Syllabus, BA 311  - Term 2, 2005

Money, Banking and Financial Institutions

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BA 311 Home

Syllabus

Schedule

INSTRUCTOR:  Donald D. Conant

Class Time and Location: T-Th, 5:00 – 7:40, McChord

Phone: work: (360) 754-4877, home: (360) 556-7359

E-mail:   Provided in class

Web site: http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/dconant

OFFICE HOURS:  By appointment

REQUIRED TEXTS:  To order at Amazon.com.

	Financial Markets and institutions, 5th Edition Frederic S. Mishkin, Stanley G. Eakins ISBN: 0-321-28029-6 Hardback 752 pages Addison-Wesley, 2005

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

This course is an exploration of money, banking and financial markets in the contemporary U.S. and world economies. During the course students will study the role of monetary theory and policy, with an emphasis on financial institutions and markets and central banking.

.OBJECTIVES:  

At course completion, students should have:

Applied an understanding of interest rates in a variety of financial settings.

Analyzed central banking and the development of monetary policy.

Developed an understanding of financial markets and financial institutions.

Gained an understanding of the terms and concepts related to Accounting Information Systems and the related software that will allow the student to pursue further study and to apply their knowledge in practical settings.

 TEACHING STRATEGY: 

The class sessions will be a combination of lectures, interactive exercises, oral presentations and case discussion. Course content will come primarily from the assigned textbook. Additional content will be incorporated where appropriate.
 

Students are responsible for reviewing the class schedule and completing assigned readings, homework problems and other assignments.

BRIEF COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1:
Financial Markets, Institutions and Systems Overviews. Interest Rates

Week 2:
Interest Rates, Interest Behavior, and Risk and Term Structure.

Week 3:
Central Banks, the Federal Reserve System, and Monetary Policy.

Week 4:
Money and Capital Markets. The Efficient Market Hypothesis. (Exam 1)

Week 5:
Foreign Exchange Market and the International Financial System.

Week 6:
Theory of Financial Structure. The Banking Firm and Banking Management. (Exam 2)

Week 7:
Commercial Banking Structure. Banking Regulations. Risk Management.

Week 8:
Venture Capital, Finance Companies, and Conglomerates. Derivatives. Oral Presentations.

Week 9:
Oral Presentations. (Exam 3)

GRADING:

Grade category and points:

Grade Scale:

REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance: Due to the technical nature of the material attendance and participation in class discussion is a high priority. These will determine your ability to succeed on the examinations and in class projects.

Oral Presentation: (40 Points)
Students will be assigned to teams of three or four. They will select as a topic either the money market, bond market, stock market, mortgage market, or the foreign exchange market. Each group will prepare a 35 to 40 minute presentation on their selected market to include history, function, instruments, and current issues. Students may use PowerPoint or handouts if they choose but these are not mandatory. If you choose PowerPoint do not read from the slides.

Examinations: (20 Points each)
All examinations are multiple choice, open-book, and open-note. Missed exams and/or unexcused late exams will be scored as zero. If an examination date must be missed make arrangements with the instructor prior to the examination date.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE: The Learning Center offers individual learning consultations, study group assistance, handouts and books on study skills, and free peer tutoring in the following subject areas:  math, chemistry, physics, economics, accounting, Spanish, French, and Japanese.  The tutoring schedules are posted outside the door in Old Main, room 212. To learn more about resources available through the Learning Center you are encouraged to drop by room 208 or visit their website:  www.stmartin.edu/academic/learning_center/index.htm.

SPecial needs:  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Contact Information:

Phone:
work: 360.754.4877
home: 360.556.7359