Course Co-Ordinator
Associate Professor Janice Loftus
Location: 13:10, Level 13, 10 Pulteney Street (Nexus 10)
Telephone: 8313 1024
email: janice.loftus@adelaide.edu.au

The objectives of Accounting Theory III are that students should:

1. Develop an understanding of accounting policy choices available or under consideration for application within International Financial Reporting Standards;
2. Be able to think critically about underlying theories, concepts, assumptions and arguments in accounting;
3. Be able to apply understanding of accounting principles and knowledge of accounting techniques to solve financial reporting problems;
4. Be able to effectively utilise oral and written communication skills to further learning and impart understanding of accounting issues to others; and
5. Appreciate the importance of ethical reasoning and social and cultural considerations in professional accounting practice.

Rankin, M., P. Stanton, S. McGowan, K. Ferlauto and M. Tilling, Contemporary Issues in Accounting, 2012, John Wiley and Sons, Australia. AND

Accounting/Financial Reporting Handbook
       Financial Reporting Handbook 2015, John Wiley & Sons, Australia (ICAA Handbook).*

* E-book is available.

Please note: The 2015 Handbook will also be very helpful to those studying Corporate Accounting III.

Readings
At relevant sections of the course additional prescribed readings elaborate on, or supplement, items in the prescribed texts. These readings are provided via links on MyUni or are available in the Barr Smith library.

If you are seeking additional reading in relation to assumed knowledge you should refer to:

• Your Financial Accounting II textbook
• Deegan, C. (2014). Financial Accounting Theory, 4th Edition.McGraw-Hill, Australia.
• Godfrey, J., A. Hodgson, A. Tarca, J. Hamilton and S. Holmes, Accounting Theory, 7th Edition, 2010, John Wiley and Sons, Australia.
• Henderson, S., G. Peirson, K. Herbohn, T. Artiach and B.Howieson (2013) Issues in Financial Accounting, 15h edition. Pearson Education Australia. (or 2010 edition)
• Leo, K., J. Hoggett and J. Sweeting (2012) Company Accounting, 9th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, N. Boys, S. Daniliuc, B. Luke, H.N. Ang and K. Byrnes, Financial Reporting, John Wiley & Sons Australia
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, R. Picker, V. Wise and K. Clark (2013), Understanding Australian Accounting Standards, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia (or the customised publication used in Financial Accounting II)

Resources to assist in developing communication skills:

The writing centre provides academic learning and language development services and resources for local and international students including drop-in consultations: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/

An internationally recognised volunteer program is also available to provide language support for students from non-English Speaking Backgrounds who have an additional need to improve their oral communication:http://international.adelaide.edu.au/life/current/talkaussies/ 

Students should refer to the course website for certain required readings and additional references as directed. The website also includes links to some useful websites.

https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login/

At this advanced level of study you are much more responsible for the quality of your learning than when you first entered university. Accordingly, active rather than passive learning is emphasised. For each topic there are self-study questions; and tutorial questions.

Self-study questions

Self-study questions facilitate your comprehension of the content of the prescribed readings. Guidance on self-study questions is provided on MyUni. Your learning will be enhanced by attempting the questions before referring to the guidance notes to assess your response.

Tutorial questions

Tutorial questions are generally more challenging than self-study questions because they emphasise analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information, as well as the development of creative solutions to problems. There are two types of tutorial questions:

• Tutorial questions that you should attempt in preparation for the tutorial; and
• In-class activities, which are to be completed during tutorials.

Students in this course are expected to attend one lecture and one tutorial class each week.
· Lectures : 2 hours per week, commencing Thursday, 30 July 2015
· Tutorials: 1.5 hours per week, Tutorials START week commencing Monday, 3 August 2015

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units/semester) to devote a total of 48 hours/week to their studies. Accounting Theory III is a three-unit course and you are expected to commit 8 - 9 hours of private study outside of your regular classes.

Wk       Starting               Topic
               PART I – INTRODUCTION
1         27/07/15              Key Questions in Accounting Policy Choice
               PART II – WHY IS THERE CHOICE OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES?
2         03/08/15              Regulatory context - True and fair view and conceptual framework
               PART III – ACCOUNTING POLICY – DEFINITION, RECOGNITION, MEASUREMENT & DISCLOSURE
3         10/08/15              Definition and recognition
4         17/08/15              Measurement and disclosure
5         24/08/15              Accounting policy choice applied: transactions with customers-I
6         31/08/15              Accounting policy choice applied: transactions with customers-II
               PART IV – ETHICS AND ACCOUNTING
7         07/09/15              Role of ethics: accounting policy choice
8         14/09/15              Economic Consequences of Accounting Policy Choice

               MID-SEMESTER BREAK
 
9         05/10/15              Capital Markets Research
10       12/10/15               Behavioural Accounting Research
               PART V1 – ACCOUNTING POLICY CHOICE APPLIED
11       19/10/15               Social & Environmental Reporting - Carbon Trading
               PART VII – CHOICE OF GAAP
12       26/10/15               Revision

Assessment Summary
A variety of assessment tasks are used to reflect your knowledge and understanding of the content covered and your progress in achieving the learning objectives for Accounting Theory III. 

Requirements
To pass this course, a mark of at least 50% must be obtained on the final exam, as well as a total of at least 50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49.

Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details: Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. This course makes use of the “Harvard” system of referencing. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide for Business Programmes (look under ‘downloads’):
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/professions/hub/ug/downloads/ This booklet also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills (including writing essays and reports, making oral presentations etc.).

Late Assignment Submission: Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain fairness and equity. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. Unless subject to an extension (by prior arrangement) assignments will be penalised by a 10% mark reduction (10% of the maximum mark) for each day, or part thereof, that it is late.

Extensions for assignments may be granted under special circumstances. An extension request based on illness or exceptional personal circumstances must include the Supporting Statement/Certification Form, of the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment application form at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html
Students applying for an extension based on medical reasons must visit their medical practitioner, with that approved University form, and have the medical practitioner complete it. A doctor's certificate will not be accepted. Any student seeking an extension must contact the course co-ordinator PRIOR to the due date. Extensions, except on medical grounds, cannot be given after the due date.

Marking of Assignments: Staff will aim to complete marking communicate feedback and grades to students within three weeks of submission.

Assessment Detail
The assessment components are as follows:

Assignment 18%
Due Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2015, on or before 6.00 pm 

Mid-semester Test (Week 6) 20%
A 50-minute, closed-book test will covering topics one to four, inclusive. This assessment task relates to learning objectives a) - e). Further details, including location(s), will be posted on MyUni. There will be no face-to-face lecture in week 6. The lecture for week 6 will be provided as a MyMedia recording only.
Tutorial Activities: 12%
This assessment task relates to learning objectives a) – e). Marks are NOT awarded for merely attending tutorials. Tutorial participation marks will be awarded for participation in various activities, including:
· Writing tasks (best two of three) (4 marks)
· Homework (4 marks), and
· Engagement in general class discussion and in-class activities (4 marks).

Homework: Completed homowork must be uploaded on MyUni each week by 5.30 p.m  on the day before your scheduled tutoiral. The homework will be assessed four times per semester. Students are not given prior knowledge of the weeks in which homework will be assessed.

Writing Tasks: Writitng task will be conducted during tutorials. The writing tasks are intended to help develop your written communication skills. Students are not given prior notice of scheduling of writing tasks. You can prepare for the writing task by completing the self-study questions and tutorial questions that have been set as preparation for each tutorial class.

Engagement in General Discussion: This is an assessment of your ability to answer questions when your tutor directs a question to you as well as contributing to general class discussion and in-class activities. Your ability to discuss your prepared answers in class is an important part of tutorial participation. Your participation will be assessed on how often you engage in class discussion of tutorial questions, the quality of your contribution and the extent to which you comply with appropriate tutorial etiquette (as described in this course outline under Teaching and learning Activities – Teaching and learning modes). The full range of the marking scale will be used – if you attend every tutorial but make no contribution whatsoever, you should expect to be awarded zero for this assessment item.

Final Exam 50%
There will be a three-hour exam. This assessment task relates to learning objectives a) – d). The Financial Reporting Handbook will be permitted in the final examination (Hard copies only; e-books not permitted). This must be unannotated and contain no inserts or other material. It is permissible for the Handbook to include highlighted text. Handbooks will be checked and offenders may face penalties for cheating. In this course, only calculators incapable of storing text are permitted in the final examination. You are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign) into the examination. Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment process. Poor or illegible handwriting may result in marks not being awarded.

Presentation of Assignments
The assignment may be completed individually or in groups of up to three students. The assignment relates to learning objectives (a) to (e). Criteria for assessing the assignment will be provided with the instructions.

· Assignments must be submitted electronically through MyUni Turnitin Assignments, which is a computer programme that detects plagiarism.
· Please retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
· All group members are expected to contribute approximately equally to a group assignment.