Instructor: Charles P. Baril
Semester: Spring 1997
Office: Showker Hall 345
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Other times by appointment
Telephone: 568-3092 - office
E-mail: barilcp@jmu.edu

Honor Code: I anticipate that the JMU honor code will be followed by all students.

Course Objectives: The Accounting Education Change Commission in "Position Statement No. 1: Objectives of Education for Accountants, " included the following skills in its list of those necessary for success in the accounting profession.

• Ability to identify and solve unstructured problems in unfamiliar settings and to apply problem solving skills in a consultative process.
• Ability to understand the determining forces in a given situation and to predict their effects.
• Ability to present, discuss, and defend views effectively through formal and informal, written and spoken language.
• Ability to apply accounting knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Course Philosophy: Unstructured problems are those which lack certainties regarding such factors as the validity and completeness of the data at hand, range of solution options, and outcomes related to various options. One of the best ways to identify an unstructured problem is to ask if experts might disagree about the best solution; if so, the problem is probably unstructured.

One premise of this course is that students develop problem-solving skills most effectively by solving problems. Accordingly, the course assignments provide numerous opportunities to practice addressing various aspects of identifying, framing and resolving problems in the financial reporting arena.

Grades and Testing: Final grades will be determined by computing and comparing total points earned as follows:

	Total Points
Two tests	200
Classroom
* Quizzes	30
* Projects	35
* Homework	15
Comprehensive final examination	120
	400

Letter grades will be awarded as follows:
A = 360 - 400 points
B = 320 - 359
C = 280 - 319
D = 240 - 279

Course Policies

1. Assignments: Students are expected to complete the reading, exercise and problem assignments before coming to class. Use your textbook, outside readings, study mates, and instructor as resources for working on these assignments. Regular and concentrated practice of these exercises and problems is necessary for satisfactory completion of the course. If a student has difficulty in a particular area, he/she should work extra problems! Your focus should be on the circumstances and reasons for implementing the various techniques and standards which we examine.

2. Any absence from a scheduled test without prior approval from the instructor will result in a grade of zero for the missed test. An excused absence will result in the comprehensive final examination counting 240 points. No more than one excused absence may be granted per student per semester.

3. Students are responsible for the material in the textbook and that discussed in class.

4. Extra Help: I will be happy to give any student extra help at any time during the semester. Just come by during my office hours or make an appointment and I will be glad to answer questions, rework problems, give you some practice problems to work, review the class lecture, or assist you in any other way. It is helpful if you will make a list of questions from the textbook readings, homework assignments, class discussions, etc. Keep a "Question Pad" and bring it by whenever you need answers. It is never easy for me when someone asks: "Can you explain Chapter13 again?" However, I can usually be of help when a student asks "Where did the book get this number in this problem?" or "Why did you use 16 in class instead of 9?" or "Under what circumstances should we use 9 instead of 16?" or "What rule should be applied to this situation?" Getting help from a teacher is often dependent upon asking the right questions.

A portion of your work in Accounting 344 will be performed in groups. Groups are self-selected. You are required to organize your group no later than January 14. The ideal group size is three. Groups of four will be allowed, but remember that more people make it more difficult to arrange schedules so as to be able to meet. All groups must have representation from both "majority" and "minority" sex/ethnic/nationality/age-group backgrounds. (No groups may be comprised exclusively of white males, white females, ethnic minorities, or foreign students.) On January 14, your group should turn in a sheet with the names of its members.

The primary objective of group assignments and activities in the class is to encourage working together as a team to learn and/or to accomplish an assigned task. Several people's schedules must be coordinated, which requires some give and take. All individuals need to be involved in the assigned task to identify the problem, put forth ideas and insights, create a solution, and prepare a finished product. The rationale for group work includes:

1. The research is very convincing that students perform much better and learn more when they work in groups. Therefore, you are encouraged to study together in groups, even on individual assignments. By studying together, you will reinforce each others' learning. Everyone can learn something from others.
2. When you graduate from JMU and enter the business world, almost all of your work will be performed in groups. Rarely will you work alone as a professional. Take advantage of this opportunity to get used to working together towards a common goal, an enhanced understanding of financial accounting.

Course Assignments: This schedule is tentative and may be modified if developments indicate that a change is desirable.

Date	CH	Assignment	General Topic
1997
1/7	Introduction	C1-9
1/9	12/SFAS No.121	C12-1, P12-3, E12-15, C12-10	Plant Assets and Intangibles
1/14	12/19	P12-17, E12-12, E19-6	Accounting Changes
1/16	13	E13-4, 5, 6, 7; Chapters 12 & 19 quiz	Equity Securities - Investment
1/21	13	E13-9, 10, 12, 15
1/23		Investment Project due (distribute 1/16)
1/28	14	E14-1, P14-1, E14-20	Debt Securities
1/30	14	E14-8, 9, 18
2/4	14	E14-26, 28; P14-15
2/6	14	Debt Instruments Project due (distribute 1/28)
2/11	15	C15-6, E15-1 (cases 1 and 2), 2, 3	Leases
2/13	15	P15-7, E15-9
2/18	TEST #1	ZSH 105 - 6:00-8:00 pm - Chapters 12, 19, 13, 14, 15
2/20	16	P 16-1
2/25	16	P16- 2, 9, E 16-10	Pensions
2/27	16/Bristol-Myers	P16-10, (Note: $50,000 loss is relative to expected ROA), E16-19 footnote 13
3/4	SPRING BREAK
3/6	SPRING BREAK
3/11	16	Chapter 16 quiz
3/13	17	E17-2, 3, C17-4, 5	Income Taxes
3/14	Last day to withdraw without academic penalty.
3/18	17	E17-14, 17, P17-6, E17-16
3/20	18	E18-24, 1, P18-20	Stockholders Equity
3/25	18/SFAS No. 123	C18-2, E18-9
3/27	18 Appendix	C18-9, E18-29	Quasi-Reorganizations
4/1	TEST #2	ZSH 105 - 6:00-8:00 pm - Chapters 16, 17, & 18
4/3	Review test
4/8	20/Exposure draft	E20-8, E20-20, 11	EPS (In problems replace primary EPS with Basic EPS.)
4/10	20	E20-16, P20-7
4/15	TBA
4/17	21	C21-4, P21-12	Disclosure
4/22	21	E21-7, P21-4
4/24	Review for Comprehensive Final
4/29	FINAL EXAM	ZSH 105 - 6:00-8:00 pm - Comprehensive

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