University of Texas at Dallas

School of Management

Finance 6301
Fall 2005

Course Objective: This course examines corporate financial decision-making

theory and practice. Our study will concentrate on value,
risk, capital budgeting and capital structure.

Corequisites: ACCT 6305 and STAT 5311 or OPRE 6301.

Instructor: Mark E. Nicholls

Classroom: SOM 2.714

Dates: August 24 – November 30

Time: Wednesday 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM

Contact Information: E-mail – imaginecons@aol.com (Preferred)

Phone – 972-625-3198 (Emergency)

Office Hours: I will be available on an appointment basis as well as

immediately before and after class

Text: Corporate Finance

Ross, Westerfield and Jaffe
Seventh Edition

Examinations: My current plan is to have two tests – a Mid-term and a

Final. Examinations will be closed book and closed note.
However, each student may use one 8.5” by 11” sheet of
paper to transcribe formulas (but not worked examples or
detailed notes) that may be referenced during the
examinations. You will also be allowed to utilize financial
calculators for the tests.

The Mid-term and the Final will each count 50% toward
your grade. I do not contemplate giving a cumulative
Final. However, for students who have an excused absence
for the Mid-term, a cumulative Final may be given which
will count for 100% of that student’s grade. No make-up
for the Final Exam will be given. So, attendance for the
Final Exam to be given on November 30 is mandatory.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken as extra credit. If you attend all
class sessions four points will be added to your final point
total for the class. If you miss two or less classes, two
points will be added to your point total.

Special Projects: For those wishing to pursue extra credit, a special project
may be assigned.

Homework: Homework will not be collected or graded. Solutions to

key practice problems will be reviewed at the beginning of
each class period. Additionally, the solutions along with
lecture slides will be forwarded to the students via e-mail.

Calculator: I strongly recommend that you invest in a financial

calculator if you don’t already have one. I personally use
the HP 12 C calculator and can help students learn to do
calculations on that device.

Grading: Grading (and the grade curve) will be based upon the final
point total from examinations per above. Extra credit for
attendance and special projects will be added to test scores.

Honor Code: Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic

activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty
are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the
university. “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not
limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission
for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in
whole or in part to another person, taking an examination
for another person, any act designed to give unfair
advantage to a student or attempt to commit such acts.”
Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, chapter VI,
Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.

Cell Phones & Pagers: Cell phones and pagers must be set to vibrate mode. If you
need to respond, please leave the room quietly and return
after your call is complete so as to permit the rest of the
class to enjoy an uninterrupted session
Course Outline:

Lecture* Review of Practice Problems

August 24 Intro, 1 None

August 31 2, 3 None

September 7 4 2.5, 2.6, 2.8

September 14 5, Appendix 5A 4.1, 4.2, 4.8, 4.10, 4.12, 4.16, 4.19

4.24, 4.27, 4.34, 4.40, 4.42

September 21 7 5.2, 5.6, 5.9, 5.11, 5.13, 5.20, 5.24

5.29, 5.31, 5.33

September 28 6, 8 7.1, 7.2, 7.6, 7.10, 7.21, 7.32

October 5 9 & Exam Prep 6.2, 6.3, 6.9, 6.11, 6.14, 6.18
8.1, 8.8, 8.11, 8.15, 8.19

October 12 Mid-term 1 – 8

October 19 Exam Review & 10 9.1, 9.4, 9.11, 9.16, 9.18

October 26 12, 13 (Page 376) 10.2, 10.7, 10.19, 10.24, 10.27, 10.29

November 2 14, 15 12.1, 12.4, 12.8, 12.12, 12.13

November 9 19 14.1, 14.4, 14.7

15.1, 15.13, 15.15, 15.18

November 16 20 19.1, 19.4, 19.8, 19.17, 19.19

November 23 22 – Pages 618 – 631 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.13, 20.14
25 – Pages 696 – 706
Exam Prep

November 30 Final Exam

* Numbers represent Chapters in the text.