ACCT 531 is the graduate accounting information systems course in Liberty's MS in Accounting. Its written work is a short case study, two article critiques, replies in three forums where those papers are posted, and an 8 to 10-page research paper on an AIS topic.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as ACCT 531 Accounting Information Systems, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as ACCT531.
What ACCT 531 covers
From the catalog, in brief: Builds on basic knowledge of how accounting information systems function in business, with strong emphasis on the internal control features needed for accurate and reliable data, how information is recorded, summarized and reported in manual and computerized systems, and internal control over production processes as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The course builds on basic knowledge of accounting information systems, with strong emphasis on the internal controls that produce accurate, reliable data and on how information is recorded, summarized and reported in manual and computerized systems, including control over production processes under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The text is Gelinas et al., Accounting Information Systems.
The forums work differently here: your case study or critique is the forum thread (graded as its own assignment), and the forum points are for replies to two classmates the following week. Two textbook assignments and two exams (400 points together) have no guide here.
Textbook named in the published guide: Gelinas et al., Accounting Information Systems (2015). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
ACCT 531 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case Study | 80 | 1.5 to 2 pages |
| 2 | Discussion Board Forum Replies 1 | 40 | Replies at least 200 words each |
| 2 | Article Critique 1 | 100 | 2 to 4 pages |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum Replies 2 | 40 | Replies at least 200 words each |
| 5 | Article Critique 2 | 100 | 2 to 4 pages |
| 6 | Discussion Board Forum Replies 3 | 40 | Replies at least 200 words each |
| 7 | Individual Research Paper | 200 | 8 to 10 pages |
Week 1: Case Study
A 1.5 to 2-page case study with at least 2 sources, posted as the Forum 1 thread and submitted through the assignment link. How to write ACCT 531 Week 1 Case Study.
Week 2: Discussion Board Forum Replies 1
Replies to two classmates' case study threads, each at least 200 words with 2 citations. How to write ACCT 531 Week 2 Discussion Board Forum Replies 1.
Week 2: Article Critique 1
Summarize and critique a scholarly journal article on information systems theory or application in 2 to 4 pages, citing at least 4 references. How to write ACCT 531 Week 2 Article Critique 1.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum Replies 2
Replies to two classmates' article critique threads, each at least 200 words with 2 citations. How to write ACCT 531 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum Replies 2.
Week 5: Article Critique 2
The second 2 to 4-page article critique, citing at least 4 references. How to write ACCT 531 Week 5 Article Critique 2.
Week 6: Discussion Board Forum Replies 3
Replies to two classmates' second critiques, each at least 200 words with 2 citations. How to write ACCT 531 Week 6 Discussion Board Forum Replies 3.
Week 7: Individual Research Paper
An 8 to 10-page research paper on an accounting information systems topic, with at least 8 sources, a title page, running head, abstract and reference list. How to write ACCT 531 Week 7 Individual Research Paper.
How ACCT 531 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The research paper is 200, the two article critiques 100 each, the case study 80, the forum replies 40 per forum (120), the textbook assignments 200, exams 200 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Individual Research Paper | 200 |
| Article Critiques (2) | 200 |
| Case Study | 80 |
| Discussion Board Forum Replies (3) | 120 |
| Textbook Assignments (2) | 200 |
| Exams (2) | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach ACCT 531
The case study is due in Week 1, so read it as soon as the course opens.
Each paper is submitted twice: as a forum thread and through the assignment link, where it is checked for plagiarism. Missing either submission is an avoidable loss.
Questions students ask
How do ACCT 531 forums work?
You post your case study or article critique as the thread; the following week you reply to 2 classmates' threads with at least 200 words and 2 citations each, which earns the forum points.
How long are ACCT 531 article critiques?
2 to 4 pages summarizing and critiquing a scholarly journal article on information systems theory or application, citing at least 4 references, with a title page, running head and reference list.
Working through ACCT 531 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.