UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS
College of Business
Joliet, IL 60435

ACCT 494 Topics: Accounting Information Systems
3 semester hours
Fall 2007 
MWF 8:00-8:50 a.m. 
Tower Hall N219
CRN 10007

Instructor: Tony Zordan, D.B.A., CPA, CMA
Professor of Accounting
Office: N212   815-740-3608
Home: 773-238-5558  (before 9 p.m. only)
Email: azordan@stfrancis.edu

Website: http://www.stfrancis.edu/cob/tonyz/Index.html

Office hours: MWF 9:00-9:45; 11:00-12:00; TR 8:30-9:15; and by appointment

Teaching hours: MWF 8:00-8:50 (N219); 10:00-10:50 (C105) TR 9:30-10:45 (C105)
Approximate on-campus hours: MTWRF 8:00-4:00

USF MISSION STATEMENT:
As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion, and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the College of Business is to offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that are career oriented and focus on academic excellence.  Undergraduate programs are designed for traditional and nontraditional students providing a blend of professional studies and a strong liberal arts curriculum. Graduate programs are designed for working professionals and are practitioner based. All programs in the College of Business are driven by the University’s Catholic Franciscan mission. The College seeks to inspire in its students a love of knowledge and truth and to instill the Franciscan values of respect, compassion, integrity and service.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:
ACCT 225 Intermediate Accounting I or consent

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an examination of integrated enterprise information systems with the core infrastructure designed such that accounting information may be retrieved without the need for journals and ledgers. Although REA systems can be developed using any number of technology solutions, this particular course employs a relational database management software package called Microsoft Access.  This is not a technology course; however you will apply theoretical concepts learned using computers and will thereby learn to use the computer as a tool for developing business solutions. This course focuses primarily on understanding business processes and the pattern-based thinking that enables understanding of a wide variety of business processes in many different types of firms in various industries.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop an understanding of:

• the interactions of organizations with their external business partners, especially the flows of resources between the organizations and their partners
• transaction cycles in organizations, and the resource flows that connect the transaction cycles to form a value chain
• conceptual modeling constructs in general and the constructs of the Resources-Events-Agents Enterprise Ontology in particular
• procedures for converting conceptual models into logical relational models and then into physical relational databases using Microsoft Access
• information retrieval/querying a relational database, particularly Microsoft Access
• risks and controls associated with business processes and enterprise software systems

2. To develop the ability to think analytically and independently.

3.  To improve written, verbal, and computing communication skills.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Dunn, C. L., Cherrington, J. O., Hollander, A. S. (2005). Enterprise Information Systems: A Pattern-Based Approach, 3e. McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston. ISBN 0-07-240429-9
Microsoft Access
One red pen or pencil.

OPTIONAL MATERIALS:
"The Wall Street Journal"

CLASS POLICY / FORMAT:         
The above objectives will be met through lectures / discussions, problem solving, discussion of current events, examinations and quizzes. I expect that you will have read the assigned material before class at least once. You should attempt to outline the chapter before class, then annotate your notes from the lecture material. Students are encouraged to visit the text’s website at www.mhhe.com/dunn3e  The website contains quizzes, the PowerPoint slides and other aids.

Attendance is strongly recommended and is mandatory on the days tests are given. Excessive absences (>6) will affect your grade. Each absence above this number will reduce your total points by 10. As an alternative, the professor, at his discretion, may assign additional work. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. You are responsible for all material discussed, handed out or assigned in class even if you are absent. Please make every effort to be on time for class.  (Two tardies = one absence.) Please dress modestly and don’t wear hats in class. Note the required event on October 22 and plan to attend.

EXAMS:
There will be two exams of varying weights. Each exam will consist of multiple choice and entity-relationship diagrams. If you must miss an exam due to a hardship you must talk to me before the exam. Failure to do this may result in a zero for that exam. Also, clearly mark your answers. If you answer on the back, clearly note this. No cell phones can be used during exams.

Cheating will not be tolerated. The guidelines on academic integrity in the University Catalog (p. 24) state that breaches of academic integrity constitute serious offenses. Students have an obligation to exhibit honesty in carrying out their academic assignments. Students may be found to have violated this obligation if they plagiarize or cheat. Plagiarism is presenting the work of others as one's own; cheating is giving, taking, or accepting any illicit advantage for any course work inside or outside the classroom.

HOMEWORK / WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (WA):                   
In order to gain a thorough understanding of the topics covered in this class it is essential that your homework be completed before class. We will review your completed homework in class. You should be prepared to present your solutions in class and defend them. Any corrections or additions should be made in red. The homework for most chapters will be collected after class. Occasionally, I will collect, log in and return homework at the beginning of class. It is worth two to three points per chapter. When submitting homework, please do not write on the back side of the page or use paper with frayed edges. Use a staple or paper clip. You must make an honest effort at each problem to receive credit. Several short writing assignments will be used.

No late homework / WA will be accepted (i.e., after the end of the class in which it is covered). Normally, your homework cannot "attend" class without you. Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Again, see the guidelines on academic integrity in the University Catalog.

Additional readings and problems will be assigned at the discretion of the professor.

QUIZZES:     
Two types of quizzes will be used throughout the course. Chapter online quizzes at the authors’ website should be submitted to me via email before the class when that chapter will begin to be discussed. They are worth 2 points each if submitted correctly and on time. Several take home quizzes will also be assigned.

COMPUTER PROJECTS:
Several projects will be assigned. The first will be a small introductory exercise that familiarizes students with Access. Others will involve financial statement preparation for Ventura Vehicles and Tapco. These will be done with Access and a spreadsheet package. Further instructions will be provided.

WITHDRAWAL / DROP:
The last day to drop this course is August 31, 2007. In order to withdraw from this course submit the appropriate form, signed by myself and your advisor, to the Registrar by Friday, November 2, 2007.

GRADING SYSTEM: (no extra credit)

OTHER:  The University strives to be in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. To this end, students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements are encouraged to register with the Office of Disability Services to discuss access issues.  Please call 815-740-5060 or visit the Library  L 214 to coordinate accommodations.

Tutoring and other assistance can also be found in the Academic Resource Center.  Stop in or call 815-740-5060 for more information or tutoring times.

Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of your will.

ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (43 MWF days plus final)
Fall 2007
Homework is DUE on the date indicated. Note: Additional homework may be assigned. The schedule is subject to change.