Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Accounting Information Systems (Face-to-Face)

ACCT 3100-01

Course: ACCT 3100-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Accounting and Finance
CRN: 30053

Course Description

Students learn about business transaction cycles, how to design an AIS, e-business, internal control objectives and procedures, industry IC and IT governance frameworks, and database fundamentals. 

The primary goal of this course is to help students become familiar with key accounting information systems related topics. This class is not designed to prepare students to be a systems administrator or IT professional but should prepare students to work collaboratively with these professionals. Students will learn about “traditional” and “state of the art” accounting information systems (AIS) and tools. Students will better understand modeling processes, flowcharting, and diagramming techniques. Students will become knowledgeable of the classic transaction cycles (business processes), the attendant business activities, internal control mechanisms, documents, and persons of responsibility. 

Required Texts

You are required to use Accounting Information Systems, 4e, by Richardson, Chang, and Smith (McGraw-Hill) in this course. We will use McGraw-Hill’s LMS, Connect, for homework and Smartbook assignments. This course participates in Inclusive Access, which simplifies the purchase process and gives you automatic access on day one of the Class. The bookstore will automatically bill your student account, and you will be able to access the Connect platform through Canvas. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  1. Apply Accounting information systems terminology.
  2. Read and create business process/ system documentation.
  3. Operate database structure and database management systems.
  4. Identify common risks and controls for business processes and accounting information systems.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency using accounting software tools.

Course Requirements

Registration Restriction(s): Acceptance into the School of Business OR permission from a School of Business advisor OR have an approved Accounting minor

Course Outline

EXAMS - There will be three exams taken at various points throughout the semester. Exams are NOT comprehensive and MUST be taken in-person and in-class (unless otherwise designated). Exams are closed book/note and must be taken individually. Each exam is worth 130 points; as a whole, exams combine for 39% of your final grade. There is an optional comprehensive final exam that will be administered during our scheduled Final Exam. Should you score higher on the exam, it will take the place of a previous exam. Should you score lower, the exam will be dropped.
 
QUICKBOOKS PROJECT - Demonstrating the ability to apply accounting information systems concepts in a true-to-life scenario is an important part of this course. Intuit’s QuickBooks software package is an AIS package that is frequently used by small and medium-sized businesses. Throughout the semester, you will be required to implement an accounting information system using QuickBooks. This comprehensive case includes multiple milestone assignments, each building off previous assignments. It is important for you to complete each assignment in a timely manner as doing so will affect your ability to complete the next assignment. Please see Canvas for assignment due dates. The case will primarily be completed in class with the final portion being completed outside of class. The QuickBooks case will comprise 240 points and be worth 24% of your final grade.  
 
SMARTBOOK ASSIGNMENTS - Each chapter (or combination of chapters) will involve a McGraw-Hill Smartbook assignment. Smartbook assignments are designed to assess your understanding of the content, as covered in the textbook. Smartbook assignments are to be completed BEFORE class begins for a given chapter to provide you with an introduction of the concepts covered in-class. These assignments are designed to take roughly 45 minutes and are worth 5 points each. As a whole, these assignments are worth 60 points, or 6% of your final grade. 
 
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - Each chapter (or combination of chapters) will involve a homework assignment. The majority of these assignments will be completed using McGraw-Hill Connect. Others may be completed through submissions on Canvas. Each assignment is worth 15 points. As a category, these assignments are worth 180 points, or 18% of your grade. 
 
PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE - As this is an in-person class, you are expected to attend and participate in each in-class session. There will be 18 non-exam class days; you are expected to attend and participate in at least 13 of those. As such, participation/attendance is worth 130 points, or roughly 13% of your grade. 
 
EXTRA CREDIT - Extra credit opportunities may (or may not) be offered throughout the semester. Please note: extra credit will always be offered to the entire class, never to individual students.

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

No late work will be accepted. However, if you let me know in advance (or later if there was an emergency) due dates may be adjusted on an individual basis. Check the schedule and plan ahead. Please see course schedule and Canvas for specific dates.

Attendance Policy

As a face-to-face course, attendance is expected and graded for each class period. That said, I understand circumstances may exist where you are unable to attend class on a given day due to sickness, family emergencies, or a host of other reasons. As such, I will allow for up to five absences from regular class days without any impact on your grade. 

Course Fees

This course involves a $66.00 course fee ($22.00 per credit hour | 3 credit hours). 

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.