Course Detail

Fin 411 Finance Fundamentals for MBA Applicants

FIN 411 IS Sec 3, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:
Dr. Lynn Phillips Kugele

Instructor name:
Dr. Lynn Phillips Kugele

Instructor Information:
Dr. Kugele is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at UM. Her academic background includes:

  • Ph.D. University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, Business Administration - Finance (Statistics minor)
  • M.B.A. Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN, Finance
  • M.S. Memphis State University, Memphis, TN, Mathematics (Computer Science minor)
  • B.S. Memphis State University, Memphis, TN, Mathematics (Art History minor)

From Dr. Kugele:
I live in Germantown, TN and teach at Ole Miss - DeSoto in Southaven MS.

I went back for my Ph.D. after over 25 years in the corporate world - NOT in finance! I was in Information Technology, "discovered" finance in my MBA program and loved it!

As an undergrad math major, I love the mathematics of finance with the underlying economic theory.

Teaching online is a wonderful opportunity to give students access to courses they could not otherwise take, at a time and on a schedule that fits in their life.

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the Email Your Instructor link in the Lessons or Content page. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your course title and number in the subject line. You can expect a response within 72 hours, although it may be longer on weekends. Many instructors reply within 24 hours.

For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department:

The University of Mississippi
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
iStudy
P. O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Phone: (662) 915-7313, toll-free (877) 915-7313
Fax: (662) 915-8826
E-mail: istudy@olemiss.edu

Course Description

This course is an introduction to business finance, emphasizing the financing and investment decisions of the financial manager. The course is designed to meet the finance prerequisite requirement for the MBA program. In addition, it will provide a review of basic mathematics, statistics and Excel skills necessary in the MBA program.

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

Objectives include (but are not limited to):

  • Recall and demonstrate understanding of basic algebra and statistical functions, use of the Texas Instruments Business Analyst II+ (TIBAII+) calculator and a basic level of comfort with Excel.
  • Recall the primary goal of financial management in a corporation. (Ch 1)
  • Demonstrate the use of financial ratios to analyze the performance of a firm and in financial planning. (Chs 3 and 4)
  • Understand the concept of the time value of money and be able to solve various TVM problems. (Ch 5)
  • Recall the characteristics of a bond and be able to calculate the current price, yield-to-maturity, and yield-to-call of annual and semi-annual payer bonds. (Ch 7)
  • Understand the concept of risk – systematic and diversifiable - in a financial framework and be able to calculate expected returns and standard deviations for both individual assets and portfolios. (Ch 8)
  • Recall the characteristics of common stock and be able to calculate the value of a share of stock. (Ch 9)
  • Define and be able to calculate the weighted average cost of capital. (Ch 10)
  • Understand the importance of the capital budgeting function in a corporation and be able to calculate the various metrics used to evaluate projects. (Ch 11)
  • Understand the process and components of estimating and evaluating the cash flows for a proposed project. (Ch 12)
  • Be able to create and evaluate the cash flows for a proposed project both manually and in Excel. (Chs 12 & 13)

Course Outline:

This course consists of 12 instructional modules (or lessons). Please note that the suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester is written for Fall and Spring. Full summer students need to make adjustments due to the significantly shorter time period involved.
Unit Chapter Lesson Topic Lecture Time Quiz Suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester. *Summer session students will need to make adjustments due to the shorter time period*
Start Here Syllabus, Orientation Materials & Quiz *You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance.* NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page. Syllabus Quiz Week 1
A: Quantitative Skills   A1 Excel Basics 15:51 Quiz A-1 Week 1
A2 Algebra/Statistics 16:12 Quiz A-2
A3 TIBAII+ Calculator 11:49 Quiz A-3
B: Introduction & Accounting Review 1 B1 Introduction to Finance 06:33 Quiz B-1 Week 2
3 B2 Financial Statements 13:08 Quiz B-2 Week 3
4 B3 Ratio Analysis 16:14 Quiz B-3 Week 4
C: Time Value of Money 5 C1 Time Value of Money Basics 11:59 Quiz C 1:3 Week 5
C2 Time Value of Money - Annuities 08:28 Week 6
C3 Time Value of Money - Uneven cash flow streams and interest rates 13:04 Week 7
Mid Course Exam Proctored 2-hour exam to be completed before proceeding. Password protected Week 8
MIDPOINT OF COURSE If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the exam has been submitted.		 All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.
D: Bond Valuation 7 D1 Bond Valuation - Annual payers 13:59 Quiz D 1:2 Week 9
D2 Bond Valuation - Semiannual payers 08:36
E: CAPM and Stock Valuation 8 E1 CAPM - Risk & Return Part A 08:47 Quiz E 1:2 Week 10
E2 CAPM - Risk & Return Part B 14:19
9 E3 Stock Valuation 15:27 Quiz E-3 Week 11
F: Capital Budgeting 10 F1 WACC 14:04 Quiz F-1 Week 12
11 F2 Part A: NPV & IRR 09:27 Quiz F 2:3 Week 13
F3 Part B: MIRR, Payback, Discounted Payback 11:36
G: Cash Flow, Real Options, and Other Topics 12 G1 Cash Flow Estimation 12:59 Quiz G 1:3 Week 14
G2 Cash Flow Risk Analysis 9:15 Week 14
13 G3 Real Options & Other Topics 9:29 Week 14
Final Exam Proctored comprehensive 3-hour exam to be completed to finalize credit. Password protected Week 16

You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance. * NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page

Grading:
  • This is a Pass/Fail course.
  • All quizzes are to be completed independently.
  • Lessons (or groups of lessons) have an associated online quiz. You must score 70 or above on the quiz in order for the next unit's lessons and quiz to appear.
  • There is a timed, mid-term exam and a timed, comprehensive final exam at the end of the course. Both are online in Blackboard and will be remotely proctored. You must score 70 or better to pass the course.

Independent Study:

  • This is an independent study course. You can work through the material at your own pace.
  • You have one year to complete the work and gain credit for the course.
  • The units of study are shown on the course outline.
  • The course includes 13 quizzes and 2 proctored exams.
    • You must make 70 or better on each quiz to access the next lesson.
    • You must make 70 or better on the mid-term to progress to the second half of the course.
    • You must make 70 or better to gain credit for the course.
    • All quizzes and tests are auto-graded in Blackboard so you will know your grade immediately.

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded.