FIN 6406 Financial Management - Online
Syllabus
Professor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Dr. Doug Waggle
Bldg. 76, Room 226
Online, via e-mail, or by
appointment.
E-mail:
Phone:
dwaggle@uwf.edu
474-2726
Required Text:
Corporate Finance, 8th Edition, by Ross, Westerfield, and Jaffe. Published by
McGraw-Hill / Irwin (2008). ISBN: 978-0-07-310590-1
Students may alternatively use the 7th edition of the text, but it has less coverage
on financial statements and the chapter numbers do not coincide with those in
the 8th edition.
Catalog Description
Advanced treatment of investment and financing decisions of firms, emphasis on current theory
and practice. Course contains a portfolio project.
Prerequisites:
FIN 3403 Managerial Finance
QMB 6305 Quantitative Methods for Business
This course is three credit hours.
Course Purpose
The course will provide the student with a broad background of finance principles. It is geared
toward financial decisions within a firm. Concepts relating to the time value of money will be
introduced and then applied to the valuation of stocks and bonds. Theory and applications relating
to the risk-return relationship, financial planning, investment decisions, and the cost of capital will
also be covered.
Student Learning Outcomes



After completing the course, students should
Understand the theoretical foundations of financial management.
Be able to perform a financial analysis of a firm.
Be able to solve basic applied problems in financial management.
Financial Calculators
A financial calculator is required for this class. A financial calculator will allow you to do all
sorts of quick and useful calculations. I use and recommend the Texas Instruments BAII-plus.
Other calculators, such as some Hewlett Packard models are also acceptable, but I may not be able
to answer questions on their usage. Whatever calculator you use must have “NPV” and “IRR”
functions.
You may not share calculators on the exams.
Evaluation, Grading, and Exams
All exams must be proctored. The midterm and final exams must either be taken in person
at a UWF campus (times and locations TBA) or be proctored at a testing facility approved
by the instructor. See the information on “Testing Policies” below.
Students may generally choose between 2 different course evaluation alternatives, with the
decision being made before the final exam.
Option A:
Standard
Test 1
Final (Not
comprehensive)
Major Tests
Online Quizzes
Excel Spreadsheet
Portfolio
Assignment
Total
35%
35%
Quiz
Impact
Option B:
Standard
Quiz Impact
20%
50%
10%
20%
60 – 70%
0 – 10%
10%
20%
Test 1
Final
(Comprehensive)
Major Tests
Online Quizzes
Excel Spreadsheet
Portfolio Assignment
10%
20%
60 – 70%
0 – 10%
10%
20%
100%
100%
Total
100%
100%
The typical or default selection is Option A. This is for students who have successfully mastered
the material on the first exam and who are satisfied with their grades on that material. Students
should note that even though the final exam is not specifically comprehensive with Option A, the
latter material naturally builds on earlier material and those concepts must still be understood.
Option B is available for students who would like another opportunity to demonstrate their
understanding of earlier material. I’ll send out a request in advance of the final asking if you
would like to select Option B. Option A is what you get unless you tell me otherwise.
If you fall behind in the material, catching up may prove difficult. There are mandatory online
quizzes that are designed to keep you on track. The quizzes are open book and open note, but
you must do them on your own. You must complete each quiz by the assigned completion date (no
exceptions), which is noted in the quiz section of e-Learning. Failure to take a quiz by the due date
results in a 0. If you take a quiz and make 50 or higher, then the quiz grade is optional. It will only
be included if it is higher than the average score of your major tests. If you make less than a 50,
you are stuck with the grade. My reasoning here is that if you have gone through the presentations,
you should be able to make at least a 50 with your notes available.
Students may bring one 8 ½ x 11 sheet (front and back) with nothing but formulas on it to each
exam. ONLY formulas can be included on this sheet. You may not include any definitions or
examples of how to use formulas. In some cases I may exclude certain formulas from being
included if they are essentially definitions that you should know.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
93-100, A;
87 – 89.99, B+;
77 – 79.99, C+;
67 – 69.99, D+;
Below 60, F.
90-92.99, A-;
83-86.99, B;
73-76.99, C;
60-66.99, D;
80-82.99, B-;
70-72.99, C-;
Testing Policies
As noted above, all exams must be proctored.
Northwest Florida Students
Students in the Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach areas should attend one of three announced
proctored exams. If you live in NW Florida, but are unable to attend any of the exam sessions at
the dates/times that are being offered, you can arrange for remote proctoring. See below for
details.
Students outside the Pensacola or Fort Walton Beach area
Students who reside outside of this geographic area must make arrangements to have the exams
proctored by an individual who is acceptable to the instructor. Most U.S. colleges and universities
and military institutions can assist with proctoring. Proctors generally must have either a .edu or a
military mailing address. Students should contact the testing center at their local university or
community college and request such assistance.
Students who will be using a non-UWF proctor must complete and submit a Proctor
Approval Form (found at the course eLearning site). These forms should be submitted at least
three weeks in advance of the exam being proctored. Only one form is needed for the semester.
Other exam notes:
 Cell phones are not allowed in exams. This does not mean that you should turn your cell
phone off during the exams. It means that they should not be brought to the exams at all.
 A financial calculator is required. You may not share calculators during exams.
Portfolio Paper and Excel Spreadsheet
There are three separate handouts that describe the portfolio paper and Excel spreadsheet
requirements in detail. As noted above, the portfolio paper and Excel spreadsheet are 20% and
10% of the course grade, respectively. The spreadsheet that students develop throughout the
semester serves as the foundation of the portfolio paper. Incomplete grades will generally not be
given to complete the portfolio paper or the course except in except in extreme extenuating
circumstances such as major illness.
Project management is an important skill to learn. Students are in charge of completing this
project on time. Papers will be accepted up to 48 hours late with a 10% penalty. After 48 hours,
papers will not be accepted.
Makeup Exam Policy
Makeup exams are generally not given. If a student has an unexcused absence from an exam, the
general method for making this up is through taking the comprehensive final. The comprehensive
final will then receive additional weighting.
Expectations for Academic Conduct
As members of the University of West Florida, we commit ourselves to honesty. As we strive for
excellence in performance, integrity—personal and institutional—is our most precious asset.
Honesty in our academic work is vital, and we will not knowingly act in ways which erode that
integrity. Accordingly, we pledge not to cheat, nor to tolerate cheating, nor to plagiarize the work
of others. We pledge to share community resources in ways that are responsible and that comply
with established policies of fairness. Cooperation and competition are means to high achievement
and are encouraged. Indeed, cooperation is expected unless our directive is to individual
performance. We will compete constructively and professionally for the purpose of stimulating
high performance standards. Finally, we accept adherence to this set of expectations for academic
conduct as a condition of membership in the UWF academic community.
Assistance
The Student Disability Resource Center SDRC at the University of West Florida supports an
inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of
this course that hinder your full participation, such as time limited exams, inaccessible web
content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, please notify the instructor or the SDRC
as soon as possible. You may contact the SDRC office by e-mail at sdrc@uwf.edu or by phone at
(850) 474-2387. Appropriate academic accommodations will be determined based on the
documented needs of the individual.
FIN 6406 Financial Management
Course Outline and Schedule
Week of …
May 9
Chapter
1
2
Topic
Introduction
Review of Financial Statements
May 16
3
Analysis of Financial Statements
May 23
14
19
Long-Term Financing
Issuing Securities to the Public
20
Long-Term Debt
4
Net Present Value
May 30
(Make sure you know how to use your Financial Calculator!)
“Excel and Other” Steps 1&2 due in dropbox by 11:59 pm on 6/2
June 6
5
Valuing Stocks and Bonds
June 13
**
Mid-Term Exam (TBA – watch for dates)
Covers chapters 1-5, 14, 19, and 20
June 20
6
Alternative Investment Rules
“Excel and Other” Steps 3-6 due in dropbox by 11:59 pm on 6/23
June 27
7
Capital Budgeting Cash Flows
July 4
8
9
Risk Analysis and Capital Budgeting
Capital Market Theory: Risk and Return Overview
July 11
10
Capital Asset Pricing Model
July 18
12
Cost of Capital
Completed paper due in dropbox by 11:59 pm on 7/24
“Excel and Other” Steps 7-8 due in dropbox by 11:59 pm on 7/24
July 25
15-16
Capital Structure
Final Exam (TBA – watch for dates)
Covers chapters 6-10, 12, 15, and 16
Note: This course outline and the dates established therein are tentative, and the instructor reserves
the right to change them.
August 1
**
This outline shows the approximate dates that material should be covered. Due dates for online
quizzes are all noted on the course e-Learning page. Online quizzes are typically due by the middle
of the week after inclusion on the schedule.