Accounting Information Systems

General Learning Goals:

Students will demonstrate problem solving and decision making abilities through the critical

analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of business information. Classroom discussion, problem

assignments, projects, and examinations will require students to use critical thinking skills and

computer skills to apply accounting concepts and principles to various manual and computerized

situations. Demonstrations of problem solving and decision making abilities will be included in

class lectures. Students will develop these skills by completing assigned and graded homework. The

development of each student’s abilities will be assessed through projects and examinations which

require problem solving and decision making.

Students will be able to utilize available technology for common business applications. Homework,

a computerized project, and Microsoft assignments will require the

Course Specific Learning Goals:

This class is designed to help give you a strong foundation and a solid understanding of how

systems are designed and used to capture, store, and utilize accounting information. In this class,

both manual and computerized systems will be demonstrated. Upon completion of this course, the

student will be fully capable of setting up and utilizing basic accounting information systems,

whether computerized or manual, for an entire accounting cycle. Specifically, a student who

successfully completes this course should be capable of performing the following tasks as part of a

manual or computerized accounting information system:

• Setup records for a new company.

• Fill out or complete business documents and records based on instructions and flowcharts.

• Use transaction data to prepare entries in appropriate special journals and to perform

individual postings to subsidiary ledgers.

• Perform internal control procedures indicated on flowcharts.

• Prepare adjusting entries in the general journal and post journals to ledgers.

• Prepare a bank reconciliation.

• Prepare a monthly accounts receivable statement.

• Prepare an aged trial balance of accounts receivable.

• Prepare trial balances, a worksheet, and year-end financial statements.

• Prepare and post closing entries.

• Begin recording and posting transactions for a new year.

• File all documents per flowchart guidelines.

Grading and Evaluation:

Grading and evaluation will be as follows:

Percentage Item

25 Exam 1

25 Exam 2

25 Systems Understanding Aid (Manual Project)

10 QuickBooks (Computerized Project)

15 Homework/Miscellaneous

100 Total

A course grade of 90% or better will result in a letter grade of A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D,

<60% F. To be eligible to pass the course, you must turn in both a QB project and a SUA project

Participation/attendance will be monitored each class meeting. Class will begin at the scheduled

time. Each student is expected to remain until class is finished. Promptness is an expected quality of

individuals in any profession. These requirements are in accordance with the university attendance

policy. (See Midwestern State University 2009-2010 Student Handbook, p. 40).

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. If a student comes in late, the student must

tell me at the end of that class period in order for the attendance record to be changed.

Attendance will be taken into consideration in borderline grade situations. Please note that poor

attendance typically results in a poor grade in the course.

Classroom Behavior:

It is important that the classroom environment be free of disruptions that may interfere with the

learning process. To minimize classroom distractions, students should observe the following rules:

1. Remain seated while the class is in progress (unless you become ill).

2. Avoid conversing with colleagues while the class is in progress.

3. Turn off all cell phones, beepers, and other wireless communications prior to entering the

classroom.

4. Avoid food and beverage consumption in the classroom. With the exception of bottled

water, NO FOOD OR BEVERAGE IS ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOMS IN THE

DILLARD BUILDING. Food and beverages can be consumed in the public areas in the

facility as well as in the conference rooms.

5. Turn off and put away laptop computers during class unless the laptop is being used during

authorized times: to access the course e-book and/or to take class notes.

6. Close and put away all materials not directly related to the ongoing course lecture (e.g.,

magazines, newspapers, books, and work from other classes, etc.).

7. Remain awake and attentive and be prepared to engage in class discussions at all times.

Midwestern State University’s Code of Student Conduct contained in the 2009-10 Student

Handbook, pages 69-80, will be adhered to explicitly.

 Instructor Drop:

An instructor may drop a student any time during the semester for excessive absences, for

consistently failing to meet class assignments, for an indifferent attitude, or for disruptive conduct.

The instructor must give the student a verbal or written warning prior to being dropped from the

class.

THIS IS YOUR WRITTEN WARNING THAT YOU MAY BE DROPPED FROM THIS

CLASS IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN THREE (3) ABSENCES.

Questions Regarding Course Grade:

Grades are confidential by law. Therefore, I do not post grades or reveal grades over the telephone

or by e-mail/fax. Grades will be posted on WebCT for this class. After grade reports are issued, if

you have a question about your grade, you must contact me within one month of the date your final

examination was administered. Due to storage limitations, I normally must discard exams, papers,

etc. after the first month into the following semester.

Exam Protocol:

You will need:

1. A ScanTron Form 882-E. These may be purchased at the MSU Bookstore.

2. Several No. 2 pencils for marking answers on your ScanTron.

3. A silent, basic four-function calculator that works throughout the exam (if the calculator

fails for any reason, the student may not share someone else’s calculator, but may borrow

one for the remainder of the exam). Programmable or alphanumeric calculators, calculators

with display greater than a single line, graphing calculators, Palm Pilots (or equivalent) or

cell phones may not be used for class work or exams.

Test dates may be changed as the semester progresses. If a student is absent, it is the student’s

responsibility to determine if a test date has been changed by checking WebCT.

CAUTION: If you erase an answer on your ScanTron Form, the ScanTron grading machine may

incorrectly grade your answers. Consequently, you must erase completely, if you erase a ScanTron

answer. Additionally, your answer blocks must be completely shaded in to ensure proper grading.

Items counted wrong by the ScanTron machine due to improper shading or erasing will receive zero

points.

Examinations are returned to the student and discussed in class after they are graded. The student

should review the exam at this time as a learning tool and make note of any areas where

performance was not acceptable. Examinations will be collected from the student after they are

discussed in class and are retained as evidence of the student’s performance in this course. The

examinations are the property of Midwestern State University.

Missed Examinations:

The only valid excuses for missing an exam are illness requiring medical care, required university

activities, or a personal emergency of a serious nature. Makeups will be approved only in cases

where there are valid excuses for missing, and the student presents supporting documentation. Prior

permission is required, if possible; otherwise, documentation is required immediately upon

returning to this class; otherwise, no makeup will be allowed, and a grade of zero will be assigned

(You must discuss makeup approvals with me no later than the day of the first AIS class period that

you attend following the absence).

In cases where a makeup exam is allowed for missing Exam 1, the Exam 2 score will be used to

assign a grade for the missed exam. For example, if you are allowed to make up Exam 1 and score

an eighty-five for the Exam 2 score, you will receive an eighty-five for Exam 2 and an eighty-five

for Exam 1.

If you miss Exam 2 and a makeup exam is authorized, the makeup exam must be taken at a time of

my designation on or before November 1st. There will be no other opportunity to make up Exam 2.

QB & SUA Projects:

The software we are using for the QB project must be purchased through the local college

bookstores. You must purchase this version of the software for the project. QB projects turned in

after the start of class on Tuesday, Oct. 5th, but before the start of class on Thursday, Oct. 7th, will

incur a ten-point penalty. QB projects not turned in by the start of class on Thursday, Oct. 7th, will

not be accepted – a grade of zero will be assigned – no exceptions.

SUA projects turned in after the start of class on Tuesday, Nov. 9th, but before the start of class on

Thursday, Nov. 11th, will incur a ten-point penalty. SUA projects not turned in by the start of class

on Thursday, Nov. 11th, will not be accepted – a grade of zero will be assigned – no exceptions.

Most SUA questions will need to be answered during class time, during my office hours, or during

my assistant’s office hours. General questions about process/procedure can be answered via e-mail.

After 5 PM on Thursday, November 4th, I will only answer generic “process/procedure-type”

questions; I will not answer any SUA “number-type” questions.

Homework/Miscellaneous:

Late homework assignments and late miscellaneous assignments will receive zero credit (no

exceptions).

All of your Connect Assignments (Chapters 2, 4, 1, and 5 Homework Assignments) are due by

7:00 PM Central Time. Note that any website including Connect can go down from time to time; if

you wait until the last minute to submit your assignment and you miss the deadline, for any reason,

you will receive a zero. Even if you miss the deadline because the Connect website is down, you

will still receive a zero.

Most homework assignments will be done using McGraw-Hill’s Connect. To access Connect, you

will need a registration code which should be shrink-wrapped with your Spiceland text book. I will

demonstrate the software and will help you register your account during class on Thursday, August

26th.

Course Content and Outline:

A. The Role of Accounting as an Information System

B. Review of the Accounting Process

C. Special Journals, Subsidiary Ledgers, and Flowcharting

D. The Balance Sheet and Financial Disclosures

E. The Income Statement and Comprehensive Income

F. The Statement of Cash Flows

G. Revenue Recognition

H. Environment and Theoretical Structure of Financial Accounting

I. QuickBooks Online

J. Computerized Accounting Information Systems

K. Excel and Access for Accounting

Academic Integrity:

With regard to academic honesty, students are referred to the “Student Honor Creed” on p. 19 of

Midwestern State University Undergraduate Catalog, Vol. LXXVIII, No. 1.

In short, cheating, collusion, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. The term “cheating” includes, but

is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2)

dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers,

preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition,

without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university

faculty or staff.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

This class follows the guidelines suggested by the office of Disability Support Services for those

students who qualify for disability services. See Midwestern State University Undergraduate Catalog,

Vol. LXXVIII, No. 1, p. 21. Students with disabilities must be registered with Disability Support

Services before classroom accommodations can be provided.

Syllabus Change Policy:

This syllabus is a tentative guide for the course and is subject to change. Changes will be

communicated via WebCT. The number of Homework/Miscellaneous assignments is subject to

change. Assignment/project due dates and exam dates are also subject to change. The tentative

schedule included with this syllabus will be changed as necessary to accommodate the progress of

the class.

Additional Information:

• You need to check WebCT regularly. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out

what you missed, to acquire any handouts, and to get any assignments and submit them before

the due date. Following each class, I will post an entry on the WebCT “Calendar” feature

outlining what was covered/assigned in class that day.

• All communication with me should be either by face-to-face communication or via

e-mail to bob.thomas@mwsu.edu. If you choose to call my office, I’ll be happy to

answer and speak with you if I’m not busy helping someone else at that time. If you

leave a voicemail, all responses from me will be via e-mail to your preferred e-mail

address designated in WebWorld.