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Unit outline_

BUSS4113: Accounting Honours B

Semester 1, 2023 [Block mode] - Remote

This unit builds upon both BUSS4001 and BUSS4112 to (1) further build students' skills in identifying, analysing and evaluating a range of research areas in Audit, and (2) writing up a review of research relevant to their particular research project. This unit helps students gain a deeper understanding of the range of research in accounting as well as to fine-tune their literature reviews and help prepare them to carry out their proposed research.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Accounting
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area
Corequisites
? 
BUSS4001 and BUSS4112
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Maria Dyball, maria.dyball@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Essay
Essay
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 17:00
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Audit assessment
Written task
40% Week 08
Due date: 21 Apr 2023 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4
Presentation Verbal presentation
Oral presentation
10% Week 12 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Audit assessment: You are required to write an assessment demonstrating your understanding of key aspects of contemporary research in audit
  • Verbal presentation: You are required to make a presentation identifying streams of research relevant to your research question, identifying strengths and weaknesses relevant to your research and stating clearly what your original contribution will be.
  • Essay: This assessment builds upon the verbal presentation assessment. It requires you to prepare a literature review containing a written analysis of the extant literature demonstrating your understanding of its scope, strengths and weaknesses; and of your intended original contribution in light of that analysis. This essay  is listed as a HURDLE TASK which means you must complete the assessment in order to pass the unit. Students who fail to complete this assessment, even when their aggregate mark for the entire unit of study is above 50%, will be given a Fail grade for this unit. As a result, a student's academic transcript will show a Fail grade and the actual mark achieved if the final mark of the unit is between 0-49 and a Fail grade and a capped moderated mark of 49 for all other final marks.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 02 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 03 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 04 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 05 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 06 Audit research Seminar (3 hr) LO4
Week 07 The function of the literature review as part of your thesis Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Basic principles of literature review Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Guided application of, and reflection upon the basics as they apply to your project- part 1 Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Guided application of, and reflection upon the basics as they apply to your project- part 2 Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Guided application of, and reflection upon the basics as they apply to your project- part 3 Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Student presentations Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

No seminar recordings: Honours classes will not be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There will be assigned readings which will be communicated to students prior to the workshops.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate that you have identified one or more gaps in the existing accounting literature that your research will address
  • LO2. identify strengths and weaknesses in the literature that will inform your precise research questions and how you will conduct your research
  • LO3. justify and explicate concepts, research design and methods specifically relevant to your research.
  • LO4. understand the diverse research approaches in key accounting topic areas in auditing

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

There are no changes to the previous offering of this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.