NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE NUMBER:        Busn. 340   Sections 3 & 4        

COURSE TITLE:               Principles of Finance

SEMESTER:                      Spring 2003

INSTRUCTOR:                 Paul Brown

OFFICE:                            Putnam 105

PHONE:                            231-7681

E-MAIL:                            Paul.Brown@ndsu.nodak.edu

OFFICE HOURS:             MWF 10:00 - 10:45am, TR 2:30 - 3:15pm

CLASS LOCATION:        Section 3 (11:00am) Dolve 10
                                          Section 4 (9:00am) Putnam 101

CLASS DAYS & TIME:    Section 3, 11:00am - 11:50am, MWF
                                           Section 4, 9:00am - 9:50am MWF

TEXT:                                 Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, Sixth Edition, by Ross,
                                            Westerfield and Jordan, published by McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:    Studies various concepts and analytical tools in business finance,
including:  the use of basic financial statements, the time value of money, discounting cash flows,
valuing various securities, capital budgeting financial structure and dividend policy.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:    Accounting 201, Economics 201 and 202, Statistics 330, Junior
Standing, and have Acceptance into the Professional Program.

ATTENDANCE, IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES:  Preparedness for class and regular class attendance
are essential for success in this course.  Students are expected to come to each class.  If a student
misses a class, they should arrange with a fellow student to obtain the notes from the missed class.
Students are expected to have read any assigned material, and worked any assigned problems
prior to coming to class.  Additional problems will be worked during the class.

QUIZZES:    There will five quizzes given during the semester.  Quiz dates will be announced
at least one class period prior to the quiz.  Each quiz will be worth 25 points.  All students will
have their lowest quiz score dropped.  There are no make ups for missed quizzes.

EXAMS:    There will be three exams during the course of the semester, and a final exam. The final
exam is not comprehensive.  Each exam will be worth 100 points. Students are expected to take the
exams in class, at the scheduled times.

GRADING:    Grades will be assigned on the following scale:  90-100% A, 80-89%  B,  70-79%  C,
60-69%  D, below 60%  F.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:
The following dates and topics are subject to change.  Students are expected to attend class, and are
responsible for keeping current on any schedule changes.

Dates                            Topics                                    Chapters to Read

January 15 -                   Introduction                                1
February 7                     Financial Statements                    2
                                      Financial Statements (cont.)         3
                                      Time Value of Money                  5
                                      Discounted Cash Flows               6

February 10                   Exam 1

February 12 -                Interest Rates and Bonds             7
March 7                        Stock Valuation                           8
                                      Investment Criteria                      9

March 10                       Exam 2

March 12 -                    Capital Investments                       10
April 9                           Project Analysis                            11
                                      Risk, Return, and the SML           12 & 13

April 11                         Exam 3

April 14 -                       Cost of Capital                            15
May 9                            Leverage and Capital Structure    17
                                      Dividends and Dividend Policy     18

Final Exams                    Section 3 (11:00am):   Tuesday, May 13, 12:30pm
                                      Section 4 (9:00am):     Monday, May 12,  8:30am

NOTE:    Students with disabilities or other special needs who need
special accommodations in this course are invited to share these concerns
or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:    Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct
(excerpted from the NDSU Student Handbook):  Students are responsible for
submitting their own work.  Students who cooperate on oral or written examinations
or work without authorization share responsibility for violation of academic principles,
and the students are subject to disciplinary action even when one of the students is not
enrolled in the course where the violation occurred.