CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
FINANCE 101-FALL 2015
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/k/kuhlej/
COURSE SYLLABUS
PROFESSOR: James Kuhle, Ph.D., Professor of Finance, School of Business Administration
OFFICE: Business 2040
OFFICE PHONE: 278-7058
OFFICE HOURS: 06:45-07:30; 11:00-12:00 MW; by appointment
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the world of corporate finance. This
will result in the exposure to many types of financial concepts as well as basic procedures for the
application and interpretation of financial statement analysis.
PREREQUISITE: See current catalog
REQUIRED TEXT:
FOR THE TEXTBOOK: CFO (Corporate Finance Online) by Eakins and McNally, obtained from
Pearson Publishing online. (Cost is $138).
To register for Corporate Finance 101 - Prof. Kuhle, Spring 2014: 1. Go to
pearsonmylabandmastering.com. 2. Under Register, click Student. 3. Enter your instructor’s course
ID: kuhle37852, and click Continue. 4. Sign in with an existing Pearson account or create an account:
If you have used a Pearson website (for example, MyITLab, Mastering, MyMathLab, or
MyPsychLab), enter your Pearson username and password. Click Sign in. If you do not have a
Pearson account, click Create. Write down your new Pearson username and password to help you
remember them. 5. Select an option to access your instructor’s online course: Use the access code that
came with your textbook or that you purchased separately from the bookstore. Buy access using a
credit card or PayPal. If available, get 14 days of temporary access. (Look for a link near the bottom
of the page.) 6. Click Go To Your Course on the Confirmation page. Under MyLab & Mastering New
Design on the left, click Corporate Finance 101 - Prof. Kuhle, Spring 2014 to start your work.
FOR TOP HAT: Go to: https://tophat.com/ this is a required app for all students (cost is $20). It is
an additional learning tool as well as an attendance tracker.
FOR THE OVERHEADS:
Your power points will now be available on my website and they have the same material I use for each
of the four quizzes and all lectures. You should download these overheads and bring them to class for
note taking purposes.
REQUIREMENTS:
Quizzes
There will be THREE quizzes (200 pts. Each), one roughly every 3-4 weeks. There will also be a
common knowledge assessment exam (200 pts.) given during the regularly scheduled final hour. Total
quiz points plus assessment points will be 800 points. The quizzes will consist of True/False and
multiple-choice questions. There are no make-up quizzes for any reason. YOU MUST HAVE A
VALID CSUS I.D. TO TAKE ANY QUIZ. If you miss a quiz you will receive a score which is equal
to 50% or 100 points. Your final grade will be based on a total of 1000 points. Quizzes will be
announced at least one week before the actual quiz. You will be allowed to prepare a “crib sheet” for
each quiz. One page front and back (8.5 x 11) will be allowed.
Incompletes
As a stated policy, there will be no incompletes granted in this course for any reason other than
serious medical problems, which must be accompanied by an attending doctor's report. No other
reasons are acceptable.
Attendance and Participation
In order to successfully complete this course you must attend the majority (90%) of classes.
Participation means preparation. If you read the assignment prior to class then our experience
together will be much more rewarding. Attendance will be taken every day. I reserve the right to
drop anyone who misses two classes during the first two weeks of the semester. Attendance is
controlled by Top Hat. Attendance is worth 50 points. You will have 3 (three) free absences according
to my records, so no grade deduction will be made for the first three absences. If you miss four classes
your overall class grade will be reduced by 1/3 letter grade. If you miss five classes your grade will be
reduced by an additional 1/3 letter grade for each absence. If you miss more than six classes I reserve
the right to assign a grade of “F” as your final grade in the course. Do not take my class if you plan on
missing more than two classes, go and find another instructor where attendance is not a high priority.
You must return to me a completed course agreement found at the end of this document. There is a
direct correlation between attendance and how well you will do in this class. Attendance points will be
reflected through the Top Hat program.
Classroom Etiquette
In a class this size, the basic rules of classroom etiquette apply in this course. There is no talking out
of turn or during lectures unless called upon to answer a question. If you have a question you will be
given every opportunity to ask for the answer after I call on you. You are encouraged to ask questions
since extra credit may be given for thoughtful questions. If you continually talk during class, I will
ask you and your talking partner to leave. Failure to leave when asked will result in the loss of all
attendance points accumulated to date. If you have a need to leave early please make arrangements
with me before class begins. If you have a learning or physical disability every effort will be made to
accommodate your needs. Please see me immediately after the first class so we can discuss those
needs.
General
- Laptop and cell phone regulation: Please turn off all cell phones during lecture. No texting
during class lectures. If you or your electronic devices become a distraction I will ask you to
leave the room and receive 1 absence. If you refuse to leave the room you will have ALL bonus
attendance points (thus far accumulated) subtracted from your name card.
- Attendance: attendance is handled through TOPHAT.
- If you have a disability and require special accommodations, you need to provide disability
documentation to SSWD, Lassen Hall 1008, (916) 278-6955. Please discuss your accommodation
needs with me after class or during my office hours early in the semester.
Grading
Grading will be done on a relative basis. That is you will be graded according to your performance
with respect to the entire class. Quiz grades are not posted. Students are also responsible for
supplying their own Scantron form #4521. Evidence of cheating, if caught, will lead to an automatic
"F" in the course and possible dismissal from the University.
Total Points
1.
2.
3.
3.
Three Quizzes plus assessment
TOPHAT Attendance
TOPHAT Problems
CFO Homework:
TOTAL
800 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
1000*
*I reserve the right to adjust the total number of points if we do not complete all of the chapter material or quizzes. I
may also modify the syllabus and assignments according to the necessities of the course.
Calculators
Students are required to have a reputable financial calculator. The TI BA II Plus is required. Check
the internet for the best price, the Bookstore is more expensive. Each student will be allowed use of
their own calculator during exams. No borrowing of calculators will be permitted. Bring your
calculator to class daily, as we will learn how to use them with various financial problems.
Assignments
You are encouraged to read, work, and understand the problems and questions from the CFO text
online, as these are similar in format to quiz questions.
GRADING SCALE
Grade
Percentage
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
94-100
90-93.5
88-89.5
84-87.5
80-83.5
78-79.5
74-77.5
70-73.5
67-69.5
64-66.5
60-63.5
Below 60
Finance 101 Schedule
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis
Chapter 3 – Introduction to TVM
Chapter 4 – Annuities and Loans
QUIZ # 1
Chapter 5 – Intro. To Risk and Return
Chapter 6 – Portfolio Theory
Chapter 7 – Interest rates and Bonds
Chapter 8 – Stock Valuation and Market Efficiency
QUIZ # 2
Chapter 9 – Capital Budgeting: Into. And Techniques
Chapter 11 – Cost of Capital
Chapter 12 – Capital Structure
Chapter 13 – Dividends, Repurchases, and Splits
QUIZ # 3
ASSESSMENT REVIEW WEEK – USED TO BE DEAD WEEK
ASSESSMENT EXAM – DURING FINALS WEEK
PROF. KUHLE’S RULES
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! Don’t expect to get a REAL A in this class unless you EARN
it the old fashioned way.
Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. Your success in this class is based on how
hard you are willing to work and attending class, feeling good about hard work always improves selfesteem, and I am always happy to recognize hard work.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $100,000 a year right out of college. You won't be a vice-president with a
car until you earn both. You likely won’t earn an A in this course unless you really make a superior
effort and earn the requisite points.
Rule 4: If you think I’m tough in this class, wait till you get a boss in the Real World (RW).
Rule 5: Working hard is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for it:
they called it opportunity. You might want to try it out.
Rule 6: If you mess up in this class, it's not my fault-it’s yours, so don't whine about your
mistakes (absences or whatever or try to blame anyone but yourself. Learn from the mistakes you make
and ask for help, I can’t read your mind so I don’t know what you do or do not understand.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way
from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you
were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing
the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: In some schools and classes, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY
TRIES as you want to get the right answer or a passing grade. This doesn't bear the slightest
resemblance to ANYTHING in real life or in this class. You have one chance to successfully pass this
class, if you don’t, PLEASE don’t sign up for it again with me.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters even though school is. You don't get summers off and very
few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF, do that on your own time. However, I
am interested in finding the best Finance majors of the future. If I ask for your help it should be
considered a privilege or honor and not an inconvenience or addition to your workload.
Rule 10: Finally, be nice to nerds, your classmates, other people, and especially your professors.
You never know when you might end up working for one of them or asking for a job recommendation.
MyLab & Mastering
Student Registration Instructions
To register for FINANCE 101 Section 01 Prof. James Kuhle - FALL
2015 (85312): YOU MAY BEGIN ENROLLING ON August 10, 2015.
1. Go to pearsonmylabandmastering.com.
2. Under Register, click Student.
3. Enter your instructor’s course ID: kuhle66819, and click Continue.
4. Sign in with an existing Pearson account or create an account:
· If you have used a Pearson website (for example, MyITLab, Mastering, MyMathLab,
or MyPsychLab), enter your Pearson username and password. Click Sign in.
· If you do not have a Pearson account, click Create. Write down your new Pearson
username and password to help you remember them.
5. Select an option to access your instructor’s online course:
· Use the access code that came with your textbook or that you purchased separately
from the bookstore.
· Buy access using a credit card or PayPal.
· If available, get 14 days of temporary access. (Look for a link near the bottom of the
page.)
6. Click Go To Your Course on the Confirmation page. Under MyLab & Mastering
New Design on the left, click FINANCE 101 Section 01 Prof. James Kuhle FALL 2015 (85312) to start your work.
Retaking or continuing a course?
If you are retaking this course or enrolling in another course with the same book, be sure
to use your existing Pearson username and password. You will not need to pay again.
To sign in later:
1. Go to pearsonmylabandmastering.com.
2. Click Sign in.
3. Enter your Pearson account username and password. Click Sign in.
4. Under MyLab & Mastering New Design on the left, click FINANCE 101 Section
01 Prof. James Kuhle - FALL 2015 (85312) to start your work.
Additional Information
See Students > Get Started on the website for detailed instructions on registering with an access
code, credit card, PayPal, or temporary access.
Tophat.com/e/856790
COURSE AGREEMENT FOR
FINANCE 101 – Professor Kuhle, Ph.D.
I, _________________________________________________________________________________
(PRINT YOUR NAME AND ENTER YOUR STUDENT I.D. NUMBER) agree to abide by all the
rules and stipulations outlined in this syllabus. I realize it is my responsibility to arrive to class on time
(no excuses) and miss no more than a total of 3 classes in order to preserve the grade I receive based
on the results of my four quizzes taken in the course. I further understand that any bonus points given
are at the discretion of Prof. Kuhle and are not guaranteed. I further agree to be courteous and polite to
my fellow students and my Professor and agree to be civil in the classroom at all times. This means no
talking, unless called upon, during lectures or quizzes. I intend to give my best effort to successfully
pass this class but also understand that there is no guarantee of success.
__________________________________________________
SIGN YOUR NAME
__________________________________________________
DATE