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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "FIN 301"
COURSE NAME: "Finance"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sathya Mellina
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: Remote Learning
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: FIN 201, FIN 202, EC 202, MA 208
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines both the theoretical and applied foundations required to make decisions in financial management. The main areas covered include an  overview of the financial system and the efficiency of capital markets, evaluation of financial performance, time value of money, analysis of risk and return, basic portfolio theory, valuation of stocks and bonds, capital budgeting, international financial management, capital structure management, and the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course covers topics in finance: financial statement analysis, the operations of financial markets and their efficiency, international financial transactions, time value of money, diversification and analysis of risk, valuation of financial assets (stocks and bonds), capital budgeting, and capital structure. Emphasis is given to both theory and application with particular attention paid to using spreadsheets for building simple financial models, working with a case study, and the writing of brief reports. 

Please note that the course is a 300-level course in finance with a prerequisite of one year of accounting (financial and managerial), and a semester each of statistics and macroeconomics which includes college algebra - it is not an "introductory" class.  Students should be prepared to review some of this material as part of the course.  

The course materials are posted on Moodle, our leaning management system, available at http://moodle.johncabot.edu/ .

You have to create your own account, unless you already have one. Information on creating Moodle accounts can be found at https://johncabot.libguides.com/moodle-students. 

Once you are logged in, search for the course (pay attention to the right section, if necessary). You will then be prompted to enter an enrollment key to access the course. For this course the enrollment key will be given in class.

If you have technical problems at any stage of this process, get in touch with [email protected].
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Understand the measurement of cash flow and its central role in financial analysis.

Learn how to evaluate firms' decision with simple financial models.

Learn time value of money concepts and their application to financial problems.

Learn how to value bonds and make investment decisions analyzing interest rate risk, yield curves, and reinvestment options.

Understand how to value stocks using the dividend growth models and comparability methods.

Undertake a capital budgeting case to learn capital budgeting concepts – NPV, IRR, MIRR, WACC - and learn to apply risk analysis to capital budgeting decisions using a financial model.

Review capital market history, understand the risk-return relationship (the CAPM) and the efficient markets hypothesis.

Learn the basics of portfolio theory and the risk-return trade-off.

Learn about international finance to include interest rate parity, purchasing power parity, and international capital budgeting risks.

Understand the importance of ethical issues in finance and develop an awareness of the CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

Develop stronger analytical skills that allow for the evaluation of financial decisions that include understanding their role of the overall economic environment.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Corporate Finance, 11th EditionRoss, Westerfield, and JordanMcGraw Hill9780077861759 Any previous edition by the authors will do.   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Exam 1Problem-solving, short answers.30%
Exam 2Case study on international capital budgeting: 3 to 4 page financial report.30%
Final ExamComprehensive problem-solving exam.40%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. 94 to 100 A; 90 to 93 A-
B This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. 87 to 89 B+; 84 to 86 B; 80 to 83 B-
C This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. 75 to 79 C+; 70 to 74 C; 65-69 C-
D This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. 60 to 65 D+; 55 to 59 D; 50 to 54 D-
F This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. Below 50.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Participation in the discussion forum on Moodle is strongly encouraged. The final exam is comprehensive so students who write a minimum of two comments/questions in at least four discussion forums (there are five discussion forums in this course: one forum a week) by the end of each week will have the option of dropping their grade of Exam 1 and shifting its weight to the comprehensive final exam.

Students who miss a midterm exam (with a formal excuse from the Dean's Office) will shift the weight to the final exam. No make-up exams will be given unless approved by the Dean's Office: see the University's policies for missed exams and refer to the Associate Dean.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

This syllabus may be subject to changes.


Week 1:

Chapter 1: Introduction to Corporate Finance

Chapter 2: Financial Statements and Cash Flows

Chapter 3: Financial Statement Analysis and Financial Models

Chapter 4: Discounted Cash Flow Valuation


Week 2:

Chapter 4: Discounted Cash Flow Valuation (cont.)

Chapter 10: Risk and Return: Lessons from Market History

Thursday, Midterm 1: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 10


Week 3:

Chapter 8: Interest Rates and Bond Valuations

Chapter 11: Return and Risk: The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) (leave out sections 11.7 and 11.8)

Begin Capital Budgeting Case

Chapter 5: Net Present Value and Other Investment Rules


Week 4:

Chapter 6: Making Capital Investment Decisions

Chapter 13: Risk, Cost of Capital and Valuation (sections 13.8, 13.9)

Chapter 7: Risk Analysis, Real Options, and Capital Budgeting


Week 5:

Monday, Capital Budgeting Case Due

Chapter 9: Stock Valuation

Chapter 14: Efficient Capital Markets and Behavioural Challenges

Chapter 31: International Corporate Finance 

Review for final exam

Friday 26th June, Final Exam: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 31