ACCT 448 - Accounting Information Systems - Spring 2010

Instructor: William P. Brown Office: Hiner 106.3
web: http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/ Office telephone: 434.395.2365
Office Hours email: brownwp@longwood.edu

Last update: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 09:24 PM.

Course Description

This course covers the treatment of accounting information as a system to be managed. Topics include a general overview of management information systems; managing computer technology; database management; transaction processing; systems security (particularly in an electronic commerce environment); electronic business activities; and systems planning and analysis. Students will also make use of data communications technologies.

Prerequisites

Students taking this course must have successfully completed ACCT 340 and MISY 170 and have junior standing.

Texts

Bodnar and Hopwood, Accounting Information Systems, 10th Edition (Prentice-Hall, 2010)[ISBN: ]

Additional Readings

All students will regularly read The Wall Street Journal, The Journal of Accountancy, and at least one periodical devoted to the computer industry (see an acceptable list at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/wpbnews.htm#compind). Students will also have assigned readings which make use of information resources available electronically, both locally and on the Internet. Each student must have an active email account.

Course Objectives

This course is intended to provide students with knowledge which they can apply in the design and implementation of accounting information systems in a variety of organizations. To achieve this, students must also gain an understanding of the broader management information systems in use today.

Students will develop an understanding of the applications of information management to accounting data. They will study systems theory and development, capabilities and limitations of computer hardware and software, design and organization of data base management systems, design and implementation of control systems, use of data communications networks, and accounting systems in diverse organizations.

Students will gain an intermediate level knowledge of an accounting software package.

Grading

Each student's grade will be computed using the following weights:

Letter grades are awarded in the following ranges. 900+ is an A, 800-899 is a B, 700-799 is a C, and 600-699 is a D. 599 or below is an F.

Individual Assignments

Homework

Written homework consist of problems selected from those at the end of the chapters in the text plus other short cases that will be provided in separate handouts. Homework is due in my email inbox before class on the date shown in the assignment schedule. The homework grade will be based on both the content and style of the written response. Note that it is possible to receive a failing grade on an assignment with too many grammatical and syntactical errors even if the content is otherwise accurate and complete.

Students should retain a copy of all written homework.

Quizzes

Short objective quizzes will be given on a regular basis. Quizzes will be of approximately 10 minutes duration. These short quizzes cannot be made up but a valid excuse (see below) may eliminate a quiz entirely from computation of the final grade.

Participation

Each student will start with 85 participation points. This number will be adjusted in the range of -15 to +15 points at the end of the semester. Perfect attendance with no involvment in discussions will result in a 5 point reduction. Postive adjustments will be earned by active participation in discussions by asking and answering questions and by being prepared for class.

Group Assignments

Study groups of 3 or 4 members each will be created. Groups will have both in class and homework assignments to complete. Groups will also post answers to some assigned questions on the discussion boards at http://blackboard.longwood.edu/. Each group member should retain a copy of all submissions. Groups are responsible for ensuring that each and every group member knows and understands the answers to group assignments.

Peer evaluations

One-quarter of each student's grade in this area will be determined from peer evaluations by the other members of the groups. The rest of the grade will be determined by performance of the group as a unit.

Meeting logs

Each group will maintain a log of its meetings and other activities. The log will include the date & time of each meeting, the persons in attendance, and the tasks performed. In addition, other activities will be recorded in the log; these entries will include the persons involved and the activity or task performed.

Presentations

Each group will make one case presentation of 15 to 20 minutes duration.

Tests

Four tests will be given during the semester on the dates indicated in the class schedule. A test may be rescheduled on an individual basis if a valid excuse is approved by the Dean of the School of Business & Economics. Generally, hangovers, heavy dates, upcoming parties, and/or several tests on the same day will NOT be considered as valid excuses by the Dean or anyone else.

Final Exam

A comprehensive exam of 2.5 hours duration will be given at the day and time specified in the Longwood University exam schedule.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is expected. As noted above, quizzes cannot be made up. Also, groups will be completing problems and presenting solutions in class on a regular basis. Finally, experience indicates that those who regularly cut class (1) do not turn in homework on time (if at all) and (2) usually do poorly on tests.

Honor Code

The faculty of the School of Business and Economics authorized including this statement in course syllabi.

Academic Dishonesty Policy: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated in the School of Business and Economics. If the instructor determines that a student has cheated on an assignment, the grade of "F" may be assigned for the entire course. "Cheating" is the use or provision of unauthorized resources and/or work of another including but not limited to homework, tests, papers, presentations and exams. Unless specifically instructed otherwise, students are to assume that all coursework is to be the work of the individual student alone. If a student is unsure as to whether collaboration is permitted, the professor should be contacted in advance of performing the work.

All students are expected to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the Longwood University Honor Code. While study groups are encouraged to do study together, individual assignments (including homework) must be completed by each individual working alone.

Other Items

Comments

Students can expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours working on accounting outside of class for each classroom hour. This equals about 9 hours per week plus 3 hours of classroom time. Each of you must decide upon a set of priorities for allocating time among this and other courses, job, family, recreation, etc. This is a personal decision that you will have to make for yourself. Whatever choice is made, each person will have to abide by the consequences of the decision.

As with most college courses, an individual student will get no more out of this course than he or she puts into it. It is important that each of you come to class prepared for the day's assigned topics. To be prepared (1) read the assigned chapter(s) including the examples and (2) review the In-class questions and problems and determine the answer, if possible. Be ready to both answer questions in class and to ask questions about aspects of the material not understood.

Class Preparation

Students are expected to be ready for class. Read the assigned chapter(s) before class. Use the chapter review questions to ensure you either know the material or know what questions to ask in class.

Bad Weather

Students should become familiar with the College's policy on bad weather. In a nutshell, if the college is open students residing on campus are expected to attend class. Students residing off campus are expected not to take undue risks in attempting to get to School.

Computer Usage

All students must have an active email account. All students must regularly access and particpate in the "blackboard" for this course.

Updates and Other Information

Revisions to this syllabus or the assignment schedule will appear on the Longwood web server at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/acct448.htm. Announcements of changes and updates will appear on the Blackboard page for this course.

My office hours are shown at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/wpboffhr.htm.

The assignment schedule for this course is at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/asgn448.htm.

A list of Internet sites for this course is at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/brownwp/sites448.htm

Disability Accommodation

Students wishing to request accomodation for a disability should begin that process by contacting
Sally Scott, Director of Disability Support Services
mailto:scottss@longwood.edu
434-395-2392(voice)
800-828-1120(TT relay).
If you have any questions, please e-mail me at brownwp@longwood.edu.

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