GBUS 613: Financial Reporting and Decision Making Master Syllabus
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Course Website: Canvas
Course Description
Foundation course focusing on economics and analysis of business transactions and related financial reporting issues. Topics include introduction to accounting framework used in financial reporting; and analysis of financial statements, economic events and their impact on financial reports, and impact of accounting methods on financial reports.
Text and Required Materials
Text: Financial Accounting, Libby, Libby & Hodge, 11th Edition, McGraw Hill, with Connect Homework Subscription, from McGraw-Hill “A letter from Prison” – HBS case studies
Program Learning Goals
Knowledge of Functional Business Disciplines: Demonstrate knowledge of all core functional areas of business and an ability to integrate them into a meaningful firm level perspective.
Analytical Decision Making: Demonstrate the ability to analyze uncertain complex management situations using appropriate tools, techniques, and information systems for decision making.
Ethics and Responsibility: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical decision making considerations, corporate social responsibilities and sustainability practices.
Course Objectives
- To provide students a framework to understand how financial reporting depicts underlying economic events
- To enable students to prepare financial statements for a business
- To enable students to conduct financial statement analysis to assess profitability, liquidity, and solvency of a business
- To provide students with an understanding of how different accounting methods impact financial statements
- To allow students to recognize the role of ethical decision making in an accounting context
Grading
Letter grades will be assigned based on total points earned by students completing all course requirements as follows:
| Item | Percentage |
| Midterm | 25% |
| Final Exam | 40% |
| Weekly Canvas exercises (Individual work) | 10% |
| Financial Statement Analysis – Connect Assignment (group work) | 8% |
| A letter from prison case (group work) | 7% |
| Connect Homework Assignments (Individual work) | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
The final grade will be based on the following scale:
| Grade | % Earned |
| A | 94-100 |
| A- | 90-93 |
| B+ | 87-89 |
| B | 84-86 |
| B- | 80-83 |
| C | 70-79 |
| F | Below 70 |
Connect Homework Assignments
(under “Assignments” on Canvas) are to be completed and submitted by the due date in Connect – this is individual and not group work. Usually, these dates are set after the week in which the material is covered in class. They are scored automatically and comprise 10% of course grade. Financial Statement Analysis Assignment is a group assignment. Solutions to all Connect Assignments are available only after the due date. Do these assignments through the Connect links on Canvas and not directly through Connect website so that your scores are reflected on Canvas. Assignments are due by midnight on the day prior to class days i.e. Monday midnight (see Canvas for due dates). Consultation (not copying) such as asking clarification questions to a fellow student is allowed on the Weekly homework but not on Exams.
HBS Case Studies
These are based on the questions posted for the case studies. Students work in groups in submitting these. Members of the group are expected to participate equally in group-work, and if a group member’s contribution is significantly less, that will result in point penalties.
Pre-Class (recorded) Lectures
Every week will have an assigned pre-class lecture material (audio or video file) posted on Canvas. It is important to listen/view this material prior to class as it will not be covered in class and the class discussion will build on that material.
Additional Problems on Connect
are not required to be submitted. If you need more practice with the homework type of problems, these are the ones to try. Solutions are available on Connect for these problems.
Grade Expectations
To attain an “A” grade, a good performance in exams is required. A good approach to exams would be to attain mastery of:
- Problems solved in lectures
- Assignments for each chapter in the text book and additional problems
- Relevant examples and other material in the text
Student Expectations
- Read the assigned chapters before we discuss the material in class.
- Be professional and respectful at all times.
- Ensure you are receiving email to your George Mason University address.
Extra Credit
No provisions exist for obtaining extra credit in GBUS 613.
Missed Exam
Make-up exams are not given. In the event of an extraordinary circumstance, notify your instructor by email prior to the scheduled exam time. A make-up exam may be administered with documented support (e.g., doctor’s note) of an extraordinary circumstance.
Connect Website
The McGraw-Hill Connect website contains Connect Assignments to submit and LearnSmart. LearnSmart is an interactive and adaptive learning module which students may use to help in understanding the textbook material. Use of LearnSmart is optional.
Connect assignments are completed and submitted by all students prior to the due date. Links are provided on Canvas to the Connect assignments.
If you experience problems when working with the Connect website, please contact Connect Technical Support at (800) 331-5094.
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To download: Right-click and choose “Print,” then select “Save as PDF.”