Syllabus

Absolutely — here are clean, study-friendly notes from your ACCT 201A Financial Accounting syllabus. I focused on the 20% of information that matters most for doing well in the class.

ACCT 201A — Financial Accounting Notes

CSUF | Fall 2026 | Diana Hsueh, CPA

1. Class Basics

• Course: ACCT 201A — Financial Accounting

• Section: 12555

• Instructor: Diana Hsueh, CPA

• Class: Monday & Wednesday

• Time: 11:30 AM–12:45 PM

• Room: SGMH 1406

• Semester: Fall 2026

• Office hours: Mon/Wed 12:45–1:45 PM

• Financial accounting is described as the “language of business.”

2. How the Class Works

Blended course

The class is a combination of:

• In-person classes: Mon/Wed

• Online work: Canvas + Connect

• Textbook reading

• SmartBook

• Concept Videos

• Homework

• Exams

You need to regularly check:

• Canvas

• CSUF email

• Connect

The instructor expects you to complete the reading and online assignments before coming to class.

Important classroom rule

Cell phones and laptops must be turned off.

Only digital note-taking devices with a stylus are allowed.

3. 🚨 BIGGEST RULES TO REMEMBER

Attendance

• Attendance is mandatory

• Unexcused absence = −25 points

• 2 tardies = 1 absence

• Leaving immediately after attendance is taken can result in a double deduction.

No late work

There are NO late submissions or extensions for:

• SmartBook

• Concept Videos

• Homework

This is one of the biggest things to stay on top of.

4. 📊 Grade Breakdown

Your course has 2,000 total points:

So:

Exams = 63% of your grade

• Midterms = 33%

• Final = 30%

Everything else = 37%

5. 🚨 Special Exam Requirement

This is extremely important.

You can technically have a passing overall percentage and still receive an F.

You must earn:

756 / 1,260 exam points = 60%

The 1,260 exam points come from:

• 3 Midterms = 660 points

• Final = 600 points

If you don't reach 60% combined on exams → automatic F, regardless of your homework/assignment grade.

Example

You could have:

73% overall

but if you don't have at least:

756 exam points

you receive an F.

6. 🚨 Final Exam

The final is a minimum course requirement.

Final:

Thursday, December 17
7:00 AM–8:50 AM
SGMH 1406

It covers:

Chapters 1–11

Everyone taking ACCT 201A at CSUF takes the common final at the same time.

If you don't take the final:

Automatic F

7. 📝 Exam Schedule

No regular makeup exams

If you miss a midterm:

• The weighting can be moved to your final for one missed midterm

• Any additional missed midterm can receive a zero

So don't miss exams if you can avoid it.

8. 📚 Weekly Assignment System

Most weeks follow the same pattern:

Before class

Read textbook chapter

Sunday — 11:59 PM

• SmartBook

• Concept Videos

Friday — 11:59 PM

• Homework Part 1

• Homework Part 2

Easy way to remember:

📖 Read → 🎥 Videos/SmartBook → ✏ Homework → 📝 Exam

9. 📚 Chapters You'll Study

Exam 1

Chapters 1–4

1. Framework for Financial Accounting

2. Accounting Cycle — During the Period

3. Accounting Cycle — End of the Period

4. Cash & Internal Controls

Exam 2

Chapters 5–8

5. Receivables & Sales

6. Inventory & Cost of Goods Sold

7. Long-Term Assets

8. Current Liabilities

Exam 3

Chapters 9–11

9. Long-Term Liabilities

10. Stockholders' Equity

11. Statement of Cash Flows

Final

Chapters 1–11 — Comprehensive

10. 🎯 What You're Actually Learning

The course teaches you how businesses:

• Record financial transactions

• Prepare financial statements

• Analyze financial information

• Understand accounting systems

• Control cash

• Perform bank reconciliations

• Handle receivables

• Account for inventory

• Account for long-term assets

• Handle liabilities

• Understand stockholders' equity

• Prepare statements of cash flows

• Make ethical business decisions

• Understand accounting in a global/business environment

11. 📖 Textbook & Connect

Required textbook

Financial Accounting, Release 2025

• Spiceland

• Thomas

• Herrmann

Connect options

• Digital ebook + Connect: $60

• New binder book + digital subscription: $65

• Campus bookstore: $86

The syllabus recommends avoiding the bookstore option because it's more expensive.

You can get 2 weeks of temporary access to Connect before payment is required.

Important

Use your:

CSUF/Fullerton email + CWID

when registering for Connect.

12. 🧮 Calculator

A basic calculator isn't required, but the professor recommends one that has:

Present-value functions

This could become useful for accounting calculations.

13. 📈 Grading Scale

BUT: The 60% exam requirement still applies.

14. ⭐ Extra Credit

There is up to:

20 extra-credit points

through Current Events.

• Each current business event = 4 points

• Maximum = 20 points

Take advantage of this if available.

15. 🧠 Best Strategy for Getting an A

Based on the syllabus, the biggest things to focus on are:

1. Don't miss class

• −25 points per unexcused absence

• Attendance is mandatory.

2. Never let assignments pile up

Every week:

Sunday → SmartBook + Videos

Friday → Homework

3. Take exams seriously

Exams are 63% of the entire grade.

4. Protect your exam average

You need:

756 / 1,260 = 60% minimum

5. Start studying before exam week

Don't rely on the review assignments alone.

6. Actually read the textbook

The professor explicitly says the textbook is essential to passing the course.

7. Use Canvas resources

Available resources include:

• Student PowerPoints

• Instructor slides

• Review videos

• Quick-reference guides

• Interactive textbook illustrations

• Supplemental Instruction

• College of Business tutoring

🚨 YOUR ACCT 201A CHEAT SHEET

Class: Mon/Wed 11:30–12:45
Room: SGMH 1406

Weekly:

• 📖 Read chapter

• 🎥 SmartBook + Concept Videos → Sunday 11:59 PM

• ✏ Homework → Friday 11:59 PM

Exams:

• 📝 Sept 23 → Ch. 1–4

• 📝 Oct 28 → Ch. 5–8

• 📝 Nov 18 → Ch. 9–11

• 🔥 Dec 17, 7–8:50 AM → Ch. 1–11

Grade:

• Exams = 63%

• Assignments = 37%

🚨 Must do:

• Take final

• Earn 756/1,260 exam points

• Attend class

• Don't submit assignments late

Best formula for success:

Stay caught up + do every assignment + practice problems + study consistently for exams.