FI 3300- CORPORATION FINANCE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Course Syllabus Spring Semester – 2010
Dr. Isabel Tkatch Web page: http://www2.gsu.edu/~fncitt/Fi3300.htm
Assistant Professor of Finance Office Phone: 404-413-7351
E-mail: [email protected] Office Fax: 404-413-7312
Class meetings: Aderhold Learning Center, Room 031, Wednesday 7:15 PM – 9:45 PM
Office Hours: Robinson College of Business 1241, Wednesday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, by appointment
NOTE: It is your responsibility to read, understand and abide by all of the course information and policies
listed below. Failure to do so could result in you failing this course or being withdrawn from the course by
your instructor or by the Finance Department. The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course;
deviations may be necessary.
COURSE SECTIONS
The following table lists all sections of FI 3300 for the Spring Semester 2010. Each section has a unique Course Number.
Be sure to check your registration record on the GOSOLAR online system to locate the correct time and location for your
specific class and Instructor.
Full Semester Classes:
Course Class Class
Number Days Times Instructor Classroom / Location
10574 TR 08:00 am - 09:15 am Shabnam M Mousavi Aderhold Learning Center 304
10575 TR 09:30 am - 10:45 am Craig Ruff Alpharetta Center
13707 MWF 10:00 am - 10:50 am Bunyamin Onal Aderhold Learning Center 204
10577 MWF 11:00 am - 11:50 am Richard Fendler online
10576 TR 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Zinat Alam Aderhold Learning Center 304
10578 MW 12:00 noon–01:15pm Jonathan Godbey Aderhold Learning Center 403
17299 TR 01:00 pm – 02:15 pm Sandhya Vallapuzha Aderhold Learning Center 324
10579 TR 02:30 pm – 03:45 pm Sandhya Vallapuzha Aderhold Learning Center 229
10580 MW 03:00 pm – 04:15 pm Bunyamin Onal Aderhold Learning Center 403
10582 M 04:30 pm – 07:00 pm Jonathan Godbey Aderhold Learning Center 202
10583 W 04:30 pm – 07:00 pm Genna Brown Aderhold Learning Center 106
10581 R 04:30 pm – 07:00 pm Igor Osobov Aderhold Learning Center 030
10585 M 07:15 pm – 09:45 pm Jonathan Godbey Aderhold Learning Center 432
10584 W 07:15 pm – 09:45 pm Isabel Tkatch Aderhold Learning Center 031
17965 R 01:00 pm – 03:30 pm Zinat Alam Aderhold Learning Center 432
Please direct any questions or concerns to the course coordinator, Dr. Jonathan Godbey. His email address is
COURSE PREREQUISITES: The course prerequisites for FI 3300 are:
AC 2101, Principles of Accounting I (or its equivalent)
AC 2102, Principles of Accounting II (or its equivalent)
EC 2106, Principles of Microeconomics (or its equivalent)
CSP 1,2, 6
All students, regardless of degree program (graduate or undergraduate) or status, (transient or post-baccalaureate) must
have completed all 3 prerequisites (or the equivalents thereof) with a grade or "C-" or better. The Department of Finance
may disenroll you if it is discovered during the semester that you have not successfully completed all of the prerequisites.
This action will result in a loss of fees; no refund is guaranteed. This action could also result in a final grade of "WF" for
the course in some circumstances.
If the above prerequisite courses were completed as transfer courses, it is your responsibility to confirm that transfer credit
has been received and credited properly. If your transfer credit has not been received and placed on your record, it is your
responsibility to provide to the Department of Finance documentation by no later than one week prior to the semester
midpoint (see official Academic Calendar as published by the Registrar’s office), confirming that the above prerequisites
have been satisfactorily completed.
All transient and post-baccalaureate students must provide documentation to the Department of Finance, by no later
than one week prior to the semester midpoint (see official Academic Calendar as published by the Registrar’s office),
confirming that the above prerequisites have been satisfactorily completed.
Documentation, as referred to above, may consist of a copy of a grade report or a copy of an unofficial transcript.
Documentation received after the aforementioned date will not be accepted and those students who have been withdrawn
for prerequisite violation will not be reinstated in the class.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Lectures in Corporate Finance (Revised 5th edition) by Jayant R. Kale and Richard J. Fendler, published by
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company (ISBN: 978-0-7575-5767-5).
REQUIRED CALCULATOR:
The Finance Department at GSU recommends that for FI 3300, you use the Texas Instruments BA II Plus. The textbook
website contains detailed directions on using the BA II Plus along with several examples demonstrating how to use the BA
II Plus to solve most time value of money problems. Any other calculator must be approved by your instructor. You may
not use calculators capable of storing formulas.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
FI 3300 is designed to give students Finance majors a solid foundation of the basic concepts that are necessary to excel in
future Finance courses. It will give non-majors a basic understanding of the role and function of financial managers in the
firm.
To successfully complete the course students should be able to: - Create, discuss and explain the income statement, balance sheet and
statement of cash flows
- Perform time value of money calculations
- Value and describe stocks and bonds
- Evaluate capital budgeting projects
ATTENDANCE:
Each student is expected to attend all scheduled class meetings for the entire duration of the class meeting. An
attendance sign-up sheet will be circulated each class period. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. If you do
not sign it, you will be considered absent. The attendance sheet may be circulated at any time during the class period (at the
beginning of class, at the end of class, or in the middle of class) and may even be circulated twice during the same class
period. If you do not sign the attendance sheet when circulated or if you do not sign the attendance sheet both times it may
be circulated during a given class period, you will be considered absent. Students arriving late may be permitted to sign the
sheet only at the discretion of the instructor.
Upon accumulation of more than the equivalent of 2 weeks total (excused or unexcused) absences, the student will
be dropped from the class by the instructor. That is, any student who is signed up for a full semester M, T, W, TH or F
class and is absent from three (3) classes, or any student who is signed up for a full semester MW or TT class and is absent
from five (5) classes, or any student who is signed up for a full semester MWF class and is absent from seven (7) classes,
or any student who is signed up for a mini-mester MW or TT class and is absent from three (3) classes, may be withdrawn
from the course.
This policy includes the first day of class regardless of when you registered for the course. (Thus, if you do not attend
the first official day of class because you register for FI 3300 during the late registration period, you will begin the semester
with one day of absence). An absence from class for any reason (job conflict, illness, appearance in court,
transportation problems, travel, etc), even if permitted and/or excused by your instructor, will count as one of the
class absences against the two-week equivalent cumulative limit specified above. Student athletes must see the
instructor regarding absences related to athletic events. Please be aware of the new University withdrawal policy, effective
from Fall Semester 2006, that limits the number of withdrawals. If you are withdrawn after the mid-point of the semester,
you will be given a grade of WF regardless of the number of withdrawals accumulated.
GRADE WEIGHTS: Your final grade for the course will be determined according to the following grade weight schedule:
Exam One 25%
Exam Two 25%
Quizzes and homework 20%
Comprehensive Final Exam 30%
Final grades will be assigned according to this schedule only. Once your final grade is assigned it cannot be changed
except in the rare circumstance of a mathematical miscalculation by your instructor. No extra credit work may be done
to improve your grade. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State University.
Upon completing the course, please take the time to fill out the online course evaluation.
PLUS (+) AND MINUS (-) GRADING: Instructors will use the university’s new plus(+) and minus(-) grading policy. The following grades, weighted average
cutoffs and quality points (used to calculate your GPA) will be possible:
Grade Weighted Average
Cutoff
Quality Points Grade Weighted Average
Cutoff
Quality Points
A+ 97+ 4.30 C+ 77+ 2.30
A 92+ 4.00 C 72+ 2.00
A- 90+ 3.70 C- 70+ 1.70
B+ 87+ 3.30 D 60+ 1.00
B 82+ 3.00 F 59.9- 0.00
B- 80+ 2.70 WF N/A 0.00
MAKEUP EXAM POLICY: No make-up exams will be given in FI 3300 for any reason. If you must miss a scheduled in-term exam (i.e., Exam
One or Exam Two), you must notify your instructor as soon as possible and provide a documented reason for your
absence. If your instructor agrees that your reason is sufficient to warrant absence from the exam, the weight of the missed
in-term exam will be added to the final exam (thus, your final exam score will count towards 55% of your total course
grade average). If your instructor does not consider your excuse sufficient to warrant absence from the exam, you will be
assigned a grade of 0 if you fail to take the exam. This policy will only count for one in-class exam. If you miss both in-
class exams, you will receive a grade of 0 on the second missed exam. Any excused or unexcused missed exam day will
count as an absence.
RESCHEDULING THE FINAL EXAM: Except in minimester the final exam for FI 3300 is a common exam taken by all sections of FI 3300 on the same day at the
same time. If you cannot attend the final exam on the assigned time and day (see academic calendar for common final
exams), read and follow the following section entitled: “Request for Final Exam Variance.” You must follow the directions
in this note to receive a final exam variance. Your instructor has nothing to do with granting an alternative final exam time
and/or day.
The final exam is on Saturday, May 8, 12:30-02:30PM in Room TBA (seating & instructions start at 12:15AM).
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
The Department of Finance adheres strictly to the University's policy on academic honesty as contained in the Academic
Regulations section of the University catalog. Any student found copying during exams or quizzes, signing someone else's
name to the attendance list, using stored formulas in programmable calculators, using non-authorized formula sheets or
other notes during exams, collaborating on and/or copying the course project (including from students in prior classes), or
the like will receive an F for the course and possibly be subject to additional University disciplinary action.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with the Office of Disability
Services in Suite 230 of the Student Center. Students can only be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability
Services of signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in
which an accommodation is sought.
REQUEST FOR FINAL EXAM VARIANCE
IMPORTANT FINAL EXAM POLICY:
The Department of Finance schedules common, Department-wide final examinations in FI 3300. To apply for a
variance you must follow the instructions below.
Variances granted from the common final examination date are undesirable for obvious reasons. Intrinsically,
early examination exposes any student to questions, even if innocent, when cheating is discovered. The
penalties for cheating are severe; consult GSU’s General Catalog for specific University regulations. Core
courses are offered each semester. Therefore, if you foresee a personal conflict with the examination date,
please register for the course in a later semester.
GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING A FINAL EXAM VARIANCE:
Note: Only the Department Chairperson grants variances for the final examination date. Permission granted by
others, including your instructor, will not be honored. You must follow the guidelines below to obtain a
variance date to take the final exam:
1. Requests for variance must be received in the Department's office by no later than one week prior to the
semester midpoint (see official Academic Calendar as published by the Registrar’s office). This lead-time
will allow for course withdrawal in the event of denial of his/her request.
2. A letter must be written to the Chairperson, and must be supported by additional written documentation
regarding the student's conflicting obligation. Job conflicts are to be supported by a letter from the student's
supervisor on company stationery. Variances for students involved in the wedding of an immediate family
member will be considered. Others will not. Copies of a wedding invitation and statement of kinship must
support those requests.
3. Because the Disability Services office is not open on Saturdays, students who normally take exams in the
Disability Services office must also apply for an exam variance by the date listed above. With your letter to
the Chairperson, provide a letter from the Disability Services office stating that you normally take your
exams in their office.
The letter to the Chairperson should include your Social Security number, telephone number,
address, name of instructor, and course section. It should be mailed or faxed to the Chairperson of
the Department of Finance, Robinson College of Business, P.O. Box 3991
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3991, (Fax: 404-413-7312)
4. If a variance request is approved, the Department will determine the date and site of an alternate
examination. It is Departmental policy that an alternate examination will be scheduled at an earlier, rather
than a later, date.
5. Examination after the date of the common final will be granted only when the student has become
physically disabled late in the quarter.
Course Outline for Full Spring Semester (Tentative, changes may be necessary)
Textbook chapters should be read before the date on which the topic/event will be covered in class. After reading a
given textbook chapter and attending the lecture, you should begin working the Assignment Problems. Bring your
calculator to class.
Date Topic/Event Assignment Event
Jan 13 Introduction / Overview Ch. 1
Accounting Review Ch. 2
Jan 20 Accounting Review Ch. 2
Statement of Cash Flows Ch. 3
Jan 27 Financial Statement Analysis Ch. 4 Quiz 1
Feb 03 Strategic Financial Management – Pro Forma F/S Ch. 5 HW1
Feb 10 EXAM ONE Ch. 1-5 Exam 1
Principles of Valuation I Ch. 6
Feb 17 Principles of Valuation I Ch. 6
Principles of Valuation II Ch. 7
Feb 24 Principles of Valuation II – Advanced Topic Ch. 7
Mar 01 Semester Midpoint (last day to withdraw with "W")
Mar 03 Financial Securities and Markets – Fixed Income Ch. 8 Quiz 2
Mar 10 Spring Break (No classes the whole week)
Mar 17 Bond and Stock Valuation – Bonds Ch. 8
Mar 24 Bond and Stock Valuation – Stocks Ch. 9
Mar 31 EXAM TWO Ch. 6 - 9 Exam 2
Apr 07 Capital Budgeting Techniques Ch. 10
Apr 14 Capital Budgeting Techniques – Problem solving Ch. 10
Cash Flow and Capital Budgeting Ch. 11
Apr 21 Cash Flow and Capital Budgeting/EAS Ch. 11 Quiz 3
Apr 28 Review Session Ch. 1 - 11
May 08 Common FINAL EXAM: Saturday, 12:30PM Ch. 1 - 11
Attendance Policy:
As per general syllabus students will be permitted maximum of 2 absences, counting the first class. An
attendance sheet will be passed around once or twice each class. It is your responsibility that you have signed
the sheet each time. Students arriving late will be permitted to sign the sheet only at the discretion of the
instructor. Permission will never be granted if late 30 min or more. Students who leave class early will be
considered absent even when they have signed the sheet (the signature will be crossed out).
Participation:
You are expected to actively participate in the class. Active participants are expected to:
1. answer questions directed to the class,
2. ask questions to clarify ideas,
3. and record notes.
Bring your textbook to class. We will use material from the text during class.
Bring your calculator to class (TI BA II Plus). You will use it on exams. Most of the financial decisions we
will investigate require that information be processed before correct decisions can be made.
Quizzes:
Quizzes are tentatively scheduled in the course outline. If the schedule is changed, it will be announced at least
one class prior to the quiz date. The format of quizzes will vary depending on the subject matter to be tested
and will test chapter material covered following the previous quiz. There are no make ups for quizzes (you will
receive 0) for any reason. However, out of 3 quizzes the grade for the worst quiz will be dropped (your course
grade will be calculated using the two best ones).
As a teacher I have the following responsibilities:
1. Come prepared to every class with a well thought out presentation.
2. Design the class so that you can accomplish the cognitive objectives listed in the syllabus.
3. Consider that it is not always your fault if you do not understand the material.
4. Create a mutually respectful classroom environment.
5. Recognize that I may make mistakes in grading or poorly word test questions and respond
appropriately when you question your grade.
As a student you have the following responsibilities:
1. Come prepared to class by completing assignments.
2. Consider that it is not always my fault that you do not understand the material.
3. Treat all others in the classroom with respect.
4. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Asking questions is a sign of maturity and intelligence.
5. Understand that I cannot give grades, you must earn them. Otherwise, my integrity and that of
GSU is compromised.
