All other tests will cover the specific chapters assigned.  You may take the exams at anytime within the scheduled seven-day period.

 

In addition to the assignments for each chapter, you must complete a comprehensive accounting problem called the Balloon Adventures Practice Set. 

 

LATE WORK ACCEPTANCE POLICY:

Late work is not accepted.  I absolutely understand that sometimes things happen to inhibit your ability to complete assignments (work, personal matters, etc).  However, this course is a business course and is designed in part to prepare you for the business world, where deadlines simply cannot be missed!

 

COURSE EVALUATION

Chapter practice tests, exams , participation in the class discussions, projects and completion of an accounting practice set are used to determine your grade.  Participation in class discussions, completion of chapter tests for practice and tests for grade are done online.  Students will be required to complete offline chapter exercises, problems, and the Balloon Adventures practice set.  The practice set is a comprehensive accounting problem covering the complete accounting cycle for a service company.  It is purchased at the Book Store and must be either mailed (snail mail) to the instructor on the date specified, or personally delivered to the instructor on campus by the date specified. 

 

4 Exams (100 points each)                            400 points                  

Discussion Board Postings (10 points/week)            110 points

Ethics Discussion Postings                            110 points      

Homework                                                       110 points

Internal Controls Project                                   50 points      

Practice Set                                                    200 points

                                                                        980 total points possible

 

GRADING SCALE

Grade

Percentage of total points possible

A

90 – 100

B

80 – 89

C

70 – 79

D

60 – 69

F

0 – 59

 

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Verified Disability:                           

A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations. Please contact me and/or the Disabled Students Program & Services Office at (760) 795-6658, or the office of the ADA Coordinator at (760) 795-6866.

Important Dates and Drop Information:

·         September 6, 2008 (Saturday): Last day to ADD classes.

·         September 6, 2008 (Saturday); Last day to DROP classes with no grade and no “W”.

·         September 26, 2008 (Friday): Last day to file Petition for Degree/Certificate and to file for Credit/No Credit; Consider this option if you do not need a letter grade.

·         November 20, 2008 (Thursday): Last day to Drop class with “W” grade; Drops after that receive a letter grade (generally an “F”); If you discover this course is not for you, make sure to drop by this date.

  • Students are responsible to complete all necessary paperwork if they decide to withdraw from class. The Instructor must take strong steps to insure all students are “attending” and active. Therefore, the Instructor retains discretion to process a Withdrawal (Drop) for  students WITHOUT ADDITIONAL NOTICE for ANY of the following (unless discussed with Instructor and approved in advance):

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Each student is responsible for performing academic tasks in such a way that honesty is not in question.  Unless an exception is specifically defined by an instructor, students are expected to maintain the following standards of integrity:

·         All tests, term papers, oral and written assignments, recitations, and all other academic efforts are to be the work of the student presenting the material.

  • Any use of wording, ideas, or findings of other persons, writers, or researchers requires the explicit citation of the source; use of the exact wording requires a “quotation" format.

Plagiarism and Ethics Policy:

Each student agrees to the following statements of student behavior:

  • I agree that I, and only I, will be the one completing and submitting class materials (homework, quizzes, exams, written projects, etc.) in my name.
  • I agree that I will not directly copy or plagiarize material from books, publications, the Internet, other students’ work, or any other source. I am familiar with, and I agree not to violate, copyright laws. If small amounts of material from other sources are used as part of any class assignment, I agree to clearly indicate such and properly cite the source.
  • I agree that, unless approved by the instructor, I will not share answers to homework assignments, quizzes, exams, or any other course material with fellow classmates.
  • I acknowledge that failure to comply with any of the above statements may result in failure of an assignment, removal from the course, failure in the course, and discipline action deemed appropriate by the instructor in her sole discretion and/or policies and procedures set forth by the Board of Trustees of the MiraCosta Community College District, fully described in the College Catalog.

 

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

All students are expected to be present, to be prepared, and to contribute actively to discussion in ways that enrich the quality of learning for all.  Reading and project/written assignments specified on the course calendar are to be completed prior to the due date.  Written assignments and projects are due on the dates shown; none will be accepted late.

 

We have a contract as joint participants in the course:  we are responsible for coming together as prepared professionals, with ownership of our time and a stake in ensuring that it is spent in ways that are valuable to us both individually and as a group. 

 

EXPECTATIONS OF FACULTY

To be prepared; to return student papers promptly, with appropriate feedback; to be available during office hours and by appointment, to meet with students; to be frequently responsive to email messages; to hold high standards for all of us.  Faculty and students together are responsible for creating and sustaining a safe environment that facilitates learning, openness, personal growth, and mutual trust and respect. The faculty is committed to the success of each student.

 

TUTORING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER (TASC)

TASC offers free tutoring for this course (and others) at the HUB.  For more information call (760) 944-7748 ext. 7748 or just drop by the HUB. I urge you to take advantage of this valuable resource.

 

THE WRITING CENTER

The Writing Center offers assistance with any writing assignment (even accounting).  It has been my experience that writing skills are a critical component of success in the workplace.  Develop good skills now! You can drop in for a 15 minute consultation or make an appointment for one-on-one help.  Like the TASC, the Writing Center is located in the HUB. For more information call (760) 795-6682. These people are here to help you – take advantage!  

 

 

Chapter Assignment Schedule

Chapter

Exercises (Set B)

Problems (Set B)

Points

1

1,2

 

 

2

1-7

9-12

10

3

2,3, 7-12

13,14

10

Exam #1

4

4-7

9

10

5

1-5, 7-10

14

10

6

1-3

6-8

10

Exam #2

7

4,5

9-11

10

8

1-6

9

10

9

3-6

8

10

Exam #3

10

2-6

10 (part 1 only)

10

11

1,2,4,5,6

10

10

15

TBD

 

10

Exam #4

 Read the following notes carefully.

 

General Note.  For an online course, all days in the week are available for you to do course work.  The time devoted to each chapter will generally be divided into an seven-day period.  For each chapter, you will manage your time within the scheduled days for that chapter.  The assignments for each chapter include reading the assigned chapter; reading the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); completing the assigned exercises, problems, and self-study test questions.  Observe in the following notes that most of the assignments are done online.  Make sure you check the Assignments module in Blackboard and this Chapter Assignments Schedule frequently to see what you should be doing for that the current period of days.  

 

Note for Orientation and Registration.  In order to participate in online ACCT 101 it is necessary that all students be registered in Blackboard with an email address that will be used for the course.  Instructions to register in Blackboard are included in the welcoming announcement to ACCT 101.  All those not registered in Blackboard by August 27 at 11:00pm will be dropped from the course.  

 

Note for Exercises and Problems – Completed offline.  Selected exercises and problems IN THE TEXT for each assigned chapter are to be completed.  Post your questions/comments in the chapter Discussion Board.  Exercises and problems are assigned to acquire the skill and prepare for exams. 

 

 

Note for Self-Study Test Questions – Completed Offline.  Self-Study Test Questions at the end of each assigned chapter IN THE TEXT are to be completed offline.  Answers to the questions are included in the text starting on page 645.  Understanding the answers to these questions is a good way to check your comprehension of the chapter material and prepare for the chapter tests.

 

Note for Exams – Completed Online.  Exams are graded.  The results are used to calculate the final grade.  The first test is for  chapters one, two, and three.  Tests are posted in the Exams Module in Blackboard and will be completed online.  The exams for assigned chapters include multiple choice and true/false questions.  Blackboard will grade your responses as they are submitted.  Blackboard will record your score for each chapter test completed. Instructor comments will be given for most test questions after you submit your answer.  Students may take the chapter tests anytime during the seven days of the period scheduled.  Tests will be available in the Assignments Module from 1:00am of the first day until 11:55pm of the last day of the scheduled period.  Missed tests cannot be made up; there will be no exceptions. 

 

Note for Practice Set (Balloon Adventures). Completed Offline.  See Course Assignments module for Instructor comments before starting.  Balloon Adventures is a comprehensive accounting problem for a service company.  It must be purchased by the student together with the required course materials.  We will not start this project until after chapter 9.

 

Students will analyze business transactions, journalize each transaction, post to the general ledger, prepare the trial balance, complete the worksheet, prepare financial statements, and journalize and post adjusting and closing entries.  The Trial Balance for Version A will be used for the beginning trial balance.  Completion of the Practice Set is done manually offline.  It is then either delivered to the Instructor on the Oceanside campus no later than December 5, 2008 or mailed to the instructor with a postmark no later than December 5, 2008.  Practice Sets will not be accepted for credit if delivered or postmarked past December 5, 2008 and a zero will be assigned for that portion of the grade.  There will be no exceptions; you will have enough time to complete the Practice Set – plan ahead.  You are encouraged to post a question or comment regarding the Practice Set as it is being worked.  My mailing address is             

                                                       Christina Hata MS21

                                                       MiraCosta College

                                                       One Barnard Drive

                                                       Oceanside, CA 92056

 

If you are on the Oceanside campus, you may deliver Balloon Adventures to my office (4810) or the Business Department secretary, Donna Blanton (4819).

 

Note for participation in the Discussion Forum – Online.  As you are working on your chapter assignments and Practice Set, it is expected and encouraged, that you ask questions or contribute comments and observations.  Use the Discussion Forum for a specific chapter for this purpose.  Participating in course discussions is an important part of the learning experience.  Chapter Discussion Forums are located in the Discussion Board module.  Quantity and quality of the participation will be evaluated.  Since you are expected to participate in class discussions, two quality postings for each assigned chapter (eight-day period) will qualify for a “C” grade for that period.  To earn a higher grade for participation in a scheduled nine-day period, three or more quality postings must be made within the period scheduled for a specific chapter.  Hopefully, you will be motivated to post more often because the interactions created by the posts is a great teaching and learning forum for all.

 

Examples of postings on a Chapter Discussion Forum would cover these kinds of items:  (1) questions concerning how to understand and accomplish a specific task, (2) why a specific task is done the way it is done, (3) suggestions/ comments in response to questions raised by classmates, and (4) responses to questions raised by your instructor.  Be courteous and professional.  Stick to the subject.  Carefully review your messages before posting.  The more specific is a question, the more your classmates and I will be able to offer assistance.    You will not be able to ask specific questions if you did not beforehand read the assigned chapter for comprehension – it is a sign of courtesy and willingness to work on your own behalf.

 

Your instructor determines what a quality post is.  Quality is relative.  Here are some guidelines and other comments regarding posts:

·         Post if you do not know how to accomplish something.  However, do not use this to have others do your work.  A post seeking assistance should be specific and must be preceded by studying all relevant portions of the text and syllabus.  

·         Post to a chapter Discussion Board to check an answer for an exercise or problem.

·         A post that explains a classmate’s question for understanding is a high quality post.

·         Paraphrasing a classmate’s post to express agreement has less quality than adding an additional perspective or insight.

·         Initiating a topic of discussion, e.g., asking a conceptual question or raising an issue not previously discussed, is of high quality.

·         Courteous, professional posts that stick to the subject have quality.

·         The focus is always on learning and helping classmates.  The atmosphere will always be friendly.  We all have the same goal: TO LEARN AND TO HELP OTHERS.

 

Final Note: In order to ensure that you have read this syllabus, you must email the following message instructor before January 27, 2008, “I have read the syllabus and understand that my success in this course is incumbent on successfully completing all of the required components outlined in the syllabus.”

 

Instructor’s Role in the Discussion Forums.  The instructor’s role in the chapter discussion forums is to read all the students’ posts, answer any questions directed to me, and in general moderate the discussions as necessary as I would in a face-to-face class, without dominating the discussions. 

 

Changes to this syllabus may be made at the discretion of faculty.

 

 

MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS

(Detailed assignment information to follow)

 

HOMEWORK PORTFOLIO

Your homework for this class is not turned in on a weekly basis.  You will keep your assignments in a three-ring binder that will be turned in with your practice set.  Remember that this is a business course, so presentation counts.  I expect to see a table of contents, and dividers to separate assignments from one another. 

 

INTERNAL CONTROLS

The purpose of this assignment is to give you a first-hand look at internal controls.  You are to find examples of internal controls in the real world.  Internal controls exist all around us.  After you observe five examples of internal controls, you are to create a presentation that effectively illustrates and explains what you observed. 

 

BALLOON ADVENTURES

Students will be required to complete the Balloon Adventures accounting practice set.  A practice set is a comprehensive accounting problem designed to give the student practical experience in maintaining a set of accounting records.  Balloon Adventures can be purchased at the bookstore.

 

ETHICS DISCUSSION

Since 2001, ethical decision-making has become a focal point in the American workplace.  Starting in the second week, there will be a discussion question addressing ethical decision-making and other issues of corporate governance.  Some of these may relate directly to accounting others may not – the goal here is to think about how and why we make decisions in the workplace.