• Utilize financial accounting data to assess the financial health and direction of a firm.
• Apply time value of money techniques to make multi-period investment decisions and security valuations.
• Use statistical analysis to quantify risk and return in uncertain economic environments.
• Forecast cash flows and apply capital budgeting decision techniques to make capital investment decisions.

The main goal of a firm is to maximize value for the firm’s owners.  Value is maximized through decisions made by firm managers.  This course is designed to introduce students with a limited background in business to the role of finance in making decisions.  Finance answers three important decision-making questions: 1) What long-term investments should be made, 2) How will we fund those investments, and 3) How will everyday financial activities be managed?
Making financial decisions involves a thorough understanding of the development and use of financial statements (Accounting) as well as the impact of the state of the economy on the decision making process (Micro- and Macro Economics).  Further, financial decision making requires the analytical skills (Math & Statistics) needed to quantify the risk and return parameters used in the process.
The course is organized into three sections.  Section 1 introduces students to financial statements and financial statement analysis.  Managing everyday financial activities is also covered in this section.  Section 2 introduces the concept of time value of money.  Students are presented with tools to value financial assets and macroeconomic conditions that influence the value of those assets. The course demonstrates how these financial assets are issued by firms to fund assets.  Section 3 allows the students to apply the concepts and tools they’ve learned to make capital budgeting decisions.
There is a Preliminary Assignment and Mid-term Assignment in this course. For the Preliminary Assignment students are required to view eight short videos on relevant topics and read several text sections in preparation for working in groups after Class 1 on a peer group ratio exercise that is to be completed before Class 3. The Mandatory Mid-term Assignment will consist of a 50 multiple-choice question take-home quiz that will draw from content presented during the first four class meetings.

Class Schedule
 

The required textbook for this course is CFIN3 (with CourseMate Printed Access Card), 3^rd Edition, Scott Besley; Eugene F. Brigham (ISBN-10: 1133626408) (ISBN-13: 9781133626404). Publisher: Cengage Learning. Copyright: 2015.