Main Content
Syllabus
ACCTG 340: Cost Accounting
ACCTG 340: Cost Accounting (3 credits): Accounting for manufacturing concerns; actual and standard cost systems, and managerial uses of cost data. Prerequisite: ACCTG 211. Please do not attempt to enroll in this class without having satisfactorily completed the prerequisite class. Concurrent enrollment does not satisfy the prerequisite requirement.
Overview
Cost accounting supports the management of organizations. First, cost accounting can assist management in implementing and monitoring the achievement of the organization’s strategy. Second, cost accounting should provide information for motivating and rewarding the efforts and effectiveness of managers and employees. Cost accounting should also help with planning (e.g., budgeting) and decision making (e.g., cost-volume-profit analysis and relevant cost analysis). Finally, cost accounting has to provide the cost accounting information needed for the books and financial statements.
Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, the student should be able to
- recognize managerial and cost accounting terminology: e.g., product costs, period costs, sunk costs, opportunity costs, and incremental costs;
- classify cost behavior in terms of a traditional model (i.e., fixed, variable, step-variable, and mixed);
- classify cost behavior in activity-based costing (i.e., unit level, batch level, product level, customer level, facility level, and organization sustaining);
- calculate cost (including overhead allocation) under different cost systems: job order, weighted-average process, standard, and simple activity-based costing systems;
- understand the flow of manufacturing and non-manufacturing costs through the general ledger and the financial statements;
- calculate the affect on profit of single product price, cost, and volume changes for breakeven analysis and target operating income analysis;
- understand the concepts of financial and operating leverage and be able to recognize higher levels;
- explain budgeting and be able to prepare a cash budget;
- prepare a simple flexible budget;
- compute standard cost material and labor variances;
- analyze costs and separate relevant from irrelevant costs for pricing and short-run decisions (e.g., whether to replace or not replace a machine);
- recognize various advanced cost/managerial accounting concepts: the balanced scorecard, the value chain, target costing, life-cycle costing, and the theory of constraints; and
- understand transfer pricing and be able to determine the minimum and maximum logical transfer price.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library E-Reserves
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Tutor.com
Tutor.com is a 24/7 tutoring service that provides students with assistance in coursework, test preparation, research, writing, and more for various subjects. The tutors are subject-matter experts, and each student will have personalized one-on-one sessions with them. Students can schedule their own tutoring appointments to engage in interactive sessions that include a whiteboard and chat feature. The service can be utilized on any device that has Internet access. Students are encouraged to use the service throughout the semester.
You can access this service by selecting Tutor.com from your course navigation menu. Here you fill out a questionnaire and begin your tutoring session.
Getting Started with Tutor.com
- Launch Tutor.com by selecting the Tutor.com link in the Course Navigation Menu.
- Fill in the pre-session questionnaire and select SUBMIT.
- You will be matched with the first available tutor best qualified to assist you, and then enter a virtual classrom with your tutor.
- In the virtual classroom, you can use text or voice-chat to communicate with your tutor as well as the interactive whiteboard to share work and ideas.
- You can upload files related to your assignments, including spreadsheets, presentation slides, screenshots, images and more.
- After your session, please fill out the post-session survey to offer feedback on your experience.
- For additional information about Tutor.com, please view the following How to Use Tutor.com at Penn State World Campus video, and read the "How It Works" guide.
- If you have any questions or need additional help logging in, please contact studentsupport@tutor.com.
Course Requirements and Grading
| Assignment | Grade Percentage |
|---|---|
| Connect | 25% |
| Instructor Quizzes and Problems | 25% |
| Exam 1 | 20% |
| Comprehensive Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Letter grades will be based on the following scale:
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93.0–100% |
| A- | 90.0–92.99% |
| B+ | 87.0–89.99% |
| B | 83.0–86.99% |
| B- | 80.0–82.99% |
| C+ | 77.0–79.99% |
| C | 70.0–76.99% |
| D | 60.0–69.99% |
| F | Below 60.0% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Individual Assignments
Homework
Assignment Key
I = Independent
T = Team
U = Ungraded
G = Graded
There will be three groups of homework:
- Book (I, U). This will mainly be questions from the textbook. The answers will be posted in Canvas.
- Connect (I, G). Students will have two opportunities to work each exercise/problem with the higher score counting. Many of these will be algorithmic so it is very important to know that this means the second attempt will be the same problem with different numbers from the first attempt. Connect homework will be graded but will receive less grading weight than the instructor quizzes and problems.
Connect assignments will be completed on the publisher's web site, which can be accessed from this course through the McGraw Hill Campus link in the course navigation. See the Connect student registration video for information on how to access Connect. - Instructor Quizzes and Problems (I, G). These will be done after the Connect, to determine if students have really learned the material.
Homework not completed before the date and time due, for any reason, results in a 20% deduction for each day or partial day late. Homework may not be completed for any credit once it is five days late. Most of the homework is online in Connect and can be worked twice. There is a 10% reduction for the second working, meaning your maximum score is 90%. Your highest score of the two will be counted. Note that the numbers in the problem may change for the second working.
Cumulative Final Exam
The comprehensive/cumulative final exam is an online exam that you will begin on Thursday (as outlined in the course schedule) starting at 8:00 AM ET.
You will have until Tuesday at 11:59 PM ET to complete the exam.
If you have any questions, contact the instructor via the course e-mail.
Do not contact your classmates during the exam period.
This course may require you to take exams using certain proctoring software that uses your computer's webcam or other technology to monitor and/or record your activity during exams. The proctoring software may be listening to you, monitoring your computer screen, viewing you and your surroundings, recording and storing any and all activity (including visual and audio recordings) during the proctoring process. By enrolling in this course, you consent to the use of the proctoring software selected by your instructor, including but not limited to any audio and/or visual monitoring which may be recorded. Please contact your instructor with any questions.
Honorlock
Honorlock will proctor your exams this semester. Honorlock is an online proctoring service that allows you to take your exam from the comfort of your home. You do not need to create an account or schedule an appointment in advance. Honorlock is available 24/7, and all that is required is a computer, a working webcam/microphone, your ID, and a stable internet connection. The proctoring software may be listening to you, monitoring your computer screen, viewing you and your surroundings, recording and storing any and all activity (including visual and audio recordings) during the proctoring process. By enrolling in this course, you have consented to the use of the proctoring software selected by your instructor, including but not limited to any audio and/or visual monitoring which may be recorded. You will need to use one of the compatible operating systems which are listed in Honorlock's Minimum Requirements table. You may also review Penn State's statement on privacy in online proctoring. Please contact your instructor with any questions or you may contact Penn State's Honorlock team at honorlock@psu.edu. See How to Use Honorlock (Student Guide) for an example session.
To get started, you will need Google Chrome and download the Honorlock Chrome Extension.
When you are ready to complete your assessment during the scheduled exam window, log into Canvas, go to your course, select your proctored exam and “Take the Quiz” to start the process. Then read and accept terms, review exam rules, and run the system checks. Select "Launch Proctoring" to begin the Honorlock authentication process, where you will take a picture of yourself, show your ID, and complete a scan of your room. Honorlock will be recording your exam session through your webcam, microphone, and recording your screen. Honorlock also has an integrity algorithm that can detect search-engine use, so please do not attempt to search for answers, even if it's on a secondary device. Also note that you will need to disconnect any external display monitors during the exam and close out of all tabs and windows except for your exam.
Honorlock support is available 24/7/365. If you encounter any issues, you may contact them through live chat on the support page or within the exam itself. Some guides you should review are Honorlock MSRs, Student FAQ, Honorlock Knowledge Base, and How to Use Honorlock. You may also wish to review Penn State's knowledge base article on Honorlock. Good luck!
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Assignment Key
I = Independent
T = Team
U = Ungraded
G = Graded
ALL assignments are (I, G) unless otherwise noted.
- Homework in the online homework manager, Connect, will be graded by the computer.
- Online quizzes will be graded by the computer.
- Instructor hand-in (Canvas assignment) question and problems will be hand-graded.
Solutions are provided in Canvas for any “not collected” homework that is not in Connect.
Solutions are not provided on Canvas for the collected homework, which will be graded.
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E-Reserve (Target Costing)
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Privacy Notice
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Student Resposibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
Report Bias
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.