Business Finance (Fina 3313)

Section 80265 TR 9:30-10:50am, Room CH101

Section 80266 TR 12:30-1:50pm, Room COBA 245W

The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.

Office: COBA 631 Instructor: John Adams, Ph.D.

Phone: 817.272.2024

Department Phone 817.272.2528

E-mail: jcadams@uta.edu

Office Hours: 2:00-3:00 TR. I am willing to make appointments if you cannot meet during my office hours. I strongly

encourage you to come by and see me if you need to do so.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of ECON 2306, ACCT 2302, MATH 1316, and 60 credit hours. Please see me if

you do not meet these requirements.

Course Objective: To provide the student with an understanding of the basic terminology, structure and importance of

business finance. Emphasizes the financing and investment decisions of the financial manager. Topics include financial

statement analysis, working capital management, capital budgeting, long-term financing, and international finance

Required Text: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, Sixth Edition, Brealey, Myers, and Marcus. Text web page:

www.mhhe.com/bmm6e

Free online quiz and course wide contents available for students: http://highered.mcgraw-

hill.com/sites/0073382302/information_center_view0/

The Finance Tutorial:

Completion of a Spreadsheet-based Time Value of Money Finance Tutorial is required of all students enrolled in FINA

3313. You must complete the tutorial to pass the class. This is a departmental policy. It may be purchased at the

University Bookstore. The tutorial consists of 13 spreadsheets, each designed to solve a particular finance problem and

to teach a spreadsheet skill. At the end of each spreadsheet lesson, you are instructed to print the spreadsheet. A proof

of purchase form (blue sheet of paper) must be attached to the first spreadsheet. Submit the completed spreadsheets

according to the schedule listed below. For students who have completed the tutorial in another class, “Prior

Completion Forms” may be submitted instead. These forms are available at the Finance and Real Estate Office (434

Business Building). I do not grade the tutorial but successful completion is required to pass the course.

CPS Pad: This course will be using the eInstruction student response system. You will need to purchase a clicker

and bring it with you to every class session. The purchase of a CPS pad is NOT optional; it will be used as an

integral part of this course. I will provide a short demonstration of how to use CPS in class. More information will

be available on the course website.

Note: Students should purchase ONLY ONE “CLICKER” because the same unit can be used in every class

that chooses to use the CPS system.

After you purchase your clicker, you must register your clicker online for this class. Instructions for the registration

process and other helpful student information is available here: tba

Additional Materials: Overheads, suggested problems solutions, and additional readings can be found on the class

website (WebCT).

Grading scale: (no +/-)

A 90-100 Midterm 1 25%

B 80-89 Midterm 2 25%

C 70-79 Midterm 3 25%

D 60-69 Final 25%

F Below 60 Failure to complete the spreadsheet

tutorial will result in a failing grade.

Attendance: The key to successfully completing the class is to practice, practice, and practice the problems and to attend class.

It is the student’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the online grade sheet and notify me within 7 days of any errors.

Some lecture materials are only available during class. In the case of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get the

materials from other students.

Academic Honesty: Dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Midterm/Final: Students with a documented university approved excuse will have the weight of the final increased accordingly or

a make up exam will be given (at my discretion). In all other cases, a grade of zero will be recorded for that portion of the

material. In the event that a student has missed a preponderance of the material from important subject areas, the proportion of

material on the final exam from that section may be increased (at my discretion) for the individual in question in lieu of a make-up

exam. While I realize that many of you work, the schedule for this class is being provided today. Please do not miss a class as a

result of work-related issues.

Attendance Policy: It is your responsibility to learn about and master any information missed due to absence. Attendance is not

mandatory, but you should be aware that, if you miss a class, I cannot give you credit for work your fellow students may complete

in that class. Check the exam schedule and be sure that you will be able to attend class on exam dates and on the date of the final

exam.

Religious Holidays: Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a major religious observance must provide a written

notice of the date(s) and event(s) to the instructor by the second meeting.

Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that might impair your performance in this course,

please inform me during the first week of class. You should also notify the Disability Resource Center at 272-3364

(www.uta.edu/disability). Topic Coverage

Chapter/Coverage Topics

1

Intro to Finance

Goals and Governance

2 Financial Markets and Institutions 3 Accounting Statements 4 Corporate Performance

5 Time Value of Money

6 Bonds and Bond Valuation 7 Stock Valuation

8

Valuing Investments and Projects

9 Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

10 Project Analysis

11 Risk and Return

12 Capital Asset Pricing Model

13 Weighted Average Cost of Capital

16 Debt Policy

19 Financial Planning 20 Working Capital Management 22 International Financial Management

Key Dates:

September 23rd

Midterm 1

October 14th

Midterm 2

November 11th

Midterm 3

December 6th Finance Tutorial (in class, no electronic submissions)

December 13-17th

per University

Schedule

Final Exam (Comprehensive)

University and College Policies:

Academic Dishonesty:

All students are expected to pursue their scholastic careers with honesty and integrity. It is the philosophy of this

Department, this instructor, and the University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely

unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will

be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or

expulsion from the University. “Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion,

the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an

examination for another person, or any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such

acts.” (Regents Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22)

Institutional procedures regarding charges of academic dishonesty are outlined in Part II, Chapter 2, of the Handbook

of Operating Procedures of The University of Texas at Arlington. Copies of the Handbook are available at more than

75 locations on campus, including the Student Congress office, the Library, and the Finance/Real Estate Department

office.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of the ADA to make

reasonable adjustments in the classroom necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. Students

requesting an accommodation based on disability should meet privately with the instructor during the first week of

class to discuss their special needs and advise the instructor of any special needs, abilities or limitations and to discuss

the instructor’s expectations in class participation, performance and work standards. Any disclosure by the students of

their need for accommodations is recognized to be extremely sensitive and all conversations and other communications

will be kept protected and confidential and disclosed on a need-to-know basis only. Students are responsible for

contacting and consulting with the University’s Office for Students with Disabilities prior to contacting the instructor

about any disabilities. The student should provide the instructor with some form of written documentation of the

disability from the Office for Students with Disabilities.

College of Business Bomb Threat Policy:

Effective April 8, 1996, the College of Business Administration adopted a policy to deal with the classroom disruption

caused by bomb threats in the building. Section 22.07 of the Texas Criminal law states that a Class A misdemeanor is

punishable by (1) a fine not to exceed $4,000, (2) a jail term of not more than one year, or (3) both such a fine and

confinement. If anyone is tempted to call in a bomb threat, be aware that UTA has the technology to trace such phone

calls.

Every effort will be made to avoid cancellation of presentations/tests caused by bomb threats to the Business Building.

Unannounced alternate sites will be available for these classes. If a student who has a class with a scheduled test or

presentation arrives and the building has been closed due to a bomb threat, the student should immediately check for

the alternate class site notice which will be posted on/near the main doors on the south side of the Business Building. If

the bomb threat is received while class is in session, your instructor will ask you to leave the building and reconvene at

another location.

Students who provide information leading to the successful prosecution of anyone making a bomb threat will receive

one semester’s free parking in the Maverick Garage across from the Business Building. UTA’s Crimestoppers will

provide a reward to anyone providing information leading to an arrest. To make an anonymous report, call 817/272-

5245.

Food/Drink in Classrooms:

College policy prohibits food and/or drinks in classrooms and labs. Anyone bringing food and/or drinks into a

classroom or lab will be required to remove such items, as directed by the class instructor or lab instructor.

UTA Student Success Programs:

The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the

University and achieve academic success. They include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and

mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically,

personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817/272-6107 for more information

and appropriate referrals.