FIN 534 031VA016-1168-001 – Financial Management (Prerequisite: ACC 557 or ACC 556) COURSE DESCRIPTION Introduces the concepts of finance. Reviews the basic tools and their use for making financial decisions. Explains how to measure and compare risks across investment opportunities. Analyzes how the firm chooses the set of securities it will issue to raise capital from investors as well as how the firm’s capital structure is formed. Examines how the choice of capital structure affects the value of the firm. Presents valuation and integrate risk, return and the firm’s choice of capital structure. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Required Resources Brigham, E. F., & Ehrhardt, M. C. (2014). Financial management (14th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Supplemental Resources MBA Primer Note: The MBA Primer is designed to help students with little or no educational background in business to prepare for the rigors of an MBA program. The MBA Primer is also a useful tool for students who have the business background but might need a refresher. It is a way to help you prepare for the types of activities and concepts that will be covered in the MBA program, so you can feel more comfortable and confident as you progress into higher level courses. Students are emailed an access code for this product when they purchase MBA Primer from the Strayer Bookstore, accessible through iCampus. CNN Money. (2013). General format. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/ Criniti, A. (2013). The necessity of finance. Philadelphia, PA: Criniti Publishing Company. Fidelity Investments, Inc. SWOT analysis. (2013). Fidelity Investments, Inc. SWOT Analysis, 1-8. Hasseltoft, H. (2012). Stocks, bonds, and long-run consumption risks. Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, 47(2), 309-332. doi: 10.1017/S0022109012000075 Kumar, A. (2009). Who gambles in the stock market? Journal of Finance, 64(4), 1889-1933. Learn About Finance. (2013). General format. Retrieved from http://learn-about-finance.com/ Why Learn Finance. (2013). General format. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/WhyLearnFinance/finance-list COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Critique financial management strategies that support business operations in various market environments.  2. Analyze financial statements for key ratios, cash flow positions, and taxation effects.  3. Review fixed income strategies using time value of money concept, bond valuation methods, and interest rate calculations.  4. Estimate the risk and return on financial investments.  5. Apply financial management options to corporate finance.  6. Determine the cost of capital and how to maximize returns.  7. Formulate cash flow analysis for capital projects, including project risks and returns.  8. Evaluate how corporate valuation and forecasting affect financial management. 9. Analyze how capital structure decision-making practices impact financial management.  10. Design working capital management concepts to enhance tactical financi ...

1. FIN 534 031VA016-1168-001 – Financial Management
(Prerequisite: ACC 557 or ACC 556)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduces the concepts of finance. Reviews the basic tools and
their use for making financial decisions. Explains how to
measure and compare risks across investment opportunities.
Analyzes how the firm chooses the set of securities it will issue
to raise capital from investors as well as how the firm’s capital
structure is formed. Examines how the choice of capital
structure affects the value of the firm. Presents valuation and
integrate risk, return and the firm’s choice of capital structure.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Required Resources
Brigham, E. F., & Ehrhardt, M. C. (2014). Financial
management (14th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage
Learning.
Supplemental Resources
MBA Primer
Note: The MBA Primer is designed to help students with little
or no educational background in business to prepare for the
rigors of an MBA program. The MBA Primer is also a useful
tool for students who have the business background but might
need a refresher. It is a way to help you prepare for the types of
activities and concepts that will be covered in the MBA
program, so you can feel more comfortable and confident as you
progress into higher level courses. Students are emailed an
access code for this product when they purchase MBA Primer
from the Strayer Bookstore, accessible through iCampus.
CNN Money. (2013). General format. Retrieved from

2. http://money.cnn.com/
Criniti, A. (2013). The necessity of finance. Philadelphia, PA:
Criniti Publishing Company.
Fidelity Investments, Inc. SWOT analysis. (2013). Fidelity
Investments, Inc. SWOT Analysis, 1-8.
Hasseltoft, H. (2012). Stocks, bonds, and long-run consumption
risks. Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, 47(2), 309-
332. doi: 10.1017/S0022109012000075
Kumar, A. (2009). Who gambles in the stock market? Journal of
Finance, 64(4), 1889-1933.
Learn About Finance. (2013). General format. Retrieved from
http://learn-about-finance.com/
Why Learn Finance. (2013). General format. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/WhyLearnFinance/finance-list
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Critique financial management strategies that support
business operations in various market environments.
2. Analyze financial statements for key ratios, cash flow
positions, and taxation effects.
3. Review fixed income strategies using time value of money
concept, bond valuation methods, and interest rate calculations.
4. Estimate the risk and return on financial investments.
5. Apply financial management options to corporate finance.
6. Determine the cost of capital and how to maximize returns.
7. Formulate cash flow analysis for capital projects, including
project risks and returns.
8. Evaluate how corporate valuation and forecasting affect
financial management.

3. 9. Analyze how capital structure decision-making practices
impact financial management.
10. Design working capital management concepts to enhance
tactical financial strategies.
11. Develop financial management strategies for global
corporate environments.
12. Use technology and information resources to research issues
in financial management.
13. Write clearly and concisely about financial management
using proper writing mechanics.
WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE
The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for
students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes
preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of delivery
mode.
Week
Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation
Points
1
10/2
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 1: An Overview of Financial Management and the
Financial Environment
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to locate examples of companies that have
been guilty of ethics-based malfeasance related to financial
management. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 10/10 9:00 am
Evaluation
· None

4. 20
2
10/9
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 2: Financial Statement, Cash Flow, and Taxes
· Chapter 3: Analysis of Financial Statements
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to research instances when a company’s
financial ratios did not align with those of other firms that
operate within the same industry. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 10/17 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Homework Due 10/17 9:00 am
· Homework Set #1 can be found in the course shell
20

5. 100
3
10/16
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 4: Time Value of Money
· Chapter 5: Bond, Bond Valuation, and the Interest Rates
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
Activities
· Discussion Due 10/24 9:00 am
Evaluation
· None
20
4
10/23
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 6: Risk and Return
· Chapter 7: Valuation of Stocks and Corporations
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to research instances when a company’s stock
prices are affected more by long-term or short-term
performance. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 10/31 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Homework Due 10/31 9:00 am
· Homework Set #2 can be found in the course shell

6. 20
100
5
10/30
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 8: Financial Options and Applications in Corporate
Finance
· Chapter 9: The Cost of Capital
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
Activities
· Discussion Due 11/7 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Midterm Exam Part 1: Chapters 1 through 3 Due 11/7 9:00 am
· Midterm Exam Part 2: Chapters 4 through 7 Due 11/7 9:00 am
20
50
50

7. 6
11/6
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 10: The Basics of Capital Budgeting: Evaluating Cash
Flows
· Chapter 11: Cash Flow Estimation and Risk Analysis
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to research two (2) mutually exclusive
investment projects to compare. The projects may involve any
kind of investment, as long as the time frame for one (1) of the
investments is a maximum of one (1) year (short-term) and the
time frame for the other investment is five (5) years minimum
(long-term). Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 11/14 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Homework Due 11/14 9:00 am
· Homework Set #3 can be found in the course shell
20
100

8. 7
11/13
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 12: Corporate Valuation and Financial Planning
· Chapter 13: Agency Conflicts and Corporate Governance
· Mini Case (Chapter 13)
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
Activities
· Discussion Due 11/21 9:00 am
Evaluation
· None
20
8
11/20
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 14: Distributions to Shareholders: Dividends and
Repurchases
· Chapter 15: Capital Structure Decisions
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to research a company that declared a 100%
stock dividend or a 2-for-1 split. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 11/28 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Homework Due 11/28 9:00 am
· Homework Set #4 can be found in the course shell

9. 20
100
9
11/27
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 16: Supply Chains and Working Capital Management
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
Activities
· Discussion Due 12/5 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Assignment 1: Financial Research Report Due 12/5 9:00 am
20
300
10
12/4
Preparation
· Reading(s)

10. · Chapter 17: Multinational Financial Management
· Scenario (See Faculty Notes for more details)
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet to research the economic activity of Brazil
and Switzerland. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Discussion Due 12/12 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Homework Due 12/12 9:00 am
· Homework Set #5 can be found in the course shell
20
100
11
12/11
Preparation
· Reading(s): None
Activities
· Discussion Due 12/19 9:00 am
Evaluation
· Final Exam Part 1: Chapters 8 through 12 Due 12/19 9:00 am
· Final Exam Part 2: Chapters 13 through 17 Due 12/19 9:00 am
20
60

11. 60
GRADING SCALE – GRADUATE
Assignment
Total Points
% of
Grade
Homework (5 sets worth 100 points each)
500
40%
Assignment 1: Financial Research Report
300
24%
Midterm Exam (open book with a 3-hour time limit for each
part; 1 attempt for each part)
Part 1: Chapters 1-3 (25 questions worth 2 points apiece)
Part 2: Chapters 4-7 (25 questions worth 2 points apiece)
100
8%
Final Exam (open book with a 3-hour time limit for each part; 1
attempt for each part)
Part 1: Chapters 8-12 (30 questions worth 2 points apiece)
Part 2: Chapters 13-17 (30 questions worth 2 points apiece)
120
10%
Participation (11 discussions worth 20 points each)
220

12. 18%
Totals
1,240
100%
Points
Percentage
Grade
1,116 – 1,240
90% – 100%
A
992 – 1,115
80% – 89%
B
868 – 991
70% – 79%
C
Below 868
Below 70%
F
Weekly Course Schedule
The purpose of the course schedule is to give you, at a glance,
the required preparation, activities, and evaluation components
of your course. For more information about your course, please
access your online course shell.
The expectations for a 4.5 credit hour course are for students to
spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This time estimate includes
preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of the delivery
mode.
Discussions

13. To earn full credit in an online threaded discussion, students
must have a total of 2 posts per discussion thread. Each week,
you will be required to participate in discussion threads by
answering initial questions and then responding to at least one
classmate’s posts, for a total of two (2) posts per discussion
question. Initial discussion thread responses should be at least
125 words. Note that responses such as, “I agree,” or “That’s a
great point,” do not count towards discussion thread
participation points.
Please note: Material in the online class will be made available
on the previous Thursday. As it is always possible that students
could lose their work due to unforeseen circumstances, it is a
best practice to routinely save a working draft in a separate file
before posting in the course discussion area.
Students are expected to participate in class discussions using
appropriate language and tone. In an online class, without
having the benefit of using nonverbal cues to interpret a
classmate’ s message, we must be careful in how we express
ourselves in order to maintain a civil and respectful class
environment. Please do not type in all CAPS, as this denotes
yelling. Also, it is perfectly acceptable to disagree with a
classmate, but please be respectful of other classmates’
opinions, which may differ from your own.
Your discussion thread responses do not need to adhere to
specific formatting requirements. However, please make sure to
proofread carefully. Grammar and spelling errors impact
grading. Your responses should reflect critical thought and
should relate the course content to the real-world. In addition, if
your responses include information taken from a source other
than the textbook, you must provide the source of your content.
However, the majority of your responses should be your own
original thoughts. I want to know what you think about the

14. topics, not what a researcher, the textbook author, or someone
else thinks.
Grammar and spelling are considered when I grade the threaded
discussions. No slang or abbreviations should be used in the
threaded discussion areas. Write complete sentences with
clearly articulated thoughts. Your responses should
be original thoughts (see note about plagiarism in the Policies
and Procedures document). Using information from another
source should be cited appropriately according to APA
standards.
The rubric for discussion thread participation is as follows:
Criteria
Below Expectations
Developing
Competent
Exemplary
Points
Points
0
1.5
3
4
One initial major response (minimum
200 words) to first discussion question.
Did not complete this portion of the assignment or most of the
discussion points were inappropriate or were not identified.
The discussion points were identified and described but with
fair accuracy and some of the discussion points were
inappropriate or were not identified.
The discussion points were identified and described with good
accuracy and appropriate information was identified and
discussed.

15. The discussion points were identified and described with high
accuracy and all appropriate information was identified and
discussed clearly.
Points
0
.5
1
2
Writing – Grammar,
sentence structure,
paragraph structure,
spelling, punctuation
(APA required)
5 or more different errors in sentence structure, paragraph
structure, spelling, punctuation, or APA usage. References are
expected. (Major issues)
3-4 different errors in sentence structure, paragraph structure,
spelling, punctuation, or APA usage. References are expected.
(Many issues)
1-2 different errors in sentence structure, paragraph structure,
spelling, punctuation, or APA usage. References are expected.
(Minor issues)
No errors in
sentence structure,
Paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation or APA usage.
References are expected.
(Minor issues)
Points
0
.5
1
2

16. Responding to other students.
Did not respond to other students or responses were trite with
no substance.
Responded to other students but responses were trite with no
substance.
Responded to one other student, response was substantive.
Responded to two or more other students, responses were
substantive.
Points
0
1
2
Frequency of responses
Did not post in the threaded discussion.
Posted on only 1 day of the week.
Posted on two or more different days of the week.
Tests
Tests (midterm and final exams) are available for student access
and completion through the online course shell. Check the
online course shell to determine how you are expected to take
the tests. Midterm is due Week 5 and Final is on last week .
Assignments
Grades are based on individual effort. There is no group
grading; however, working in groups in the online or on-ground
classroom is acceptable.
All assigned course work must be submitted by the due date in
the appropriate area of the course. Students are expected to keep

17. a hard copy and a disk copy of any work they submit. All late
work will be subject to losing points. There will be no late
discussions accepted, and no late writing assignments. All work
is due each week by Monday, 9:00 AM EST.
Resources
The Resource Center navigation button in the online course
shell contains helpful links. Strayer University Library
Resources are available here as well as other important
information. You should review this area to find resources and
answers to common questions.
Technical support is available for the following:
· For technical questions, please contact Strayer Online
Technical Support by logging in to your iCampus account at
https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under
“Student Center,” then “Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable
to log in to your iCampus account, please contact Technical
Support via phone at (877) 642-2999.
· For concerns with your class, please access the
Solution
Center by logging in to your iCampus account at
https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under
“Student Center,” then “Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable
to log in to your iCampus account, please contact the IT Help
Desk at (866) 610-8123 or at mailto:[email protected].

18. TurnItIn.com is an optional online tool to assess the originality
of student written work. Check with your professor for access
and use instructions.
The Strayer Policies link on the navigation bar in the online
course shell contains academic policies. It is important that
students be aware of these policies.
© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document
contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary
information and may not be copied, further distributed, or
otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed
written permission of Strayer University.
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