Overview
This unit engages students to establish an advanced understanding of the nature and development of accounting theory and its application and regulation. It builds on the students' technical skills and their foundational knowledge of accounting practice. The topics covered include the history and development of accounting, traditional approaches to the formulation of accounting, standard setting and institutional arrangements, harmonisation of accounting standards, a range of theoretical perspectives and the links between accounting theory, research and practice. If you have successfully completed the unit ACCT29083 you should not enrol in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must successfully complete ACCT20071 Foundations of Financial Accounting prior to enrolling in this unit.
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
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Unit evaluations.
The major assignment needed clearer explanation of requirements.
Improved instructions will be posted on Moodle for the Major Assignment.
- Analyse, interpret and report on given business situations using appropriate accounting theories.
- Evaluate and apply theories of corporate governance to given business situations.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and regulatory environment, and compare it to environments in other countries. This will include reporting on the progress of international harmonisation project.
- Evaluate and report on the role of theories as abstractions of reality and their application in real world phenomena.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - 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 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Financial Accounting Theory
Edition: 4e (2014)
Authors: C Deegan
North Ryde North Ryde , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780071013147
Binding: Other
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
g.ilott@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
An introduction to theoretical perspectives of accounting.
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The regulation of financial accounting
Chapter
2 & 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
International experiences in financial accounting
Chapter
4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Normative theories: value and measurement
Chapter
5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Normative theories: the conceptual framework projects
Chapter
6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: Positive Accounting Theory
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: systems theories
Chapter
8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: Accountability, social and environmental reporting
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Positive theories concerning the use of, and response to accounting information
Chapter
10 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Alternative perspectives of accounting: critical and post-structuralist views
Chapter
12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Contemporary issues
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Unit review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment item is an individual task. It includes two online tests of 10 marks each. Each test will consist of 20 randomly generated questions of 0.5 marks each.
Both tests will appear in Moodle on Monday of Week 6 and remain open until the due date and time provided. While the tests are available, you may undertake either test at any time of your choosing. You may undertake each test once only. Make sure you are prepared.
Once started, each test will be available for 40 minutes.
The online tests will cover the following material:
Online Test 1: Modules 1–6.
Online Test 2: Modules 7–11.
Each test will generate 20 questions from a large pool of questions covering the specified modules. That means that in any one online test, the modules may not be covered equally.
Any student who experiences technical difficulties with Moodle or network communications while trying to do these tests should email the unit coordinator immediately, and where appropriate a second attempt may be arranged.
Students must carefully note the due date and time for these tests. The online tests will disappear once this deadline has passed and will not be made available after this time. You are expected to ensure that you have undertaken the tests within the time period provided. If you are planning on doing any of these tests on the night of closing, then be prepared for the risks of doing this. There may be many other students trying to access Moodle at the same time, Moodle may not be available, or there could be other difficulties. This will be unfortunate, but the online tests will not be opened up again. Please do not try and do your tests on the last day or night.
2
Other
Exam Week Friday (15 June 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Results are made available as soon as the test is submitted.
The results of these online quizzes will be made available as soon as the quiz is submitted.
Each question is worth 0.5% of the overall unit assessment. Each question is multiple choice, with only one correct (or most correct) answer.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and regulatory environment, and compare it to environments in other countries. This will include reporting on the progress of international harmonisation project.
- Evaluate and report on the role of theories as abstractions of reality and their application in real world phenomena.
- Knowledge
- Research
2 Written Assessment
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.
Week 6 Monday (16 Apr 2018) 9:00 am AEST
Week 8 Friday (4 May 2018)
You will be assessed on:
- Quality of your literature review (80%)
- Quality of your English expression (10%)
- The readability (presentation) of your report (10%).
You must use either the Harvard or APA style of referencing. Proper referencing is expected, and up to 5 marks may be withdrawn in penalty if instances of poor referencing are found.
- Analyse, interpret and report on given business situations using appropriate accounting theories.
- Evaluate and apply theories of corporate governance to given business situations.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and regulatory environment, and compare it to environments in other countries. This will include reporting on the progress of international harmonisation project.
- Evaluate and report on the role of theories as abstractions of reality and their application in real world phenomena.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
3 Written Assessment
A series of short answer questions, which will include at least one large case study, will be provided at the beginning of Week 11 and must be submitted at the end of Week 12. A study plan will be provided for you at the beginning of Week 10.
All students will be expected to submit their answers to the questions by the due time and date. Extensions to the due time will only be considered when compelling and clear evidence is presented concerning a student's incapacity to submit.
If an extension is granted, the student will be provided with a different set of questions to answer, and will only have five (5) days to complete and submit the answers.
Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Submission must be made by the secure upload facility in Moodle.
This assessment item will not be returned to students until final grades for this unit are certified. Students are asked to check the Moodle site after that time.
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated understanding of the unit material and the ability to apply that material to the assessment question (80% of total marks);
- Effective communication: you are able to write a coherent and logical argument in support of your answers (10%);
- Presentation: Your assignment is formatted appropriately, and uses proper spelling, grammar and style (10%);
- Referencing: The University's Harvard or APA referencing style must be used (no marks are provided for referencing—proper referencing is expected. Penalties will be applied for poor referencing).
- Analyse, interpret and report on given business situations using appropriate accounting theories.
- Evaluate and apply theories of corporate governance to given business situations.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and regulatory environment, and compare it to environments in other countries. This will include reporting on the progress of international harmonisation project.
- Evaluate and report on the role of theories as abstractions of reality and their application in real world phenomena.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
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?
