HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
Principles of Finance BUSG 1303
Spring 2010 -Kurllenne Martin, MBA
- Contact Number: 281-630-0413
- Assignment email addresses: kkdmartin@yahoo.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION (From HCCS 2001 - 2002 Catalog)
Survey of financial dynamics of the business firm and the study of monetary and credit
theory, cash inventory, capital management, and consumer and government finance with
emphasis on the relationship of time to money. (Formerly FINA 1315, BUSM 1305). Credit:
3 (3 lecture)
TEXTS AND/OR REFERENCES
Finance: Introduction to Institutions, Investments, and Management, 13th Edition, Ronald
W. Melicher and Edgar A. Norton ISBN 13 978-0470-12892-3 or 10 0470-12892-5
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. The student will demonstrate their newly acquired knowledge of the Financial System,
Investments and Business Finance through exams.
2. The student will research a particular area(s) of the course material for the project/term
paper.
3. The student will exhibit creative thinking, decision-making, time management, and
information organization and computer skills by producing a project/ term paper for the
course.
4. The student will effectively communicate and display his/her expertise of their area of
research through the project/term paper.
5. The student will become aware of various job opportunities in finance by reading the
Career Profiles in each chapter of the textbook.
SCANS (Secretary’s Commission Addressing Necessary Skills) OBJECTIVES
Statement of Workplace and Foundation Competencies (SCANS skill)
Workplace competencies and foundation skills have been designed into this course and into
the curriculum for each program of study. Please see the SCANS Competencies and
Foundation Matrix of this syllabus for information regarding the specific common workplace
competencies designed into this course and into the BNKG curriculum.
1. Managing Resources: Manage Time
Students will manage their time outside of the classroom to allow for opportunities to
research a particular field to obtain information to produce the project/term paper.
2. Working with Information: Acquire/Evaluate data
Organize/maintain information
Interpret/communicate data
Process Information with Computers
Students will be required to acquire and evaluate information for use in his/her project/term
paper. Students will organize the acquired information in a format that will provide a basis
to produce the project/term paper. Students will communicate acquired data within their
project/term paper. Students will require producing their project/term paper on a computer.
3. Demonstrating Basic Skills: Reading Writing Speaking Listening
Arithmetic/Mathematics
Students will be required to read 3-5 chapters per week to be prepared for classroom
lectures. Students will exhibit their writing skills be producing a project/term paper.
Students will be required to perform mathematical functions to solve financial
problems/questions. Students will exhibit their verbal communications skills by participating
in class discussions. Students will demonstrate there listening skills by participating in class
discussions and by recalling lectures to answer questions on the exams.
4. Demonstrate Thinking Skills: Creative Thinking
Students will exhibit creative thinking through the production of their project/term paper.
5. Exhibiting Personal Qualities: Individual Responsibility Sociability
Self-management
Students will be required to accept individual responsibility to organize their time to
research a field and produce a project/term paper. Students will socialize with other
students to discuss course information and brainstorm about project/term paper, prepare
for exams, etc. Students will need to self-manage to be able to organize time to read the
chapters, analyze information presented, prepare for exams, and produce a project/term
paper.
In addition, student’s knowledge of all SCANS skills presented will be demonstrated by
completing do and don’t test.
ATTENDANCE, SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY AND OTHER POLICIES
See “VARIOUS POLICIES’ section of this syllabus.
EVALUATION
Midterm Exam .........................20%
Final Exam...........................20%
Quizzes/Assignments..................... 20%
Class Attendance ..........................20%
Research Assignments .........................20%
NUMERICAL GRADES RELATED TO LETTER GRADES
A 90 TO 100
B 80 TO 89
C 70 TO 79
D 60 TO 69
F Below 60
Excellent
Good
Fair
Passing
Failing
Statement of Workplace and Foundation Competencies (SCANS Skills)
HCCS is determined to prepare you with the knowledge and skill you need to succeed in today’s
dynamic work environment. Towards this end, specific workplace competencies and foundation skills
have been designed into this course and into the curriculum for each program of study. Please see the
Scans Competencies And Foundation Matrix of this syllabus for information regarding the specific
common workplace competencies designed into this course and into the BNKG curriculum.
Disability Services: Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged
to report to Room 102 SJAC, or call (713) 718-6164 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty is only
authorized to provide accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. "Any student
with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office at the respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations
requested by the Disability Support Services Office."
VARIOUS POLICIES
Incomplete:
The grade of “I” (incomplete) is conditional. A student receiving an “I” must arrange with
the instructor to complete the course work by the end of the following term (excluding
summer). After the deadline, the “I” becomes an “F”. All “I’s” must be changed to grades
prior to graduation.
Attendance:
A student may be dropped from a course for excessive absences after the student has
accumulated absences in excess of 12.5% of the hours of instruction. In a traditional 16week term, 12.5% of the hours of instruction equates to six hours of instruction or two
absences.
Dropping:
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For example, if you
repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law
limiting students to no more than six total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a
baccalaureate degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process
by which your instructor will “alert” you and HCCS Student Services of the chance you might fail a class because of
excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. You should visit an HCC counselor or HCC Online Student
Services to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be offered to assist you – tutoring, child care,
financial aid, job performance, etc, - to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
You MUST visit a counselor or online student services prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class and this
must be done prior to September 15, 2010 at 4:30PM to receive a “W” on your transcript. After that deadline, you
will receive the grade you are making in the class which will more than likely be an “F”.
Weeks
Two – Six
Instructors initiate “Early Alert” process – to let students know they may be in danger of failing
the course and informing them of actions they need to take.
Seven – Ten
Students Services should send Instructors a report on actions taken or not by students.
Week Twelve
Drop Deadline
Week Sixteen
Grade Assignment
Scholastic dishonesty: Houston Community College System students are responsible for conducting
themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes: copying from another student’s test paper; using during
a test materials not authorized by the person giving the test; collaborating with another
student during a test without authority; knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing,
transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of an unadministered test; bribing
another person to obtain a test that is to be administered. Plagiarism means the
appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in
one’s own written work offered for credit. Collusion means the unauthorized
collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit. Possible
punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F on the particular
assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal
from the College. Students who wish to appeal the penalty should notify the instructional
supervisor within thirty working days of the incident. A standing committee appointed
by the Dean of Instruction will convene to sustain, reduce, or reverse the penalty. The
committee will be composed of two students, two faculty members, and one instructional
administrator. A majority vote will decide the appeal. A recommendation for suspension
or expulsion will be referred to the Dean of Students for disposition under Section 203.
This course outline may be altered at instructor’s discretion.
COURSE OUTLINE: Attendance and Due Dates and Material Covered
8/31 Orientation/Syllabus Review
9/7 Ch 1-4 Quiz, Assign Ch 5-8
9/14 Ch 5-8 Quiz
9/21 Midterm Exam, Ch. 1-8, Assign Ch 9-13
9/28 Ch 9-13 Quiz, Assign Ch 14-18
10/5 Ch 14-18 Quiz
10/12 Research Paper Due
10/19 Final Exam Ch 9-18, End of Semester