MBA 703: Financial Markets Master Syllabus
Course Instructor:
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Course Website: Canvas
Course Description
Explores relationships among financial markets including global equity markets, U.S. Treasury securities, Central Banks and exchange-traded and over-the-counter financial derivative instruments such as futures, options, swaps, and asset-backed securities.
Course Objectives
After completing the course, learners will be able to:
- Identify and analyze the forces that lead to a stable monetary and financial system.
Examine types of monetary policies and discuss the mechanisms that compel actions by consumers, companies, or government institutions. - Evaluate market conditions as they relate to interest rates, regulations, and investments.
- Apply proven tools and strategies of investment management to be able to provide professional recommendations.
- Develop your investment approach using best practices of investment principles and research for a variety of audiences.
MBA Program Learning Goals
The learning goals referenced in this course as they relate to the MBA Program Goals are the following:
- Analytical Decision Making - Demonstrate the ability to analyze uncertain complex management situations using appropriate tools, techniques, and information systems for decision-making.
- Global Understanding - Demonstrate a perspective on how businesses operate in the global environment.
- Communication Skills - Demonstrate written, oral and presentations skills necessary to explain problems and solutions effectively and persuasively.
Course Methodology
The class format will combine readings, videos, discussions, assignments, financial games for practice, and exams, group presentations, and other learning tools. The class will be interactive and require every student to be engaged in the classroom discussions and assignments. In addition to the videos, audio clips, discussions, and timely completion of assignments, every student will be expected to be an avid consumer of Financial Markets trends, an active participant and a dedicated individual applying what you learn to every element of the course work.
Flexible Syllabus
Changes to the syllabus may be made to reflect the needs of the class. Any changes will be announced via Canvas. It is the students’ responsibility to stay aware of any changes made.
Required Textbook(s) and/or Materials
Please check Canvas for any additional online materials.
- Saunders and Cornett, Financial Markets and Institutions, 7th edition. 2018
- ISBN-13: 978-1259919718
Course Grading
| Percentage of Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 93-100 | A |
| 90-92.99 | A- |
| 87-89.99 | B+ |
| 83-86.99 | B |
| 80-82.99 | B- |
| 70-79.99 | C |
| 69.99 to below | F |
Course Evaluation
| Grading Components | Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|
| Discussions | 10% |
| Assignments | 40% |
| Exams | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Notes about Grading
- All grades are final within two weeks of being posted.
- Grades will be accessible by Blackboard only.
- For your security, grades will not be provided by phone or email.
- Grades are not negotiable. Students with extenuating circumstances which require them to receive a certain grade or maintain a particular GPA (e.g., graduation, loss of a scholarship, University probation or suspension, loss of a job offer, revocation of student Visa, etc.) need to realize that they are responsible for working hard to achieve the needed class grade. Exceptions will not be made for individual students.
- Grades can be changed only if the instructor has made an input or calculation error. It is important that you check your class grades and immediately notify your instructor of any discrepancies.
George Mason Honor Code
George Mason is an Honor Code university; please see the University Catalog for a full description of the code and the honor committee process. The principle of academic integrity is taken very seriously and violations are treated gravely.
- The honor code applies to all work required for this class. You are free to confer with other people when working on your assignments (except for the final exam), but the final decisions about the papers and the writing should be your own. Furthermore, because I may re-use some questions, you may not share or discuss the exam with anyone. More information about the George Mason honor code can be found here. The School of Business has established standard penalties for honor code violations. Any egregious violation (e.g., stealing an exam; passing on confidential course material; cheating on an exam, project, or otherwise violating specified rules for an exam or project) will result in an F in the class and dismissal from the program. A less extreme violation will result in an F in the class, with a second violation resulting in dismissal from the program. I assume you are all honorable individuals and this will not be an issue, but if I’m wrong you now know the rules. If you have a question regarding the honor code that remains unresolved after you have read the above, please talk to me about it.
Standards of Behavior:
- The mission of the School of Business at George Mason University is to create and deliver high quality educational programs and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni who participate in these educational programs contribute to the well-being of society. High quality educational programs require an environment of trust and mutual respect, free expression and inquiry, and a commitment to truth, excellence, and lifelong learning. Students, program participants, faculty, staff, and alumni accept these principles when they join the community. In doing so, they agree to abide by the following standards of behavior:
- Respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others
- Honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community
- Accountability for personal behavior
- Integrity is an essential ingredient of a successful learning community. Ethical standards of behavior help promote a safe and productive community environment, and ensure every member the opportunity to pursue excellence. The Mason School of Business can and should be a living model of these behavioral standards. To this end, community members have a personal responsibility to integrate these standards into every aspect of their experience at the School of Business. Through our personal commitment to these Community Standards of Behavior, we can create an environment in which all can achieve their full potential.
Information Regarding Use of Email
George Mason uses electronic mail to provide official information to students. Examples include notices from the library, notices about academic standing, financial aid information, class materials, assignments, questions, and instructor feedback. Students are responsible for the content of university communication sent to their Mason e-mail account and are required to activate that account and check it regularly. Students are also expected to maintain an active and accurate mailing address in order to receive communications sent through the United States Postal Service. If we (faculty) receive an email from a non-George Mason email address, we are not supposed to respond other than to tell the student to resend the message from a George Mason email address. Thus, be sure you set up your George Mason e-mail account and either use it or arrange for mail sent to that account to be forwarded to whatever e-mail account you normally use.
You are fully responsible for taking these steps, for checking your e-mail regularly, and for any information communicated to the class via e-mail. You should always feel free to communicate with me via e-mail. I recommend that you keep all my e-mail messages to you and all your messages to me just in case you want to check on something I said or prove that you sent me a message or attachment. However. All course work should be submitted through the appropriate link in Canvas and not through e-mail.
University Catalog and Academic Policies
Information about Mason’s academic and non-academic policies in general can be accessed as follows:
Information for individuals with disabilities. Mason recognizes that individuals with disabilities may need reasonable accommodations to have equally effective opportunities to participate in or benefit from the university educational programs, services, and activities, and have equal employment opportunities. The university will adhere to all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as necessary to afford equal employment opportunity and equal access to programs for qualified people with disabilities.
Office of Disability Services
Applicants for admission and students requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability should call the Office of Disability Services at (703) 993-2474. Employees and applicants for employment should call the Office of Equity and Diversity Services at (703) 993-8730. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations and discrimination on the basis of disability should be directed to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator in the Office of Equity and Diversity Services. More information about ODS is available here.
Counseling Center
Information on the Counseling Center. George Mason University has a counseling and psychological services center that can provide assistance if you find yourself overwhelmed by life, want training in academic or life skills, or the like. More information is available here.
Business Library Liaison
Jo Ann J. Henson, MLIS is the Business and Economics Liaison Librarian, Fenwick Library Fairfax Campus. She has organized and created a variety of tutorials and access to relevant databases, which you can find here.
Writing Center
George Mason University has a writing center that can help you improve your English writing skills. More information is available at (703) 993-1200 and can be accessed here.
Class Participation
This course is primarily based on discussions, assignments, and exams. Your participation in all aspects of the course is critical to the learning experience. Much of the learning that will take place in this class comes from the chance to express your ideas and support them with research/facts, explore financial principles and theories, build your skills via the assignments, and test your knowledge on the exams. You are expected to review all of the learning materials, prepare for all of the assigned activities, and study for your exams.
Discussions
The discussion forums in your class will require you to participate in conversations with your classmates. You will explore issues related to financial markets and encouraged to provide your perspective on various topics. Be sure to follow the discussion board directions carefully and make your posts substantive and on-time (or early) as it will impact your grade. Any citations should be made in APA format. Be sure to check the Discussions Rubric for specifics on grading criteria.
Assignments
The assignments required in this course are based on principles of financial markets and techniques described in the learning materials. Note that most of the assignments require a low word count. This is done on purpose to encourage you to be concise in your answers and stick to the technical and conceptual ideas being explored through that particular assignment. Be sure to check the Assignments Rubric for specifics on grading criteria.
Exams
There will be a midterm and final exam. These exams will be a combined 50% of your grade. You are expected to follow the format specified in the course content. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before starting your exam. Each exam will have a “key” which is a list of possible answers for the exam. Once you open and begin an exam, you will have 60 minutes to complete all your answers and the timer cannot be stopped. Late submissions will drop a letter grade (10%) for every day they are late. Exams are individual assessments, do not consult with others while taking the exams.
Rubrics
You will complete a variety of coursework in this class. Your Discussion posts and Assignment submissions are detailed in this syllabus and within your online course. The instructor of your course will grade your coursework using a structured grading rubric. To view any of the rubrics used in this course, navigate to the left-hand menu of the online course, click on “My Grades” and then click on the “View Rubric” button near a particular piece of coursework. This will give you full transparency into how your instructor will assess the quality of your work.
Late Assignments
Late assignment submissions are not accepted.
Make-up Exam
Make-up examinations will not be given unless a student has a university-validated excuse and the instructor is notified in advance of the examination. Without exception, students who request a make-up exam will be asked to provide appropriate documentation before a make-up exam is scheduled. Make-up exams must be completed within three weekdays of the original exam date. Approval of absence from the final exam must be obtained from the Assistant Dean of Academic and Career Services before a make-up exam will be arranged.
Technical Help
For technical issues with your online course, call 24/7: 1 (844) 306-1785 or send an email to Mason@support.edu.help.
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