BUSINESS STUDIES
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
Course Code: IDC 4UB
Course Name: Building Financial Security
Level:
GRADE 12 University Preparation
Instructor:
Period:
Room Number:
Course Overview:
This course explores the choices that investors and stakeholders make about investments and the use of resources in pursuit of financial security within a competitive global economy.
Students will use economic, financial and mathematical concepts and models, as well as methods of application and inquiry, to study and analyse these choices, and to assist in
developing within themselves the ability to make informed financial choices based on their analysis.
This course investigates financial management, capital markets, and ways in which capital is acquired. Students will use diverse information skills, resources and technologies to gather
information related to a variety of Canadian and international financial institutions, investigate the conceptual and mathematical foundations of increasing net worth, and examine
investment in the stock market (e.g. the risks and safeguards in stock trading, stocks as investments, creating investment portfolios.) They will also analyze the social impact of personal
and corporate investment decisions and will learn to solve problems through theoretical investigations, systems thinking approaches and case studies.
Where financial decisions are made, ethical value judgments are also made. The values inherent in these decisions reflect the views of that society’s economic decision-makers such as
investors, company management, shareholders and politicians. These values may, or may not, be consistent with the attitudes and values contained within the Catholic faith. As a
result, students evaluate the consistency, or lack of it, of the actual decisions, locally, nationally, and globally, as they are carried out by economic decision-makers. Evaluations of this
type provide an excellent opportunity for teachers to develop Catholic values in students through questioning, discussion, and debate about how society should make these decisions
compared to how these decisions are actually made.
Applying economic concepts, models, and methods of inquiry to examine the stock market and stock values and the impact current economic circumstances have on the market and
specific stock values, provides students with an opportunity to develop thinking, inquiry, and communications skills. This course better equips students for further study of finance or
economics at the university or college level.
Students will identify the catholic values and Catholic Graduate Expectations necessary to succeed in the business world and evaluate personal and spiritual employability skills
necessary for success.
Specific Strands of Study and Expectations include:
List of originating courses:

Principles of Financial Accounting (BAT4M)

Analysing Current Economic Issues (CIA4U)

Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U)
Expectations are also applied from: CIE3M, MBF3C, CIC3E, MCF3M, MCR3U, BBB4M, and BOH4M
Theory & Foundations: Ideas and Issues, Structures and Organization, Perspective and Approaches, Skills and Strategies
Processes & Methods of Research: Preparing for Research, Accessing Resources, Processing Information, Assessing and Extending Research
Implementation, Evaluation, Impacts & Consequences: Implementation and Communication, Evaluation, Impacts, Personal and Career Development
Unit 1: Proper research techniques, history and
development of trade and commerce
Unit 2: Investing, saving, budgeting & finance
Unit 3: Macroeconomics
Unit 4: Equity Based Securities
Unit 5: Fixed Income & Managed Products
Unit 6: Corporations and Financial Statements
Unit 7: The Client Portfolio
Unit 8: Greed is Good? (Corporate Governance & Social Responsibility)
Course Breakdown
Resources:
The course will use a variety of resources
Unit 1: Proper research techniques, history and
including video, CD-ROM, Internet Applications
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during the first week of the course. The text and
Unit 2: Investing, saving, budgeting & finance
all other resources assigned to students are the
responsibility of the student. Any damage
incurred will result in payment for replacement.
Replacement cost for the text is $40.00.
Catholic Graduate Expectation: A Collaborative Contributor
Unit 3: Macroeconomics
Catholic Graduate Expectation: A Responsible Citizen
Unit 4: Equity Based Securities
Catholic Graduate Expectation: An Effective and Creative Thinker
Unit 5: Fixed Income & Managed Products
Evaluation Structure::
Catholic Graduate Expectation: A Reflective and Creative Thinker who
creates, adapts, evaluates new ideas in light of the common good.
Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry
Communication
Application
Unit 6: Corporations and Financial Statements
Unit 7: The Client Portfolio
Catholic Graduate Expectation: An Effective Communicator
Unit 8: Greed is Good? (Corporate Governance &
Social Responsibility)
Catholic Graduate Expectation: A Responsible Citizen
25%
25%
25%
25%
The above is reflected both in the term work (worth
70% of the final mark) and the summative work
(worth 30% of the final mark). Summative work
consists of a Culminating Performance Task (10%)
and a Final Exam (20%).
Evaluation Policy
Students will be assessed & evaluated according to the work produced & skills displayed. Methods of providing
feedback will include assessing work in process & evaluating completed assignments, tests, co-operative learning
activities, simulations and presentations. Peer & self-evaluations will also be utilized.
Student marks will be determined by evaluating process & product according to 4 categories & 4 levels. Please see the
chart below for specific skills and key words used to determine student competency in the different categories.
Level
Category
Knowledge/Understanding

Knowledge of facts & terms
Understanding of concepts & relationships

Thinking/Inquiry


Critical thinking skills
Creative thinking skills
Inquiry Skills

Communication


Communication of ideas and information
Use of symbols & visuals
Oral & written communication

Level 1:
50-59%
Level 2:
60-69%
Level 3:
70-79%
Level 4:
80-100%
-Limited
display of
knowledge,
skills and
ability to
apply
concepts
-Some
success in
displaying
knowledge,
skills and
application
of concepts
-Considerable
display of
knowledge
skills and
ability to apply
concepts
-Thorough
understanding
of concepts and
ability to
communicate,
think creatively
and apply
concepts
Application




Applications in familiar contexts
Transfer of concepts to new contexts
Making logical conclusions and predictions
Use of technology
Making connections

Feedback will also be provided for student learning skills. Skills like working independently, team work, organization,
work habits and homework, and initiative are assessed independently student achievement and will be conducted
through the use of a rubric indicating specific criteria to be achieved to receive each of the following letter grades:
E –Excellent
Other Evaluation Issues




G – Good
S – Satisfactory
N - Needs Improvement
LATE ASSIGNMENTS. Assignments submitted after the Primary Due Date established by the teacher will be accepted with a
penalty of 5% off for the first day late, 3% for the second day late, and 2% for the third day late. This three day Penalty Zone
is the maximum time allowed for submissions. The third day after the assignment is due is considered the Closure Date upon
which no further assignments will be accepted. If the teacher returns the marked assignments within the four day penalty
zone, the date of return is considered the closure date. Repeated lateness in submissions indicates poor organization skills and
will result in parental contact and will be reflected in the learning skills section of the report card.
INCOMPLETE ASSSIGNMENTS Assignments will be graded according to the extent with which they meet the criteria
established in the rubric or evaluation structure.
MISSED TESTS Tests missed with a legitimate reason will be written within a few days of the student returning from the
absence. Student eligibility to write the test and the date of writing will be at the discretion of the teacher in consultation with
the department head.
Plagiarism in any form reflects academic dishonesty and will result in a mark of zero for the assignment in question