Finance Sample Course Outlines
Financial Accounting: A User's Perspective
Course Overview
Designed to introduce students to the assumptions, principles and practices of financial accounting, this course consists of a mix of descriptive material, financial accounting rules, and the application of these rules to various business situations. Topics include a detailed discussion of the accounting cycle, accounting for assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity, and financial statement analysis. This course is part of the foundation for all advanced business school classes, and as such, is of great importance for building a successful business career.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:- Identify basic accounting terminology and describe fundamental concepts with respect to accounting theory and practice;
- Understand and describe the role of the double-entry accounting system and apply techniques of recognition, valuation and classification given specific data and information;
- Prepare and critique basic financial statements, for several types of businesses, given data from an accounting worksheet;
- Analyze financial statements for a business to determine its financial and operating position;
- Describe internal controls and identify the benefits of implementation of a well-designed system;
- Apply appropriate depreciation methods to a given set of data for both fixed (long-lived) and intangible assets.
Grading
Students will be evaluated and provided feedback on the following areas and graded according to the following point system:
| Graded Course Requirements | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Quiz 1 | 20 |
| Quiz 2 | 20 |
| Course Participation and Attendance | 10 |
| Homework | 10 |
| Final Exam | 40 |
| Total Points | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Applied Corporate Finance
Course Overview
In this capstone course, you apply what you’ve learned throughout the Finance IDP to real- world situations. Using case studies, you apply financial theory to the three main questions facing financial managers: What investments should the company make? How should the company finance its growth? What dividend policy should the company follow?
Course Objectives
Through the use of case studies in each session, you analyze various situations, identify which theories and quantitative approaches would be relevant to each situation, and make recommendations resulting from the application of these tools. You are also required to defend your recommendations. In addition, you have an opportunity to delve more deeply into capital budgeting topics, financial planning, and how firm life cycles influence decisions regarding capital structure and dividend policy. Discussions also include how external forces and investor preference could cause firms to make decisions that go contrary to what pure quantitative analysis would indicate.
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Capstone Project | 60% (40% paper, 20% presentation) |
| Exams | 30% |
| Class Case Work | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Basic Corporate Finance
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:- Provide an overview of financial management and the financial environment;
- Use financial statements to analyze the financial health of a firm and plan its future;
- Foster an understanding of risk, rates of return, portfolio theory and asset-pricing models;
- Value cash flows at different times using time value of money concepts;
- Apply the concepts of free cash flow, timing and risk to bond and stock valuation.
Grading
- Up to 80% for individual effort (assignment total 70 points)
- Up to 30% for group assignments (total 30 points)
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 30 |
| Final Exam | 30 |
| Class Participation | 10 |
| Group Project/Case Study | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Business Valuation
Course Overview
In this course you apply financial and accounting tools and techniques to estimate the value of public equities, private businesses and other economic assets. The primary valuation methodologies discussed include discounted cash flows, relative valuation metrics and options pricing. Plan to also discuss the factors that affect firm value and explore ways in which businesses can increase shareholder value.
Discussions also cover the advantages and disadvantage of adding complexity to a valuation model and identify various forms of bias that are inherent in most valuations. You use scenario analysis to understand how sensitive valuations are to key factors such as growth, returns and risk. Lastly, you learn how the market's misperception of such factors can lead to price discrepancies and the greatest opportunities for investors.
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Participation and Homework | 15% |
| Individual Case Analysis I | 20% |
| Midterm Examination | 25% |
| Group Case Analysis II and Presentation | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Intermediate Corporate Finance
Course Overview
The focus of this course is to provide you with an introduction to key topics in intermediate corporate finance. The first part of the course reviews security valuation and the cost of capital components for the firm. This leads to an in-depth analysis of the cost of capital and the firm's decision-making process regarding the capital structure (that is, the choice of debt versus equity financing). This analysis necessarily involves consideration of risk, as the firm faces a trade-off between lower cost of capital but greater financial risk. After developing the standard theory of capital structure, the course focuses on a number of applied issues related to raising long-term capital.
Course Requirements
The exams rely very heavily on the topics and analysis covered in lectures, and you are not responsible for material in the readings that is not covered in class. The final grades are, to some degree, based upon how you perform relative to the class average. Note that this means the problem sets and class participation have only a marginal (if any) impact on the final grade, as there generally is little variation among students in these areas. Therefore, the two exams ultimately determine the final course grade. You are expected to attend all class meetings, and more than one unexcused absence negatively impacts the course grade.
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 40% |
| Final Exam | 50% |
| Problem Sets, Class Participation | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Finance
Course Overview
This course provides the tools to address two of the key issues in international finance: the risks and opportunities created by changes in exchange rates and the use of international markets as sources of financing. After successfully completing this class, you will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Convert currencies using spot, future and cross rates and identify arbitrage opportunities;
- Value currency futures and options;
- Forecast exchange rates based on the relationships or parity conditions that should apply among spot rates, forward rates, inflation rates and interest rates;
- Differentiate among translation, transaction and economic exposure to exchange rate changes;
- Translate foreign-currency-denominated items on financial statements to their home currency values;
- Manage translation exposure by adjusting funds flows, entering into forward contracts and netting exposures;
- Use forward contracts, futures, options, money-market hedges and other techniques to reduce transaction exposure;
- Identify and manage economic exposure;
- Construct an integrated exchange risk program;
- Understand the operation of international capital markets and the characteristics of alternative sources of medium- and long-term financing;
- Use interest and currency swaps to reduce the cost of funds.
Grading
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 30 |
| Final Exam | 40 |
| Four Spot Quizzes | 5 |
| Group Presentation | 5 |
| Futures Exercise | 5 |
| Case Study | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Investment Portfolio Management
Course Overview
The course provides an overview of investments from the investor’s perspective. Gain actionable information with just enough theory to promote good decision making. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
• Understand and measure the risks and rewards of different security types,
• Buy and sell securities using the terminology of the brokerage industry,
• Recognize common judgment errors that influence investment outcomes.
Course Requirements
- Read all assigned chapters in the text and work all Concept Check problems and questions.
- Work all end-of-chapter assigned questions and problems in the text.
- Refresh your understanding of financial principles and techniques whenever appropriate.
- Take a midterm and final examination.
- Submit the answers to selected assigned problems and the Case Study at the beginning of the assignment session.
- Arrange for another student to provide you with class notes if you are unable to attend class.
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Problem Answers | 9% |
| Case Study | 6% |
| Midterm Exam | 40% |
| Final Exam | 45% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.