Revision date: 08/17/2023

ACCT 2301 – 009/011/013

Introduction to Financial Accounting
Fall 2023
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Federico Siano
JSOM 4.216
972-883-4994
federico.siano@utdallas.edu

Class Schedule: Section 009: M/W 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. CST (JSOM 1.212)
Section 011: M/W 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. CST (JSOM 12.218)
Section 013: M/W 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. CST (JSOM 12.222)

Office Hours: M/W 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. by appointment (via email)
In-person or via Microsoft Teams (link)

Teaching Assistant: Bryan Torres (bryan.torresjuan@utdallas.edu)

Other Information: Important web links, class notes, homework assignments, and
other relevant details available at: http://elearning.utdallas.edu

Course Modality and Expectations

Instructional Mode In-person (office hours may be via Microsoft Teams).

Attendance Classroom attendance is critical to your success in this course. I
expect all students to attend lectures every week and to complete
the assignments due that week by Sunday at 11:59 p.m.
Questions I appreciate and encourage questions during class; interaction, both
within and outside of class, fosters learning. If you send an email,
you can expect a response within 24 hours.
Primary/Required Lecture notes, homework assignments, quizzes, and other materials
Materials are made available through the eLearning platform
http://elearning.utdallas.edu.
Suggested Textbook Financial Accounting 11th Edition, Libby, Libby, and Hodge
ISBN: 9781264634019 (this is the binder-ready version).
Students are free to rent or buy other editions (end-of-chapter
problems and other elements may differ).

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Equipment Computer/tablet/laptop with internet access to view course material

on eLearning and turn in homework assignments; a basic financial
calculator.
Class Recordings Classroom instruction will not be recorded.
(a) Students are expressly prohibited from recording any part of
this course, and (b) classroom materials may not be reproduced or
shared with those not in class or uploaded to other online
environments unless the Office of Student AccessAbility has
granted special approval. Failure to comply with these University
requirements is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Extra Credit There are no extra credit assignments or exam/quiz “re-do’s” in
ACCT 2301 (no exceptions). This policy is applied consistently
and equally to all students.
Disability/Accessibility The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to equal access to
education for students with disabilities. Students needing special
accommodations should contact, on a timely basis, the Office of
Student AccessAbility first, and then the instructor.
Syllabus Changes The Syllabus is subject to change. Any changes to this Syllabus
and the lecture schedule will be posted on the eLearning platform
and announced during lectures.

Course Description and Student Learning Objectives

This course in an introduction to business financial reporting designed to create an awareness of

the accounting concepts and principles for preparing the three basic financial statements: the
income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows.

The course is designed to benefit all business students who will be future users of accounting
information. At the end of the semester, you will understand:

● How businesses meet the information needs of investors and creditors

● How businesses operate and how accounting serves them
● The elements of, the relationships among, and the accounting concepts underlying the
primary financial statements
● How business transactions are input, processed by an accounting information system, and
output by that same system to produce financial statements
● The uses and limitations of financial statements and related information for making
business decisions

Learning Objectives:

(1) Obtain a basic understanding of financial accounting concepts

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(2) Conduct basic financial ratio analysis

(3) Compare main financial statements and understand the relationship with each other
(4) Discuss how financial accounting information is used to make business decisions

Course Assessment

Assignment Weight
Homework 10%
Quizzes (Best 5 out of 6) 10%
Midterm 1 20%
Midterm 2 20%
Cumulative final exam 40%
Total 100%

No letter grade will be associated with scores on exams or quizzes during the semester. At the
end of the semester, I will calculate composite scores and assign grades in accordance with the
guidelines and grading standards for the course. I may curve the final grades, if necessary, based
on the class average and the academic standards for the course.

No extra credit or special assignment is available.

Except for evident grading errors, I will be unable to alter grades after final grades have been
determined. If you have particular grade-related considerations that you think are important,
please raise these with me one week from the date the grade is posted or communicated.

Final grades will follow the general guidelines below:

Letter Numeric Grade Letter Numeric Grade

Grade (out of 100) Grade (out of 100)
A+ 96-100 C+ 76-79
A 93-95 C- 70-72
A- 90-92 D+ 66-69
B+ 86-89 D 63-65
B 83-85 D- 60-62
B- 80-82 F <60
C 73-75

The final numeric grade will be computed as:

Numeric Grade (out of 100) = (Midterm 1 grade * 0.20) + (Midterm 2 grade * 0.20) +
(Cumulative final grade * 0.40) + (#Completed Homework Assignments) + (#Completed
Quizzes [i.e., best 5 or less] * 2)

Note: Midterm 1, Midterm 2, and the Cumulative Final Exam will comprise 100 points each

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Independent Homework Assignments

I will assign 10 sets of independent homework assignments during the semester. Assignments are
generally due by Sunday at 11:59 pm of the release week. Homework questions are released
online through the eLearning platform and the corresponding solutions must be submitted online
through the eLearning platform. Homework assignments are intended to be a learning experience
and a participation device rather than a grading device. You should develop your best solution
for each of the questions, exercises, and problems assigned. Homework is graded based on
completion instead of accuracy. Each assignment is counted 1% towards your final grade. If
you miss a homework assignment, your grade will be zero. No make-up homework is available.

End-of-class Quizzes

End-of-class quizzes will be online, open book, and independent. There will be 6 quizzes
administered throughout the course. Quizzes are released shortly after class through the
eLearning platform; they are due by 11:59 pm of the release date. The quizzes will be similar to
homework exercises and problems and examples covered in class. Quizzes are intended to be a
learning experience and a participation device rather than a grading device. Quizzes are graded
based on completion instead of accuracy. I will drop your lowest quiz score. Each quiz is
counted 2% toward your final grade (with a maximum of 5 out of 6 quizzes counted). If you miss
a quiz, your grade will be zero. No make-up quizzes are available.

Exams

There will be three exams in this course: two midterm exams and a final exam. Midterm exams
will be during class hours at the Testing Center (see below), closed book, and independent. The
final exam will be cumulative. The final exam will also be at the Testing Center (see below),
closed book, and independent. The dates for the exams are included with the class schedule (see
below).

Unexcused absence from a midterm will result in a score of zero. If you miss the midterm exam
due to an illness or other emergency reason, you should notify me as soon as possible and
provide me with written documentation (e.g., a note from the attending physician) after you
return. I have final authority to determine if your absence should be excused. If you have an
excused absence from the midterm exam, you will receive extra weight on your final exam to
compensate for the missed examination. There will be no make-up midterm exams.

The final exam is mandatory. Unexcused absences from the final will result in a score of zero. I
have final authority to determine if your absence should be excused. If you miss the final exam
due to an illness or other emergency reason, you should notify me as soon as possible and
provide me with written documentation (e.g., a note from the attending physician).

Making non-refundable (or non-cancelable) arrangements for travel before the final or midterm
exams will not constitute an excused absence. PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS COURSE.

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You are not permitted to use any electronic communications devices during exams. These
devices explicitly include cell phones, pagers, computers, iPads, and other advanced electronic
devices. I will consider it cheating if a cell phone or other electronic communication device is
used and/or visible during the exam. You are not permitted to copy or otherwise reproduce the
exams at any time. This includes taking pictures of the exam with your cell phone or other device
while taking the exam or when reviewing graded exams.

Unless you have prior approval from the instructor, you must take the exam in the section for
which you are registered. During the exams, you can use a basic financial calculator, with no
internet access nor graphing functions.

Testing Center

All the exams for this course are administered through the Testing Center. The midterm exams
will take place during class hours at the Testing Center. The final exams will take place at the
Testing Center as well. Therefore, it is essential that students familiarize themselves with the
Testing Center rules and regulations which can be found at: https://ets.utdallas.edu/testing-
center/students/. In order to take exams at the Testing Center, students must register online
no later than 48 hours prior to the exam start time. It is a student’s responsibility to register
with the Testing Center on time and comply with the Testing Center rules. Please note again
that there will be no make-up midterm exams. Please read through the Testing Center
instructions and let the instructor know about any problems or difficulties as soon as possible.

Technical Support

If you experience any issues with your UT Dallas account, contact the UT Dallas Office of
Information Technology Help Desk: assist@utdallas.edu or call 972-883-2911. UT Dallas
provides eLearning technical support 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The services include a toll
free telephone number for immediate assistance (1-866-588-3192), email request service, and an
online chat service. Please use this link to access the UTD eLearning Helpdesk:
http://www.utdallas.edu/elearning/eLearningHelpdesk.html.

Class Materials

The class materials are made available to all students registered for this class as they are intended
to supplement the classroom experience. These materials may be downloaded during the course,
however, these materials are for registered students' use only. Classroom materials may not be
reproduced or shared with those not in class, or uploaded to other online environments except to
implement an approved Office of Student AccessAbility accommodation. Failure to comply with
these University requirements is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

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Class Participation

Regular class participation is expected. Students who fail to participate in class regularly are
inviting scholastic difficulty. A portion of the grade for this course is directly tied to your
participation in this class (e.g., homework and quizzes). It also includes engaging in group or
other activities during class that solicit your feedback on homework assignments, readings, or
materials covered in the lectures. Successful participation is defined as consistently adhering to
University requirements, as presented in this syllabus. Failure to comply with these University
requirements is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

Public Health Resources

There is uncertainty about developments associated with COVID-19 or other threats to public
health and how these developments might affect the plan and schedule for this course. Please
check regularly the following website with updates and general UT Dallas policies and
guidelines https://www.utdallas.edu/health/. Please email me if you have any conflicts, problems,
or concerns related to COVID-19 or other threats to public health. I will attempt to accommodate
uncertain and unexpected problems in line with the University’s policies.

Comet Creed

This creed was voted on by the UT Dallas student body in 2014. It is a standard that Comets
choose to live by and encourage others to do the same:
“As a Comet, I pledge honesty, integrity, and service in all that I do.”

Violations of the Code of Conduct

Students are expected to follow the rules stated within the Student Code of Conduct. Cheating
during an exam implies a score of 0 for that exam.

Academic Support Resources

The information contained in the following link lists the University’s academic support resources
for all students.
Please see http://go.utdallas.edu/academic-support-resources.

UT Dallas Syllabus Policies and Procedures

The information contained in the following link constitutes the University’s policies and
procedures segment of the course syllabus. Please review the catalog sections regarding the
credit/no credit or pass/fail grading option and withdrawal from class.
Please go to http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies for these policies.

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ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

Week Date Materials Topic Quiz Homework

1 8/21 Syllabus and Lecture Notes 1 Introduction to Financial Accounting
1 8/23 Lecture Notes 1 Overview of Financial Statements H1 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
2 8/28 Lecture Notes 2 Balance Sheet Q1 (by 11:59 pm)
2 8/30 Lecture Notes 2 Balance Sheet (Continued) H2 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
3 9/4 Labor Day (No class)
3 9/6 Lecture Notes 3 Income Statement H3 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
4 9/11 Lecture Notes 3 Income Statement (Continued) Q2 (by 11:59 pm)
4 9/13 Lecture Notes 4 Accounting Adjustments H4 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
5 9/18 Lecture Notes 4 Accounting Adjustments (Continued) Q3 (by 11:59 pm)
5 9/20 Review: Terminology and Practice
6 9/25 Lecture Notes 5 Revenues, Receivables, Cash
6 9/27 Lecture Notes 5 Revenues, Receivables, Cash (Continued)
7 10/2 Review: Midterm 1
7 10/4 Covers weeks 1-6 Midterm 1 (Testing Center)
8 10/9 Lecture Notes 6 Cost of goods sold, Inventory H5 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
8 10/11 Lecture Notes 6 Cost of goods sold, Inventory (Continued) Q4 (by 11:59 pm)
9 10/16 Lecture Notes 7 Long-term assets H6 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
9 10/18 Lecture Notes 7 Long-term assets (Continued) Q5 (by 11:59 pm)
10 10/23 Lecture Notes 8 Long-term liabilities H7 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
10 10/25 Lecture Notes 8 Long-term liabilities (Continued)
11 10/30 Lecture Notes 9 Bonds
11 11/1 Review: Midterm 2

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Week Date Materials Topic Quiz Homework

12 11/6 Covers mainly weeks 8-11 Midterm 2 (Testing Center)
12 11/8 Lecture Notes 9 Bonds (Continued) H8 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
13 11/13 Lecture Notes 10 Owners’ Equity Q6 (by 11:59 pm)
13 11/15 Lecture Notes 10 Owners’ Equity (Continued) H9 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
14 11/20 Fall Break (No class)
14 11/22 Fall Break (No class)
15 11/27 Lecture Notes 11 Statement of Cash Flows
15 11/29 Lecture Notes 11 Statement of Cash Flows (Continued) H10 (by Sun 11:59 pm)
16 12/4 Review: Bonds
16 12/6 Review: Final Exam
12/12 Cumulative Final Exam (Testing Center)