School of Business Administration

FIN 3301: Principles of Finance

Semester: Spring 2021
COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title Principles of Finance Pre- ACC 2302 and ECO 2302; or
requisites ACC 2301 and EGR 2302 (SSE);
or ACC 2301 and ECO 2302
(SHSS)
Course Code FIN 3301 (03) Credit 3 hours
Class Hours TR: from 14:00 to 15:20 Required Principles of Corporate
Textbook(s) Finance by Brealey, Myers and
Allen, 11th Edition, McGraw
Hill International Edition.
Professor Abdelhamid Hamidi Alaoui Office Building 11, Room 103
Office hours TR: From 8:00 to 9:25 Contact Phone ext: 2706
TR: From 12:25 to 13:55 Details Email: a.hamidialaoui@aui.ma
TR: From 16:55 to 18:30
Or by appointment

Course Description
Financial management for business and the corporation emphasizes the conceptual framework
and principles of financial management for business organizations. The topics of the course are
designed to integrate the knowledge from the introductory courses in accounting and economics,
with special focus on financial decision making.

Learning Goals/Objectives

BBA Program Learning Course ILO Metric (What) Course Assessment

Goals/Objectives Metric (How)

1. Ethical: Make decisions ethically

a Understand ethical concepts Know what is an agency problem This ILO will be
including sustainability and and how managers should manage assessed through
concepts of corporate social a company
responsibility
[Understanding]

2. Successful: Display skills and competencies of successful business decision makers

a Comprehend and apply
general BA concepts,
methods and techniques
[Understanding, Applying]
c Use modern IT tools
effectively [Applying]
Master the concept of time value This ILO will be
of money (TVM) assessed through
Be able to use financial calculator This ILO will be
or MS Excel assessed through

3. Manager: Demonstrate managerial qualities

a Understand the functions of a Understand the difference This ILO will be
manager including planning, between value maximization and assessed through
organizing, motivating, profit maximization.
controlling, and evaluating
[Understanding]
b Discern relevant data for Understand and use decision This ILO will be
managerial decision-making criteria in capital budgeting assessed through
[Applying, Analyzing,
Evaluating]

5. Local: Understand the Moroccan business environment

a Understand the local Understand potential challenges This ILO will be
business environment and its Moroccan public companies are assessed through
challenges [Understanding] facing in the Casablanca Stock
Exchange.

6. Global: Comprehend the global business environment

a Understand the global Understand and learn about
business environment and practices in mature advanced
challenges [Understanding] financial markets

Class Schedule

Topic No. Topic Title

1 Goals and Governance of the Firm
2 How to calculate Present Values
3 Valuing Bonds
4 The Value of Common Stocks
5 Net Present Value and Other Investment Criteria

I reserve the right to add other topics.

LIBRARY COURSE GUIDE READINGS: Available at:

http://libguides.aui.ma/content.php?pid=346983

Other academic resources are available to student such as tutoring services, writing center, language
help (catalogue pages 83-84), counseling services (catalogue page 77), and other student support
such as Center for Learning Excellence and Counseling (catalogue page 77).

Instructional Approach
In addition to the required textbook, students have to read financial (and also economic)
newspapers during the semester. The course will frequently discuss important current events
linked to the international financial environment. Recommended newspapers include:

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Google financial news
Financial Times
The Economist
Business Week
Wall Street Journal

Experiential Learning
A Microsoft Excel project about the time value of money will be assigned and is worth 5% of the
final grade.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory according to the university’s official policy. A record of more than five
unjustified absences will result in a “WF” grade in the course. Each unjustified absence will result
in one grade being deducted from the grade of class participation. Absences will be excused only
with a valid and verifiable excuse (in accordance with university’s policy). Students are expected to
be on time to all lectures. During all the semester and in each class meeting, all students are
expected to be on time. Each time a student is late to the class meeting, without a valid reason,
his/her participation grade will be reduced according to (**). If a student has a valid reason not
to be on time for a lecture, he/she has to talk with me or send me an email at least 24 hours
before the class meeting he/she is going to be late to. If for a valid reason a student is going to
be late during all the semester he/she has to talk with me on the day of the first class meeting.
If a student has a medical condition or any other reason for being absent many times, he/she must
provide justifications that are approved by the VPSA’s office.

Grading and Evaluation Procedures

Two tests, one midterm exam, and quizzes will be given during the semester. A final exam will be
given at the end of the semester during the normal university examination period. Any action of
cheating or plagiarism results in an automatic F in the course and this has been enforced at the
School level so far.

Participation: Students are expected to participate in the classroom and have professional conduct
and good behavior. During any lecture in which you are recorded as present, I may call your
name using voice and you have to respond “present” either by voice or writing within 5 seconds
after I call your name. If you fail to respond, I will consider it as unprofessional behavior and will
deduct points from “Participation and Attendance” accordingly. After you respond “present”, I
may ask you a question about the material being covered during that session and if you fail to
correctly answer, I may deduct points from “Participation and Attendance” accordingly.

Students must work problems in order to understand the material and perform well on exams.
They should not limit their preparation for the exam to lecture notes.

The final grade in the course will be computed in accordance with the following chart:
Test (February 25, 2021) 8%
Midterm Exam (March 11, 2021) 27%
Project 5%
Final Exam (Comprehensive) 35%
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CFA case-based webinar 10%
Participation and Attendance 15%
(Each unexcused absence will result in the deduction of 1 point from the final grade)
**) Each time a student is late to the class meeting, without a valid reason, his/her participation
grade will be reduced by:
2 minutes to 4 minutes late ========= > 2 points out of 100 will be deducted
5 minutes to 10 minutes late ========= > 3 points out of 100 will be deducted
More than 10 minutes late ========= > 5 points out of 100 will be deducted
Rules:
1) The Test, the Midterm Exam, and the Final Exam will be held online through Jenzabar
and the shared cloud. Please make sure to have a decent internet connection in order
not to face problems like losing your connection. If you have any internet connection
problems please discuss it with me at the beginning of the semester.
2) After any examination, I may request from a student to take an oral exam about the
material the examination has covered.
3) The above percentages are not going to be modified.
4) I do not give extra work for those who ask for it to improve grades.
5) No exam or test will be postponed; the above exam dates are going to be respected.
6) No exam or test will be repeated.

The CFA Institute Ethical Decision-Making Program

This online course, which is hosted in the CFA Institute Ethics Learning Lab, helps you navigate
ethical situations using the Ethical Decision-Making Framework. You'll be presented with real-
world scenarios and case studies in an online platform that allows you to interact with your peers
and study at your own pace.
You register and complete the course before December 1st in the Fall semester, May 1st in the
Spring semester and July 1st in the summer session. To register use the link below:

https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg30.jsp&partnerref=eweb
site&eventid=2519930&sessionid=1&key=1466F4A9D3F3681C273120AF59820704&regTag=&sour
cepage=register

To earn a full grade (100%), the student has to provide all emails sent by CFA institute confirming
that he/she passed all seven “field manuals” plus the “Ethical Decision Making Framework”
certificate before the deadline of the course. Student have to attend at least one interactive
webinar organized by the CFA institute.

The University's grading system is:

A+ 4.00 97-100% B+ 3.33 87-89% C+ 2.33 77-79% D+ 1.33 67-69%

A 4.00 93-96% B 3.00 83-86% C 2.00 73-76% D 1.00 60-66%
A- 3.67 90-92% B- 2.67 80-82% C- 1.67 70-72% F 0.00 < 60%

Counseling
Many students encounter stress during their educational experience. Most
of them deal with it successfully, but for some, difficulties can become
unmanageable. Al Akhawayn University offers confidential counseling

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services to all students. AUI counselors provide personal, social, academic,
and career and crisis counseling. Additionally, a psychiatrist comes to AUI on
a part-time basis to meet with students in need of further help. Additional
information can be obtained online and in the Student Handbook.

Academic Advising for Freshmen

Upon joining Al Akhawayn University, each freshman student is assigned
a faculty advisor from his or her respective school. The main objective of
academic advising is to ensure that students take the right courses in the
appropriate sequence. The role of the advisor is to discuss with the student
his/her choice of major, study plan, and concerns regarding courses and
workload. The advisor answers questions, and provides guidance and help
when needed.

Career Orientation Office

The mission of the Career Orientation Office, a unit within the Department
of Development and Communication, is to help and guide AUI students
when making important career choices. The office staff also provides
advice and assistance to AUI graduating students so that they may make
informed decisions, thereby increasing their chances of success in their
chosen careers. The Career Orientation Office organizes job fairs and other
career-oriented activities on campus. Such events provide students with
an opportunity to practice their interview skills, access information about
job openings in their fields of study, and to display their talents and skills
with potential recruiters.

The Writing Center

The AUI Writing Center’s mission is to help students from all disciplines and
all AUI Schools improve their overall writing abilities. We do this by looking
at individual writing assignments and having a dialogue with the writer.
Students who visit the Writing Center have the opportunity to work with
trained peer-tutors and faculty members. During hour-long conferences,
students and tutors work together on various aspects of writing: thesis
development, organization, outlining, paragraphing, sentence structure,
word choice, diction, punctuation, and mechanics. These tutorials can
help students with any phase of the writing process from brainstorming to
revising a draft already critiqued by their instructors.
Whether a student needs help with a paper, a CV or a capstone project,
the AUI Writing Center is here to help. We are committed to the idea that
students with all levels of English writing abilities can benefit from sharing
and discussing work in progress with attentive and knowledgeable readers.
The AUI Writing Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sundays from 5:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. While the Writing Center is equipped with computers
that students can use, it is highly recommended that students bring a
printed copy of the assignment being considered. The services of the AUI
Writing Center are completely free of charge. Walk-in opportunities are
available, but we suggest students make an appointment, particularly
during the busiest times of the semester. The Writing Center also provides

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intermittent workshops on specific skill areas throughout the semester.
Faculty members are welcome to suggest or request workshops as needed
for their students.

Tutoring Services
Tutoring Services are managed by the CLE and are available for a variety
of courses offered by AUI Schools. Students can request tutoring for
courses with which they would like additional help. The Tutoring Services
coordinator matches students with peer tutors who have course-specific
expertise and have recommendations from course instructors. Tutors work
with small or medium-sized groups of students, usually two to four hours
per week, to review course topics and to develop effective learning and
study strategies specific to the discipline.

University’s Attendance Policy

Attendance has been shown to be a key factor in academic success. Any absence, regardless of the
reason, will prevent the student from getting the full benefit of the course. Therefore, students
should recognize the advantages of regular and punctual class attendance accept it as a personal
responsibility and apprise themselves of the consequences of poor attendance.

Policy: Absences are controlled by faculty members. The number of absences for whatever reason
(except as indicated in points 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) is taken into account in the final grade.

1. Excused Absences
Students may be authorized by instructors to be absent from class for institutional reasons as
specified in 1.1, and 1.2 below. However, the instructor may deny the student permission to be
absent if the student’s academic performance is not judged to be adequate. Once approved, these
absences should not count in the student’s absence record. Instructors should be informed before the
absence to agree with the student on a suitable time and manner for a make up should it be
necessary. A maximum of three of these absences per semester could be authorized.

1.1 External Events: student must submit a completed and signed form from the Office of Student
Activities to the instructor. Examples of these absences include participation in university-
sponsored sports, cultural or other events as a University representative.

1.2 Field Trips as part of a class requirement or as authorized by a Dean: the Dean’s assistant of the
school offering or authorizing the trip should sign the absence request form.

1.3 In case of protracted illness or emergency condition necessitating hospitalization, students may
exceptionally appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs so as not to be dropped from a
course. However, extended illness may lead to the semester not being validated.
No other justification will be accepted. Students should be prepared in case they have to be absent
for personal or family reasons.

2. Impact of absences on grades

Each unauthorized absence shall result in a deduction from the class participation grade up to the
limit set in section 3 below when a WF is assigned.

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3. Ceilings before a WF is assigned
When a student exceeds the ceiling given below, the instructor may sign an administrative
withdrawal form:
3.1 For classes which meet twice a week, this ceiling is set at 5 absences
3.2 For classes which meet three times a week, the ceiling is set at 7 absences
3.3 For classes which meet five times a week, the ceiling is set at 10 absences.

4. Pre-authorized absences

Notification of planned absences using the Absence Requests Form available at the Student
Activities Office must be delivered to the instructor, with permission signed and dated by the
instructor.
Once notified of planned absence, the instructor should inform the student of the deadline for
completion of any missed assignment or examination where applicable. Make-up examinations, if
necessary and acceptable to the instructor, shall be at a time and place mutually agreed upon by the
instructor and students.

4.1 Each week an email will be generated from the system to all students informing them about
their absence record. The Vice President for Student Affairs or his representative will monitor the
system and call in students with an attendance problem and direct them to the proper assistance
service.
4.2 During the Add and drop period, no absence is accepted in a course; add and drop should be
done outside class time.
4.3 In case of a late registration, students assume full responsibility for their absences as recorded
from the first day of classes.

5. Administrative Withdrawal

When a student has exceeded the maximum number of absences according to the mentioned ceiling
(except as stated in points 1.1 and 1.2); the instructor has the right to drop a student from a course
with a “WF” grade. Special hardship cases as stated in 1.3 above may be referred by the Vice
President for Student Affairs to the Dean/Director’s appreciation.
The “Administrative withdrawal form” must reach the Registrar’s Office at least 5 days prior to the
first day of final exams.