CQUniversity Unit Profile
ACCT19082 Financial Accounting Theory
Financial Accounting Theory
All details in this unit profile for ACCT19082 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will engage you to critically evaluate financial accounting theories in a range of traditional and contemporary accounting contexts. Theories are examined within areas including the accounting framework, capital market, regulatory environment, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, international accounting and from a critical perspective. You will be required to analyse and critically evaluate accounting theories and research, as well as aspects of the accounting discipline, by formulating and communicating academic arguments.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisite: ACCT19062

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
2. Examination
Weighting: 60%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student evaluations.

Feedback

A clearer explanation of assessment requirements would be beneficial.

Recommendation

An improved rubric will be included for all future written assessments, as well as early guidance on how to research for a theory assignment.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the role of research and theory in accounting
  2. Critically evaluate a number of accounting theories
  3. Justify the selection of an accounting theory in specific contexts
  4. Discuss issues with the standardisation of accounting practices across a culturally-diverse global envinorment
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Examination - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Examination - 60%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Financial Accounting Theory

4th edition (2014)
Authors: Deegan, Craig
McGraw-Hill
North Ryde North Ryde , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780071013147
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Note:

There will also be an e-version of the textbook available for students to purchase. Students can access

E-text via this link:

http://www.mheducation.com.au/9781743074626-aus-vitalsource-ebook-online-access-for-financial-accounting-theory


IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Gerard Ilott Unit Coordinator
g.ilott@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 05 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

An introduction to the theoretical perspectives of accounting

Chapter

Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written assessment (assessment 1) available in Moodle this week

Week 2 Begin Date: 12 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

The regulation of financial accounting

Chapter

Chapters 2 & 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 19 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

International experiences in financial accounting

Chapter

Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 26 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Normative theories of accounting regarding value and measurement

Chapter

Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Normative theories of accounting - Conceptual framework projects

Chapter

Chapter 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 09 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 16 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Positive accounting theory regarding the voluntary disclosure of accounting information

Chapter

Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 23 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Systems-oriented theories regarding unregulated/voluntary disclosure decisions

Chapter

Chapter 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

 

Week 8 Begin Date: 30 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Theories regarding corporate accountability: Social and environmental reporting

Chapter

Chapter 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment Due: Week 8 Monday (30 Apr 2018) 9:00 am AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 07 May 2018

Module/Topic

Theories concerning reactions (responses) of capital markets and individuals to accounting information

Chapter

Chapter 10 & 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 14 May 2018

Module/Topic

Alternative perspectives of accounting: Critical and post-structuralist views

Chapter

Chapter 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam advice available in Moodle this week

Week 11 Begin Date: 21 May 2018

Module/Topic

Contemporary issues

Chapter

Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 28 May 2018

Module/Topic

Unit Review

Chapter

Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 04 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

This will be an individual assignment of approximately 3,000 words in total (excluding the executive summary, introduction, conclusion and references). You are required to provide a literature review on a topic provided on the Moodle site for this unit. A list of possible topics will be provided in Moodle. You are to select one topic and write a literature review.

Details will be provided in Moodle on how to research and write a literature review.



Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (30 Apr 2018) 9:00 am AEST

Online submission via Moodle.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (18 May 2018)

Assignments will be returned to students via Moodle.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

This assessment will be assessed on the basis of the following:

  • Quality of the literature review (70%)
  • Quality of your English expression (15%)
  • Quality of your written presentationt (15%).

References must be presented as per APA or Harvard style of referencing. Details of the assessment marking criteria will be provided in Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the role of research and theory in accounting
  • Critically evaluate a number of accounting theories
  • Justify the selection of an accounting theory in specific contexts


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
60%

Length
180 minutes

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?