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Success in this class requires strong self-discipline and time management skills. Carefully read the syllabus as well as all communications from the instructor including email and Discussion Board postings. Students are required to complete various assessments for each chapter on their own time schedule during the week subject to the submission deadlines. Personal issues or technology problems do not excuse you, so please plan accordingly. Blackboard Learn 9 is the Course Management System:

• Blackboard login instructions
  
• Blackboard login
  
• Technical requirements
  

In addition, we will be using  , a learning solution that increases student effort and engagement.
  

Textbook: CFIN2, 2nd Edition, Scott Besley º Eugene F. Brigham, South-Western Cengage Learning, 2012.

Access to Aplia: Aplia is part of CengageBrain, which allows you to sign in to a single site to access your Cengage materials and courses.

Internet Access: Students should have access to a properly configured computer and a reliable internet connection. 

Financial Calculator Tutorials and Guidebooks: Click here for access to additional resources for financial calculators.

Prerequisites: College Algebra (MAC 1105) or Calculus for Business (MAC 2233), Statistics for Business and Economics (STA 2023), Principles of Macroeconomics (ECO 2013), Principles of Microeconomics (ECO 2023) and Accounting for Decisions (ACG 2021).

NOTE: Students will be dropped from business courses by the CBA Undergraduate Advising Office if they do not meet the prerequisites.  In addition, they will be notified via email of the administrative drop.  The email will be sent to the students FIU email account.  All students are required to activate and monitor their FIU email accounts. The CBA Undergraduate Advising Office will continue checking enrollment throughout the first week of class and will drop students accordingly.
 

FIN 3403 is the core finance course required of all business majors. The course integrates practical and theoretical aspects of finance and includes concepts and techniques essential for success in all business disciplines. Emphasis is placed upon the underlying principles and practices and how they relate to the decision making process faced by a financial manager charged with the objective of shareholder wealth maximization. Although this course emphasizes corporate decision making, the skills obtained will also aid the student in personal finance and small business decision making.

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• Explain and evaluate the concept of shareholder wealth maximization and how it relates to other possible objectives of the firm's management as well as the nature of the agency relationship inherent in the corporate structure.
• Describe how interest rates are determined and the role played by financial markets and institutions in the global financial system.
• Explain the concepts of compounding and discounting and utilize these tools to calculate the future value and present value of lump sums, annuities, and uneven cash flow streams and in addition calculate the value of other variables such as the interest rate, time period, and periodic payment.
• Determine the expected rate of return and risk of an individual investment as well as a portfolio of assets, including concepts such as standard deviation, correlation, diversification, and the CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model).
• Explain the determinants of intrinsic value and utilize these concepts to determine the value and yields of bonds and preferred and common stocks.
• Calculate various measures of project profitability using traditional capital budgeting techniques including Payback Period, Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, and Modified Internal Rate of Return.
• Explain the concept of the cost of capital and how it is affected by the firms capital structure and the application of these concepts to capital budgeting decision making and dividend policy.
• Understand the significance of information included in the income statement and balance sheet, discuss the importance of the cash flow statement and explain the difference between accounting net income for the firm and cash flow; analyze a firm's financial performance using financial ratio analysis.
• Describe the risk-return tradeoff involved in working capital management and explain how firms’ choose appropriate levels of working capital and sources of short term financing.
• Identify the goals of financial planning and the tools available to forecast the firm's financing requirements.
  

    • Apply critical thinking skills to complex business problems including:

        Identifying and evaluating relevant issues and information;
        Generating and evaluating possible solutions to problems.

    • Use quantitative analytical skills to:

        Identify and analyze material factors that are involved in business problems;
        Determine and apply appropriate problem solving techniques to business problems.

    • Use information technology as a tool to perform essential business tasks.
 

Teaching Methodology

The structure of this class makes your individual study and preparation extremely important. You should read and be familiar with the material in the assigned chapter and attempt to solve some problems in Aplia before the class. The lecture will focus on the more difficult aspects of each chapter and on problems and concepts that deal with the material. After the class you should review your notes and in the process work additional relevant problems and questions at the end of the chapter and in Aplia. There are additional resources available in Aplia and CourseMate that many students will find helpful.

Participation: You are expected to attend all of the lectures for the semester. If you miss any material, it is your responsibility to obtain the information from another student. Do not consistently arrive late or leave early. If you have to leave or enter the room while a discussion or presentation is in progress, be quiet and discreet. Do not conduct private conversations while class is in session. However, participation in class discussions is expected. Turn off beepers and cell phones before entering the classroom. Do not eat in the classroom or leave trash behind.

Suggested study procedures:

• Read the assigned chapter and attempt some of the end-of-chapter problems as well as the Discussion Questions on the Prep Cards.
• Access the PowerPoint Slides in Blackboard.
  
• Utilize the additional resources in Aplia (Pre-requisite Reviews, Calculator Tutorials) and CourseMate (Interactive Quizzes, Practice Problems) to deepen your understanding of the material.
• Review the Practice Problem Set for each chapter in Aplia.
• Complete the Graded Problem Set for each chapter in Aplia prior to the deadline.
• Use the Practice Reviews in Aplia to work on areas of needing improvement.
  
• Track your progress for the homework assignments in the Grades section of Aplia.
• Complete the Practice Exams in Aplia which are similar to the exams given in class.
  
• Post your questions on the Discussion Forum in Blackboard and review the Forum for previously answered questions.
• Utilize the services of the Student Learning Center in CBC 106A. To learn more, stop by the center and pick up a detailed schedule, call 305-348-1591, send an email to cbaslc@business.fiu.edu , or visit http://business.fiu.edu/landon/student_learning_center.cfm.
• Use Course Mail in Blackboard, my personal address (jim.keys@fiu.edu), or visit during office hours to communicate privately.
• Prepare for and take Exams as scheduled, following the instructions provided.

Courses follow the University calendar for the term in which they are offered. You are expected to begin your studies in the first week of class and work continually and regularly throughout the term. Students must adhere to University policies and procedures relating to adding, dropping, withdrawing, and canceling courses. Please refer to the Schedule for deadlines.

Absolutely no incomplete grades or make-up examinations will be given. In cases of medical or catastrophic emergencies, the student should contact the Registrar's Office to apply for a Late Drop or Refund.
 

The Undergraduate Policies and Procedures Manual outlines and explains the policies and procedures governing undergraduate study at FIU. The policies include those concerning: the Undergraduate Program,  University and Department  Admission Criteria, College Level Academic Skills (CLAST),  Academic Advising, General Academic Policies, Award of Degrees and Commencement Exercises, Educational Support Services and Undergraduate Administration.  A keyword index links the Undergraduate, Graduate and Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures Manuals.

The Standards of Student Conduct summarizes the position of the University concerning ethics and honesty.

Statement of Understanding between Professor and Student:

Every student must respect the right of all to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students must adhere to a standard of academic conduct, demonstrating respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. As a student in the College of Business taking this class:

• I will not represent someone else's work as my own.
• I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's cheating.
• I will be honest in my academic endeavors.
• I understand that if I am found responsible for academic misconduct, I will be subject to the academic misconduct procedures and sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Please read the Standards of Student Conduct and use it as your guide throughout the course. I take each and every instance of academic misconduct very seriously and hope that this is not an issue with any student who takes the course.

Exams: The Exams are multiple choice and are not comprehensive although some material will carry through. There will be three on-campus exams. Students should bring their FIU Panther IDs, #2 pencils, and calculator. Formula sheet(s) will be attached to the exam. Further instructions will be provided before each exam.

Time Value of Money Tools: The following Time Value of Money tools should be downloaded and printed out. Refer to the "Other Resources" page for calculator tutorials, math and statistical resources, financial certifications and additional items of interest.
 

Course Grading: The final grade is based upon your performance on the Exams and Homework Assignments (Graded Problem Sets) in Aplia:

Grading Scale: The letter grade for the course is based upon the scale below.
 

Grade Access: All Exam grades will posted on the Discussion Forum in Blackboard under your personal code.

• Calculate your personal code by going to http://cba.fiu.edu/cba and entering your Panther ID number.
• Access your grades on the Discussion Forum in Blackboard.

If a student has a disability and needs assistance, please notify the Instructor and/or contact the Disability Resource Center to make arrangements for the appropriate modification and/or assistance.
 

Any student may request to be excused from a scheduled exam to observe a religious holy day of their faith. The student must notify the Instructor and arrange to take the exam in advance of the regularly scheduled exam date.