LAB ASSIGNMENTS
Much of your learning in this course will take place through hands-on labs that build on concepts covered throughout the semester. For each lab, you will complete a set of questions in Connect and submit a lab report that includes the required screenshots. You are encouraged to collaborate with classmates and to make use of outside resources; however, each student must submit their own work. You may attempt each lab multiple times, but your final submission must be completed before the due date. Each lab is worth ten points, for a total of 240 points across the semester (24% of the final grade).
FINAL PROJECT
The Final Project is designed to bring together the skills you develop throughout the course. You will select an accounting- or business-related dataset, identify questions that can be explored with that data, and analyze it using Tableau and other tools as appropriate. The project consists of both a written report and a presentation. The written report should be approximately ten pages in length and should outline your research questions, describe the dataset you selected, explain your analysis, and present your findings, including any limitations or possible extensions.
Before beginning the full project, you will submit a short proposal (one to two paragraphs) describing your dataset, anticipated questions, and planned analyses. This proposal will be due on April 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m., and I will provide feedback to help you refine your approach. The presentation component will require a 20-minute overview of your project, including your findings and a reflection of what worked well—and what did not—in your analysis. The Final Project is worth 220 points (22% of the final grade).
EXAMS
There will be three exams administered throughout the semester. Each exam is not cumulative, which means that exams will only cover content that has not been previously covered on another exam. Thus, Exam I will cover Chapters 1 – 4; Exam II will cover Chapters 5 – 8; Exam III will cover Chapters 9, 10, 12, and 13. Each exam is worth 100 points, for a grand total of 300 points (30% of the final grade).
ALTERYX
As part of the class, we will be exploring the use of Alteryx to clean and prepare data for analysis. Alteryx is available for free – see link in Canvas – and is a valuable skillset to have. The assignment will consist of in-person participation (40 points), objective questions related to basic analytics (40 points), and appropriate workflows and cleaned files (40 points). Collectively, this project will be worth 120 points (12% of the final grade).
AI CASE
Toward the end of the semester, you will complete a case assignment that integrates artificial intelligence into your analysis. In this project, you will work through an accounting case, using AI to generate a recommended solution. You will then record and upload a 20-minute presentation in which you provide background on the case, explain the relevant accounting or professional standards, discuss the AI’s proposed solution, and evaluate whether you agree with it or would suggest modifications. Your grade will be based on professionalism, the quality of your analysis, and the depth of your critical thinking. This case will be worth 120 points (12% of the final grade).
EXTRA CREDIT
Finally, there may be opportunities for extra credit during the semester. These opportunities will always be offered to the entire class, never to individual students. Please keep this in mind as the semester comes to a close.