COURSE SYLLABUS

School of Management
The University of Texas at Dallas

Course: FIN 6350.0G1 Advanced Financial Management

Instructor: Larry Merville
Semester: Summer 2005 (May 16 – August 1)

| Course Information | Technical Requirements | Course Access | Communications |

| Student Assessment | Scholastic Dishonesty | Course Evaluation | Course Outline |

Course Information
Instructor Information

Office: SM3.612
Phone: 972-883-2711
E-mail: merville@utdallas.edu
Web Page: http://www.utdallas.edu/~merville/

Course Description

This is an advanced course in the financial management of the firm. Since the participants are
assumed to be knowledgeable about the topics found in the first financial management course,
the emphasis is placed on fully understanding the principles underlying a sound financial
decision in the modern corporation. Detailed course learning objectives are as stated in the
“Takeaways”- Lecture T. The approach will be a combination of lecture and discussion, always
with a focus on good managerial financial decision-making. Prerequisites: FIN 6301 or
equivalent.

Topics:
1. Markets/Ownership/Executive Compensation
2. Capital Budgeting and Strategy
3. Capital Structure and Dividends
4. Risk Management
5. Corporate Structure
6. E-Finance.

Format: Lecture/Discussion.

Course Materials

Required Text:
The New Corporate Finance, Donald Chew, Jr., 3rd edition, Irwin/McGraw-Hill

Textbooks and some other bookstore materials can be ordered online through MBS Direct
Virtual Bookstore. They are also available at UTD Bookstore and Off-Campus Books.
Back to Top

Technical Requirements
In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum technical
requirement must be met to enable a successful learning experience. Technical requirements
include but are not limited to:

Hardware
• A Pentium processor or equivalent Mac system; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS
9.x or OS X 10.1.
• Internet access with 56.6 modem (minimum). A high-bandwidth connection is
recommended.
• 32 MB system Ram; 200 MB free disk space or sufficient storage
• Sound card
• CD-ROM capabilities
Software
• Internet Explorer 5.0 to 6.0 (but 5.5 SP1 not supported), or Netscape Navigator 6.2.x
(see notes) and 7.0 (4.78, 4.79 and 6.0-6.1 not supported), or AOL 7.0 and 8.0. See
browser configuration information below.
• MS Office 2000 is the minimum standard. (Microsoft software is available at a nominal
cost from the UTD/Microsoft Program. For more information, visit the Global MBA Online
Student Service web page at:
http://som.utdallas.edu/globalmba/gmba_online_services.htm).
• Virus detection/protection software (such as McAfee)
• “Plug-ins” including the most current version of RealPlayer (available at:
http://www.real.com) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)
• A zip file expansion tool such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander (available at:
http://www.download.com).

Web Browser Configuration

For WebCT courses to work properly, you will need one of the WebCT supported browsers
listed above with JavaScript enabled and cookies enabled. It is also important that you set
the cache settings of your browser to verify web documents “Every Time”. The methods
for configuring these settings vary among browsers. Please follow this web link provided by
WebCT to tune-up your browser: http://www.webct.com/tuneup/.

Back to Top

Course Access and Navigation

This course was developed using a web course tool called WebCT. It is to be delivered entirely
online. You will be notified by email about the course access information at the start of the
course. You’ll need to have a UTD NetID and password to access the course. If you have not
set up a UTD NetID account yet, please go to the UTD NetID page at http://netid.utdallas.edu
to initiate your account shortly before or at the start of the semester. Your UTD NetID is your
WebCT ID. It is to be used to access all of your UTD WebCT courses plus other UTD computing
systems e.g. your UTD email account. Please note that it’s required that your account
password to be updated every 6-12 months. UTD IR will send you reminding messages to
your UTD email account towards the time when your password is getting expired. To update
your password, please login at the above NetID page. For more information, please visit the
NetID FAQs page.

The URL for the course login page is: http://webct.utdallas.edu. The course may be accessed at
any time. You are required to meet all assignment and exam deadlines. Participation in
scheduled class activities is required. You should login to the course site regularly (at least three
times per week) to check course updates, and discussion board messages.

You’ll access the “My WebCT” page after you login. The page lists all courses that you have
registered for. You can click the course title to access the course Home Page which displays
several icon links. Clicking each icon link will take you to different subsidiary pages containing
the course content elements or built-in course tools. Some navigation components such as the
Navigation Bar with Course Menu on the left side, the Menu Bar and the path link on the top,
and the Action Menu on the content page can help you navigate within the course site.

To get started with a WebCT course, please see the Getting started: Student WebCT
Orientation link. For more information about WebCT tool usage, please see the WebCT Student
Help Index. Within the course site, you can always click HELP on the WebCT Menu Bar to find
information and answers. You can also check out the Orientation Center to Online Learning and
WebCT provided on WebCT’s web site. For more WebCT information and its learning
resources, visit http://www.webct.com.

If you have any problems with your UTD account or any problem with the UTD WebCT server,
you may email to: assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at: 972-883-2911. If
you encounter any technical difficulties within the course site, please send an email to
gmbasupport@utdallas.edu.

Back to Top

Communication Protocols
WebCT built-in communication tools: There are four built-in communication tools to facilitate
learning, communication and collaboration. A course text based conferencing system, the
Discussion, allows the communications among all course participants. Discussion topics or
groups can be set up for topic discussions and homework assignments. You can use course
Mail tool to communicate privately with instructor and classmates. The Chat tool will be used for
text based real time communication among course participates. Please see specific information
for accessing chat room: http://som.utdallas.edu/globalmba/gmba_webct_student_faq7.htm.
The instructor will use the Chat tool for discussion sessions. Finally there is a Whiteboard tool
which allows real-time interaction among course participants using a graphical interface.

Discussions and Chats: This course will use the Discussion board for topic discussions led by
an assigned team. Topic discussion forums will be set up on the Discussion board. Students are
encouraged to post questions on the topic to the assigned team. There will also be live general
class chat sessions and team topic chat sessions (see Course Schedule).

Interaction with Instructor: The instructor will communicate with students mainly using the
course Discussion board and live chat sessions. Students may also send personal concerns or
questions to the instructor using the course Email tool. The instructor will reply to student emails
or Discussion board messages within 3 working days under normal circumstances.

Emailing: Besides using the WebCT course internal email, if there is any need, students may
contact instructor via external regular emails. UTD provides each student with a free email
account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individuals corresponding
and the security of the transmitted information. Beginning September 1, 2004, the
Administration has informed faculty to require any email communications to be through UTD
email accounts.

To access your UTD email, please go to: http://pipeline.utdallas.edu and login with your UTD
NetID and password (same as WebCT login). The Department of Information Resources at UTD
provides a method for students to forward email from other accounts to their UTD address and
have their UTD mail sent to other accounts. Students may go to the following URL to establish
the email forwarding if necessary: http://netid.utdallas.edu. For any assistance with UTD email
account, call 972-883-2911 or email assist@utdallas.edu.

MeetingPlace TeleConference System: UTD maintains a telephone conferencing system. All

participants in the course can use the system for teleconferences throughout the semester.
Participants access a meeting by dialing either a “972” area code number or a toll free number if
outside the Dallas area (but within the continental U.S.) with a touch tone phone. When
prompted, you will enter a code. If a teleconference is scheduled for the course, you will be
notified of the time and given access instructions. A class teleconference is usually recorded
and can be reviewed over the phone after the conference. Please see TeleConference Guide
for general instructions.

If you would like to reserve a time to meet with a group of your classmates, please send an
email one week in advance to gmbasupport@utdallas.edu. Be sure to include the course
name, student names and email addresses, choice of date, and start and end times. Once
a reservation has been made, students will receive a confirmation email with access
instructions.

Back to Top

Student Assessment
Grading Information:

The grade for the course will be based on a team discussion, TEAM, and a team term paper,
TERM PAPER, as follows:

TEAM GRADE: 50%

TERM PAPER GRADE: 50%
-------
100%.
Team Discussion

Each of the six course Topics listed above will be assigned to a team, announced at the first
class meeting (chat session) or shown on the Discussion board within the first week of the
course. Each team will be responsible for leading the discussions on its topic during the topic
week shown in the Course Schedule below: This will include posting information about the topic
and its associated lecture as well as answering questions about the topic on the Discussion
board during its week. The instructor will also have a live chat session with each team as shown
in the Course Schedule. Each student is required to attend their team chat session. Attendance
at other teams’ chat sessions is optional. However, all class members are strongly encouraged
to follow and join in each topic discussion (on Discussion board or in chat sessions) as this will
help to better understand the topic and improve the quality of the term paper which is described
next.

Term Paper

At the end of course, each team will submit a TERM PAPER. The paper will consist of a 1-3
pages, double-spaced, summary of each topic and will incorporate the lecture of instructor as
well as the Team discussion parts which are relevant for the topics.

Online Assignment Submission Instructions

You are to submit your TERM PAPER (as a WORD document with a short file name and a .doc
extension, no space or special characters) by using the As signment Drop Box tool on the
course site. See Assignments icon on the Course Homepage. You can click the assignment title
and follow the on-screen instructions to upload your file and submit it. Please refer to the Help
menu or the WebCT Student Guide for more information on using this tool. Please note : the
assignment link can only be used one time and will be deactivated after the assignment due
time. After your submission is graded, you may click the assignment’s “Graded” link to check the
results and feedback.

Back to Top

Scholastic Dishonesty
The University has policies and discipline procedures regarding scholastic dishonesty. Detailed
information is available on Scholastic Dishonesty web page. All students are expected to
maintain a high level of responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Students who violate
University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the university. Since such dishonesty
harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

Course Evaluation
As required by UTD academic regulations, every student needs to do an evaluation for each
enrolled course at the end of the semester. An online instructional assessment form will be
made available for your confidential use. Please look for the course evaluation link on the
course Homepage towards the finishing of the course.

Back to Top
Course Schedule

WEEK STARTING TOPIC CHEW MERVILLE

DATE

1 5/16 Course Access and Self-Orientation;

Mon. Form Teams / Introduction
General chat session: Thurs. 5/19//7-9
pm CST

TOPIC 1: I: 2,3 Lecture 1

Markets/Ownership/Executive Compensation

2 5/23 Topic 1 Discussion: TEAM 1 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 5/26//7-9 pm CST

3 5/30 TOPIC 2: II: 6,11 Lecture 2

Capital Budgeting and Strategy

4 6/6 Topic 2 Discussion: TEAM 2 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 6/9//7-9 pm CST

5 6/13 TOPIC 3: III: Lecture 3

Capital Structure and Dividends 12,13,16

6 6/20 Topic 3 Discussion: TEAM 3 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 6/23//7-9 pm CST

7 6/27 TOPIC 4: V: 27,29 Lecture 4

Risk Management

8 7/4 Topic 4 Discussion: TEAM 4 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 7/7//7-9 pm CST

9 7/11 TOPIC 5: VI: 36, 44 Lecture 5

Corporate Structure

10 7/18 Topic 5 Discussion: TEAM 5 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 7/21//7-9 pm CST

11 7/25 TOPIC 6: IV: Lecture 6

E-Finance 20,21,24

Topic 6 Discussion: TEAM 6 Chat

Chat session: Thurs. 7/28//7-9 pm CST

Takeaways Lecture T

12 8/1 Term paper due by: 8/1//8:00 am CST TERM PAPER

DUE

Back to Top