Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Auditing I - Independent Study Online

ACCT 4400-103

Course: ACCT 4400-103
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ACFN
CRN: 30108

Course Description

This is the first of three semester 3-credit hour courses dealing with auditing: Auditing I, Auditing II, and Forensic Accounting. The latter two courses are graduate-level courses. This course will study auditing standards, internal accounting control systems, compliance and substantive audit procedures applied to accounts and transaction cycles, and audit reports. Review of the auditing concepts of materiality and risk, types of evidence and documentation, and an introduction to the ethical and legal responsibilities of the Certified Public Accountant are also included. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 3010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D-

This course (ACCT 4400) focuses on understanding what auditing is by providing an introduction to the auditing profession, the regulating standards (i.e., AICPA  AU-C's, & PCAOB  AS), the ethical and legal responsibilities of the Certified Public Accountant, and proper audit procedures for the auditing process in the profession.  The student will learn about the following topics and skill areas:

  • The CPA profession in a capitalistic society
  • Market demand and the need for audit and assurance services, including Auditor’s vs. management’s responsibilities 
  • Professional ethics and the AICPA Code of Conduct
  • The Audit Risk Model and Risk Assessment, Audit Planning, & Materiality
  • Management’s financial statement assertions and how they relate to audit objectives & strategy  
  • Audit evidence & proper audit documentation
  • Internal control identification, testing, and communicating deficiencies to those charged with governance
  • Risk Assessment and developing the strategy & procedures to test Cash, Receivables/Revenue, & Accounts Payable
  • Audit reports and audit opinions for a variety of audit findings and situations

In conjunction with the above topics, students will also perform hands-on case studies designed to provide them with experience in the following key areas of an audit that a new audit professional will typically encounter during their first year in the auditing profession:

  • Performing Preliminary Analytics for Audit Planning & Risk Assessment/Strategy
  • Calculating Materiality 
  • Drafting findings for deficiencies in internal control including type (design vs. operating) and classification
  • Performing substantive testing in an audit of Cash
  • Performing substantive testing in an audit of Accounts Receivable and Revenue Recognition
  • Performing substantive testing in an audit of Accounts Payable and Purchasing
  • Drafting audit opinions in a variety of scenarios

Required Texts

  • Required: McGraw Hill Connect online access to Auditing & Assurance Services, by Messier, Glover, Prawitt, 12th Edition
    • Connect online access is required, and it is already included in the price of your tuition and fees at a $50 discount as part of our Inclusive Access Program with the publisher, so you already have access on day 1 of the course.  Connect contains all your chapter reading, homework, quizzes, and exams, and it is integrated directly within Canvas. To get started all you have to do is go to Canvas and select any reading assignment, homework, or quiz, then click the "launch" button and you will be linked directly to Connect.
    • Optional: A supplemental paper copy of the text is optional and can be rented, borrowed, shared, or you may purchase a loose-leaf copy directly from the publisher using your Connect account if desired.

    • Important Note:
      This text & online platform is also used for ACCT 6400 Audit II in the MAcc program, so if you pursue your Master’s degree with SUU, keep this textbook and put your Connect login info in a safe place!  Your online access card is good for 540 days, so plan your schedule to be able to complete both courses in that timeframe and you’ll only have to pay for the textbook once! 

  • Required: Gleim CPA Prep software AUD Section (provided free). See registration links in Canvas.

  • Access to a computer or laptop with a webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection: The exams in this course require that an online proctor called Proctorio integrated with McGraw Hill Connect be used (free for SUU students).  Proctorio requires a webcam, microphone, and a stable internet connection in order for you to take your exams, so all students are required to have access to these items in order to complete coursework.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the need for the Auditing profession in society, learn the different career options as a CPA, and describe how to become a licensed CPA.  (School of Business #4; Accounting Program #1, #2)
  2. Develop Professional Ethics through the fraud risk analysis and the application of the AICPA Code of Conduct. (School of Business #2)
  3. Perform effective Risk Assessment and use the Audit Risk Model to develop the Audit Strategy/Plan. (School of Business #3,4,5; Accounting Program #1)
  4. Carry out your Audit Strategy/Plan by performing appropriate Audit Procedures to analyze Audit Evidence and form conclusions on the different areas of the financial statements.  (School of Business #3,4,5; Accounting Program #1)
  5. Draft Audit opinions and Audit Reports for both public (PCAOB) and private (AICPA) companies in a variety of scenarios to communicate the financial condition of Companies to investors and lenders.  (School of Business #1,3,4; Accounting Program #1)
  6. Prepare for the CPA exam by answering CPA exam questions via Gleim CPA preparation software. (School of Business #2)

Course Requirements

Course Assessment Table

Course Assessments                               # of Assessments              Learning Outcomes
SmartBook / LearnSmart Reading                         12                                        1-5
Chapter Homework                                               12                                         1-5
Chapter Quizzes                                                   12                                         1-6
Gleim CPA Prep Quizzes                                       15                                         6
Memos / Writing Assignments                               1-2                                         3
Case Studies                                                        10                                        1-5
Exams                                                                   4                                         1-5


Grade Range:
A | 100 % to 93.0%
A- | < 93.0 % to 90.0%
B+ | < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B | < 87.0 % to 83.0%
B- | < 83.0 % to 80.0%
C+ | < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C | < 77.0 % to 73.0%
C- | < 73.0 % to 70.0%
D+ | < 70.0 % to 67.0%
D | < 67.0 % to 63.0%
D- | < 63.0 % to 60.0%
F | < 60.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

SmartBook/LearnSmart


You will have 12 SmartBook/LearnSmart reading assignments (one for each chapter). “LearnSmart or SmartBook is an interactive study tool that adaptively assesses students’ skill and knowledge levels to track which topics students have mastered and which require further instruction and practice. Based upon student progress, it then adjusts the learning content based on their knowledge strengths and weaknesses, as well as their confidence level around that knowledge” (McGraw Hill Connect website).  Essentially it is an electronic personal accounting tutor.  Each chapter has a short LearnSmart homework assignment to introduce the student to the key principles and concepts from the chapter.  LearnSmart activities are designed to be completed before chapter discussion begins in class for improved class discussions and advanced preparation for homework and quizzes that will be assigned or given in class.

Homework


You will have 12 Homework Assignments (one for each chapter) to help you practice the concepts taught in the chapter material.  They include homework problems from the textbook and other items provided by the professor as discussed in class.  All homework will be completed online through use of the “Connect” Accounting software and is due as noted in Canvas.  

Chapter Quizzes


You will have 12 chapter quizzes (one for each chapter) covering the chapter material for each chapter.  They  will be available in Connect via direct link in each Canvas module and will be due as noted in Canvas.  Quizzes will generally be done at the end of each week during class time for live classes.  The quiz answers will open up right after the due date/time so that you can use them as study materials for the exams.

Gleim CPA Prep Quizzes


We have partnered with Gleim to provide you with a free version of their CPA exam prep software for the AUD section. We will perform a several activities during the course that are designed to give you some experience in what it will be like to sit for the CPA exam.  Instructions on how to access this free software are provided in the Modules section of Canvas.


You will have 15 Gleim CPA prep quizzes covering the same topics the chapter materials cover to help prepare you for the CPA Exam.  These quizzes are due as noted in Canvas, and will be accessed through your free Gleim CPA prep platform (instructions provided in Canvas). 10 of these quizzes will be short extra credit practice quizzes to help you get oriented to CPA exam questions and to give you the opportunity to earn a few extra points. 5 of the quizzes are graded and will be as follows:

  • One Gleim initial assessment quiz: This graded quiz is simply a participation quiz to help you get oriented to the CPA exam and to give you a starting place for CPA Exam preparation.  Full points will be awarded to all students who complete the quiz timely and answer at least one question correctly.
  • Three Gleim CPA Prep Quizzes: These short graded quizzes are built on the pool of questions from the extra credit practice quizzes and are designed to help you take the next step in CPA exam preparation by providing a short graded CPA quiz experience worth a small number of points. 
  • One Gleim CPA Audit Section Simulated Exam (multiple choice portion only):  This graded quiz is the next step in your CPA preparation progression and is designed to simulate the multiple choice portion of the Audit Section of the CPA exam to give you a "dry run" of taking the exam in a classroom setting before you spend all the money required to take the real CPA exam.  Note that this quiz is limited to the preparing you for the multiple choice segment of the CPA exam and does not include any preparation for the simulations section of the CPA exam.  Prep for the simulations is covered in our other case studies in the course.  You will be required to complete two multiple choice testlets of 36 questions each, just like the CPA exam.  The three graded Gleim quizzes and the 10 extra credit practice quizzes serve as the pool of questions for this simulated exam, so you'll have plenty of review materials to help you prepare. 

Memos/Writing Assignments


You will have one memo/writing assignment in this course.  It is located in Canvas, and is simply a short Biographical sketch telling the instructor a little bit about your life, interests, etc. to help the professor get to know you better.  The professor will provide his own Bio sketch as an example. 

Case Studies & Projects


You will have 10 real world case studies related to the chapter material that are designed to provide you with experience performing the audit procedures that you will typically do in your first year in the audit profession.  These Case studies, along with all instructions and necessary supplemental material will be provided in the Canvas modules.  Every student is required to do their own case study in order to ensure you are properly prepared for the profession.  Video examples to walk you through the case study to help you get started are provided in each Canvas module, and suggested solutions will open in each Canvas module after the due date has passed for you to check your work.  

Exams


You will have 4 exams in this course.  The exams will be closed-book and individual effort. The exams will be located online in Connect and will be similar to the assigned homework exercises and problems including multiple-choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, calculations, and other question types to ensure adequate breadth.  Exams are required to be proctored online through the approved proctor called Proctorio (free to SUU students).  Exams taken using the online proctor require you to have a webcam, microphone, and internet connection, and may be taken anywhere, anytime 24/7 during the open testing window and will generally be due by 11:59pm (Mountain Standard Time) on the date noted in Canvas unless otherwise indicated. For live classes, the professor generally will not hold class the day of the exam in order to ensure sufficient availability in the testing center and to allow students sufficient time to take the exam.  You should take a calculator, a blank scratch paper to work out problems, and a pen/pencil into each exam.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Smartbook/Learnsmart Reading, Homework, Quizzes, memos, and Case Studies can be submitted late for up to half credit.  No late exams will be accepted.

Attendance Policy

This course requires you to be an active participant within the content.  This means you should log into the course multiple days within a week, check announcements, and participate in graded and ungraded discussions.  Your attendance will be measured by your participation in and completion of course activities. 

Changes to Syllabus

Information contained in this syllabus may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.  Changes will be reflected on the Canvas Calendar and in the Canvas Modules. It is your responsibility to determine changes to the syllabus or assignments announced in your absence or announced online. 

Use of Generative AI and Other Tools (ChatGPT, etc.)

Generative AI and other tools (ChatGPT, Grammarly, etc.) can enhance your learning when used properly and when understanding the limits of each tool.  These tools often “hallucinate” and provide false information, so be careful in their use as your grade will be significantly affected by any incorrect submissions.  Using these tools to brainstorm to get you started on an assignment, or to provide additional perspective and potential additional resources for further research can be very useful to your learning. However, using these tools (ChatGPT, Chegg, Coursehero, etc.) to just copy and paste is inappropriate and will result in docked grades and potential firing in your future job if you don’t learn to use the tools correctly.  Please make sure to verify all sources directly to ensure correctness, revise them into your own words and cite the tool and/or the direct source as your information source. Claiming AI generated content as your own work is plagiarism and will be penalized as noted in the plagiarism and academic integrity policy noted in this syllabus. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.