2302 Spr. Syllabus

University of New Orleans - Introduction to Investments - FINANCE 2302, Spring Syllabus, 2010

OFFICE HOURS: Before class and by appointment. I am an adjunct faculty member (part-time), I go to work right after class and do not have a university office. I generally arrive at school around 30 minutes before class, see me then or email me, I can respond quickly.

I will communicate with the class by email through the Blackboard system at UNO; it is your responsibility to periodically check and clear your email boxes.

TEXT: The Wall Street Journal. Go to www.WSJstudent.com to subscribe to the Journal. The subscription will include access to www.wsj.com, the online version of the Journal, and a print version that will be delivered to the address that you provide them. Since January, 2007, the Journal, like many publications, has turned to the internet to provide much of their content. The tables and articles that we will need in this class and many of the assignments for the course, will come from the internet. Assignment rules are listed toward the end of this syllabus.

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To give the student an understanding of investments and their valuations, knowledge of financial markets, and financial mathematics sufficient to manage their own portfolio. The course will also give the student a look into the financial aspect of business.

Each semester classes vary and we tend to move through information slightly differently than a previous semester, it is for that reason that I do not assign specific dates to the subjects. The "weeks" are approximations. When exams approach, we will discuss an exam date in class that serves the majority at the time. Exam dates will allow plenty of time between completing the material that will be tested and the exam itself. I do not offer make-up exams, take the test on the decided date.

	Week 1 - Introduction to Investing.
	Week 2 - Time Value of Money.
	Week 3 - Time Value (Cont.)
	Week 4 - Measuring Risk & Return.
	Week 5 - Mutual Funds (Cont.). EXAM 1 will be sometime after Mutual Funds and will cover all material from the first class up to and including Mutual Funds. There are NO makeup exams.
	Week 6 - Fixed Income & Leveraged Securities.
	Week 7 - Fixed Income & Leveraged Securities, cont.
	Week 8 - Term Structure of Interest Rates & The Federal Reserve.
	Week 9 - EXAM 2 will cover all material after Mutual Funds. There are NO makeup exams.
	Week 9 - Analysis & Valuation of Equity Securities.
	Week 10 - Stocks, Securities Business, Averages & Indexes.
	Week 11 - Brokerage Accounts. EXAM 3. There are NO Makeup exams.
	Week 12 - Derivative Securities - Stock Options.
	Week 13 - Stock Options (Cont.), Index Options
	FINAL EXAM: WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010. SAME ROOM. 7:30am-9:30am

This course will be fast moving. For those who are non-business majors, this course will give you plenty of real-world, real-life, hands-on investment knowledge. Business majors will find many of the topics in this course used in more advanced finance courses.

MISSED CLASS: Make arrangements with a classmate to secure notes. You don’t have to notify me if you are unable to attend class.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and ASSIGNMENTS: The Journal is an integral part of the course. Many of the assignments due during the semester are from the Journal or the www.wsj.com website. I take attendance and measure class participation with these assignments. I will curve this homework assignments by counting, for example, 12 of the 15 that I may ask for during the semester. Therefore, you will have 3 occasions in that example to "miss" the assignment and maintain a 100% for that part of the semester grade. This was an example, actual numbers may vary.

	Not in a million years will I accept a late assignment.
	If you are having subscription problems call 1-800-JOURNAL
	Do not take the assignments lightly. The points are significant to your final grade. This assignment is as easy as it can be – JUST BRING IT IN! There are no other "extra-credit" assignments to improve your grade.
	THE POINT OF AN ASSIGNMENT IS TO STUDY THE MATERIAL AS WE ARE COVERING IT. AN ASSIGNMENT BROUGHT IN AFTER WE HAVE COVERED THE MATERIAL HAS LOST ITS VALUE. I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ACCEPT A LATE ASSIGNMENT. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THEM READY FOR DISCUSSION WHEN WE APPROACH THE MATERIAL. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING BONDS, THE BOND ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND READY TO USE IN CLASS.
	An assignment page is on this website: Assignments for the Semester

Students in past semesters have asked about a textbook. Instead of requiring a finance text for this course (that usually cost over $150), I have placed two copies of a book, that I think compliment my notes very well, on reserve in the library. Ask the circulation librarian to use one of the texts' for Finance 2302.

EXAMS: Exams are listed on this syllabus and will cover material indicated. Exams contain multiple choice questions. The final exam is selectively comprehensive. Terms for each exam including the final exam are on this website. You are required to bring a SCANTRON (Blue OR Green) form (available at the bookstore) to record your answers on each exam. I will have each exam graded immediately after all are collected and post the scores on this website by special code. A Wall Street Journal or other assignment is NOT picked up on exam days.

On the SCANTRON form:

1. Print your name in the spaces provided and "bubble-in" the corresponding letters on the form.

2. 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. You will lose five (5) points on the exam if the scantron form is not properly completed.

Since the final is comprehensive, you may "drop" your lowest exam grade. You may not drop the final. You may not be exempt from the final. You may not "make-up" a missed exam, use the missed exam as the "drop."

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services as well as their instructors to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.

Academic integrity: Students are expected to conduct themselves according to the principles of academic integrity as defined in the statement on Academic Dishonesty in the UNO Judicial Code. Any student or group found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty shall have their case turned over to Judicial Affairs for disciplinary action which may result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation, and being an accessory to an act of academic dishonesty.

Grading:
90 – 100% = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
0 – 59 = F

EXAM VALUES:
Exam 1 = 25%
Exam 2 = 25%
Exam 3 = 25%
Homework = Wall Street Journal and other assignments - 20%
Final Exam = 30%

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE COURSE