Georgia State University MBA 8135 – Corporate Finance Course Syllabus Fall Semester 2010 Instructors: R. Fendler, C. Hodges, A. Mettler (course coordinator) 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 Failure to do so could result in your failing of this course or of your being administratively withdrawn from the course by your instructor, by the Department of Finance, or by the Robinson College of Business.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. CRN Days Time Instructor Location 83973 M 04:30 pm - 07:00 pm Alfred Mettler Alpharetta Center 83974 R 04:30 pm - 07:00 pm Richard Fendler Aderhold Learning Center 231 85536 T 07:15 pm - 09:45 pm Alfred Mettler Brookhaven Center 83972 R 07:15 pm - 09:45 pm Charles Hodges Online 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 Fall 2010 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. B. ATTENDANCE / ACADEMIC HONESTY / NOTES OF IMPORTANCE Attendance Policy: Each student is expected to attend all scheduled class meetings for the entire duration of the class meeting. An attendance sign-up sheet will be circulated each class period. Students who do not sign the sign-up sheet will be considered absent. Students arriving late may be permitted to sign the sheet only at the discretion of the instructor. Any student who is absent from more than the equivalent of three classes will be dropped from the course. Absences include the first week of class regardless of when a student registered for the course. The last day to withdraw and receive a “W“ is the midpoint of the grading period (per GSU’s academic calendar). In the case of withdrawal before the grading period midpoint a “W“ is not given automatically. To get a “W“ a student must have done satisfactory work (at the “C-“ level or higher). Unsatisfactory work will result in a “WF“. If a student is withdrawn for excessive absences after the midpoint of the grading period, a final grade of WF will be assigned automatically. An absence from class for any reason (job conflict, illness, appearance in court, transportation problems, etc.), even if permitted and/or excused by the instructor, will count as one of the class absences against the three week equivalent cumulative limit specified in the previous paragraph.Georgia State University - 3 - MBA 8135, Corporate Finance Fall 2010 Course Syllabus 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. University Policy on Disabilities: GSU provides accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting the Office of Disability Services to assess their needs. Students may only be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for