Vietnam National University – HCMC

International University
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

COURSE SYLLABUS*
BA005IU
Financial Accounting

Note: The outline with specific venue and time, and updated learning
materials for the current semester will be provided to the enrolled students
by the lecturer
BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

1. COURSE STAFF

Lecturer: Dr. Nguyen Thi Le Ha

Room: O1. 307
E-mail: [email protected]
Consultation hours: Wednesday (13:30 – 15:30)

Teaching Assistant: TBA

E-mail:

Should the students wish to meet the staff outside the consultation hours, they are advised
to make appointment in advance (via email)

2. COURSE INFORMATION

2.1 Teaching Times and Locations

Time Room
Monday, 13:15-16:30 A2.205
Wednesday, 8:00-10:30 A1.201

2.2 Units of Credit

This course is worth 3 credits.

2.3 Parallel teaching in the course

There is no parallel teaching involved in this course.

2.4 Relationship of this course to others

BA005IU– Financial Accounting is the entry-level course which explores the basis of
accounting that would be beneficial to student seeking a degree in the business area.
Students will be introduced to the importance of accounting within the business
environment and how accounting information can be utilized to facilitate business
decisions. Students who decide to choose the Accounting and Finance major may go on
to take the course Managerial Accounting or Auditing in the following semesters, which
will focus on evaluating and auditing firms, and report information to stakeholders.

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

2.5 Approach to learning and teaching

The lecturer will utilize the following methods of instruction: lecture, on-class tutorial,
end-of-chapter activities, and self-study. Students are also encouraged to seek assistance
outside class from the lecturer / tutor or through group tutoring.
It is noted that the course materials, including the handouts and tutorial notes, will be
uploaded on Blackboard to help the students to preview the materials and to concentrate
on listening and critical thinking.

3. COURSE AIMS AND OUTCOMES

3.1 Course Aims

This course develops a basic understanding on the theories, principles, and applications
of accounting and financial reporting, essentials in the IFRS standard, including topics
such as the theory of debit and credit, accounts, special journals, the accounting cycle,
notes and interest, accruals and deferrals, cash, receivables, inventory, fixed assets, and
the analysis of financial statements. In general, its primary aim is to provide the basic
knowledge in preparing and processing accounting transactions in order to present
financial details in a relevant and effective manner, as well as interpreting the accounting
information for different types of external and internal investors, management and other
accounting information users.

3.2 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successfully accomplishing the course, students should be able to:
- Identify the importance of accounting information in decision making and the role
it plays within the business environment
- Appreciate, understand and demonstrate the relevant procedures of the accounting
information life cycle and transformation of accounting information during this
process, and
- Comprehend the development of accounting principles and policies through
accounting theories and undertakings of the accounting professions

In generic terms, students completing this course are likely to achieve the following
attributes:
 In-depth knowledge of the field of the study: A comprehensive and well-founded
knowledge of the field of the study. All of the course objectives combined with
lead to a comprehensive introduction to the field of accounting.

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

 Effective communication: The ability to collect, analyze and organize information

and to convey the information clearly and fluently, in both written and spoken
forms.
 Critical judgment: The ability to define and analyze problems, as well as to
evaluate statements information, make decisions and reflect critically on the
justification for decisions.

3.3 Teaching Strategies

The learning system in this course consists of lectures and scheduled tutorials. Lectures
elaborate the appropriate theoretical content in the textbook and provide a more detailed
and refined analysis of both concepts and applied materials. Students are expected to
read prior to lecture attendance in order to gain maximum benefit from lectures.
This applies to all of your university studies. Coming in ‘cold’ to lectures without some
prior reading makes note-taking that much more difficult. Be aware that you may have to
skim some of these for additional information. In fact, a ‘skim read’ before lectures is
most appropriate and valuable.
From the third week, a three-hour tutorial will be offered every 2 weeks and will cover
selected tutorial questions and homework.

4. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT

4.1 Workload

It is expected that the students will spend at least nine hours per week studying this
course. This time should be made up of reading, working on exercises and problems, and
attending classes. In periods where they need to complete assignments or prepare for
examinations, the workload may be greater.

Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. They should take the
required workload into account when planning how to balance study with part-time jobs
and other activities.

4.2 Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance at lectures is expected in this course. University

regulations indicate that if students attend less than eighty per cent of scheduled classes
they may be refused final assessment. Exemptions may only be made on medical
grounds.

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

5. LEARNING ASSESSMENT

5.1 Formal Requirements

In order to pass this course, the students must:
 achieve a composite mark of at least 50; and
 make a satisfactory attempt at all assessment tasks (see below).

5.2 Assessment Details

Mid-Term Exam 30%

Assignment/Participation/Test 30%
Final Exam 40%
Total 100%
Assessment Rationale
Assignment/Participation/Test: Students are required do exercises and problems on
every class date. Students’ participation are highly recommended.
Examination: Mid-term and final tests will be a combination of MCQ, short answer
questions, and application problems.
Programmable calculators will not be allowed for use during the exam. The use of
programmable calculator will result in receiving a zero for the exam.
The examination schedule and room will be announced by the Office of Academic Affair.
Any issues regarding the administration of, timetabling of and non-attendance at final
examinations need to be directed to the Office of Academic Affair. These issues are not
the responsibility of the individual lecturer.
Others: Students will not be allowed to attend the final exam if result of either
homework or mid-term exam is zero mark.

5.3 Class participation and Presentation

A minimum attendance of 80 percent is compulsory. Students will be assessed on the

basis of class attendance and participation

5.6 Special Consideration

Request for special consideration (for final examination only) must be made to the Office
of Academic Affairs within one week after the examination. General policy and
information on special consideration can be found at the Office of Academic Affairs.

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

6. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own (definition
proposed by the University of Newcastle). Students are also reminded that careful time
management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism
is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting,
and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items. The university
regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding
plagiarism.

7. STUDENT RESOURCES

7.1 Course Resources

Textbook:

Accounting Principles IFRS Version, Global Edition, by: Jerry J. Weygandt; Paul D.
Kimmel; Donald E. Kieso

Accounting, 26E editions, by Carl S Warren, James M Reeve, Jonathan Duchac

Reference Books:

Kaplan Publishing, from September 2017 to August 2018 inclusive, ACCA F3 Study
Text, Financial Accounting, ISBN: 978-1-78415-807-4

Additional materials

The lecturer will attempt to make lecture notes and additional reading available on
Blackboard. However, this is not an automatic entitlement for students doing this subject.
Note that this is not a distance learning course, and you are expected to attend lectures
and take notes. This way, you will get the additional benefit of class interaction and
demonstration.

7.2 Other Resources, Support and Information

Additional learning assistance is available for students in this course and will be made
available in Blackboard. Academic journal articles are available through connections via
the VNU - Central Library. Recommended articles will be duly informed to the students.

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

8. COURSE SCHEDULE
The following is the outline that sets topics for the course. The instructor reserves the
right to revise this outline throughout the semester to either add or delete material as
necessary to accomplish the goals of the course.

WEEK TOPICS READING

Lecture 1: Introduction to Accounting and Business

1
- The Nature of Accounting and Business Chapter 1
- Accounting Equation
- Financial Statements

Lecture 2: Analyzing Transactions

2
- Double-entry Accounting System Chapter 2
- Journalizing Entries and Posting Them to Accounts
- Trial Balance

3 Lecture 3: The Adjusting Process

Chapter 3
- Adjusting entries
- Adjusted Trial Balance

Lecture 4: Completing the Accounting Cycle

4
- Flow of Accounting Information Chapter 4
- Closing Entries
- Accounting Cycle

5 Lecture 5: Accounting for Merchandising Businesses

Chapter 5
- Financial Statements for a Merchandising Business
- Merchandising Transactions

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BA005IU VNU – International University
Financial Accounting School of Business

Lecture 6: Inventories
6 - Inventory Costing Methods
Chapter 6
- Reporting Merchandising Inventory in the Financial
Statements
- Estimating Inventory Cost
7
Revision session
8
Revision session
9
Midterm exam

10 Lecture 7: Receivables
Chapter 9
- Direct write-off method for Uncollectible Accounts
- Allowance Method for Uncollectible Accounts

11 Lecture 8: Fixed Assets

Chapter 10
- Plant Asset Expenditures
- Depreciation Methods

12 Lecture 8: Fixed Assets

Chapter 10
- Plant Asset Disposals
- Statement preparation and Analysis

13 Lecture 9: Current liabilities

Chapter 11
- Accounting for liabilities
- Reporting and Analyzing
14
Lecture 10: Financial Analysis Chapter 18
- Basics of Financial Statement Analysis
15
Review
16
Review

Final exam

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*
The syllabus is prepared following the format provided by the School of Organization and Management, University of New
South Wales, with kind permission.