COURSE SYLLABUS
Personal Finance Course Syllabus
Personal Finance -- Sections 002 & 003 -- Professor Waldman
Section 002 -- Wed 2:10 - 4:50 -- KSB 39
Section 003 Wed 5:30 - 8:00 -- WARD 5
Text: Personal Finance 3rd Edition, by Jeff Madura
Also Required: TI BA Plus financial calculator
Course Description: This course provides both background information and analytical skills for
making good personal financial decisions. You will learn how to choose your personal financial
goals, devise strategies for attaining them, and implement those strategies. You will also learn
about protecting your wealth as you accumulate it, how to use employer benefits wisely, and how to
manage your money and credit. The course also covers tax planning, how to invest, and estate
planning.
General Education Credit: FIN200G is part of the General Education Program. It is a second level
course, with any one of the following courses as a prerequisite: COMM100, ECON100, GOVT110,
SOCY150.
Grading: Your grade will be composed of your performance on two exams, the Midterm and the
Final. The Midterm will count 40% and the final 60% of your grade. The final will be comprehensive.
The exams will be multiple choice and computational. NO EXTRA CREDIT OF ANY KIND WILL BE
ALLOWED.
Note: YOU MUST TAKE EXAMS WHEN THEY ARE OFFERED. If a physician requires that you be
bedridden, or a family emergency requires your presence away from campus, and if you notify your
Professor before the exam, he will schedule an alternative time. Excuses such as not having
enough time to study, a friend's pet needing surgery, and wanting to leave town early for vacation or
a family event are unacceptable. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM FOR A REASON YOUR PROFESSOR
DEEMS UNACCEPTABLE YOU WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF 48 ON THAT EXAM.
Final Average; A: 92-100; A-: 89-91; B+: 86-88; B: 82-85; B-: 79-81; C+: 76-78;
C: 72-75; C-: 69-71; D: 59-68; F: 59 and below (Note: No Curve: You get what you get.)
Attendance: The choice of whether to attend class is up to you. However, you will not be able to
perform well on the exams unless you attend class. Your Professor does not "teach the text" but
rather gives the material his own spin based on his 25 years' experience as a Financial Planner. If
you must miss a class, make sure to get good notes from someone who attended. If you know you
will have to miss more than two classes in a semester, you should consider taking the course at
another time.
Calculator: Your Professor has chosen the TI BA II Plus financial calculator. If you have a different
kind that has time value functions (PV, FV, PMT, etc.) that will be OK. Please remember to bring
your calculator to each class.
This can be an extraordinarily useful course. If you learn the material well you will know more about
money than most of the adult population of the U.S. The knowledge will serve you well throughout
your lifetime, and you will be happier and wealthier because of it. If you do not make a 100% effort,
you will be passing up a phenomenal opportunity.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is paramount in higher education and essential to effective teaching and learning.
As a professional school, the Kogod School of Business is committed to preparing our students and
graduates to value the notion of integrity. In fact, no issue at American University is more serious or
addressed with greater severity than a breach of academic integrity.
Standards of academic conduct are governed by the University’s Academic Integrity Code. By
enrolling in the School and registering for this course, you acknowledge your familiarity with the
Code and pledge to abide by it. All suspected violations of the Code will be immediately referred to
the Office of the Dean. Disciplinary action, including failure for the course, suspension, or dismissal,
may result.
Additional information about the Code (i.e. acceptable forms of collaboration, definitions of
plagiarism, use of sources including the Internet, and the adjudication process) can be found in a
number of places including the University’s Academic Regulations, Student Handbook, and website at
<http://www.american.edu/academics/integrity>. If you have any questions about academic
integrity or standards of conduct in this course, please discuss them with your instructor.
Academic Support Services
If you experience difficulty in this course for any reason, please don’t hesitate to consult with me. In
addition to the resources of the department, a wide range of services is available to support you in
your efforts to meet the course requirements.
Academic Support Center (x3360, MGC 243) offers study skills workshops, individual instruction,
tutor referrals, and services for students with learning disabilities. Writing support is available in the
ASC Writing Lab or in the Writing Center, Battelle 228.
Counseling Center (x3500, MGC 214) offers counseling and consultations regarding personal
concerns, self-help information, and connections to off-campus mental health resources.
Disability Support Services (x3315, MGC 206) offers technical and practical support and
assistance with accommodations for students with physical, medical, or psychological disabilities.
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please notify me in a timely manner with a
letter from the Academic Support Center or Disability Support Services so that we can make
arrangements to address your needs.
Pandemic Planning
In the event of a declared pandemic (influenza or other communicable disease), American
University will implement a plan for meeting the needs of all members of the university community.
Should the university be required to close for a period of time, we are committed to ensuring that all
aspects of our educational programs will be delivered to our students. These may include altering
and extending the duration of the traditional term schedule to complete essential instruction in the
traditional format and/or use of distance instructional methods. Specific strategies will vary from
class to class, depending on the format of the course and the timing of the emergency. Faculty will
communicate class-specific information to students via AU e-mail and Blackboard, while students
must inform their faculty immediately of any absence due to illness. Students are responsible for
checking their AU e-mail regularly and keeping themselves informed of emergencies. In the event
of a declared pandemic or other emergency, students should refer to the AU Web site (www.
prepared. american.edu) and the AU information line at (202) 885-1100 for general university-wide
information, as well as contact their faculty and/or respective dean’s office for course and school/
college-specific information.
Kogod Center for Business Communications
To help improve your writing, public speaking, and team assignments for this class, contact the
Kogod Center for Business Communications. You can get advice for any type of business
communication, including memos, reports, individual and team presentations, and PowerPoint
slides. Hours are flexible and include evenings and weekends. Go to kogod.american.edu/bizcomm
and click on "make an appointment," visit KSB 101, or e-mail cbc@american.edu.