UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: BA 524
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College:
The W.A. Franke College of
Business
4. Academic Unit:
3
MBA Program
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe the institutional and tax environments in which firms operate.
Adjust the values of cash flows across time.
Calculate returns, and assess riskiness of returns for various assets.
Describe the source of asset value, and be able to calculate values for various financial
assets.
5. Assess the value of potential investments in fixed assets, and make decisions on whether
or not to proceed with the investment.
6. Describe the sources of capital available to firms, and estimate the cost for various
sources.
7. Forecast financial statements into the future, and determine future external financing
needs.
8. Describe how international trade creates additional risks and opportunities for firms.
9. Demonstrate understanding of the sources of law and the legal process, including
alternative dispute resolution.
10. Demonstrate a basic proficiency in the legal aspects of starting a business, including
selecting an appropriate business structure, handling contracting and employee issues,
and establishing protection for intellectual property.
11. Demonstrate an understanding of the place of business in society, including safety to the
public and consumers and ethical decision making.
12. Become proficient in the use of Excel for financial analysis
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
Provides an efficient mechanism for students to acquire knowledge necessary for the MBA
program or for non-MBA or certificate students to gain business foundation knowledge.
Required for the Business Foundations certificate.
Effective Fall 2012
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
Summer 2013
8. Long course title: Principles of Finance and Law for Managers
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title: Prin Finance & Law for Mgrs
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
Survey of the major areas of law and financial operations in business and their relationship to
other business functions; internal financial activities, sources of funds, the firm’s involvement
with money and capital markets, basic techniques of financial analysis and their application to
financial decision making; knowledge of securities, employment and contract laws; development
of an understanding of the financial and legal system.
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
Business Foundations Graduate Certificate
No
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
Some duplication of undergraduate course content is present, but MBA students and students
seeking increased knowledge of business at the graduate level do not need all the content
offered in the undergraduate courses. The focus in the graduate courses will be more
managerial and less procedural. The pace of material coverage will be accelerated.
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
If yes, include a letter of response from each impacted academic unit.
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Yes
Pass/Fail
No
Both
15. Co-convened with:
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
16a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
Effective Fall 2012
Yes
No
16b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
Yes
No
BA 521, BA 522, and post18. Prerequisites:
baccalaureate or graduate status
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
Students must understand accounting and statistics to grasp the finance concepts taught in
this course. The course content and pace will be suited to students who have completed an
undergraduate degree.
19. Co requisites:
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
No
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
Eric Yordy, Sara Holcomb, Lisa
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course: Majure, Emy Tice
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
22. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
23. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
10/9/2012
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/ Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
Effective Fall 2012
No
No
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/ECCC Approval
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
Effective Fall 2012
COURSE SYLLABUS –BA 524 PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE AND LAW FOR MANAGERS
General Information
 The W.A. Franke College of Business
 BA 524, Principles of Finance and Law for Managers
 3 Units
 Summer Only, time to be determined (TBD)
 Instructor’s name: TBD
 Office address: TBD
 Office hours: TBD
Course prerequisites:
BA 521, BA 522, and post baccalaureate or graduate status.
Course description:
Survey of the major areas of law and financial operations in business and their relationship to other business
functions; internal financial activities, sources of funds, the firm’s involvement with money and capital markets,
basic techniques of financial analysis and their application to financial decision making; knowledge of securities,
employment and contract laws; development of an understanding of the financial and legal system.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes for this Course:
 Describe the institutional and tax environments in which firms operate.
 Adjust the values of cash flows across time.
 Calculate returns, and assess riskiness of returns for various assets.
 Describe the source of asset value, and be able to calculate values for various financial assets.
 Assess the value of potential investments in fixed assets, and make decisions on whether or not to
proceed with the investment.
 Describe the sources of capital available to firms, and estimate the cost for various sources.
 Forecast financial statements into the future, and determine future external financing needs.
 Describe how international trade creates additional risks and opportunities for firms.
 Demonstrate understanding of the sources of law and the legal process, including alternative
dispute resolution.
 Demonstrate a basic proficiency in the legal aspects of starting a business, including selecting an
appropriate business structure, handling contracting and employee issues, and establishing
protection for intellectual property.
 Demonstrate an understanding of the place of business in society, including safety to the public
and consumers and ethical decision making.
 Become proficient in the use of Excel for financial analysis
Course structure/approach:
The course will be a combination of lecture and problem based learning supplemented with
business case analyses and project-based assignments requiring written deliverables.
Effective Fall 2012
Textbook and required materials:
The materials required for this class include textbooks and a financial calculator.
Textbooks: Principles of Finance, Gitman 6th edition or CFIN3, Besley and Brigham 2013
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Law, Bagley and Dauchy 3rd edition or Managers and the Legal
Environment, Bagley 7th edition
Recommended optional materials/references (attach reading list):
None
Course outline:
Topics:
The role of finance and the financial manager
The operating environment of the firm:
 Basics of law and courts
 Negotiation and ADR
 Business Structures – legal implications of (LLC, Partnership, Corp)
Financial statement structure and analysis/ Intellectual Property
Financial planning and forecasting
Time value of money
Risk and return definitions and measurement/Effects due to Harm to Others
 Crimes
 Torts and Product Liability
 Antitrust
Features and valuation of bonds and stocks/Securities Law
Capital budgeting - cash flow estimations
Capital budgeting - techniques
The cost of capital
Contracts and UCC
Employment and Agency
Business Ethics
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes:


Methods of Assessment:
In-class individual examinations
Individual problem assignments
Individual projects or cases
50% - 60%
15% - 25%
15% - 25%
Timeline for Assessment
Examinations will be given a minimum of three times during the term (2 midterms and final)
Assignments, cases, and projects will be spread throughout the term.
Grading System:
Grades will be assigned on the basis of total points earned relative to the following scale:
90% or greater A
Effective Fall 2012
80% to 89% B
70% to 79% C
60% to 69% D
below 60% F
Final grades may be based upon a curved scale representing lower point values than those above.
Course policies:

Retests/makeup tests
Exams may include problems, essay questions, and case analyses relating to class discussions, lectures,
assigned reading, cases, and homework. If you are unable to take an exam, you must notify your
instructor before the exam is given. If you miss an exam without notifying your instructor beforehand or
without a valid excuse, you will receive a zero on the exam. If you have a valid reason for missing the
exam, alternative arrangements will be made. No exams will be given early, nor will retests be given

Attendance:
Attendance in a 500-level course is expected of all students. Specific policies including
incentives and penalties are determined by the instructor.

Statement on plagiarism and cheating
Graduate business students are expected to meet the highest standards of professional integrity. Student
behavior should set an example of integrity and serve to elicit trust from those that work with them.
Graduate business students are held accountable to their peers and their faculty for their actions. (MBA
Oath, adapted.) Academic dishonesty is not tolerated in any course within the graduate business
program. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not strictly limited to the following: cheating by way of
using any unapproved written or digital notes, study aides, or the work of someone other than yourself;
the falsification, fabrication, or use of misleading data, information, or citations in any assignment;
plagiarism; submitting academic work prepared for a different class without the knowledge and approval
of the instructor; unsanctioned collaboration between students or groups of students; misrepresentation
of personal circumstances to justify an extended deadline or makeup exam or assignment; forgery;
violation of copyright; taking undue personal credit for team projects and activities; assisting or
knowingly allowing another student to violate the academic dishonesty policy. If suspected, violations
of the academic dishonesty policy will be investigated by the instructor and will be reported according to
the policies set forth by the W. A. Franke College of Business and Northern Arizona
University. Confirmed violations will result at a minimum in a point deduction of twice the grade for
the specific work in question and may result in a failing grade for the course.
University policies:
Effective Fall 2012
Attach the Safe Working and Learning Environment, Students with Disabilities, Institutional Review
Board, and Academic Integrity policies or reference them on the syllabus. See the following document
for policy statements: http://www4.nau.edu/avpaa/UCCPolicy/plcystmt.html.
Effective Fall 2012