Main Content
Syllabus
FIN 301 Corporation Finance (3)
Nature of finance function; risk and return concepts; working capital; dividend policies; mergers; security markets; acquisition and management of corporate capital; analysis of operations; forecasting capital requirements; raising capital; and planning profits. Not available to students who have completed B A 301. Prerequisites: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ACCTG 211; ECON 102 or ECON 104; SCM 200 or STAT 200
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Using the Library | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Assignments | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Policies
Overview
Finance 301, Corporation Finance, provides a basic understanding and framework of how firms acquire, allocate, and control their financial resources. It covers the acquisition and management of corporate capital; analysis of operations, forecasting capital requirements, raising capital, and planning profits. This is an introductory finance course focusing on basic financial principles and practices essential to managing a business. In addition, this course also covers financial markets, institutions, organizational forms and investments. FIN 301 relies heavily on accounting and economic principles with a strong emphasis on problem solving and decision making. One objective of this class is to be able to assess the past and present performance of the firm. This can be achieved through vertical and horizontal analysis of the financial statements as well as ratio analysis. Another aspect of this course is the financial planning process. This includes concepts such as pro forma statements, developing the statement of cash flows, as well as the budgeting process through the preparation of the cash budget. Another facet of this class is to understand how financing and investment decisions are made. Students will learn about the time value of money as well as fundamental techniques for valuing financial assets such as stocks and bonds. Additionally, capital budgeting techniques such as the net present value and internal rate of return are explained. Other important objectives include the management of working capital, the determination of the cost of capital, operating and financial leverage, and risk and return. The concepts and tools covered in this class allow the student to gain a fundamental understanding of how the finance function works within the business environment. Finance 301 promotes critical thinking and will enable the student to better integrate the individual functions of a business in order to make good business decisions.
Course Objectives
Upon conclusion of this course, students will be:
- Introduced to the world of finance, especially to the financial operations of businesses. Finance affects all segments of a company, so anyone involved with the management of a business needs some minimal knowledge of business finance.
- Introduced to the concepts of financial statement analysis, financial forecasting, time value of money, risk vs. return, capital budgeting and valuation as they are applied in finance. This information is essential in business, but it is also very useful in one’s personal investment planning.
- Focused on concepts and theories and applying them in practice. The course is designed for the general business student.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Using the Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Tutor.com
Tutor.com is a 24/7 tutoring service that provides students with assistance in coursework, test preparation, research, writing, and more for various subjects. The tutors are subject-matter experts, and each student will have personalized one-on-one sessions with them. Students can schedule their own tutoring appointments to engage in interactive sessions that include a whiteboard and chat feature. The service can be utilized on any device that has Internet access. Students are encouraged to use the service throughout the semester.
You can access this service by selecting Tutor.com from your course navigation menu. Here you can select your subject, enter a question, and begin your tutoring session.
Course Requirements and Grading
Reminder: Please keep in mind that you can use the free Tutor.com services to assist you in preparing for your assignments and understanding key concepts. You may NOT use this service during graded assignments, quizzes, or exams. Students AND instructors have access to transcripts from tutoring sessions.
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Assessment
| Points | Percentage |
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| 4 Exams with time limit | 200 | 40% |
| 4 Applied Excel Exercises | 70 | 14% |
| 12 Quizzes | 120 | 24% |
| Stock Investment Challenge | 50 | 10% |
| Discussion & Participation | 60 | 12% |
| Total Points: | 500 | 100% |
| Numerical value | Letter grade |
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| 93 and above | A |
| 90–92.99 | A- |
| 87–89.99 | B+ |
| 83–86.99 | B |
| 80–82.99 | B- |
| 77–79.99 | C+ |
| 70–76.99 | C |
| 60–69.99 | D |
| below 60 | F |
For students enrolled in the BSBIC program, a grade of C or better is required to pass this course.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Assignments
Exams
There are four exams for this course. The exams will consist of quantitative questions and multiple choice questions. The quantitative questions will be worth approximately forty (40) points and the multiple choice questions will be worth approximately ten (10) points for each exam (the exact distribution may vary). Students will have ninety (90) minutes to complete each exam. Students will also be given two attempts for each exam; the scores for both attempts will be averaged together for the final score. For calculation-based questions, please round to the decimal place indicated in the question. You should not round until after all calculations have been completed and you have reached your final answer. Exams must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. North American Eastern Time (ET) Sunday of the week in which they are assigned.
- Examination 1 = Text Chapters 1 through and including 3 and online lesson commentaries;
- Examination 2 = Text Chapters 4 through and including 5 and online lesson commentaries;
- Examination 3 = Text Chapters 6 through and including 8 and online lesson commentaries;
- Examination 4 = Text Chapters 9 through and including 11 and online lesson commentaries.
Applied Excel Exercises
There are four Excel exercises throughout this course. The Excel exercises have been designed to provide students with realistic case examples. The four exercises are individual assignments. Their point values are as follows:
- MLHR Common Size Analysis Excel Assignment (20 points)
- Loan Amortization Excel Exercise (10 points)
- Calculating Returns Excel Assignment (10 points)
- Final Project Excel Exercise (30 points)
Excel exercises must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday of the week in which they are assigned.
Quizzes
There will be a total of twelve (12) quizzes throughout this course. Quizzes can be retaken as many times as needed until the final due date; 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday of the week in which they are assigned. The highest quiz score will be used for grading purposes. The quizzes will vary in format, but have been designed to give students ample opportunity to practice and apply what has been learned in the lesson. For calculation-based questions, please round to the decimal place indicated in the question. You should not round until after all calculations have been completed and you have reached your final answer.
How the Market Works Group Investment Challenge
Throughout the duration of this course you will be participating in a team investment challenge. As part of this challenge you and your team will be developing an investment strategy, investing in equities, and establishing an active equity portfolio. Your performance will be compared to other teams, the S&P 500 and the instructor’s portfolio. There are four milestones where your team will be required to provide updates.
- Step 1: Create your Active Portfolio & Memo: 10 pts (Due Lesson 2)
- Step 2: First Evaluation Memo: 10 points (Due Lesson 4)
- Step 3: Second Evaluation Memo: 10 points (Due Lesson 8)
- Step 4: Final Performance Report: 20 points (Due Lesson 12)
In addition to the points referenced above, you can also earn 5 bonus points for beating the “benchmark” S&P 500 portfolio.
Discussion & Participation
Discussion Forums will play a large role in this course. Each week you will be asked to participate in a minimum of one discussion forum. The effectiveness of the discussion forum depends on the quality and quantity of your contributions. You are required to post your initial posting and then respond to the specified number of other posts as detailed in the instructions; however, you are strongly encouraged to post more than the minimum requirement. Initial entries should be posted by Thursday of the given week. The additional postings should be completed no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) Sunday.
You will be graded on the quality of your responses. A simple "I agree/disagree" is not considered a quality response. A quality response is one that extends the discussion and provides new insights or perspectives. This includes responses to other posts as well as responses to comments on your own post.
Your post should show original thought and be substantiated by using content from the textbook or an outside source. All sources should be cited properly using APA format.
Specific grading details are available in the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric.
- Course begins:
- Course ends:
- Final Project: Due
Note: All assignments are due by 11:59 PM North American eastern time (ET) Sunday of the week they are assigned unless otherwise stated.
Course Orientation and Introduction
Lesson 1: Introduction
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Lesson 2: Review of Financial Statements
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Lesson 3: Financial Statement Analysis
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Lesson 4: Stock Investment Challenge Exercise & Exam
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Lesson 5: Time Value of Money: Lump Sums
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Lesson 6: Time Value of Money: Annuities
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Lesson 7: Bonds
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Lesson 8: Stock Investment Challenge Exercise & Exam
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Lesson 9: Stocks
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Lesson 10: Risk vs. Return
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Lesson 11: Measuring Risk and Return
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Lesson 12: Stock Investment Challenge Exercise & Exam
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Lesson 13: Weighted Average Cost of Capital
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Lesson 14: Introduction to Capital Budgeting and Techniques
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Lesson 15: Incremental Cash Flows & Advanced Capital Budgeting Problems
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Final Project
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Additional Academic Integrity Violations
Please note: Various tutoring websites claim to offer you the opportunity to download answers to everything from accounting problems to quiz questions for little to no cost. Full papers can also be downloaded to submit in place of your own work. Use of these materials, or “ghosting,” is considered cheating and an academic integrity violation. Similarly, uploading exams, course materials, or your work to one of these sites is considered an academic integrity violation.
Using online services that complete assignments for you is considered an academic integrity violation.
Giving your Penn State Access ID and password to someone else to do your work is against University policy AD95/AD96 and an academic integrity violation; sanctions will be given for these violations.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Policies
Late Policy
Late Assignments will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to contact the instructor prior to the due date of an assignment if you are aware of extenuating circumstances that will impact your ability to meet a deadline. The instructor will determine if alternative arrangements may be made.
Blank or Erroneous Assignment Submissions
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded the correct document to each assignment prior to the assignment due date. Please check your assignment submission immediately after uploading a file in Canvas to ensure that it contains content and is the correct file. If you notice an error, such as a blank or incorrect file, you must resubmit the assignment before the assignment due date. Similarly, you are responsible for ensuring that discussion forum initial posts are not blank and that any website URL submissions (such as links to documents, video recordings, etc.) have the correct sharing settings enabled so that they can be viewed by recipients. Any blank or erroneous submissions that you have not resubmitted by the assignment due date will receive a zero for the assignment.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.