Course Coordinator:Peter Baxter (pbaxter@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton BayUniSC Caboolture |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
This course is a key introductory course for students who wish to complete an accounting degree and pursue a career in the accounting profession. It is also beneficial for students from other disciplines as it stresses the importance of accounting knowledge in the modern business environment. It is structured so that you will learn how to apply the concepts and processes of financial accounting and develop an introductory understanding of how accounting information is used for management decision making. In this course you will apply critical thinking skills to analyse business transactions, complete the accounting cycle, prepare and analyse financial statements, and evaluate internal controls, and you will develop skills in digital literacy using business software applications.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activities | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – In-class workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activities | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Interactive zoom tutorial | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
Introduction to accounting and business decision making
Business structures
Task 2 groups
Business transactions
Statement of financial position
Statement of profit or loss
Statement of cashflows and cash controls
Analysis and interpretation of financial statements
Budgeting
Cost-volume-profit analysis
Financing the business
Performance measurement
Accounting software (MYOB)
100 Level (Introductory)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business | |
1 | Understand and interpret accounting-related knowledge and information and apply such knowledge and information in a business context for decision making. | Knowledgeable |
PC3, PC3.1, PC6, PC6.2 |
2 | Use critical thinking to identify, analyse and solve problems in diverse areas of accounting. | Creative and critical thinker |
PC3, PC3.1 |
3 | Apply technical, software and oral communication skills to the field of accounting. | Empowered |
PC1.1, PC1.2, PC1.3 |
4 | Participate in group work and set goals to obtain appropriate outcomes | Engaged |
PC2, PC2.1, PC6.1 |
5 | Develop interpersonal skills and reflective practice | Empowered |
PC2.1, PC6.1 |
CODE | COMPETENCY |
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business | |
PC1.1 | Written Communication |
PC1.2 | Oral Communication |
PC1.3 | Digital Literacy |
PC2 | Collaboration |
PC2.1 | Teamwork |
PC3 | Creative and Critical Thinking |
PC3.1 | Problem Solving |
PC6 | Career-ready |
PC6.1 | Self-management |
PC6.2 | Discipline Knowledge |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Students will have online access to formative/practice quizzes throughout the semester. Feedback on incorrect responses will be automatically generated. Students will receive regular feedback on their progress during weekly tutorials and guidance on Task 2 assignment preparation.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 20% | 40 mins (2 x 20 mins) |
Refer to Format | Online Test (Quiz) |
All | 2a | Case Study | Group | 20% | N/A |
Week 10 | Online Submission |
All | 2b | Written Piece | Individual | 10% | Approx. 600 words |
Week 10 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 50% | 90 minutes |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1:Multiple-choice quizzes | |
Goal: | To use critical thinking to identify, analyse and solve problems; to show that you understand and can interpret commerce-related knowledge and information and apply such knowledge |
Product: | Quiz/zes |
Format: | Completion of 2 online multi-choice quizzes in weeks 3 and 5. |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 2a:Accounting practice simulation | |
Goal: | To apply introductory accounting concepts to practical scenarios and demonstrate completing the accounting cycle. To collaborate and work as a group to develop a single product. |
Product: | Case Study |
Format: | Completion of steps in the financial accounting process using a spreadsheet template. |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 2b:Self Reflection and Peer Assessment | |
Goal: | To present a reflection of your individual contribution to the group task and to conduct a peer assessment of the group performance. To explain the collaborative approaches, challenges and learnings developed during the group component. |
Product: | Written Piece |
Format: | Written answers to several reflective questions and rating of contributions of all group members. |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Examination | |
Goal: | The aim is to examine the accounting knowledge and theory learnt in this course. |
Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | This assessment task is an online, open-book and invigilated exam. |
Criteria: |
|
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Period and Topic | Activities |
Module 1 |
Introduction to accounting and business decision making |
Module 2 |
Business structures |
Module 3 |
Task 2 groups |
Module 4 |
Business transactions |
Module 5 |
Statement of financial position |
Module 6 |
Statement of profit or loss |
Module 7 |
Statement of cashflows and cash controls |
Module 8 |
Analysis and interpretation of financial statements |
Module 9 |
Budgeting |
Module 10 |
Cost-volume-profit analysis |
Module 11 |
Financing the business |
Module 12 |
Performance measurement |
Module 13 |
Accounting software (MYOB) |
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Required | Jacqueline Birt,Keryn Chalmers,Suzanne Maloney,Albie Brooks,Judy Oliver,David Bond | 2023 | Accounting: Business Reporting for Decision Making, 8th Edition | 8 | n/a |
It is your responsibility to have a calculator and access to a personal computer.
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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