PMBA441 – Introduction to Finance
Eastern Mennonite University
Summer 2012
Professor:
E-mail:
Office Hrs:
Ronald L. Stoltzfus, CPA, PhD
stoltzfr@emu.edu
By Appointment
Phone: (540) 432-4155 office
(540) 434-7270 home
(540) 908-6901 cell
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Financial Management introduces students to the finance function in business. The course explores
financial statement analysis, financial mathematics, cash flow analysis, debt and equity valuation,
capital budgeting, risk and return, cost of capital, and dividend policy. By the end of the semester, you
should be beyond mere memorization of facts and formulae and move to a conceptual understanding of
financial problems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, you will be able to perform basic financial statement analysis and make
sound financial decisions using appropriate tools and financial models. The course also helps you
make personal financial decisions throughout your lifetime. Furthermore, the course prepares you to
take advanced courses in finance.
RESOURCES:
Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 9th Ed., Ross, Stephen, Randolph Westerfield, &
Bradford Jordan (McGraw Hill/Irwin, 2010) OR Alternate Edition
ISBN: 978-0-07-338239-5 (standard) OR 978-0-07-724612-9 (alternate)
Text Website: http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0073382396/student_view0/index.html
CONNECT Course Number: http://connect.mcgrawhill.com/class/r_stoltzfus_pmba_441summer_2012_on-line_1
Reliable internet connection
Financial Calculator
PEDAGOGY:
EMU’s MBA program offers this prerequisite in the on-line format. As such, the burden rests on you
to complete the tasks outlined in CONNECT. The instructor’s time is limited for the course due to
other scheduled constraints but I want you to contact me if you feel stuck on a concept.
You will need access to EMU’s website and to Moodle. EMU’s Information Technology Department
initially sets your email address in Moodle to your campus email address. If you want to receive email
at home or any other email address, you must change your personal information.
CONNECT contains the weekly assignments. Each assignment includes practice problems, an online
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quiz, graded homework problems, and possibly a discussion question. Generally, you will complete
each week’s work in the following order:
1. Read the assigned chapter(s) from the text.
2. Review the powerpoint slides on the text website (optional)
3. Complete the assigned practice problems.
 Completion of the practice problems is not graded but the reinforcement provides
the basis for successful completion of the chapter.
4. Take the Quiz on the text website and email your results to stoltzfr@emu.edu
 The quiz also provides feedback on how well you understand the material.
5. Complete the graded assignment. Use CONNECT learning software for the graded
homework assignments. CONNECT provides feedback on how well you mastered the
homework material and forwards the results to the instructor. If you are unhappy with
the results of the graded homework assignment, you can redo the assignment. Your
homework grade for the chapter will be the average grade between the two attempts.
The course includes two interim exams and a final. Students take the exams via Moodle in weeks 5,
10, and 15. Exams are open book and open note but have time limits.
You must complete each week’s work by 11:59 pm Sunday night. I am willing to adjust the due dates
on occasion for weeks where you have other work-related time demands. Additionally, I will drop at
least one chapter’s homework grade when calculating your final grade.
Grading:
Quiz grades*/discussion questions 10%
Homework Assignments*
30%
Interim Exams (2)
40%
Final
20%
* I will drop at least 1 quiz and 1 homework assignment
Quizzes:
You will complete a quiz for each chapter and forward the results via email. Use the text website to
find the quiz.
Homework:
CONNECT contains each week’s work assignment. You must complete the graded homework, which
becomes part of your grade. The practice homework provides training for the graded homework.
Discussions:
Occasionally I may post a question on Moodle’s ‘Discussion Board’ that requires your response. I will
notify you of any discussion questions in a separate email.
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