Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Practice and Theory Seminar (Online)

ACCT 6600-71I

Course: ACCT 6600-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ACFN
CRN: 30137

Course Description

Welcome to Practice & Theory Seminar! This course is a review course for a large portion of the FAR section of the CPA Exam. Much of the material will be familiar to you, but there will be some new content/language. The FAR section of the CPA exam consists of five “Testlets”. The first two Testlets consist of 25 multiple choice questions. The remaining three Testlets consist of Task-Based Simulations (TBSs). The review materials we will use cover both multiple choice and simulation-type questions. The content is broken into Study Units (SUs). You will have access to all 15 SUs, but you will be required to work through 12 SUs in this class that focus on some of the more difficult topics tested. You will have access to the materials after this class if you wish to study the other SUs on your own.

Required Texts

Please choose one of the following options. If you have access to another CPA exam prep vendor besides GLEIM, please contact me for approval. I am happy to support students using other vendors including Becker, Surgent, UWorld, etc., especially students whose employers are already paying for a review course vendor. Note that if you choose Option 1 (GLEIM CPA Supplement) and later decide you would like Option 2 (GLEIM CPA Premium Review), it is possible to upgrade mid-semester and pay the difference:

OPTION 1: GLEIM CPA Supplement
At a minimum, you must purchase GLEIM CPA Review Professor-Led plus Test Bank that includes 1) an online book (exactly the same content as the printed book), 2) homework quizzes, 3) simulations, 4) custom assignments I’ve created, and access to GLEIM’s voluminous test bank where you can create unlimited practice quizzes of multiple choice questions (MCQs) or task-based simulations (TBSs). You will have full access to these items for 18 months.

OPTION 2 (RECOMMENDED): GLEIM CPA Premium Review*
Instead of purchasing the GLEIM CPA Supplement, you can opt for the premium package (GLEIM CPA Premium Review). I highly recommend Option 2 because of the additional benefits including video and audio lectures: 

The Premium Review includes everything in the Supplement (which contains the items used for course assignments), but also includes a diagnostic quiz, adaptive multiple-choice quizzes and adaptive simulations, a physical copy of the book, online video lectures, downloadable audio lectures, and additional test prep tools. You will retain access to everything until you pass the FAR portion of the CPA Exam. What you get is definitely worth the price in terms of helping you pass FAR.

Learning Outcomes

  • Practice written communication by completing task-based simulations (TBSs) and team projects.
  • Demonstrate basic quantitative literacy in correctly performing financial calculations and completing problems.
  • Use deductive reasoning in applying financial accounting rules to different factual scenarios in assigned team projects.
  • Use quantitative analysis in order to determine appropriate financial accounting entries.
  • Prepare for the FAR section of the CPA examination.

Course Requirements

Item 1 - Study Logs (3.5% weighting):
Complete the weekly study logs assigned in CANVAS. Study logs give students time to reflect on what they're learning, how they're learning it, and whether they want to make adjustments to their study strategies to be more effective. I drop two study logs in calculating your grade. Life happens!

Item 2 – Homework AQ’s and Simulations (40% weighting):
Students will complete at least one pre-programmed homework assignment (HW AQ) per week in GLEIM that relates to the week’s topic. HW AQs are due by 11:59pm (Mountain Time). The assignments consist of 20 multiple-choice questions. The assignments are graded based on the highest score out of (up to) ten (10) attempts. Students may use study materials--but not the solutions or explanations of the questions from any source--to complete the assignment but are encouraged to attempt these assignments without study materials to simulate the exam experience.

Students will complete the simulation questions provided in GLEIM for each week’s topic. Simulations are due by 11:59pm (Mountain Time). Simulations consist of a varied number of applied problems that test higher-order thinking. Students may use study materials--but not the solutions or explanations of the questions from any source--to complete the assignment but are encouraged to attempt these assignments without study materials to simulate the exam experience. In other words, don't use the solutions from the task-based simulation questions you answered on a previous attempt to quickly get the correct answers on unanswered or incorrect questions on a subsequent attempt. An example of this would be screenshotting the solution/explanation, then using the screenshot as "study/reference material." Doing this would constitute a violation of the University's academic integrity policy.

IMPORTANT Note: You will want to invest time reviewing the solutions to both the HW AQs and Simulations. The explanations provided often contain detailed calculations that are not included in the condensed study unit outlines. Be sure, though, not to access the solutions, explanations, or calculations when completing the HW or Simulations.

Item 3 - Case Studies/Projects and Team Participation (28% weighting):
Complete the two required case studies or projects according to the due dates posted on CANVAS with the team you are assigned. Your score for the case studies is determined to a large extent on your level of participation as rated by your team members.

Item 4 – Exams (28% weighting): 
Midterm Exams (GLEIM) (5.33% each, 16% total)
There will be three midterm exams throughout the semester – each covering three to four SUs. You may review and retake each exam up to ten times and will be awarded your highest score. These exams are two-part assignments: (1) a random selection of 25 multiple-choice questions (40 minutes to complete and up to ten attempts) and (2) task-based simulations (TBSs) (two TBSs with 40 minutes to complete and up to three attempts) – a total of 80 minutes per midterm.

Final Exam (GLEIM) (12% weighting)
There will be a comprehensive final consisting of two assignments: (1) 50 multiple choice questions (80 minutes to complete and up to ten attempts) and (2) three TBSs from the SUs covered in the class (i.e., not all 20 SUs are included) (60 minutes to complete and up to three attempts) – 140 minutes total.

Item 5 – Other Assignments (0.5% weighting)
To help me and your classmates to get to know you, especially in the online arena, please look for the assignment on CANVAS to provide a video introduction or biosketch—basically a short video (60 second limit) with some basic facts and things for the class to more easily remember you. There will be some other very minor assignments, surveys, and quizzes included in the “Other” category.

Practice Assignments (no credit)
To assist you in practicing as many questions as possible, I include practice assignments. Practice assignments receive no course credit. They are a supplement to the required assignments.

Course Outline

  • SU1: Financial Statements
  • SU2: Income Statement Items
  • SU3: SEC Reporting
  • SU14: Statement of Cash Flows
  • SU4: Cash and Investments
  • SU8: Finite-lived Intangible Assets
  • SU9: Payables and Taxes
  • SU10: Non-current Liabilities
  • SU11: Leases, Contingencies, and Warranties
  • SU12: Equity
  • SU13: Consolidated Financial Reporting and Financial Statement Analysis
  • SU15: Governmental Accounting Basics & Not-for-Profit Accounting

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

No late submissions accepted for credit.

Attendance Policy

While this is an online class and does not have a face-to-face component, active asynchronous online participation is highly encouraged to be successful achieving the course objectives.

Course Fees

None.

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.