MBA 8135 - Corporate Finance: Course Syllabus Spring Semester 2011
MBA 8135 - Corporate Finance: Course Syllabus Spring Semester 2011
MBA 8135 - Corporate Finance: Course Syllabus Spring Semester 2011
NOTE: It is your responsibility to read, understand and abide by all of the course information and
policies listed below. Failure to do so could result in your failing of this course or of your being
administratively withdrawn from the course by your instructor, by the Department of Finance, or by the
Robinson College of Business. This course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations
may be necessary.
Course Sections:
The following table lists all sections of MBA 8135 for this semester. Each section has a unique Course
Number. Be sure to check your registration record on the GoSOLAR online system to locate the correct
time and location for your specific class and Instructor.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Prerequisites: MBA 8000, MBA 8025; All students, regardless of degree program, must have
completed the appropriate prerequisites with a grade of "C-" or better.
Corequisites: MBA 8015, MBA 8030; Either or both of these courses can be taken simultaneously
with MBA 8135.
CSP: 1,2,3,6,7,8.
This course requires specific Computing Skills Prerequisites (CSPs). Students are expected to acquire
the required computing skills through whatever means they deem most appropriate before enrolling in a
course. Students found to have insufficient CSP expertise can be disenrolled from this course. Free
eTraining is available to students for these skills.
For details see http://robinson.gsu.edu/rcbonline/csps.htm and http://www.gsu.edu/etraining/
Course Coordinator:
The course coordinator is Dr. Alfred Mettler, he oversees all sections of the course. If you have general
questions concerning the course or the course syllabus, you can contact Dr. Mettler via e-mail at
mettler@gsu.edu. For all questions specific to your section of the course, contact your instructor. Your
instructor will inform you of his/her office hours and provide you with specific contact information on the
first day of class.
Georgia State University -2- MBA 8135, Corporate Finance
Spring 2011 Course Syllabus
Catalogue Description:
This course focuses on the financial management of both publicly held and private corporations.
Students are presented with a conceptual framework for understanding and addressing problems
commonly faced by corporate decisionmakers and are provided opportunities to apply these concepts
to contemporary business situations. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: time value of
money, the relationship between risk and return including the capital asset pricing model, the valuation
and role of debt and equity, capital budgeting/project evaluation techniques, cost of capital, cash flow
estimation, project risk analysis, real options, company valuation, and capital structure decisions.
A. COURSE MATERIAL
Required Text:
Ross, Westerfield, Jaffee: Corporate Finance, 9th. ed., ISBN 978-0-07-733762-9.
Additional student resource material can be found on and downloaded from the textbook’s
website:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073382337/information_center_view0/
Financial Calculator:
It is necessary that you have a financial calculator to use throughout the course and that you bring it
to each class. Many end-of-chapter problems require complex arithmetic operations, and a financial
calculator is necessary to solve these problems efficiently. Recommended financial calculators are the
Texas Instruments BA II Plus, the Hewlett Packard 10B or 12C, and similar models. Approximate price:
$35.
Academic Honesty:
The Department of Finance adheres strictly to the University's policy on academic honesty as
contained in the Academic Regulations section of the University catalog. Any student found copying
during exams or quizzes, signing someone else's name to the attendance list, using stored formulas in
programmable calculators, using non-authorized formula sheets or other notes during exams,
collaborating on and/or copying any in-class or take-home assignments, or the like will receive an F for
the course and possibly be subject to additional University disciplinary action.
No other electronic devices are allowed during quizzes and exams besides a financial calculator
(see page 2). Such prohibited items include laptops, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA’s),
text messaging systems and similar devices. If you have any questions about the legality of your
calculator, check with your instructor.
Grade Weights:
Final Exam:
The final exam is cumulative and will be given on the day listed in the course outline. You must attend
the final exam on the scheduled date or you must apply for a final exam variance. To apply for a
variance date for your final exam, read and carefully follow the instructions in the Memorandum from
the Chairman of the Finance Department (last 2 pages of syllabus).
The finance department employs the +/- grading system. A grade of “C-“ is considered a passing grade
for this course and a “C-“ is considered passing for prerequisite purposes for this course as well as for
all finance electives. Refer to the University catalog for information concerning +/- grading and quality
points for GPA calculations.
Course Evaluation:
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at
Georgia State. Upon completing the course, please take the time to fill out the online course evaluation.
Georgia State University -5- MBA 8135, Corporate Finance
Spring 2011 Course Syllabus
The Capital Asset Pricing Model - Text Chapter 11.1-11.3; 11.6; 11.8-11.9
Class 4 - Measuring Portfolio Risk
- Diversification
- The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
MEMORANDUM
The Department of Finance schedules common, department-wide final examinations for MBA 8135.
The Final Exam is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2010, 10.45 am – 13.15 pm
Variances granted from the common final examination date are undesirable for obvious reasons.
Intrinsically, early examination exposes any student to question, even if innocent, when cheating is
discovered. The penalties for cheating are severe; consult GSU’s Graduate Bulletin for specific
university regulations. Core courses are offered each semester. Therefore, if you foresee a personal
conflict with the examination date please register for the course in a later semester. Only the
Department Chairman grants variances for the final examination date; permission granted by others will
not be honored.
c) Withdrawal:
Grades at withdrawal are determined in strict compliance with policies stated in the Graduate Catalog.
A grade of "W" indicates that a student, doing passing work, was permitted to withdraw from the
course. A grade of "WF" indicates that the student:
1. Voluntarily withdrew from a course before the midpoint for the grade period while doing failing work,
2. Was involuntarily withdrawn from a course before the midpoint of the grading period while doing
failing work,
3. Voluntarily withdrew from a course after the midpoint of the grading period and was not awarded a
hardship withdrawal, or
4. Was involuntarily withdrawn from a course after the midpoint of the grading period and was not
awarded a hardship withdrawal.
d) Examinations:
Material from the text chapters, class handouts, end-of-chapter problems, supplemental problems,
cases, and the prerequisites may be covered on the exams, whether or not specific coverage in class
has occurred.
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