Syllabus for ACC-507
GOVERNMENT AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTING
Government and Not-for-Profit Organization Accounting analyzes and evaluates the accounting principles and techniques used by state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations. The course explores the role of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in establishing accounting standards and disclosure requirements for state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations. Course content illustrates the modified accrual basis of accounting and the classification of funds. This course also discusses the accounting measurements, recognition, and disclosures for certain transactions related to government-type and business-type activities. Additionally, the course analyzes the required financial statements for state and local governments as well as the required financial statements for not-for-profit organizations. Students will also analyze and discuss the financial reporting and disclosures required for local governments who have filed for bankruptcy.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO1 Differentiate government and not-for-profit financial reporting from accounting for business enterprises.
CO2 Analyze the financial reporting model for state and local governments.
CO3 Evaluate the basic concepts of budgetary accounting.
CO4 Analyze the accounting treatment for operating activities.
CO5 Examine accounting issues for capital assets and capital projects.
CO6 Analyze governmental activities related to long-term liabilities and debt services.
CO7 Evaluate the accounting recognition and financial statements for business-type activities.
CO8 Reconcile financial reporting at the government-wide level, including GASB requirements.
CO9 Assess the accounting and financial reporting requirements for not-for-profit organizations.
You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.
ISBN-13: 978-0078025822
Government and Not-for-Profit Organization Accounting is an eight-week, three-credit online course consisting of six modules and a final project. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete exercises from the textbook as well as written assignments, and complete a final project. See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
In addition to an ungraded Introductions Forum, you are required to participate in six graded online class discussions.
Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses.
All of these responses must be substantial. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.
You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions: responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, mature, and respectful.
Module exercises allow you to demonstrate mastery of key module objectives. Assigned exercises from the textbook should be responded to fully and completely.
You are required to complete six written assignments. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. Some assignments require relative short answers and others are brief papers between 2 and 4 pages. Written assignment questions afford you an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the information that you have studied within the module. Each written assignment includes guidelines for response length. In all cases, you should be sure to adequately address each part of the assignment; your submission should be well-organized and should display proper grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
In your final project you will, in a paper of between 2000 and 3000 words (8 to 10 pages) address the GASB requirements for accounting and financial reporting for local governments that file for bankruptcy under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11). You will analyze and evaluate the financial information and disclosures presented by a local government that has filed for bankruptcy and will evaluate the social and economic effects on the residents of a bankrupt local government. Additionally, you will consider whether any financial practices could have been employed to avoid filing for bankruptcy and analyze the ethical, legal, and professional standards that relate to the situation.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
A | = | 93–100 | B | = | 83–87 | |
A– | = | 90–92 | C | = | 73–82 | |
B+ | = | 88–89 | F | = | Below 73 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., assignments, discussion postings, projects). Graduate students must maintain a B average overall to remain in good academic standing.
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.
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