SYLLABUS
BSNS 3350
INTERMEDIATE FINANCE
3 CREDIT HOURS
SEMESTER II, 2005-2006
KENT SAUNDERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
WHEN: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from
WHERE: FA 169
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Kent Saunders
OFFICE: Hardacre Hall 216
PHONE: 641-4396
E-MAIL: ktsaunders@anderson.edu
FACULTY HOMEPAGE: http://facultyweb.anderson.edu/~ktsaunders/
COURSE HOMEPAGE: http://webct.anderson.edu
This page provides links to the spreadsheets, old exams, and course specific content.
Login: first initial-middle initial-last name
Password: AU id or the last 4 digits of your AU id
OFFICE HOURS: Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30 to 9 and 10 to noon.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 to 10 and 11 to noon.
Fridays 8:30 to 9.
Also by appointment at other times.
PREREQUISITES: BSNS 3200
TEXTBOOK: Intermediate Financial Management, Seventh Edition, Brigham and Daves.
COMPUTATIONAL TOOL: You will need to bring to class a HP 10B II financial calculator.
OBJECTIVE: This course will study strategic financial decisions and the need for ethics in finance within a system of well established laws and industry regulation. Topics include the financial forecasting, social responsibility, insider trading, capital structure, dividend policy, mergers, real options, and derivatives.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
I
enjoy teaching and helping people learn. I have experience teaching
introductory classes, advanced undergraduate classes, and graduate classes in
Finance, Economics and Statistics. I find it rewarding to teach at all levels
ranging from the introductory student to the graduate student.
In
my classroom, I try to foster an environment where students feel free to bring
up questions. When students can see how the time value of money, demand/supply
analysis and marginal analysis can be used to address everyday questions, their
interest in financial economics becomes aroused. I have noticed that once
students see how the basic methods of analysis work for them as an individual,
their desire to learn how to apply the tools of financial economics to broader
questions soon follows.
As
part of my teaching method, I use specific, real world examples including
interactive simulation games to bring the tools of financial economic analysis
to life. When students use “hands on” activities to learn the material they can
see the applicability of financial economics in the real world. I make a
conscious effort to present material in a variety of ways. I use small group
activities, student presentations, overhead transparencies, videotapes, the
Internet, computer applications that include Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint,
and guest speakers.
In
terms of student assessment, I try and use a variety of methods. I assess
individual and group work in all of my classes. I have in-class and
outside-of-class assignments that are graded. Outside of class assignments
allow me to assess student’s ability to work in teams, writing ability,
research skills, computer applications, and computational skills. In-class
assignments allow me to assess presentation skills and the ability to work
under pressure.
I make a conscious effort to integrate my Christian faith explicitly in all of my classes. We often read and discuss scripture passages. I sometimes offer students the opportunity to write a biblical integration essay and read it to the class for extra credit. These exercises also allow student's to share their perspective and make their own connections between their faith and the course content.
In
taking one of my courses, I hope students will develop a new way of looking at
the world. I hope to give them the basic tools that will allow them to
understand opportunities that exist and the consequences of their decisions. I
hope to provide students with a better understanding of how the world works and
how their decision making influences, and is influenced by, surrounding
society.
POLICIES
ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend each class session. In the event that you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to collect any items handed out in class. Absences can negatively affect grade and generally reduce exam performance.
LATE WORK: In special circumstances you will be allowed to turn in or complete work late. Whether or not you will be permitted to turn in or complete work late will be determined on a case-by-case basis. There is no penalty associated with turning in or completing work early.
CHEATING: Submit work and answers to questions that are your own. Do not copy another person's work on anything that is turned in for an individual grade. Do not plagiarize. Anyone caught cheating on anything that is turned in for an individual grade will receive a double 0 for that assignment and may face disciplinary action.
SYLLABUS CHANGES AND CLASS CANCELLATION: I reserve the right to make changes in this syllabus. If I am fifteen (15) minutes late for a class, the class is officially canceled. You should return the next class period prepared with the material and assignments due for the canceled class as well as prepared for the additional material scheduled on the syllabus.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Students having special problems that might
affect their performance in class should notify me during the first week of
school. Possible arrangements can be made to work with the
EXPECTATIONS
I expect that you
will come to class on time! I expect you to come to each class prepared. I
expect you to have completed the
readings prior to class. I expect that if you have a question or concern
related to the class that you would bring it to my attention.
COURSE CONTENT
GROUPWORK: The class will be split up into 6 groups. You will get to select your own group. I would encourage
you to develop a sense of joint responsibility and group cohesion. Each group will develop a group contract which clearly states what is expected from each member and what penalties will be levied for non-compliance with the contract. Group contracts are due on _______. Your group contract should included meeting dates and times, your names, email addresses, phone numbers, and your weightings for the performance measures in the simulation. Your group work activities will consist of debate participation, an EPS forecast, and simulation participation. Each of these assignments will be described in more detail below.
DEBATE PARTICIPATION: Each group will defend a position in a debate. Each member of a debating team must obtain at least one outside-of-class source material for your debate (i.e. newspaper article, web site, etc.). Every class member is expected to attend every debate.
The opening round will begin with the “Yes” group speaking for 4 minutes followed by the “No” group for 4 minutes. There will be an 8 minute period where members of the class can ask questions directly related to the opening round. At least one class member from each of the other 4 debate teams who are not debating must ask a question or make a comment in order for that group to receive debate-participation credit. The concluding round will begin with the “Yes” group speaking/rebutting for 3 minutes followed by the “No” group speaking/rebutting for 3 minutes. There will be an 8 minute period where members of the class can ask questions. Again, at least one class member from each of the other 4 debate teams who are not debating must ask a question or make a comment in order for that group to receive debate-participation credit.
Attendance and debate-participation is worth up to 10 points per debate for the non-debating group members. Debating group members can earn up to 30 points for their debate participation in each debate. Debate presentation grades will be determined with class input and will be based on: coverage of the material, creativity, transition of topics and use of visual aids on a group basis and accuracy, knowledge, professionalism, and speaking ability on an individual basis. The course homepage contains a presentation assessment form.
Debate A: Group 5 vs. 6 on _______, Issue: Should CEO's pay be limited? Yes: Group 5, No: Group 6
Debate B: Group 3 vs. 4 on _______, Issue: Is the stock market efficient? Yes: Group 3, No: Group 4
Debate C: Group 1 vs. 2 on _______, Issue: Should we abolish the World Bank and the IMF? Yes: Group 1, No: Group 2
EPS FORECAST: Your group will forecast the EPS for Wal-Mart
for the year ending
SIMULATION PARTICIPATION: The class will participate in the FOUNDATION online simulation game. The class will participate in a practice round and then 6 competitive rounds. Registration information will be handed out in class. The goal of the simulation is to earn the highest overall weighted score. You need to input your performance weightings (e.g. 25% stock price, 25% ROE, etc.) before you input your round 1 decisions. Each group will present a 25-minute summary of one round of activity (group 1 will present round 1, group 2 will present round 2, etc.). Presentation grades will be determined with class input and will be based on: coverage of the material, creativity, transition of topics and use of visual aids on a group basis and accuracy, knowledge, professionalism, and speaking ability on an individual basis. Students who are not in the presenting team are expected to ask questions. The presentation is worth up to 25 points of your overall grade. Participation and performance over the course of the semester is worth up to 25 points of your overall grade.
DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION: You can earn up to 50 points by making comments and asking questions throughout the semester. Each student starts with no discussion points. You can earn 2 points for each quality comment you make or question you ask with a maximum of 5 points earned in any one day (i.e. 3 or more quality comments in one day will only get you 5 points for that day). Dr. Saunders determines what “quality” is. Each day where you think you have contributed a quality comment(s) or asked a quality question(s) you need to turn in a slip of paper at the end of the class listing what that contribution was. You will get back your paper with the discussion points earned at beginning of the next class.
EXAMS: You will take an individual mid-term and an individual final exam. Each exam is worth 100 points toward your overall grade.
BIBLE