Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Course Syllabus
School of Business FIN/370 Version 6 Finance for Business
Course Description This course introduces the student to the essential elements of finance for business. Emphasis is placed on financial management, financial markets, and the tools, techniques, and methodologies used in making financial decisions. Topics include: Financial planning, working capital management, capital budgeting, long-term financing, and international finance. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Mayo, H. B. (2012). Basic finance: An introduction to financial institutions, investments, and management (10th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western. Sulock, J. M. & Dunkelberg, J. (1997). Cases in financial management (2nd ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Titman, S., Keown, A. J., & Martin, J. D. (2011). Financial management: Principles and applications (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week One: Introduction to Finance and Analysis

Details
Objectives 1.1 Define basic financial terminology. 1.2 Explain how financial markets work in the United States. 1.3 Assess the role of ethics and compliance in the finance environment. 1.4 Evaluate financial performance using financial ratios. Ch. 1 of FM: Getting StartedPrinciples of Finance Ch. 2 of FM: Firms and the Financial Market Ch. 4 of FM: Financial AnalysisSizing Up Firm Performance This weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participation Nongraded Activities and Preparation MyFinanceLab Orientation Individual Financial Terms and Roles Participate in class discussion. Access MyFinanceLab on the student website. Log on to MyFinanceLab. Complete the MyFinanceLab Orientation exercise. 4 Feb 4 Feb 3

Due
4 Feb

Points

Reading

4 Feb

Resource: Financial Management Create a list of definitions for the following terms and identify their roles in finance. Finance Efficient market Primary market Secondary market Risk Security Stock Bond Capital Debt Yield Rate of return Return on investment Cash flow

4 Feb

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Two: Financial Planning

Details
Objectives 2.1 Describe the relationship between strategic planning and financial planning. 2.2 Prepare a cash budget. 2.3 Perform a break-even analysis. 2.4 Calculate present value and future value of cash flows. Ch. 5 of FM: Time Value of MoneyThe Basics Ch. 6 of FM: The Time Value of MoneyAnnuities & Other Topics Ch. 13 of FM: Risk Analysis and Project Evaluation Ch. 14 of FM: The Cost of Capital Ch. 17 of FM: Financial Forecasting and Planning Ch. 23 of BF: Forecasting This weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Complete the Week Two Practice in MyFinanceLab.
Due 11 Feb Points

Reading

11 Feb

Participation Individual Week Two MyFinanceLab Practice Individual Week Two MyFinanceLab Problems

11 Feb 25 Feb

3 3

Complete the Week Two Problems in MyFinanceLab.

25 Feb

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Two: Financial Planning

Details
Learning Team Financial Analysis Paper Select an organization from the following list: Pepsi-Cola Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Lowes Starbucks Barnes & Noble Amazon.com HP Dell Disney Microsoft

Due
11 Feb

Points
5

Obtain faculty approval of your selection prior to beginning the assignment. Obtain a copy of the organizations annual report and SEC filings for the past 2 years. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the data in the annual reports and SEC filings. Address the following: Assess the role of ethics and compliance in your organizations financial environment. Describe procedures your organization has in place to ensure ethical behavior. Explain how financial markets work in the United States. Identify processes the organization uses to comply with SEC regulations. Evaluate your organizations financial performance during the past 2 years, using financial ratios. Calculate the ratios for each year: o o o o Current Debt Return on equity Days receivable

Discuss the trend for each ratio and what it tells you about the organizations financial health.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Three: Working Capital Management and Capital Budgeting

Details
Objectives 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Evaluate effective working capital management techniques. Evaluate alternative capital projects. Analyze risks associated with capital projects. Identify the decision-making factors in lease versus buy.
Due 25 Feb Points

Read:

Ch. 11 of FM: Ch. 12 of FM: Ch. 18 of FM: Ch. 20 of FM: Ch. 22 of FM (Online PDF version ONLY): Ch. 25 of BF:

25 Feb

This weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participation Individual Week Three MyFinanceLab Practice Individual Week Three MyFinanceLab Problems Participate in class discussion. Complete the Week Three Practice in MyFinanceLab.
25 Feb 4 March 3 3

Complete the Week Three Problems in MyFinanceLab.

4 March

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Three: Working Capital Management and Capital Budgeting

Details
Learning Team Strategic Initiative Paper Resource: Ethics and Compliance Paper Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you describe the relationship between strategic and financial planning. Include the following: A strategic planning initiative for your organization and identify an initiative discussed in the organizations annual report How the initiative affects the organizations financial planning o o How will the initiative affect costs? How will the initiative affect sales?

Due
25 Feb

Points
7

Risks associated with the initiative and financial effects they may have

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Four: Long-Term Financing

Details
Objectives 4.1 Identify the effect of financing strategies on cost of capital. 4.2 Calculate the weighted average cost of capital of a firm. 4.3 Compare and contrast initial public offering and mergers and acquisitions growth strategies. Read Ch. 15 of Financial Management. Read Ch. 21 of Financial Management. Read Ch. 20 of Basic Finance. (Online in PDF format only) Review Ch. 12 of Financial Management. Review Ch. 14 of Financial Management. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Complete the Week Four Practice in MyFinanceLab.

Due
4 March

Points

Reading

4 March

Participation Individual Week Four MyFinanceLab Practice Individual Week Four MyFinanceLab Problems Learning Team Caledonia Products Integrative Problem

4 March 11 March

3 3

Complete the Week Four Problems in MyFinanceLab.

11 March

Prepare a response to the Caledonia Products Mini-Case located near the end of Ch. 12 in Financial Management. Formulate answers to questions 17 Describe factors Caledonia must consider if it were to lease versus buying.

4 March

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Five: International Finance

Details
Objectives 5.1 Describe the factors that contribute to foreign exchange risk. 5.2 Compare and contrast methods to mitigate foreign exchange rate risk. 5.3 Analyze the effect of globalization on financial decisions. Read Ch. 19 of Financial Management. Read Ch. 6 of Basic Finance. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion.

Due
11 March

Points

Reading

11 March

Participation Individual Final Examination

11 March 11 March

3 15

IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM

The Final Exam for this class is taken in the classroom during the last two hours of the Week 5 class. You will be given the Final Exam, in paper form, at 8:00pm and have until 10:00pm to complete it. The Final Exam will be 30 questions in length, and will be comprised of multiple-choice questions. Many of these questions will require computations of some sort. You will be permitted to access ONLY your two textbooks, your notes, and any PC based calculator you wish. NO other outside source will be permitted. Any efforts to access any other outside source will be considered as an academic violation and will be dealt with accordingly.

Course Design Guide

FIN/370 Version 6

Week Five: International Finance

Details
Learning Team Integrative Problems and Virtual Organization Strategy Paper and Presentation Complete Week Five Problems in MyFinanceLab. Select a Virtual Organization using the student website. Assume your organization is privately held, wants to expand operations, and is faced with three options for expansion: Going public through an IPO Acquiring another organization in the same industry Merging with another organization 11 March 4

Due
11 March

Points
2

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you compare and contrast options and make a recommendation about which strategy the organization must choose. Address the following: Strengths of each approach Weaknesses of each approach Opportunities of each approach Threats of each approach

Also consider the following as it relates to all three options should the organization pursue an international location: Effects of globalization on financial decisions Factors that contribute to exchange rate risks Mitigating exchange rate risk

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Present your paper, with PowerPoint slides, discussing the company, Options, SWOT, Considerations noted immediately above, recommendations, etc. 11 March 5