Course Description: We designed this course to help you learn about how business decision-makers use accounting information to help them make high-quality business decisions. To do this, we introduce you to accounting reports and the systems that generate these reports. We explore the information these reports contain, the concepts, principles, and assumptions underlying the information, and how to interpret this information. Your being able to use the information in the text to make high-quality business decisions (regardless of your career choice) depends on your making the material covered part of your own knowledge base. This means that you must test the information presented against evidence, assumptions, bias, and other points of view so that you make it your own. You should question everything presented and measure it against your professional experience. Students who are viewing the lecture in real-time are strongly encouraged to call-in during the lecture periods directly to the professor. The text (PowerPoint Notes for students) is required along with the textbook so that note taking is simplified.

Course Objectives: 1) To learn how business decision-makers use accounting information to help them make high-quality business decisions. 2) To prepare individuals with technical degrees for management duties and interactions by understanding the uses of accounting information for planning, controlling and decision-making. 3) To focus on the key accounting concepts, issues and applications rather than the bookkeeping details.

Course Outline by Topical Areas:

Regulations, ethics, reporting and corporate forms

Planning a new company

Budgeting and operating cycles

Accounting for company operations

The income statement and the balance sheet

Using cash flow statements for business decisions

Developing a business plan

Managing, reporting and evaluating operational activities

Web Site: http://faculty.smu.edu/pickels/ Click on Engineering Accounting to find the syllabus, homework assignments, key answers to homework problems, and tips for success.

Course Requirements:

Homework: Chapters assigned as stated in the Syllabus must be read before each class meeting and this also means before the first class meeting. Other homework assignments will be made in advance of each class.

Examinations: The exam dates are shown on the syllabus and may not be taken early or late. No make-up exams will be given and no delay in taking exams will be allowed. NTU and non-Dallas TAPE students must take exams on the same day as campus students and non-campus students at one location must all take the exam at the same time. Dallas metropolitan area TAPE students must come to the campus for both exams. Grades are curved and exams are open book and open notes.

Computer Language(s): None

Computer Facilities: E-mail and Internet access is required.

Laboratory: None

Project: As required

Notes:

Duplication, delivery and distribution service fees: $250 per course invoiced by SMU School of Engineering.

SMU charges a late enrollment fee of $50.00 if course registrations are not received by 12:00 noon on August 12, 2004.

Degree Applicability:

CE[AA]	CH[NA]	CS[AA]	EE[E]	EM[CE]	ESM[NA]	MAT[NA]
MBA[AA]	ME[BE]	MES[E]	MSE[E]	SE[NA]	SY[AA]

Click here for further information on degree applicability.

NTU Semester Credit Hours: 3
Number of Lecture Hours: 15 (180 minute) lectures
Days Class Meets on Campus: Wednesday

Contributing Scholar:
David Peters
EMIS Department
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750123
Dallas, TX   75275-0123
Phone: 214-351-2171

Fax: 214-768-1112
dpeters@mail.smu.edu

Co-Instructor:
Jack Pickels
EMIS Department
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750123
Dallas, TX   75275-0122
Phone: 214-357-1962
          214-357-8007 Fax: 214-768-1112
pickels@smu.edu
http://faculty.smu.edu/pickels/

Note: Contributing Scholars are responsible for the design, organization, content, and presentation of NTU courses. Online classroom management, student management, and other matters related to academic administration of courses are the responsibility of support "Faculty". Either person is often called "Instructor". To identify and differentiate between these roles, we use the terms "Contributing Scholar" and "Faculty".

Academic/Administrative Contact:  
Ms. Rose A Torres
Phone: 214-768-3037
Fax: 214-768-3778
rose@engr.smu.edu


Prerequisites: Graduate standing and it is helpful to take this course before taking Engineering Finance 8363/EF 720-N.

Textbooks: (Order Materials)

1.	Accounting Information for Business Decisions, Cunningham, Thompson South-Western, 2nd edition, ISBN 0324185995.
2.	WebTutor on WebCT access code, ISBN 0324186061.
3.	Or order Bundle ISBN ISBN 0324210140 BUNDLE SP+ ACCOUNTING: INFO FOR BUSINESS DECISIONS W/STDT CD + Webtutor on WebCT. The above bundle pack is less expensive than buying the book and WebTutor separately. You may order books at the SMU bookstore 214-768-2435 and at smu@bookstore.com or sm526@bncollege.com