Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course is to deepen students' knowledge of the theories and ways of thought behind financial statement information. Consequently, the course also aims to enhance student s capability of writing a master s thesis on a related topic.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 11.01.2024 - 23.02.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Hannu Ojala

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

Welcome to the Financial Accounting Theories (22E00210) - course!

 All lectures are online lectures using Zoom. It is crucial to attend the first lecture on 11th January 2024. This is when practical details related to the course will be discussed. However, all participants must follow the MyCourses area for the entire course duration, as changes during the course are possible (and perhaps likely). If you cannot attend, contact another student and ensure you are current on everything agreed upon during the first lecture.

Attendance at lectures is not compulsory, but achieving a high grade without attending lectures is challenging. This is due, in part, to the fact that online assignments (approximately eight in total) affecting the course grade are practised during lectures. Therefore, attending lectures significantly facilitates the completion of online assignments. Online assignments must be submitted before the start of the next lecture to receive credit. These topic-specific online assignments represent the essential content of chapters of the course book (Scott: Financial Accounting Theories). The online assignments help to prepare for the exam. The assignments use “wild cards”: the numbers (and the correct solution) will differ for each student. Furthermore, the numbers will change whenever the assignment is retaken (that is possible until the assignment is due). Additional points affecting the course grade can be earned through active participation in lectures and potential additional tasks associated with the lectures.

A mandatory course requirement is submitting a video-recorded term paper by each student by 13th February at 10:00 AM. During the final lecture, we will discuss some term papers (15th February). 

Note that if you cannot attend any lecture and wish to clarify topics covered, you must contact another student attending the lecture. The instructor in charge of the course cannot retroactively fill knowledge gaps resulting from non-attendance.

Wishing you an enjoyable course and learning moments with financial accounting theories and their practical applications of the theories!

Professor Hannu Ojala

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Accounting Under Ideal Conditions; The Decision Usefulness Approach to Financial Reporting; Efficient Securities Markets; The Value Relevance of Accounting Information; The Measurement Approach to Decision Usefulness; Measurement Applications; The Efficient Contracting Approach to Decision Usefulness; An Analysis of Conflict; Executive Compensation; Earnings Management; Standard Setting: Economic Issues; Standard Setting: Political Issues; Assignments during the course include sustainability angle. 

• applies in this implementation

  During the lectures, we will discuss and practice the application of main financial accounting theories. Note that you can study financial accounting theories individually using lecture materials, exercises covered during lectures, and materials available online. A wealth of material on financial accounting theories (such as behavioural accounting theories, agency theory, theories of executive compensation and earnings management) exists on platforms like YouTube.
  

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  1. Term paper

  2. Exam

• applies in this implementation

  The grade is determined as follows: the term paper (including a video presentation) contributes 50%, and the exam is 50%. A satisfactory completion of 50% is required for online assignments. A satisfactory grade (40% of maximum points) from the term paper and exam is required to pass the course.
  

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  - Lectures 20 h

  - Term paper prep 30 h

  - Exam preparation 107 h

  - Exam 3 h

DETAILS

Study Material

• applies in this implementation

  The course textbook is Financial Accounting Theory (8th Edition) 8th Edition by William R. Scott and Patricia O'Brien, Pearson (earlier editions are helpful if you cannot access the latest edition).
  

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  There is a pre-assignment on the course that has to be completed by the end of the first lecture week. Please check the MyCourses page for more information before the course starts.

  Teaching Language : English

  Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring III
  2023-2024 Spring III

  Enrollment :

  Registration for courses: in Sisu.
  If more students have enrolled by the enrolment deadline than can be accepted on the course, priority will be given to students based on their study right: 1. Master's degree students in Accounting 2. Exchange students 3. Bachelor's students in Accounting who have completed more than 150 cr 4. Master's students in other majors 5. Bachelor's students in other majors who have completed more than 150 cr

Description