Instructor: Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4437
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

Philosophy of Money & Finance

IDS 400 (OM)

Mar 2 - Apr 27
Fridays, 5:00pm-10:30pm*

This course in money and finance is an alternative to the usual core course in Business Finance (BF) for students in the Organizational Management degree program. For those who already have taken or who wish to take the usual BF course, this IDS 400 will also count as an upper division elective applicable towards the degree. This special topics course focuses both on philosophical investigation and critiques of modern practices in finance and accounting, and empirical issues and techniques useful in the rapidly shifting environment of global business for non-financial managers. Particular emphasis is given to a range of diverse theories and techniques in comparative perspective.

Required Texts


Class Schedule

  Mar 2

  Introduction to class, topics and procedures

  Mar 9

  Introduction to 1st half of course:
  read Finkler, pp.3-26, plus photocopy pack of readings

  Mar 16

  Finkler, pp.27-99, plus assigned exercises [no face-to-face (f2f) meeting]
  Exercise Set #1

  Mar 23

  Finkler, pp.100-179, plus assigned exercises [no f2f meeting]
  Exercise Set #2

  Mar 30

  Finkler, pp.180-268, plus assigned exercises [no f2f meeting]
  Exercise Set #3

  Apr 6

  Wrap-up of Finkler and Introduction to 2nd half of course:
  read Needleman, Introduction and chapters 1-5; and
  read "Modern Money" by Wray (in photocopy pack)

  Apr 13

  Needleman, chapters 6-17

  Apr 20

  Needleman, chapters 18-22, plus Appendices

  Apr 27

  Final Exam



Assessment & Grading Scale

  Exercises = 30% of final grade (3 x 10%)

  90 - 100 = A

  Final Exam = 45%

  80 - 89 = B

  Discussion/Participation = 25%

  70 - 79 = C

  Attendance: You must attend at least 4 full f2f class
  sessions to pass the course

  60 - 69 = D

  You will need email & web access for this course

  0 - 59 = F


Exercises

Three (3) sets of exercises will be assigned for the weeks we will not have face-to-face (f2f) sessions. Each set is worth 10% of your final course grade. Completed exercises are to be delivered to me via email no later than 10:30pm (PST) each Friday evening for review and marking. Late submissions will be accepted, but are subject to a 20% penalty for each 24 hour period (or part thereof) received after the original due date.

You are permitted, indeed encouraged, to discuss these readings and to complete and submit these exercises for marking as a group of 2-3 persons. As a group, you submit one set of exercises (indicating in your email submission the names of all group members), for which you all will share the same grade.

Final Exam

One exam will be given during the term and is scheduled for the last night of class, April 27th. The exam is cumulative, and will be structured like the exercises, with the addition of short answer and essay questions requiring thoughtful application of our theoretical discussions and studies to real-world problems. The exam is worth 45% of your final course grade.

The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer printer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard for margins.

Attendance & Discussion/Participation

Attendance: You must attend at least four (4) full f2f sessions in order to receive a passing grade for this course. This may seem draconian, but our f2f time together is too short and intensive. If you cannot commit to the class schedule, you should drop this course and seek an alternative. [N.B. You are counted absent if you (a) fail to come to f2f class on any scheduled night, or (b) fail to arrive within 75 minutes of the start time.]

Participation: Although speaking in class and posting messages on the web, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context our studies and discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our material for application in the real world. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching "right" conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in this course.

To give direct incentive to so engage, 25% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your classroom and web participation. The point is not to create undue angst, but to determine your active engagement with the material in the context of the class.

Caveat

This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, quizzes, homework and discussions which will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the class. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.

Make-Ups

Final Exam : there is no make-up for the exam - you must come on April 27th

Exercises : there are no make-ups for the exercises - email them to me when due


* N.B. The start time of 5:00pm indicates the time I will be available on site for office hours, i.e. the time you are welcome but not required to come to talk about course material, homework and other matters about the class during f2f session dates. Instructional time during our f2f sessions begins at 6:00pm, the time you are expected to be in class and ready for the evening's work.