Fall 2015
Syllabus - 1
Instructor: John Dallmus
Office: FAB S336 (west campus)
Email: john.dallmus@asu.edu
Office Phone: 602.543.6144 (I only check phone messages intermittently – Please contact
me via email instead!)
MyAccountingLab Course ID: dallmus03707 (NOTE: this ID number is different than the ASU SLN)
MyAccountingLab Course Name: ACC241 Managerial Accounting – Fall 2015 Hybrid
Access to course materials on Blackboard: Please read paragraph on Page 7 labeled as
“IMPORTANT” and highlighted in red.
Required Text / Course Materials
Required Course Materials:
Managerial Accounting, by Braun & Tietz, Pearson, 2014, ISBN 9781269899147. Note: The text used in
this course is a custom text sold through the ASU Bookstore. It is shrink-wrapped and packaged with a
software code used to access the online homework system and the electronic version of the textbook.
Please do NOT discard the software access code.
NOTE: Chapter 5 is not included in the custom text that we use at ASU for ACC241. The chapter is not
covered in the ground-based version of the course, so it is omitted to reduce the cost of the book.
Chapter 5 is, however, covered in the online version of the class. Rather than have a different, more
expensive version of the text for the online course, we utilize the same book and have students access
Chapter 5 via the eBook provided in MyAccountingLab (MAL). The chapter is also provided as a PDF file
in the Chapter 5 folder on Blackboard.
A calculator with basic mathematical functions is required for this class.
Note that numerous PDF Files are posted on our course Blackboard site, which is located at:
myasucourses.asu.edu. For some of these documents, it will be helpful to print the file. Directions on
printing items posted on blackboard are also listed on the Blackboard site.
MyAccountingLab.com
Pearson’s MyAccountingLab online course management system is used extensively in this course and is
located at www.pearsonmylab.com . You will register on this site and use it to complete homework and
quizzes, as well as practice and review assignments. Please see the course blackboard site
(MyAccountingLab button) for registration instructions. If you took ACC241 last semester and are retaking
the course this semester, you do not have to repurchase an access code. The one you used last
semester provides access to the system for 1 year. MAL registration instructions are provided on
Blackboard for students that are retaking the course.
Do not wait until the last minute to register or do the MyAccountingLab work. Note that assignment
deadlines are not extended if you cannot register for MyAccountingLab or access the homework.
Pearson has several technical support options to help you with issues you may experience.
ACCOUNTING 241 – Fall, 2015 (76787)
USES OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION II
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 2
Overview and Course Objectives
ACC241 is an introductory management accounting course that is designed to equip students to make
effective and efficient use of accounting information in managerial decision making. It is a survey of many
topics, including an introduction to cost behavior, budgeting, responsibility accounting, cost control and
product costing. Emphasis is placed on management accounting in a broad context, relating it to other
subject areas. This course provides students with an understanding of fundamental concepts and tools,
while emphasizing the analysis and interpretation of information.
Course Design
A benefit of taking an online course is that it is flexible and you can work on your own schedule; however,
because there are no real-time meetings for the course (other than for exams), it is easy to fall behind.
Just like in a traditional classroom-based class where your presence in the physical classroom is
necessary to achieve success, your presence in your online classroom is important too. You should
schedule time to work on the course in the same way you would schedule a traditional class meeting. You
should log onto the course throughout the session to work on online activities and complete assignments.
This is not an independent study class. You must be self-motivated to succeed in this class. Students
that have difficulty in the course fail to spend sufficient time on supplemental activities and/or required
point-based activities. You must regulate your time, and be responsible for achieving the goals of the
course.
Please note that this class is not for you if you are not self-motivated and disciplined. It is easy to fall
behind in an online class. It is your responsibility to keep up with the material and ensure you understand
the topics and concepts that are covered. There are multiple assignments due every three to four days in
addition to three in-person exams. If you did not realize this class was conducted in this fashion, you
should consider carefully whether to stay or to enroll in another, classroom-based section.
Grading
Exams:
Exam 1
130
Exam 2
130
Exam 3
130
Other assignments:
MyAccountingLab Online Homework (12 assignments worth 10 points each)
120
Quizzes (12 quizzes at 10 points each)
120
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE
630
Scores earned on the course elements identified above will be reported via MyAccountingLab. Final
course grades will be based on the percentage of available points earned and the following standard
grade thresholds / ranges (i.e., 90-100%=A range, 80-89%=B range, 70-79%=C range, 60-69%=D range,
below 60%=E). Minus grades are 90-91% (for A-) and 80-81% (for B-). There is no C minus grade at
ASU. Plus grades are 78-79% (for C+) and 88-89% (for B+). Actual cut offs for A+ will be determined at
the end of the semester. Grades are rounded such that 89.5% is considered 90% and an A-minus grade;
89.4% is considered 89% and a B+ grade. Grades are not subject to negotiation. Being close to the next
higher grade is not a relevant issue for discussion of a grade adjustment.
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 3
Exams
Exams will consist of multiple-choice conceptual and computational questions that cover material
discussed in the videos, assigned readings, homework problems, quizzes and online activities. The
videos cover material in the assigned readings AND MAY INCLUDE EXTRA MATERIAL WHICH YOU
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. For your benefit, practice problems for each chapter are available in
MyAccountingLab. and are provided to assist in your study. Note that ACC241 tests LEARNING rather
than rote memorization. Therefore, exam questions are often structured differently than problems you
have seen before. This is NOT an attempt to trick you. Rather, it is to asses if you understand the
concepts and are able to apply them in a variety of settings. If you simply memorize problem solutions,
you will likely have difficulty on exams.
Exams will be administered in-person at the Tempe Campus as follows:
Exam 1 – Friday, October 30, 2015, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, BAC316
Exam 2 – Friday, November 13, 2015, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, BAC316
Exam 3 - Friday, December 4, 2015, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, BAC316
Exams MUST be taken when scheduled. Absence from an exam will only be excused in cases of:
1. University-sanctioned activities (e.g. athlete participating in an ASU game/competition or
enrollment in a conflicting class).
2. Job conflict If you do have a job conflict and your employer will not let you off work for the exam,
we will need a letter from your supervisor (on company letterhead). Note that job conflicts are
NOT a valid excuse for missing the final exam (that exam is a university appointed date).
3. Legal or Military matters (e.g. you have a court appointment or have ROTC training)
4. EXTREME personal emergency. Emergency situations include a medical crisis or death in your
immediate family (e.g. child, sibling, parent or grandparent count as immediate family; your
grandfather’s sister’s ex-husband does NOT count as a death in your immediate family).
Emergency situations DO NOT include issues such as not hearing your alarm clock OR conflicts
that arise due to your family, a vacation, wedding, etc. Just because you've already booked a
flight back home does NOT mean that you will get an excused absence!
THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY. Making an exception for you is not
fair to the students who to take the exams as they are scheduled in the course syllabus. If an
exception is made for you, then an exception should be made for everyone. Thus, THERE ARE NO
EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXAM POLICY.
If you will be missing an exam due to one of these exceptions, OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION is required.
For example, you will need to provide a copy of your course schedule or a copy of the death notice and
your flight documentation. You need to turn in your documentation to the instructor who will schedule a
makeup exam to be completed as early as possible. For an extreme personal emergency, written
verification of the personal emergency must be given to your instructor for an excused absence from the
scheduled exam. A note indicating that you were seen at the student health center the day of the exam is
not sufficient documentation of a medically excused absence from an exam. The note must say that you
were medically unable to take the exam.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY THE DAY OF THE EXAM AND CAN'T TAKE THE EXAM, PLEASE
SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR indicating your contact information as soon as possible. Your
instructor will get back to you within a few hours. In the event of an excused absence, you will take a
make-up exam as soon as possible. In VERY RARE circumstances, no make-up test will be given. If this
is the case, the points from the missed exam will be allocated to the other two exams (note that it is to
your advantage to take ALL THREE exams rather than re-weighting the other exams). Students missing
more than one exam will not be able to earn a passing grade in the class.
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 4
Discussion Board Posts
Questions about the readings, online lectures, homework assignments and other general course-related
questions should be posted to the course discussion board. These types of questions should NOT be
sent directly to the course instructor via email. You are encouraged to regularly monitor the discussion
board and answer questions posted by your classmates. This will enhance the efficiency of our learning
community and help you reinforce concepts that you have learned in the course. Your instructor will also
be monitoring the discussion board and answering questions as needed. Before posting a question to the
discussion board, you should review questions that were already posted and answered to avoid
duplication of effort.
The quizzes are an individually graded assessment (test) and thus there should be no questions or
comments about the quizzes (on any discussion board or in any other forum) until 24 hours after the quiz
deadline has passed. At that point, you are welcome to post a follow-up question on the discussion
board.
Sensitive questions (e.g., about grading or other personal issues) that you do not feel comfortable posting
to the discussion boards should be sent to the course instructor via email.
Messages that contain advertisements, solicitations, personal interests, etc. are strictly forbidden.
The instructor reserves the right to remove any postings that are deemed inappropriate for the classroom
environment.
Homework
In order to succeed in this course, it is critical that you keep up with homework. All homework
assignments are due by 11:45 pm on their respective due dates indicated on the Course Calendar, in
MyAccountingLab, and on Blackboard (however, you can submit them for grading at any point before the
due date). Homework cannot be submitted after the due date and time. Do not wait until the last
minute in case you have computer issues (computer issues are not a valid excuse for missing an
assignment). Because homework is available online well before the due date, there are NO extensions for
homework or excused absences regardless of the reason.
There are 12 homework assignments (each with a varying number of problems) that are to be completed
in MyAccountingLab. Each assignment (in total) will be worth 10 points. You will receive immediate
feedback on whether or not your HW is correct and will be allowed three attempts to complete it correctly
before the deadline. You will also receive hints/tips to assist you along the way. Homework scores will
NOT be adjusted if you do not follow directions (e.g. if you lose points for entering a dash when you
shouldn't have). You will be able to view your homework points on the MyAccountingLab site.
Quizzes
There will be 12 quizzes composed of 10 multiple choice and True / False questions. Each quiz will be
worth a total of 10 points (1 point per question). Each quiz can be taken TWICE with your HIGHEST score
being used to determine your final grade in the course. Quizzes are administered via MyAccountingLab
and are TIMED. Also, once a quiz is opened, it must be completed (opening a quiz counts as one of your
attempts). Therefore, when you access a quiz, you should ensure you have sufficient time to work on the
quiz and complete it.
All quizzes are due by 11:45 pm on their respective due dates indicated on the Course Calendar, in
MyAccountingLab, and on Blackboard (however, you can submit them for grading at any point before the
due date). Quizzes cannot be completed after their respective due dates / times. Because you can
access quizzes online, take the quizzes twice and your highest score is recorded, makeup quizzes WILL
NOT be given. Additionally, if you experience technical difficulties and your internet connection "cuts out"
while you are taking the quiz, the quiz will NOT be reset for you. This will count as one of your attempts.
You should ensure that you are taking the quiz from a computer with a good internet connection.
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 5
On-Line Activities, Study Plan and Practice Problems
You do NOT earn points for many supplemental items; however, they do help you learn the material and
make sure you have an understanding of it. Therefore, even though you do not earn points for these
items, you are encouraged to work through them. In previous semesters, students who completed all of
these materials performed better in the course.
Study plans are available in MyAccountingLab which contain exercises and problems to help you practice
the material. Additional “Concept Review” exercises and “Progress Check” practice quizzes are available
in MyAccoutingLab for each chapter. These practice activities should help you learn the material and
assess how well you understand it. In addition, they are similar to questions and problems that will be
featured on the quizzes and exams.
It is suggested that you try practice problems without referencing your notes or other material. If you do
not do well on them, it is an indication that you do not have a good grasp of the material and you should
consider re-reading the related chapter in the text, watching the related lecture video again, and
practicing the online material. Also, you can post questions on the course discussion board or contact
your instructor to seek clarification of concepts you are having difficulty with.
E-mail
The course instructor will be checking email a minimum of twice a day during the session (morning and
afternoon/evening). Note that assignment grades (including exams) are reported to you via
MyAccountingLab.com. You should contact your instructor via email if you have questions related
to your assignment grades.
Office Hours
The course instructor and T/A will be available for on-campus office hours as indicated on Blackboard.
Virtual office hours will also be held one time per week. Virtual office hour dates and time will be
announced in advance on Blackboard. To attend virtual office hours select the “Virtual Office Hours”
menu option on Blackboard and follow the on-screen instructions.
How to be Successful in ACC241
Most students underestimate the time and effort required to be successful in this course.
Accounting courses often require more study time than many other university courses. Accounting is a
cumulative discipline, so it is imperative that you stay on top of the assignments, especially in an online
format. If you are concerned that you are not able to commit sufficient time to the course, you should
consider if this is an appropriate time to take it.
Do not try to memorize the material. In most cases, memorization will not help you. Instead, develop a
thorough understanding of concepts. In ACC241, most of the assignments require you to apply the
concepts being covered. Many concepts taught in the course build on previously covered material, and
new concepts are introduced every chapter. Missing the material from a single chapter can lead to issues
with understanding future concepts as they are contingent upon your understanding of previously
presented concepts. Many students find this class to be challenging so it is important to stay current with
the course schedule and not fall behind.
Students who do well in the course take advantage of supplemental material and exercises
available via MyAccountingLab and complete all assignments when due. In addition, asking
questions via the course discussion board and/or clarifying questions with your instructor regarding
assignments and the course material has proven to be beneficial.
Your instructor does not give you points or your grade. Instead, your grade will be determined by the
points you EARN throughout the semester. Commit yourself NOW to do what it takes to earn the grade
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 6
you want to achieve, rather than wishing at the end of the session that you had worked harder to
accomplish your goal. After exams or at the end of the session, students often ask, “What can be done to
raise my grade?” The key is not in some individual extra credit project, which is never allowed, but in
diligently working on the class, completing all problems (extra activities, homework and quizzes), utilizing
supplemental materials and studying more. If you don't understand something, ask your instructor for
assistance as soon as possible. Don't wait until the day before an exam to ask for help.
Assumed Skills
It is assumed that you have an email account that you will check DAILY throughout the session. Every
ASU student has an ASU account. If you do not regularly check your ASU account, it is your responsibility
to forward your ASU account to the email account that you do use. Instructions for setting up your
account, forwarding messages, and answers to any questions you might have regarding your My ASU
account may be found at http://help.asu.edu/node/120.
It is expected that you will be able to regularly access the course Blackboard site so that you can
download important course information/materials, as well as check course announcements throughout
the semester. In most instances, communication regarding information that impacts all students enrolled
in the course will be posted on the Blackboard site under the Announcements tab. It is also expected that
you will be able to access the MyAccountingLab website to complete assignments.
Withdrawal policy and Important Dates
Accounting instructors are not allowed to give overrides or late adds for ANY reason. You can add/drop
this course in person (at the registrar site) or online through the following dates:
Final day to drop/add ACC241 (online) October 15, 2015
Instructors will NOT withdraw students for any reason. Students who do not work on the class during the
first week, or for any extended period of time during the semester, should not presume that they are no
longer registered. The withdrawal deadlines established by ASU for the semester are as follows:
Course withdrawal deadline (online) November 3, 2015
Complete withdrawal deadline December 4, 2015
Students are responsible for their own registration status!
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Any student who has a disability (including a learning disability) that may prevent him/her from fully
demonstrating his/her knowledge and abilities in this class should contact the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) at 480-965-1234 (Voice mail) or 480-965-9000 (TTY) to formally request accommodations.
Disclosure of a disability to ASU is optional and confidential. However, students with accommodation
needs are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the resources available at ASU. The Disability
Resource Center will assist students with disabilities in engaging in the various aspects of classroom and
campus life.
Policy for Student Athletes or other official absences
Exam procedures are spelled out in the syllabus. There will be no accommodations for late homework
and quizzes as all of these are available well in advance of their due dates and are completed / submitted
electronically.
Academic Dishonesty and Intellectual Property
The public places confidence and trust in business professionals and expects them to display high ethical
standards. The business curriculum is structured primarily to produce graduates who possess the
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 7
knowledge and skills necessary for success in their professional careers. These skills include the ability
to reason through a situation involving an ethical dilemma. Applying appropriate professional behavior as
a student will develop into professional integrity when you enter your profession.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. All forms of student dishonesty, including
cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism and copyright violations are subject to
disciplinary action. The Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Procedures as adopted by the Arizona
Board of Regents apply. Additional information on the student academic integrity policy is at:
http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity
Specifically, the following actions are considered inappropriate conduct:
- Providing or accepting assistance on examinations
- Working with other students to complete a quiz or project
- Submitting work derived by another student or preparing work for another that is to be used as that
person’s own work. Although you are encouraged to discuss assignments with others, the final
preparation of the assignment for submission MUST BE DONE BY YOU ALONE. Using work of
another is an act of plagiarism and constitutes academic dishonesty.
If you are caught engaging in this type of activity, or in those mentioned in the academic integrity policy, it
will be dealt with according to ASU and W.P. Carey School of Business guidelines. In addition, you may
receive a failing grade for the assignment and/or course. Please keep in mind that your instructor and the
accounting department will act very harshly against academic dishonesty.
IMPORTANT: The W.P. Carey School of Business (WPC) has adopted its own Undergraduate Honor
Code. A PDF file containing the WPC honor code is provided on Blackboard under the “Honor Code –
IMPORTANT!!” menu option, as well as a one question assessment that asks you to affirm that you have
read and understand its requirements and provisions. Doing so is required to gain access to the course
instructional materials and to receive a final grade in the course.
Course videos and related materials (i.e. activities, exams, quizzes, etc.) are considered the intellectual
property of the instructor and School of Accountancy and therefore not something that either students or
third parties can legally post online or make a profit from without prior written permission. Students who
post the instructor’s materials without written permission are in violation of federal copyright laws
and subject to both University and legal sanctions. Additionally, any student who refers to the
materials posted on these types of online websites or refers others to the sites is in violation of the
academic integrity policy of the University. Appropriate sanctions will be imposed on any students who
engage in this type of illegal usage of the course material. Additionally, each student must act with
honesty and integrity. If a student sells, obtains or uses materials intended for an academic evaluation or
assignment, without appropriate authorization, he/she is engaging in academic dishonesty. Finally, a
student is violating the academic integrity policy if they refer to materials or sources or use devices not
authorized by the instructor during the session.
In summary, you are expected to make an ethical and moral commitment to act appropriately in all
academic activities and to not tolerate any dishonorable behavior on the part of other students.
FINAL NOTE
This syllabus is a plan of action for the semester. It is NOT a contract and IS subject to change. The
course instructor reserves the right to make additions, deletions, and modifications to the syllabus and the
course requirements with reasonable notification to the students enrolled in the course.
Fall 2015
Syllabus - 8
ACC241 Personal Grade Record
Note: All scores will be reported via MyAccountingLab only. Scores will not be reported via
Blackboard.
The template below is provided if you wish to record your scores offline. An Excel worksheet is
available on Blackboard that can be used to keep track of your progress and project your final score /
grade in the course.
Exams Possible Points
Exam 1 130 ______
Exam 2 130 ______
Exam 3 130 _______ 390 ______
Textbook Homework (10 points each)
1. ______ 4. ______ 7. ______ 10. _______
2. ______ 5. ______ 8. ______ 11. _______
3. ______ 6. ______ 9. ______ 12. _______
Total 120 _______
Quizzes - (10 points each )
1. ______ 4. ______ 7. ______ 10. _______
2. ______ 5. ______ 8. ______ 11. _______
3. ______ 6. ______ 9. ______ 12. _______
Total 120 _______
TOTAL POINTS 630 _______
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