1330 Syllabus

FINANCE 1330 - SYLLABUS, FALL, 2004

OFFICE HOURS: Before class and by appointment. I am an adjunct instructor (part-time), I go to work right after class and am never in my department office. I generally arrive to school around 30 minutes before class, see me then or email me, I can respond quickly.

TEXT: Personal Finance 6th Edition, by Bernard J Winger & Ralph R Frasca

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To introduce the student to financial topics as it relates to an individual.

Week 1: Introduction. Chapters 1&2: Financial Planning and budgeting
Week 2: Chapter 3. Cash management and the Time Value of Money
Week 3: Time Value of Money (continued) [Sep 6, Labor Day NO CLASS]
Week 4: Chapter 4. Credit and Borrowing.
Week 5: Chapter 5. Taxes.
EXAM 1 on chapters 1 through 4
Week 6: Chapter 6. Consumer Credit
Week 7: Chapter 6 Continued
Week 8: Chapter 9 Financial Markets & Institutions.
Week 9: Chapter 9 Continued
EXAM 2 on Chapters 5,6,9
Week 10: Chapter 12 Mutual Funds.
Week 11: Chapter 12 Continued.
Week 12: Chapter 11 Stocks & Bonds
Week 13: Stocks and Bonds Continued.
Week 14: Chapter 10. Rick & Return
EXAM 3 on Chapters 10, 11, 12
[No Class, Nov 25, Thanksgiving Day]
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, December 7, 7:30 - 9:30am Same Room.

MISSED CLASS: Make arrangements with colleague to secure missed notes. You do not have to notify me if you are unable to attend class.
CALCULATORS: Evaluating financial subjects has become increasingly quantitative. The algebra that the course uses is very manageable; a basic calculator will be depended on in virtually every class and definitely on every test. Bring a calculator to every class.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Students are required to bring the WSJ to each class. The Wall Street Journal is an integral part of the course. I take attendance and measure class participation by choosing at random, a piece of the WSJ that is due for each day’s class. I will ask for journal sections in this class between fifteen and twenty times over the duration of the semester. They will be worth 10 points each; the sum of them will represent 15% of the semester grade. I will curve this homework assignment by counting, for example, 15 of the 20 that I may ask for during the semester. Therefore, you will have 5 occasions in that example to “miss” the assignment. This was an example only. Actual numbers may vary.
We need to start bringing the Journal to class right after the first exam. I will have subscription forms for the class when that day approaches. Once ordered, it takes about one week to receive your first copy. You may order a subscription yourself by calling 1-800-JOURNAL.
THIS IS THE RULE: This class is scheduled to meet on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. You are required to bring the WSJ of the previous class period to the next class period. For example, Tuesday's WSJ will be reviewed on Thursday, Thursday's Journal will be reviewed next Tuesday, etc. This delay will allow for students who may have irregular mail delivery times to participate in the assignment.
When an assignment is picked up:
I want the day’s journal that is required for that day.
I do not accept a different day’s journal.
I do not accept the assignment late (after that day’s class).
I do not accept that you did not get the paper. Call 1-800-JOURNAL
I do not accept a photocopy of the journal.
I do not count more than one name of each assignment (i.e. no sharing)
I do not want your mother to bring your assignment to me. (This actually happened)
If you are having subscription problems call 1-800-JOURNAL
Do not take the Journal assignment lightly. The points are significant to your final grade. This assignment is as easy as it can be – JUST BRING IT IN!
Students ask every semester if there are other “extra-credit” assignments available to boost their grade - there are NONE. This is it. Bring in the paper for easy points.
I will also require special sections of the Journal to be brought in after they are published. The paper produces tables and information that is valuable to an investment course on an irregular basis, I will ask for these in class after they are printed and will give you sufficient time to bring them in. An example is the end-of-month data on mutual funds; this is produced once a month and would be a good example of a miscellaneous report that we should review.

EXAMS: Exams are listed on this syllabus and will cover chapters indicated. Exams contain multiple choice questions. The final exam is selectively comprehensive. I will tell you which chapters will be included on the final. Due to the size of the class, you are required to bring a SCANTRON form (available at the bookstore) to record u8your answers on each exam. I will have each exam graded immediately after all are collected and post the scores outside of the classroom.

On the SCANTRON form:
1) Print your name in the spaces provided and “bubble-in” the corresponding letters on the form.
2) Print your Social Security Number on the “Identification Number” portion of the form and “bubble-in” the corresponding numbers on the form.
3) Print in a number in the “Special Code” area of the form and “bubble-in” the corresponding numbers on the form.

It is illegal to post grades by social security number or by name; your grade will be posted by special code so that you and only you know your score. Your special code is what ever you want it to be. Make one up.

Since the final is comprehensive, you may “drop” your lowest exam grade during the semester. You may not drop the final. You may not be exempt from the final. You may not “make-up” a missed exam. Use that exam as the “drop.”
Grading:
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
EXAM VALUES:
Exam 1 = 25%
Exam 2 = 25%
Exam 3 = 25%
FINAL = 35%
HOMEWORK = 15%

This is the formula to calculate your final grade:

FINAL GRADE = .25(one of the exam’s percentage) + .25(the second exam’s percentage) + .15(% of homework assignments completed) + .35(final exam percentage).

Example: A student receives a 82% on the first exam, 69% on the second exam, 91% on the third exam. The student turned in 14 of the maximum 15 homework assignments and earned a 85% on the final.

Solution: Drop the lowest (69%) grade. .25(.82)+.25(.91)+.15(.93)+.35(.85)= .8695 = 86.95%=B

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: Student who qualify for services will receive the academic accommodations for which they are legally entitled. It is the responsibility of the student to register with the Office of Disability Services (UC260)
Academic integrity: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: cheating, plagiarism, tampering with academic records and examinations, falsifying identity, and being an accessory to acts of academic dishonesty. Refer to the UNO Judicial Code for further information.

http://www.uno.edu/%7Estlf/Policy%20Manual/student_policy_manual_frames.htm