Course Syllabus
Download syllabus here
Instructor: Mary Hill, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor, John T. Steed School of Accounting
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
There are no course prerequisites.
Course Materials
Textbook
Auditing & Assurance Services: A Systematic Approach (11th edition) by Messier, Glover, and Prawitt, McGraw-Hill-Irwin (US version required). Older editions will not be acceptable.
Systems Understanding Aid (9th edition) by Arens and Ward, Armond Dalton.
Scanning App
In this course, you will need to submit handwritten forms electronically. To do this, you'll need access to a scanner or download a free scanning app.
- Evernote Scannable (iOS (Links to an external site.))
- Tiny Scan (Android (Links to an external site.) & iOS (Links to an external site.))
- Genius Scan (Android (Links to an external site.) & iOS (Links to an external site.))
For more information about Course Materials, please read the Course Materials section in Module 0.
Grades
Breakdown
| ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS |
| Live Session Participation | 8 weeks @ 10 points each | 80 |
| Graded Reading | 8 weeks @ 5 points each | 40 |
| Quizzes | 8 quizzes @ 5 points each | 40 |
| Projects | 3 projects @ 40 points each | 120 |
| Midterms | 2 tests @ 100 points each | 200 |
| Final Exam | 1 exam @ 120 points each | 120 |
| 600 = Total |
Scale
Grades are assigned based on total points earned during the course. Traditional cutoffs (i.e., 90%, 80%, 70%, and 60%) will be used.
Course Components
Graded Readings
The assigned readings provide a deeper dive into each topic.
LearnSmart is an adaptive learning software, which contains the same content as the print book. You will be asked a series of questions over topics in the chapter. Based on your confidence in your answer and your ability to answer the questions correctly, you will be guided through the assignment until a sufficient level of mastery is achieved. These assignments are due before the Live Session.
Quizzes
Since Live Sessions are more effective when students read the related material prior to class, eight online quizzes will be given during the semester. Each of these must be completed prior to the beginning of the related lecture. Quizzes will assume a modest understanding of the material and will be comprised of multiple-choice questions.
Live Sessions
The purpose of lectures is to learn by discussing (i.e., by elaborating on, and applying course materials). Lectures at the beginning of the course focus on the relationship between accounting and auditing, the demand for assurance, and the value of financial statement audits. During this part of the course, students should develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of auditing, and basic knowledge of the auditing environment and auditing jargon. The course then shifts to the audit process (i.e., how to conduct audits). We will first learn how to plan basic financial statement audits. During this part of the course, we will focus on important concepts like materiality, audit risk, risk assessment, and audit strategies. We will then learn more about how to perform audit procedures and audit tests. During this part of the course, we will discuss financial statement assertions, different types of audit tests, evidence, sampling, analytical procedures, and documentation. Finally, we will spend time discussing the audit reporting process.
You're expected to attend and participate during each Live Session. These Live Sessions will count toward your final grade. There are two ways you can earn points:
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. To get credit for your attendance, indicate the date and time of the session you attended on the Live Session page in the module.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend on a particular day, please review the recording of the Live Session then submit the in-class activity.
Note: If you join the session > 30 minutes late or leave > 30 minutes early, you will be considered "absent". To receive full points, be sure to utilize option 1 or 2 for each of the Live Sessions to receive full points.
Projects
The purpose of projects is to learn by doing. Projects are designed to give students the chance to apply auditing concepts and develop professional judgment skills. They simulate the work typically performed by accountants and auditors in the real world. Projects are also designed to promote skills/competencies necessary for success as CPAs (e.g., Excel skills, critical thinking skills, etc.[1]). As in the real world, they may often require interaction with “supervisors” and/or “clients.”
There are three class projects during the semester, each requiring several hours to complete—mostly outside of class. As in the real world, projects have deadlines, so don’t procrastinate. Projects are relatively unstructured. This allows students to be creative, and to practice professional judgment. Some students find this frustrating due to the lack of objectively correct answers. Auditing tasks are typically quite unstructured; judgment is of primary importance. In most situations, there is not a single “correct” answer, but only conclusions that are considered “reasonable” because they are supported by evidence or logic. Projects require access to a computer as well as a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel. Students may seek guidance during the projects by contacting the professor. However, obtaining help from other students (including those from previous semesters) is considered cheating! Project deadlines are indicated in the attached schedule; however, they may be turned in early.
[1] See the AICPA Core Competency Framework at www.aicpa.org.
Exams
The purpose of exams is assessment. Exams include both multiple-choice and essay questions, and require memorization, comprehension, and application. In this course, you will have 2 Exams and 1 Comprehensive Final Exam. You will have 75 minutes to take the Exams and 2 hours to take the Final Exam. Exams must be taken during the scheduled exam window (2 days). Exams will be submitted automatically in Canvas at the due date.
If an exam is missed due to an excused absence, then the percentage score of the Final Exam will be applied to the missed exam. Approval for missing an exam must be obtained before the exam window. No points will be received for a missed exam if you do not obtain approval before the exam.
Exam 1 will be split into two parts: half of the points will cover material discussed in the Live Sessions and half of the points will cover concepts and procedures you learn by completing Project 1 (the Systems Understanding Aid packet). Exam 2 will cover topics discussed in the live sessions and principles you learn through completing Project 2. The final exam will be split between 80 percent new material discussed in the Live Sessions (along with principles you learn from completing Project 3) and 20 percent cumulative.
Course Policies
Communication
- If you have general questions about assignments, class logistics, due dates, etc., please post a question in the HELP BOARD in the “Start Here” module. You can post questions about the course here throughout the semester.
- If you have a personal question (grades, feedback, requests for special accommodation, etc.) please send me a private message via email. In the subject line, write “ACCT 4543" before your subject. For example, if you have a question about a grade, your email subject would read “ACCT 4543 online – grade inquiry”. It's helpful if you could send a screenshot of the issue.
- If you have general tech questions, please contact OU IT at needhelp@ou.edu.
All email sent by your professors will be sent to the email registered in your name at the University of Oklahoma.
Late Policy
I do not accept late work.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Catalog
Please familiarize yourself with the student catalog: http://catalog.ou.edu/courses/courses.htm
Online Library
Students can use the University of Oklahoma library by visiting: http://libraries.ou.edu/
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity, available at http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
Go to http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html to learn more about the rules for avoiding plagiarism. Watch this video and then test your skills in avoiding plagiarism by taking this plagiarism tutorial and quiz.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or visit the Disability Resource Center and other disability services at OU at: http://drc.ou.edu/
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please see www.ou.edu/content/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html for commonly asked questions.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24.7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of Admissions and Records or online at http://www.ou.edu/admissions/home/academic_calendar.html
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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