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Unit of Study ACC03032 - Contemporary Issues in Accounting Theory (2019)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit description

Introduces students to the general nature of accounting theory and its function in relation to problems confronting the accounting profession. Accounting practices including accounting rules, principles and process are examined within the context of contemporary theoretical perspectives and socio-political behaviours of market participants.

Unit content

Topic 1 Theories of accounting

Topic 2 Measurement in accounting

Topic 3 Accounting policy choice

Topic 4 Regulation of accounting

Topic 5 Corporate governance

Topic 6 Corporate social responsibility

Topic 7 Critical accounting theory

Availabilities

Location Domestic International

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 make a clear distinction between different theories of accounting
2 relate various concepts of value and capital maintenance to the measurement of both assets and income
3 explain and evaluate managers' incentives and opportunities to choose specific accounting policies
4 identify and evaluate the issues related to the regulation of external financial reporting
5 define corporate governance and assess the effectiveness of various corporate governance mechanisms
6 describe issues related to corporate social responsibility
7 critically evaluate contemporary external company reporting practices.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. make a clear distinction between different theories of accounting
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  2. relate various concepts of value and capital maintenance to the measurement of both assets and income
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  3. explain and evaluate managers' incentives and opportunities to choose specific accounting policies
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  4. identify and evaluate the issues related to the regulation of external financial reporting
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  5. define corporate governance and assess the effectiveness of various corporate governance mechanisms
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  6. describe issues related to corporate social responsibility
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  7. critically evaluate contemporary external company reporting practices.
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.