COURSE SYLLABUS

Financial Markets and Institutions, ECON380-C1

Fall Term 8/30-12/12
Golden Gate University

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Financial Markets and Institutions ,

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Bergan

CONTACT INFORMATION: please email me at bergann@palmbeachstate.edu or berganfsu@aol.com ( I will respond within 8-12
hours of any email)

TEXTBOOK:

Financial Markets & Institutions Edition: 8th

Author: Mishkin
ISBN: 9780133423624
Copyright Year: 2015
Publisher: Addison Wesley

PREREQUISITE

ECON202: Economics for Managers

COURSE CONDUCT
This course is extremely applied and therefore requires students to keep up with daily financial
market developments. For similar reasons and because financial markets are volatile, the discussion
element of this course will be very important. Please read all required materials prior to the class discussion and be prepared to
discuss additional topics which reflect current financial market activity.

You will receive 3 units of credit if you successfully complete this class. This means that you can expect to spend 2 hours 40
minutes in class and/or online in class each week plus an additional 8-12 hours each week completing homework and preparing for
the next class. You can expect to spend more time studying some weeks and less time other weeks, but overall you should expect to
average between 11 and 15 hours each week on this class for the entire term.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

“Academic integrity means doing academic work in a manner that strives to achieve the learning objectives your courses have set
out for you. It means that you follow the rules and procedures prescribed by
your instructors so that you acquire the skills and knowledge your courses are designed to give you. It means that you engage in
ethical practices in taking tests and doing assignments and that you respect
intellectual property rights by fully disclosing sources of information that appear in your papers and presentations.”
(Source:
http://www.ggu.edu/student_services/student_life/griffin_student_handbook/policy_on_academic_integrity/attachment/Policy+on+
Academic+Integrity.pdf)

I personally believe strongly in the requirement for absolute academic integrity in all coursework. I ask that each of you think
carefully about how the concept of academic integrity relates to your work in this course. The workload in ECON380 is, by design,
demanding and I believe the course will challenge most of you. While it is vital that we jointly maintain an open learning
environment with extensive communication among all of us, you should be sensitive to the intent of the specific course assignments
and to your personal responsibility for preparing these assignments. Individual work, specifically your work on the exams in this
course, is intended to assess you own individual understanding and should be solely your own. You should neither give nor
receive any assistance on these exams.

DISABILITIES

Golden Gate University affirms its commitment to its applicants and students who identify and express their special needs.
Information regarding The Americans with Disabilities Acts and the University’s policies and services may be obtained from the
University Advising Center.

GRADING
Grading
GRADING SCALE (%)
A 4.0 93-100%
A- 3.7 90-92.4%
B+ 3.3 87-89.4%
B 3.0 83-86.4%
B- 2.7 80-82.4%
C+ 2.3 77-79.4%
C 2.0 73-76.4%
C- 1.7 70-72.4%
D+ 1.3 67-69.4%
D 1.0 63-66.4%
D- 0.7 60-62.4%
F 0.0 0-59.4%

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA

The following is the itemized description of all graded assessments:

Assignment Name Description Points

Discussions & Points assigned for timeliness, completeness, quality and 250 pts (50 pts
Participation thoroughness as described under Participation. Students each), 25% of
are expected to participate in all 5 Discussion Forums overall grade

Quizzes Select quizzes on certain weeks consisting of multiple- 500 pts(10

choice 25 questions. There will be a total of 10 quizzes in quizzes, 50 pts
the course. You will 40 minutes to complete the quiz. each), 50% of
overall grade

Final Exam Students provide answers to multiple-choice questions, 250 pts, 25% of
consisting of 25 questions. You will have a total of 75 overall grade
minutes to complete.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Schedule is subject to change at Instructor’s discretion. Course materials on eCollege are for the use of students enrolled in the
course for purposes related to the course, and may not be retained or further distributed. Course materials may be subject to
copyright protection.
 MODULES(dates
What To Do That Week
listed below are the
due dates. All work is
due by 11pm)E
Read Chps. 1--2
Discussion Board #1
Module 1 (9/5)
Introductions

Read Chps. 3-4

Module 2(9/12) Quiz #1

Read Chps. 5-6

Module 3(9/19) Discussion Board #2

Module 4(9/26) Read Chps. 7-8

Quiz #2

Module 5(10/3) Read Chps 9-10

Quiz #3

Read Chps 11-12

Module (10/10) Quiz #4

Module 7(10/17) Read Chps 13-14

Quiz #5

Module 8(10/24) Read Chps 15-16

Discussion Board #3

Module 9(10/31) Read Chps 17-18

Discussion Board #4

Module 10(11/7) Read Chps 19

Quiz #6

Module 11(11/14) Read Chps 20

Discussion Board #5

Module 12(11/21) Read Chps 21

Quiz #7

Module 13(11/28) Read Chp 22

Quiz #8

Module 14(12/5) Read Chps 23

Quiz #9
Module 15(12/12) Read Chps 24
Quiz #10
Module 16(12/12) PROCTORED FINAL EXAM

ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS

DISCUSSION BOARD

In certain weeks, you will be graded on how you participate within the discussion boards with your fellow classmates and
instructor. You will be graded in participation with your interaction with your fellow classmates and instructor in the weeks
listed in the course outlined below with each week counting as 50 points. There are no make-up assignments for threaded
discussions, you must complete within that week to receive credit. The dates of the discussion threads are located in the course
outline and the specific weeks, make sure that you follow this because there are no-make ups for the discussion threads as you
have an entire week to complete the discussion thread. If you do not participate within the discussion boards during those
weeks, you will receive a 0, with no exceptions. I have outlined the minimum standards to receive points in the discussion
board.

To achieve the minimum posting requirements in this ECON380, you should:

• Post a response to the discussion question
• Respond to at least two different students.
Threads are worth 50 points/week. The Grading rubric is:
• Each graded thread is worth up to 50 total points.
• Points will be deducted as follows (regardless of # of posts posted):
• 40 total points for the response to the question.
• 5 points for each response to another students post and the “value added” (10 total points)
• You need a total of 2 peer responses
• Initial post must be submitted by THURSDAY of each week. If not submitted by Thursday at 11:55pm of each week, you
will lose 10 points.
I recommend that you write 3-4 paragraphs for your response to the article/discussion question and 1-2 paragraphs response to your
fellow classmates. I also recommend that you are using economic terms in your evaluation and responses as this is a good way to
achieve maximum points. Each post should be "value added." In other words, your posts should further the thread topics; show that
you have learned something from our readings, or outside research; bring anecdotal, life experiences to the threaded issues; ask
relevant and forward moving questions; or otherwise promote the course objectives for the week. Posts like "I agree," or "Great
post" are nice, good-will posts--but do not count as a graded post.
INTIAL POST(40 total points): For each initial post, you need to evaluate/analyze the article using appropriate economic
terminology in your work in at least 3-4 paragraphs. It is important to make sure you are using proper sources and use of the
economic terminology as this is what you are being graded on. When evaluating the article, make sure that you are not summarizing
the article, but extending the analysis of the article through the use of the terminology found in the text. You need to label your
initial post as the following in the discussion thread with the following subject. For example, INITIAL POST, if not labeled this
way, you will lose 10 points
PEER RESPONSES(5 total points for each response, 10 total points): For each peer response, you need to respond with at least a
one paragraph response doing the same routine as you did for the initial post. It is important to make sure that with your
development with your peer response that you are extending your analysis. If you would like, you can respond to me as that will
count as a peer response.
Each post should be "value added." In other words, your posts should further the thread topics; show that you have learned
something from our readings, or outside research; bring anecdotal, life experiences to the threaded issues; ask relevant and forward
moving questions; or otherwise promote the course objectives for the week. Posts like "I agree," or "Great post" are nice, good-will
posts--but do not count as a graded post.
 Grading Rubric:
10 points for two peer responses
10 points for first post by Thursday at 11:55pm
5 points for APA formatted in-text citation/reference
25 points for initial post—content and development

FINAL EXAM

The Final Exam must be completed by 8/15, if it is not completed during that time period of before 11:55pm, you receive a 0. You
will have 25 multiple-choice questions as you will have 75 minutes to complete it. Your final exam is proctored, so you have to
make sure you are making arrangements prior to the exam to do well. NO excuses related to your proctor is accepted for reasons
why you did not complete your exam. Please note that your final exam is closed book and with no notes. Also, a computer problem
is not an excuse and will count as not being able to complete the exam. Also, no computer related problem or excuse. I know all
about your exam and when you entered it, so please do not make any excuses concerning your exam and that you did not access it
as I can tell when you accessed your exam. You are only allowed ONE attempt for your assessment.

QUIZZES

The quizzes must be completed within the respective week that it is due. It is due in the respective week as it must be completed by
that time period of before 11:55pm, you receive a 0. On the quiz, you will have 60 minutes and it will consist of 25 multiple-choice
questions. You will get two attempts and I will take the highest of those two attempts. Also, a computer problem is not an excuse
and will count as not being able to complete the exam. Also, no computer related problem or excuse. I know all about your exam
and when you entered it, so please do not make any excuses concerning your exam and that you did not access it as I can tell when
you accessed your exam.

EXAMS
The final exam will be a supervised, closed book, closed note test of your
knowledge of the concepts covered throughout the entire course. The final exam may be taken on
anytime, but must be completed by August 15. Exams will reflect current events, textbook and other reading materials, session
presentations, discussions, etc. Please make prior arrangements to complete the final exam on time, NO excuses related to your
proctor is accepted in the course.

SUPERVISED EXAM INFORMATION

All CyberCampus (entirely online) courses require at least one supervised exam per term. Check
with your instructor to find out when you are allowed to take the supervised exam. It is your
responsibility to schedule an exam time and location. For more information, go to
http://www.ggu.edu/cybercampus/ExamInformation.

LATE POLICY
Please note the late policy for the course. All work is due both on time and correctly to earn points based on the course schedule.
No work is accepted through email and no technological excuses are accepted. No late work is accepted in the course.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

1. Why Study Financial Markets and Institutions?

2. Overview of the Financial System

II. Fundamentals of Financial Markets

3. What Do Interest Rates Mean and What Is Their Role in Valuation?

4. Why Do Interest Rates Change?

5. How Do Risk and Term Structure Affect Interest Rates?

6. Are Financial Markets Efficient?

III. Fundamentals of Financial Institutions

7. Why Do Financial Institutions Exist?

8. Why Do Financial Crises Occur and Why Are They So Damaging to the Economy?

IV. Central Banking and the Conduct of Monetary Policy

9. Central Banks and the Federal Reserve System

10. Conduct of Monetary Policy: Tools, Goals, Strategy, and Tactics

V. Financial Markets

11. The Money Markets

12. The Bond Market

13. The Stock Market

14. The Mortgage Markets

15. The Foreign Exchange Market

16. The International Financial System

VI. The Financial Institutions Industry

17. Banking and the Management of Financial Institutions

18. Financial Regulation

19. Banking Industry: Structure and Competition

20. The Mutual Fund Industry

21. Insurance Companies and Pension Funds

22. Investment Banks, Security Brokers and Dealers, and Venture Capital Firms

VII. The Management of Financial Institutions

23. Risk Management in Financial Institutions

24. Hedging with Financial Derivatives