AF301

Accounting Theory and Applications

COURSE OUTLINE

1. SEMESTER/YEAR: Semester 2, 2020

2. MODE OF DELIVERY/LOCATION: F2F (Laucala) and Blended (Other Campuses)

3. PRE-REQUISITES: AF201 & AF210

4. COURSE CO-ORDINATOR: Dr Nacanieli Rika

5. TEACHING TEAM

Name: Dr. Nacanieli Rika Name: Mr. Selvin Prasad

Office: S236, FBE Building Office: Greenhouse, FBE Building
Phone: 323 2570 Phone: 323 2687
Email: nacanieli.rika@usp.ac.fj Email: selvin.prasad@usp.ac.fj
Consultation Hours: TBC Virtual Consultation Hours: 12-1pm daily

6. LECTURE TIMES & VENUE

Monday 5-6 (092-001)

Tuesday 6-7 (092-001)

7. EMERGENCY CONTACT

Name: Gloria Yam

Phone: 323-2517
Email: gloria.yam@usp.ac.fj

8. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course aims to provide an understanding of the construction of theories that explain and frame
the frameworks of accounting regulation and practice and predict developments in accounting
practice, consistent with society’s needs for financial reporting. Students will be encouraged to
evaluate critically a range of accounting theories and to evaluate their impact on accounting practice.

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9. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the characteristics of accounting theory indicating how theories can be
constructed.
2. Discuss critically the nature of accounting elements such as assets, liabilities and
owner’s equity.
3. Discuss critically the forms of measurement used in accounting practices indicating
their limitations.
4. Discuss the practical difficulties raised by the conceptualization and measurement of
income.
5. Outline key theories that have relevance for understanding and evaluating accounting
practices such as theories of regulations, normative and positive accounting theories,
systems oriented theories, behavioral accounting research and theories relating to
culture.
6. Apply key theories that have relevance for understanding and evaluating accounting
practices such as theories of regulations, normative and positive accounting theories,
systems oriented theories, behavioral accounting research and theories relating to
culture.

10. USP GRADUATE OUTCOMES

The USP graduate outcomes are as follows:

1. Communication: Graduates will be able to communicate ideas clearly and

persuasively in structured formats using language and other modes of communication
that are appropriate for context, audience and specific disciplinary conventions.
2. Creativity: Graduates will extend boundaries of current knowledge in a particular
discipline or profession.
3. Critical thinking and quantitative reasoning: Graduates will be able to evaluate
multiple perspectives and arrive at a reasonable independent judgement based on
evidence.
4. Ethics: Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to high ethical standards in
scholarly, professional and socio-cultural practices.
5. Pacific consciousness: Graduates will recognize the cultural heritage and diversity of
Pacific societies for sustainable development in a contemporary environment.
6. Professionalism: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to carry out tasks to
acceptable standards within their profession and occupations.
7. Teamwork: Graduates will work together in a respectful and collaborative manner to
complete tasks within teams to achieve an outcome.

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11. COURSE CONTENT

Date Focus for Each Week Reference

1 3 - 7 Aug Introduction to financial accounting theory D- C1
2 10 -14 Aug The construction and evaluation of theories D- C1
G- C2
3 17 - 21 Aug Theories of regulations D- C3
4 24 -28 Aug The conceptual framework: normative accounting D- C6
theory
5 31 Aug – 4 Sep The nature of assets and liabilities G- C7, C8
6 7 – 11 Sep Measurement theory G- C5
7 14 – 18 Sep Revision
MID SEMESTER BREAK
8 28 Sep - 2Oct Positive accounting theory D- C7
9 5 – 9 Oct An examination of behavioral accounting research D- C11
10 12 -16 Oct International accounting, harmonization and D- C4
culture
11 19 - 23 Oct Considerations for systems oriented theories D- C8
12 26 -30 Oct Social and environmental accounting D- C9
13 2-6 Nov Current cost accounting and fair value D- C5
G- C6
14 9-13 Nov Revision
15 16 - 20 Nov STUDY BREAK
16 23 Nov - 4 Dec EXAMINATIONS
(Ensure you know when and where your examination is held at)
Key D: Deegan, G: Godfrey, C: Chapter

12. PRESCRIBED TEXT AND OTHER RESOURCES

Prescribed text
Title: Financial Accounting Theory
Author: Craig Deegan
Edition: 4th Edition, McGraw Hill
Description: http://www.mheducation.com.au/9780071013147-aus-financial-accounting-theory

Other resources
Title: Accounting Theory
Author: Godfrey, J., A. Hodgson and S. Holmes et al.
Edition: 7th Edition, Wiley
Description: http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470818158.html

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13. ALIGNMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES, ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT

The following table demonstrates the alignment of the course learning outcomes to
appropriate activities and assessments and the links to programme and USP graduate
outcomes.

Course Associated Teaching and Assessment Programme USP Graduate

Learning Learning Activities Outcomes Outcomes
Outcome
1 Readings, Videos, Test 1 1, 3
Discussion forums
Online activities
2 Readings, Videos, Test 7 1, 3, 5, 6
Discussion forums
Online activities
3 Readings, Videos, Test 1 1, 3, 4, 5,6
Discussion forums
Online activities
4 Readings, Videos, Test 1 1, 3, 5, 6
Discussion forums
Online activities
5 Readings, Videos, Test 1,4,9,10 1, 2,3,4, 5
Discussion forums
Group Project
6 Readings, Videos, Test 1,4,9,10 1, 2,3,4, 5
Discussion forums
Group Project

14. ASSESSMENT

14.1 ASSESSMENT PORTFOLIO

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT WEIGHT Comments/Rationale LEARNING

OUTCOME
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT – 50%
Online tasks including 5% Participate in online discussions in your 1-6
discussion forums assigned group. Your posts will be assessed
Week 1-13 randomly.
Online reading 5% You are required to reflect and comment 1-6
assignments on given readings in your assigned group
- Week 1-13 (refer to Moodle for further details)
2 hour paper which may include 1-6
Mid semester test calculations, short answers, case studies
Week 7 25% and essays
Group project 15% Undertaken in groups 1-6
FINAL EXAMINATION - 50%
3 hour paper which may include 1-6
Final Exam 50% calculations, short answers, case studies
and essays

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 14.2 PASSING THE UNIT
To obtain a pass in this course, you must attain a minimum overall pass mark of 50% (i.e. grade C).
This must include a minimum of 40% in the final examination. You must also satisfactorily complete
all components of the assessment. You DO NOT need to obtain a minimum mark in the coursework
element, including the test(s).

14.3 GRADE DISTRIBUTION

A+ A B+ B C+ C D E
85-100 78-84 71-77 64-70 57-63 50-56 40-49 0-39

14.4 ASSESSMENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

For detailed regulations, please refer to the USP Handbook and Calendar.

Plagiarism, copying materials from other sources without proper referencing and
acknowledge of the source is a serious offence and will be dealt with severely. In the
Regulations Governing Academic Misconduct section of the USP Handbook & Calendar
plagiarism is defined as “the copying of another person’s creative work and using it as one’s
own – without explicitly giving credit to the original creator. Work copied without
acknowledgement from a book, from another student’s work, from the internet or from
any other source”. If the lecturer is satisfied that plagiarism has occurred, they will report
the matter to the Head of School. They can reduce marks appropriately. If the matter is
seen as serious enough it can be taken to the Student Disciplinary Committee by the Head
of School.

14.5 IMPORTANT DATES

ACTIVITY Weight Week

Discussion forums 5% Throughout the course (refer to Moodle)
Reading assignments 5% Throughout the course (refer to Moodle)
Mid semester test 25% Week 7
Group project 15% Week 10
Final Exam 50% TBA by SAS

15. ADDITIONAL COURSE ATTENDANCE

15.1 TUTORIALS
There are no scheduled tutorials for this course. However some virtual tutorials and campus
tutorials may be organized and you will be informed of these via Moodle.

15.2 LABORATORY SESSIONS

Not applicable

15.3 ONLINE WORK

The course will be administered through Moodle. Course notices, lecture handouts, tutorial
questions, assignments and assessment marks will be posted on the course Moodle page. Therefore
you should check the site regularly. If you have lost your USP password or do not see your course as

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a listed course after login, please contact the ITS student helpdesk. Any other queries regarding
Moodle can be referred to Mr Selvin Prasad.

16. STUDENT SUPPORT

16.1 ONLINE HELP & e-Learning INFORMATION

Your main online help is Moodle discussion forums.

16.2 FACULTY STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT (SLS) SERVICES

SLS can assist you with several learning activities. Please refer to their website:
https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=8434 . Please note that not all assistances and support
applies to third year accounting students.

17. EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

17.1 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to:

 Thoroughly prepare for and attend all lectures, tutorials, team meetings etc. unless
hampered by illness in which case you must inform your course coordinator and team
members.
 Spend enough time on Moodle and other activities required in the course
 Arrange with the team members to work in their own times on any project.
 Facilitate the course coordinator with any proof that he/she was sick and unable to
attend classes or assessment at the earliest possible time to avoid getting a zero mark
for the missed assessment.

17.2 STUDENT WORKLOAD

This is the capstone course for the Accounting program. Managing your time is of utmost important.
Below is a suggestive time allocation table to assist you. This is based on a per week workload and is
to be taken as a rough guide. Each student should be able to work out what works best for them to
ensure that they successfully pass this course.

TYPE Hours Comments

Reading 4 Completing allocated weekly readings from the text book
and making your own summaries.
Online activities 4 Watching online videos/podcasts, participating in
discussion forums and undertaking weekly activities.
Assessment 3 This may include working on the group project (searching,
reading, writing, meeting etc) and revising for
tests/exams.
Others 1 This may include discussions with the AF301 teaching
team and with peers
TOTAL 12

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