COURSE INFORMATION Course Prefix/Number: BAF 201 Course Title: Principles of Finance Lecture Hours/Week 3.0 Lab Hours/Week 0.0 Credit Hours/Semester 3.0 VA Statement/Distance Learning Attendance Textbook Information Student Code and Grievance Policy Attendance Statement (3-30-4000.1) COURSE DESCRIPTION This is an introductory course to the field of finance. The monetary and credit systems are examined along with how the demand for funds is met in both the public and private sectors. COURSE COMPETENCIES Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be competent to perform the following tasks: Module 1: The Goals of Financial Management, Financial Markets, and Financial Analysis Explain what finance entails and why everyone should have an understanding of basic financial concepts. Identify different forms of business organization as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Identify appropriate and inappropriate goals that firms pursue. Explain the roles that ethics and good governance play in successful businesses. Describe the basic financial information that is produced by corporations and explain how the firm s stakeholders use such information. Describe the financial statements that corporations publish and the information that each statement provides. Calculate and interpret major liquidity, asset management, debt, profitability, and market value ratios. Discuss potential problems (caveats) associated with financial statement analysis. BAF 201 Page 1 of 5 Revised 4/2017
Explain good working capital policy objectives and how net working capital serves the firm. Determine appropriate current asset funding. Differentiate among sources of short-term financing available for funding current assets. Asses a firm s need to hold cash and recognize different reasons for using excess cash. Module 2: Time Value of Money, Financial Markets And Institutions, And Bonds Compute and explain the future value of money, present value of money, interest rates, and payment amounts for both lump sums and cash flow streams. Compute and explain time value of money calculations for annuity and annuity due. Explain and demonstrate how compounding of interest can increase wealth. Compute the return (interest rate) on an investment (loan) and determine how long it takes to reach a financial goal. Calculate loan payments and prepare amortization schedules for loans. Be able to determine changes in payment and terms under differing what if scenarios. Explain the difference between the annual percentage rate (APR) and the effective annual rate (EAR). Explain when each is more appropriate to use. Figure cash flows and present value of a perpetuity. Differentiate between primary and secondary markets and between money and capital markets. List the types and securities traded in money and capital markets. Identify different types of financial institutions and the services that each provide. Define Bonds and describer their characteristics. Translate bond quotes into meaningful information. Calculate bond prices using present value concepts. Determine bond yields (market rates) are determined. Describe the relationship between bond prices and interest rates, and explain why it is important for investors to understand this relationship. Module 3: Valuing Stocks, Characterizing and Estimating Risk and Return Understand the rights and returns that come with equity ownership. Know the stock exchanges function and track the wider stock market with stock indexes and differentiate among the kinds of information each index provides. Compute stock values using dividend discount and constant growth models. Assess relative stock values using the P/E ratio model. Compute an investment s dollar and percentage return. Evaluate information about the historical returns, volatility for the stock, bond and cash markets. Plan investments that take advantage of diversifications and its impact on total risk. Find efficient and optimal portfolios and compute a portfolio s return Understand risk premiums. BAF 201 Page 2 of 5 Revised 4/2017
Know and apply capital asset pricing model (CAPM). Use the constant-growth model to compute required return. Module 4: Calculating Cost of Capital, Preparing Capital Budgets, Evaluating Capital Budgets Understand the relationship of cost of capital to the investor s required return. Use the weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) formula to calculate a project s cost of capital. Explain how the firm chooses among estimating costs of equity, preferred stock, and debt. Explain why we use pro forma statements to analyze project cash flows. Calculate a project s expected cash flow using free cash flows. Explain and calculate how accelerated depreciation affects project cash flows. Calculate and use the payback (PB) and discounted payback (DPB) methods for valuing capital investments. Calculate and use the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the Net Present Value (NPV) method for evaluating capital investments. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION Through lectures, discussions and problem solving, the student will cover the textbook materials of the assigned chapters. The instructor will present new materials and review homework problems using PowerPoint and other current classroom technologies. MINIMUM STANDARDS A student with an overall average score of 60% or better will receive three hours credit for the course with a grade of D. An overall average score of 70% is a grade of C. Some programs including all business administration majors require a C to fulfill the requirements for the degree. Check the York Technical College Catalog and Handbook for grade requirements for particular majors. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Academic Integrity The policies stated in the York Technical College Catalog & Handbook will be enforced. Any student violating these policies will be subject to academic discipline. Other Requirements In order to be successful in BAF 201, students are expected to Attend class regularly and be on time to class Read and study assigned chapters Complete assigned homework problems and exercises Participate in classroom activities and discussions Take all module assessments when scheduled BAF 201 Page 3 of 5 Revised 4/2017
Purchase and use required Computerized Homework Manager Additional Required Materials Financial Calculator Computerized Homework Manager EVALUATION STRATEGIES/GRADING PROCEDURES The student will demonstrate mastery of course content through successful completion of assessments that are worth 80% of the grade. Out of class assignments will count 10% of the final course grade. Students will complete a course project that will be worth 10% of the course grade. Evaluation Method Module Assessments... 80% Out of Class Assignments... 10% Project... 10% Total... 100% Grading Scale Grade Range A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F Below 60 Students who withdraw before midterm will receive a grade of W. ENTRY LEVEL SKILLS In order to be successful in BAF 201, the student should have skills in math concepts to include: fractions; fraction to decimal conversion, percentage computation, and basic algebra. In addition, the student should have an understanding of principles of accounting, especially the financial statements. PREREQUISITES ACC 102 and MAT 101 CO-REQUISITES None BAF 201 Page 4 of 5 Revised 4/2017
DISABILITIES STATEMENT Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Special Resources Office (SRO) at 803-327-8007 in the 300 area of Student Services. The SRO coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. BAF 201 Page 5 of 5 Revised 4/2017