Hochschule Augsburg
Fakultät für Wirtschaft
International Business and Finance 1st year .................................................................................2
M1 Financial Market Decisions........................................................................................................2
M2 Business Ethics and Corporate Governance...............................................................................5
M3 Managing People ......................................................................................................................7
M4 Financial Economics, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy....................................................9
M5 Cases and Projects in Finance..................................................................................................14
Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Business
International Business and Finance
1st year
Module Title
M1 Financial Market Decisions
Module Coordinator/ Lecturer
Prof. Dr. Michael Feucht
Module Type
Compulsory module in the 1st semester
Study Term
The module is offered once a year in the summer
semester.
Courses
Financial Market Decisions (2 weekly contact hours)
Basic Concepts and Mathematical Modelling
Teaching Language
Module Description
English
Introduction to (Mathematical) Decision Theory
Modelling Risk and Uncertainty
Mean-Variance Portfolio Theory
Market Equilibrium I: CAPM
Market Equilibrium II: Arbitrage Pricing Theory
Modelling Equity, Debt, Currency and Commodity Markets
Introduction to Option Pricing
Term Structure of Interest Rates, Forward Contracts and
Futures
Structured Products
Advanced Models: Copulas
Advanced Models: Fractals and Scaling in Finance
Markets and Psychology: Brief Introduction to Behavioural
Finance
Module Objectives
Students understand the essentials of mathematical
decision theory as well as the psychological aspects of
market participant behaviour. They critically reflect the
concepts for performance and risk measurement which are
used to support decision taking in financial markets.
The module provides (in connection with M4 Financial
Economics, Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy) a
necessary basis for the elective Module “Corporate
Finance”. It can be used as stand-alone-module within
any program with an advanced focus on financial markets.
Teaching Method
„Seminaristischer Unterricht“ (Lecture with integrated
practical problems). The lecture is supplemented by
questions for discussion/practical problems/case studies
which are either solved as teamwork in class or assigned as
homework problems using statistical tools such as MS Excel
or SPSS.
Pre-requisites
Basic knowledge about financial instruments and
financial markets from any business related bachelor
program. Recommended reading for course preparation:
David K. Eiteman, Arthur I. Stonehill, Michael H.
Moffett: Multinational Business Finance, 11th ed., AddisonWesley 2006 (Pearson International Edition)
Richard A. Brealey, Stewart C. Myers, Franklin Allen:
Principles of Corporate Finance, 8th ed., McGrawHill 2005
Credits and Contact hours
4 ECTS
Contact hours: 2 contact hours 45 minutes each * 15 weeks
= 22,5 hours
Preparation and reading:
15 weeks * 1,5 hours =22,5 hours
Homework assignments:
15 weeks * 2 hours = 30 hours
Case study + Presentation: 30 hours
Exam and exam preparation: 15 hours
Total: 120 hours
Assessment and contribution to module
mark
Homework assignments
25% Case study/Paper
25% Case study/Presentation
50% Written exam
50% of Homework assignments have to be solved as a
prerequisite for attending the final exam.
Readings

Hansson, S., Decision Theory – A Brief Introduction,
http://www.infra.kth.se/~soh/decisiontheory.pdf

Hansson, S., Fallacies of Risk,
http://www.infra.kth.se/~soh/fallaciesofrisk.pdf

Hansson, S., Philosophical Perspectives on Risk,
http://www.infra.kth.se/~soh/PhilPerspRisk-text.pdf

Copeland, T., Weston, J., Shastri, K., Financial Theory
and Corporate Policy, Amsterdam 2004 (chapters 5
through 8)

Hull, J., Options, Futures and Other Derivatives, 7th
revised edition, Toronto 2008
Module Title
M2 Business Ethics and Corporate Governance
Lecturer
Michael Hartmann, PhD
Module Type
Compulsory module in the 1st semester
Study Term
The module is offered once a year in the summer
semester.
Courses
 Corporate Governance (2 weekly contact hours)
 Business Ethics (2 weekly contact hours)
Teaching Language
English
Module Description
Corporate Governance
 Developments in Corporate Governance
 Owners and Stakeholders
 Directors and Board Structure
 International Corporate Governance
 Finance, Law and Markets
 Corporate Control and Governance
 Globalisation of Corporate Governance
 Corporate Governance in Crisis
Business Ethics
 Perspectives on Business Ethics and Values
 Ethical Issues in Business
 Ethical Theories and how to Use Them
 Personal Values in the Workplace
 Values and Heuristics
 Individual Responses to Ethical Situations
 Whistleblower or Witness
 Social Responsibility, Citizenship, and Governance
 Sustainability and the Responsible Corporation
 Ethical Conformance: Codes, Standards, Culture
 Global and Local Values
Module Objectives
Students understand and critically reflect the essentials and
necessities of business ethics within international corporate
governance. They create an own framework of due and
compliant behaviour and foremost will be encouraged to
influence to the good peers and superiors, but neighbours and
politics as well.
Teaching Method
Highly Interactive Teaching and Learning, Presentations by
Students on Specific Topics, Teamwork on Cases, Top Experts
as Guest Lecturers
Pre-requisites
None
Credits and Contact hours
6 ECTS
4 Contact hours
Attendance: 45 hours
Preparation and reading: 45 hours
Homework assignments:30 hours
Case study + Presentation: 30 hours
Exam and exam preparation: 30 hours
Total: 180 hours
Assessment and contribution to module
Case Study/Paper/Presentation: 50%
mark
Written Exam: 50%
Readings
Corporate Governance
Recommended Readings:
 Christine A. Mallin: Corporate Governance, Oxford 2007
 Thomas A. Clarke: International Corporate Governance,
New York 2006
Business Ethics
Recommended Readings
 Joseph W. Weiss: Business Ethics – A Shareholder & Issues
Management Approach, Mason 2008
 Colin Fisher, Alan Lovell: Business Ethics and Values,
London 2009
 Jean J. du Plessis: German Corporate Governance in
International and European Context, Berlin 2007
Module Title
M3 Managing People
Module Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Michael Freiboth
Module Type
Compulsory Module in the 1st semester
Study Term
The module is offered once a year in the summer
semester.
Courses

Leadership Theories (2 weekly contact hours)

Instruments of Human Resource Management
(2 weekly contact hours)
Teaching Language
English
Module Description
 Why leadership?
 Leadership theories
 Managing oneself
 Managerial roles
 Leadership Dilemmate
 Systems approach to leadership
 Coaching
 Micro politics
 Leading change
Module Objectives
Leading people is one of the key tasks faced by
managers. The topic of leadership has been covered extensively
– and controversially – in the literature. However, compared to
the amount of research, tangible results and concrete results
are rather limited. However, given the importance of
leadership, practitioners require some guidance.
Given this situation, the course pursues two main
objectives. First of all, the course will familiarize the students
with the key theoretical approaches to leadership: trait
theories, role theories, leadership styles and ideologies,
micropolitics. The second objective is to provide the students
with specific tools, e.g. self- management, coaching, setting
targets etc.
Teaching Method
Lectures, Student presentations, Case studies, role plays
Pre-requisites
None
Credits and Contact hours
6 ECTS
Contact hours: 4 h
Attendance: 45 h
Preparation and reading: 60 h
Homework assignments: 20 h
Presentation: 20 h
Exam and exam preparation: 35
Total: 180 hours
Assessment and contribution to module
Presentation: 40 %
mark
Exam: 60%
Readings

Drucker, P. (2005) Managing Oneself. Harvard
Business Review

Harvard Business Review On Leadership (1998) Harvard
Business School Publishing. Boston.

Kotter (1998) Leading Change. Harvard Business
School Publishing. Boston

Neuberger, O. (2002) Führen und führen lassen.
Stuttgart

Northouse, P. (2006) Leadership: Theory and
Practice. Sage Publishing

Selected case studies
Module Title
M4 Financial Economics, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy
Module Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Anton Frantzke
Module Type
Compulsory module in the 1st semester
Study Term
The module is offered once a year in the summer semester.
Courses
Financial Macroeconomics (2 weekly contact hours)
Financial Markets (2 weekly contact hours)
Financial Institutions (2 weekly contact hours)
Teaching Language
English
Module Description
Part I
The Macroeconomics of Financial Markets
Money, Capital and the Economy
Monetary Policy in a European context
Monetary Policy, Financial Markets and the Economy
Part II
Structure of Financial Markets
Primary and secondary markets
The Equity Market
The Debt Market
The Market for Currencies
Derivative Security Markets
Part III
Financial Institutions and Financial Systems in selected
Countries
Financial Market and Banking Structure in selected
Countries
International Financial Institution (Organizations) and their
Functions
Financial Market Regulations and Systemic Risks
The current world financial crisis and its fallout
The Future of the Global Financial Architecture
Module Objectives
First, students understand how financial markets are
structured and how they work and why they are important for
the national and the world economy. They learn and critically
reflect the role international institutions and monetary policy
play in every economy. Second, students develop an
understanding of the microeconomic and
macroeconomic effects of the internationalization of
financial markets and the condition that must be fulfilled that
they can work properly. Third, they work on current financial
issues and how they influence the decision making in business
monetary authorities and governments.
The module provides (in connection with M1 Financial
Market decisions) a necessary basis for the elective Module
“Corporate Finance”. It can be used as a stand- alone module
within any program with an advanced focus on financial markets.
Teaching Method
„Seminaristischer Unterricht“ (Lecture with integrated
practical problems). The lecture is supplemented by questions for
discussion/practical problems/case studies which are either
solved as teamwork in class or assigned as homework problems
using statistical tools such as MS Excel or SPSS.
Pre-requisites
Basic knowledge about microeconomics,
macroeconomics and international economics from any business
related bachelor program.
Recommended reading for course preparation:
Samuelson P., Nordhaus W., Economics, McGraw-Hill
Credits and Contact hours
10 ECTS
Contact hours: 6 contact hours 45 minutes each * 15
weeks = 77,5 hours
Preparation and reading: 15 weeks 4 hours each =72,5 hours
Homework assignments: 15 weeks 4 hours each = 60 hours
Case study + Presentation: 60 hours
Exam and exam preparation: 30 hours
Total: 300 hours
Assessment and contribution to module
25 % Case study/Paper
mark
25 % Case Study/Presentation
50 % Written exam
50% of Homework assignments have to be solved as a
prerequisite for attending the final exam.
Readings

Blanchard O.: Macroeconomics, Prentice Hall 2009

Bofinger P., Monetary Policy, Oxford UP 2001

Mishkin F., Eakins S., Fianancial Markets and Institutions,
Prentice Hall 2009

Madura J.: Financial Institutions and Markets, McGraw
Hill 2008
Module Title
M5 Cases and Projects in Finance
Lecturer
Prof. Dr. Marcus Labbé
Module Type
Compulsory module in the 1st semester
Study Term
The module is offered once a year in the summer
semester.
Courses
Cases and Projects in Finance (2 weekly contact hours)
Teaching Language
English
Module Description
Content
Tbd each Term, but basically upon International Finance and
Governance issues.
Methodology
Self Organized Project Teaming
Module Objectives
Learning Goal
 Living up to Group Dynamics (Forming and Storming,
Team Development),
 Setting Goals (Content and Time),
 Delivering Results on Specific Finance & Governance
Topics
Competencies
 Adjusting to Team Approach,
 Leading (in) a Team,
 Time Management,
 Results Oriented Behaviour
Teaching Method
Self Guidance, Projects, Case studies
Pre-requisites
Knowledge in Project Management
Sophisticated Leadership and Teaming Skills
Self-Starting and Driving Personality
Credits and Contact hours
4 ECTS
Contact hours:1 contact hour 45 minutes each * 15
weeks = 15 hours
Preparation and reading: 15 weeks 4 hours each =105 hours
Total: 120 hours
Result: Working Paper & Presentation
International Business and Finance (M.A.)
14
Stand: 06.03.2013
Assessment and contribution to module
Working Paper (50%)
mark
Presentation (50%)
Readings
Tbd each Term
International Business and Finance (M.A.)
15
Stand: 06.03.2013