COURSE NUMBER: UGBA102A-1

COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Financial Accounting

UNITS OF CREDIT: 3 credit units

INSTRUCTOR: Pieroni

E-MAIL ADDRESS: pieroni@haas.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION (HTTP URL): Maintained on Catalyst.

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME:   see schedule

PREREQUISITE(S): none

CLASS FORMAT: Class format is lecture (two hours per week) and discussion session (two hours per week).  Homework assignments  are turned in weekly and reviewed in the discusssion sessions.  There is a team project involving the analysis of a company's financial reports.

REQUIRED READINGS: Financial Accounting, fourthedition, by Libby, Libby and
Short textbook and weekly readings via the internet

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE:  Grades will be calculated using three tests, individual and group homework, and a team project

3 tests 25%@     75%
Homework - Individual  10%
Group Project   15%

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

This course provides the student with the necessary skills and understanding of basic accounting theory and practice including the ability to prepare, analyze, and interpret financial statements in order to evaluate corporate financial performance.  To become knowledgeable users of financial statements, it is important to understand the underlying mechanics of the accounting process.  This course focuses initially on how to record business transactions and prepare the financial statements.  Students will then learn to analyze financial statements using ratios and other techniques in order to interpret the data in the financial statements.  The course also examines in depth, the major asset, liability and shareholders equity accounts.

Ultimately, the objective of the course is to teach you to interpret and use financial statements in making business decisions.  A manager who can quickly and effectively understand financial information will have a strong competitive advantage in the workplace.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: