FNCE 370 presents a comprehensive and detailed treatment of the theories, applications, and financial tools used in a corporate financial environment. The course emphasizes understanding, analyzing, and integrating financial information as an aid to making financial decisions.
The course discusses the impact of interest rates, taxation, dividends, cash flow, and other business considerations on financial decision making. It also examines the role of financial institutions and regulations in corporate financial management. Students who successfully complete this course will be comfortable working on financial management challenges such as capital budgeting, capital structure, capital asset pricing, and dividend policy.
FNCE 370 is a challenging, high volume course, reflecting the precision and breadth of knowledge required to be a finance professional. On average, students should expect to spend nine or more hours per week for 26 weeks to pass the course.
Outline
Lesson 1: Reviewing Prerequisite Concepts
Lesson 2: Forecasting, Growth Planning, and EFN
Lesson 3: Time Value of Money
Lesson 4: Time Value of Money (II)
Lesson 5: Bond Valuation
Lesson 6: Stock Valuation
Lesson 7: NPV and Other Investment Criteria
Lesson 8: Operating Cash Flows and Capital Investment Decisions
Lesson 9: Project Analysis and Evaluation
Lesson 10: Historical Average Returns and Risk
Lesson 11: Portfolio Return and Risk, and the Security Market Line
Lesson 12: Cost of Capital
Lesson 13: Raising Capital
Lesson 14: Capital Structure Decisions and the M&M Propositions
Lesson 15: Dividends and Dividend Policy
Evaluation
Your final grade in FNCE 370 is based on 15 online quizzes, 5 assignments, and a Final Examination. To receive credit for this course you must achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50 percent) on the Final Examination, and an overall course grade of D (50 percent). If you are taking FNCE 370 to transfer credit to one of the accounting organizations, check the organization’s specific requirements.
The following chart describes the credit weight associated with each course requirement.
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1
5%
Assignment 2
5%
Assignment 3
5%
Assignment 4
5%
Assignment 5
5%
Online Quizzes
25%
Final Online Exam
50%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Note: Students planning to transfer this course to a Chartered Professional Accountant designation are advised that they will be required to achieve a grade higher than the minimum passing grade. See CPA Requirements for details.
Materials
Ross, S. A., Westerfield, R. W., Jordan, B. D., Roberts, G. S., Pandes, J. A., & Holloway, T. A. (2019). Fundamentals of corporate finance (10th Can. ed.). Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 9781260192827 (eText)
A Sharp EL-738 calculator is included. All other materials will be available to students online.
The course materials for this course are shipped as a shrink-wrapped package. If the shrink wrap is broken, the materials are not returnable.
Special Course Features
You will require a type of word processing software (MS-Word or equivalent) and spreadsheet software (MS-Office Excel or other).
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the FNCE 370 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Online Exam (3 hours)
Students are permitted to bring into the examination one “cheat” sheet of 8½ x 11” paper, written on one side only (one side must be blank).
In the examination, students may use one of the following calculators only:
Sharp EL733A, EL-738, EL-738C, EL-738F, or EL-738FC financial calculators; the Texas Instrument BA II Plus financial calculator; or the Hewlett Packard 12C and 10BII series financial calculators.
No other calculators may be used without written permission from the course coordinator, obtained at least one day prior to the examination.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.