ACCT 285- Spring 2015

ACCT-285 Managerial Accounting, Spring 2015

Section G: T R 12:40-2:00pm, Pearson 2115
Section I: T R 2:10-3:30pm, Pearson 2115
(Prerequisite: Acct 284)
(Should be enrolled in Acct 301 simultaneously if you wish to be an accounting major!)
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Phone:
Office Hours:

Zhejia Ling
Gerdin 3218
zhejia@iastate.edu
515-294-7882
Tuesday and Thursday 4:00 5:00pm or by appointment

Course Objectives:

Understand and apply the concepts of cost behavior

Be able to perform cost volume profit analysis

Understand the process of costing a product and applying overhead

Be able to prepare a budget and evaluate performance against a budget

Evaluate a capital expenditure

Be able to make decisions using relevant information

Evaluate segment performance

Gain proficiency using Microsoft Excel

Course Materials:

Text Managerial Accounting for Managers 3rd Edition by Noreen, Brewer, & Garrison

Connect or ConnectPlus access - Connect will be used for the completion of all homework
See course material options file in the Syllabus folder within Blackboard Learn.
Blackboard Learn:
You are encouraged to take advantage of the resources on the Accounting 285 Blackboard Learn page.

Course Syllabus

Practice Exams & Study Guides

Course Overheads

Team Exercise, Quiz, and Exam Solutions

In-class Practice Problems

Scores to Date
Course Format:
Before class each day, students should read the relevant material and review the homework problems for
the chapter being covered. Class time will include both lectures over the reading material and work-out
of applicable problems. You will frequently be expected to solve problems in class.
Academic Integrity:
I define academic dishonesty in this class as offering or receiving help on an exam, or otherwise
compromising or attempting to compromise the integrity of an exam, homework assignment,
spreadsheet assignment, quiz or team exercise. All cases of suspected academic dishonesty are handled
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ACCT 285- Spring 2015

in strict accordance with University policy. If I suspect academic dishonesty, I will submit your case to
the University. If you are found guilty of academic dishonesty, you will receive an F in the course.
Grading Criteria:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Connect Homework Assignments (13 @ 10 points each)
In-Class Quizzes (5 @15 points each)
Team Exercises (5 @ 10 points each)
Spreadsheet Project
Total

max points - 200

50
600

Grade Scale:
A
555 - 600
A540 - 554
B+
525 - 539
B
495 - 524

D+
D
DF

BC+
C
C-

480 - 494
465 - 479
435 - 464
420 - 434

100
100
150

405 - 419
375 - 404
360 - 374
less than 360

Final Grades:
Grades will be awarded on a basis no stricter than shown above, but most likely no more generous. The
course requirements have many extra points built in. You will earn your curve in this class.
Exams:
Exams will be in the form of multiple choice questions. The questions will require application of
concepts and computations covered in class. I want you to be able to show me that you can work the
problems that we practice in class, as well as display that you know what the concepts mean.
We will be having NIGHT EXAMS outside of class time. Make-up tests will not be allowed unless
the instructor is notified of absence and grants approval PRIOR to the administration of the
scheduled tests.
Homework Assignments:
See schedule below for dates and coverage. Homework assignments will be completed and submitted
online using Connect. There are 13 assignments (one for each chapter). Each assignment may be
completed as many times as you would like, but the final submission needs to take place before the
end date. The best attempt will be the score that is recorded. Beware that when you go back to redo
an assignment, the work-out problems will have different numbers.
In-Class Quizzes:
The quizzes will be announced prior to the class period in which they are taken. Quizzes will be
multiple choice and worth 15 points each. Five quizzes will be given throughout the semester.
Team Exercises:
Five team exercises will be completed throughout the semester and be worth 10 points each. Team
exercises are completed in class. The purpose of these exercises is to allow you to discover important
managerial accounting concepts in an active learning environment while improving oral communication
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ACCT 285- Spring 2015

skills and teamwork skills. Teams generally consist of three to four students. Team exercises are
graded primarily on effort (you receive nearly full credit for actively participating).
Homework/In-Class Quiz/ Team Exercise Grade:
There will be a total of 255 points available from homework (130 points), quizzes (75 points) and
team exercises (50 points). These points will all be combined and allowed to accumulate up to a
maximum of 200 points. Since there are many extra points available and you may substitute them
freely, THERE WILL BE NO MAKUPS OF TEAM EXERCISES, NO LATE HOMEWORK
AND NO MAKEUPS OF QUIZZES.
Spreadsheet Project:
The purpose of the spreadsheet assignment is to improve your ability to use Excel as well as your
understanding of an important topic in accounting 285. Details will be made available during the
semester.
Attendance:
Class participation and attendance are essential. Chapter materials will be posted on the class
Blackboard Learn page, but are intended as learning aids and supplemental information sources, NOT
substitutes for class attendance.
Special Accommodations:
Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me privately at the beginning of the
semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. Those seeking accommodations based on
disabilities should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request form from the Disability
Resources (DR) office (515-294-6624). DR is located on the main floor of the Student Services
Building, Room 1076.
Tips for Success:
Prepare for class each day. You should have read the material and attempted the homework
problems in advance of class. Lectures are not intended to stand alone meaning that if you have
not prepared, you may find the pace too quick or the material confusing.
PRACTICE! Struggling to work assigned homework & practice problems from the textbook is
where you learn the most.
Listen and participate actively in class. You should not need to take a lot of notes if you have
prepared for class and follow along with the overheads. Instead, focus on the material being
covered.
Use a study group!
Correct mistakes on homework, team exercises, quizzes, and exams right when you get them back or
when the feedback is posted on Blackboard Learn. This will help you get caught up on material you
didnt fully understand. The material covered in this course is highly comprehensive and you will
find that the information will build on itself.
Come and see me if you are having problems. Dont wait until the end of the semester when
there is nothing that I can do to help.

ACCT 285- Spring 2015

Tentative class schedule:

Attached below is a tentative class schedule. Minor changes to the schedule should be expected. All changes will be announced in class.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Date
Jan. 13

Day
Tues.

Chapter
Topic
Introduction/ Syllabus/Chapter 1 Managerial Accounting: An Overview

Jan. 15

Thurs.

Jan. 20

Tues.

Jan. 22

Thurs.

Chapter 3

Jan. 27

Tues.

Jan. 29

Thurs.

Team Exercise 1
Chapter 4

Feb. 3

Tues.

Feb. 5

Thurs.

Feb. 10

Tues.

Feb. 12

Thurs.

Chapter 2

Assignment Due

Managerial Accounting & Cost Concepts

Cont.

Connect HW Assignment 1

Cost-Volume-Profit Relationships
Connect HW Assignment 2
Job-Order Costing

Connect HW Assignment 3

cont.
Chapter 5

Variable Costing and Segment Reporting: Tools for

Management

Connect HW Assignment 4

cont.
Connect HW Assignment 5

Team Exercise 2
EXAM 1
Exam Review & Chapter 6

Chapters 1-5

Feb. 17

Tues.

Feb. 19

Thurs.

Feb. 24

Tues.

Feb. 26

Thurs.

Mar. 3

Tues.

Mar. 5

Thurs.

Mar. 10

Tues.

Mar. 12

Thurs.

Mar. 17

Tues.

NO CLASS!

TENTATIVE NO CLASS
Spring Break - Have a great time!

Mar. 19

Thurs.

NO CLASS!

Spring Break - Have a great time!

Mar. 24

Tues.

Chapter 9

Mar. 26

Thurs.

Mar. 31

Tues.

TIME: 8:15 to 10:15 PM

Activity Based Costing: A Tool to Aid Decision Making

cont.

Chapter 7

Differential Analysis: The Key to Decision Making

Connect HW Assignment 6

cont.
Team Exercise 3
Chapter 8

Capital Budgeting Decisions

Connect HW Assignment 7

cont.
Connect HW Assignment 8

Profit Planning
cont.
Connect HW Assignment 9

Team Exercise 4
EXAM 2

Chapters 6-9

TIME: 8:15 to 10:15 PM

ACCT 285- Spring 2015

Apr. 2
Apr. 7

Thurs.
Tues.

Exam Review & Chapter 10

Apr. 9

Thurs.

Chapter 11

Apr. 14

Tues.

Apr. 16

Thurs.

Team Exercise 5

Apr. 21

Tues.

Chapter 12

Apr. 23

Thurs.

Apr. 28

Tues.

Apr. 30

Thurs.

May 4 - 8

FINALS
WEEK

Flexible Budgets and Performance Analysis

cont.
Standard Costs & Variances

Connect HW Assignment 10

cont.
Connect HW Assignment 11
Performance Measurement in Decentralized Organizations
cont.
Appendix A

Pricing Products and Services

Catch-Up Day/EXAM REVIEW

FINAL EXAM

Cumulative

Connect HW Assignment 12
Connect HW Appendix A