There is no required textbook for the class, and I will provide you with practice material similar to what you can expect to see on the exam. However, there is a course pack from Harvard Business Publishing that you will need to purchase which contains the case used in the first group project, as well as some readings that are applicable to the topics covered in the class. You can find the link to purchase the course pack on the Syllabus tab of Canvas.

Every semester, a few students comment that they wish they had a textbook to read in order to better understand the conceptual material. I understand that it is hard to catch everything during my recorded lectures, and encourage you to print off the slide handouts provided next to the lecture so you can take notes as you listen to the lectures. Everything on the exam will be covered in my lectures specifically, and I don't just read off the slides. You must view the lectures as essential, the same way you would need to attend regularly in a face to face class.

However, I also have an optional textbook that is very readable for most students who are just being introduced to finance. Please note that this text IS NOT REQUIRED! But if you feel that it might help you to have something to read, I have put a course calendar at the back of the syllabus that shows which chapters cover the material we are discussing each week. Because we stick to the most fundamental tools used in financial management, they haven’t changed in several decades. There is no reason to purchase the most current version, which is the 11th edition. I have checked the 9th and 10th editions, and they are very similar and the chapters should be the same. So buy a cheap, old copy instead!

Very Optional Textbook: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, by Brealey, Myers and Marcus

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Calculate the cost of capital for a firm using appropriate inputs and models. This will include knowing where to obtain the inputs for the cost of capital and alternative approaches based on the information available to the manager.
• Forecast and estimate cash flows for the purpose of valuation and then apply the cost of capital in finding the value of a project and deciding whether it should be pursued, or finding the overall value of your firm or investments.
• Understand common financial management decisions, and be able to evaluate the impact the decisions have on the value of your firm through changes in the firm’s cash flows, growth, and cost of financing.
• Demonstrate an ability to incorporate risk into their valuation models, and understand the tools and methods used to mitigate this risk or value real options created by this uncertainty.
• Demonstrate that they can apply the techniques and knowledge learned in this class to common tasks faced by managers in actual practice.

• Excel Projects: 10% of your grade
  More and more, second interviews with employers include an opportunity to show your ability in using Excel. Just glance through the job listings online, and you will see that 90% of the listings will specifically state experience with Excel. This semester, you will gain some experience working with the program, especially in setting up spreadsheets and using them to apply the things we are learning in class. This work is to be completed by you, and while you can discuss the problem with other students, any copied work will be failed. I fully expect that this may take a bit more time if you don’t have previous experience with Excel, and it may take longer in the beginning while you learn the myriad shortcuts that make Excel so efficient. However, I provide a detailed PowerPoint demonstration walking you through the completion of each assignment.

• Two Group Write-ups: 10% of your grade
  One of the worst things in the business world is that you inevitably have to work with people. Over the course of the semester, I am going to have you work in groups to complete two projects that allow you to demonstrate understanding of the material we are covering. You may distribute the work for each of these projects however you wish, but I hope each team member will try to work the cases independently and then come together as a group to complete the project for submission. Each assignment will be worth five percent of your grade.

• Quizzes: 10% of your grade
  These quizzes are simply to help you evaluate how well you understand the material. They are not timed and you are welcome to use whatever materials you wish as you work them. They are more auto-graded homework than true quizzes. They are graded on a pass/fail basis. If you score higher than 80% on them, you will get the full points. If you do worse than 80%, you will need to take it again and fix the ones you missed and then receive full credit. If you don’t take it again, it will be converted to a zero. However, these quizzes are worded very similarly to what you will see on the exams, and are thus excellent preparation!

• Four non-cumulative exams: 70% of your grade
  The four exams are each based on the material covering the modules preceding the exam. While they are not comprehensive, there will be elements, such as calculating the WACC, which will carry through each of the exams. But in general, the practice sets will be the best preparation for what to expect on the exam itself.

Please reach out to me if things come up that will prevent you from meeting the posted deadlines. Once you have submitted your exams or projects, I can't allow you another attempt. So be proactive and let me know before the deadline that something is happening that would require a delay. I am usually pretty flexible.

ADA Statement
Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services. If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit
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Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct
Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement
In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement
For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan. You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting
University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv.

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SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society. SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services. SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

Pregnancy
Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement
Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor. This syllabus was last updated on Aug 1, 2025. For the most current information, please contact your instructor.