DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, INSURANCE, & LAW

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Spring 2008

College of Business Mission

To be a highly respected college of business that develops professionals with the personal dedication, ethics and lifelong
learning capabilities needed to succeed professionally and to serve society. We work as a diverse community promoting
excellence in learning, teaching, scholarship, and service.

Academic Integrity
Students enrolled in College of Businessclasses are expected to maintain high standards of ethical conduct within the
classroom and when completing assignments, projects, and/or exams. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty
such as cheating will not be tolerated. Students are expected to provide appropriate citations for non-original writing even if
the original work is paraphrased. Penalties for plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty may be severe.

Professional Standards
All students in this course are expected to be familiar with the "College of Business Standards of Professional Behavior and
Ethical Conduct." (refer to http://www.cob.ilstu.edu/professionalstandards) Please note that only bottled water may be
consumed in the classroom wing of the College of Business Building and that all cell phones and other electronic devices
should be turned off and stored away during classes.

NOTE: This syllabus is subject to change and will be updated on the course web site.

COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Ahlgrim
Course Number & Title: FIL 440 – Financial Management
Prerequisites: MQM 406 (stat), FIL 404 or equivalents
Class Time and Location: W 6-8:50, COB 131

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Office Phone: 438-2727
Cell Phone: 830-4304 - WARNING: I make absolutely no promises whatsoever related to my
availability by cell phone. It is always better to try me at the office first,
especially during business hours.
E-mail: kahlgrim@ilstu.edu
Office Location: COB 340
Office Hours: MW 12:45-1:45, W 5-6pm, or by appointment. See website for changes to office
hours.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS
Course web site: http://www2.cob.ilstu.edu/kahlgri/FIL440Spring2008/
On the course web site, I will post lecture notes (in Acrobat .pdf format). Please download the
notes, print them out, and bring them to class with you. I will also post an updated schedule and
cumulative performance standards (review sheets) that you can use as a benchmark for self-
assessment.

Required Materials: Brigham and Ehrhardt, Financial Management: Theory and Practice, 12th edition
Download of cases (posted on web site)
A financial calculator – preferably the TI BAII-Plus (that’s what I’ll use)
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students completing FIL 440 should (at a minimum) be able to:
• Use time value of money concepts to value stocks and bonds
• Analyze the financial condition of companies using financial statements
• Estimate the cost of investor supplied funds
• Analyze capital investment projects
• Use derivatives to manage financial risk exposure including foreign exchange risks

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Exams
A midterm and a final exam. Check the course web site for specific dates. Exams are not specifically
cumulative, but some later topics require an understanding of earlier subjects. The exams may consist of
a mix of true/false, multiple choice, but mostly short answer questions/problems.

Group Cases
Depending on timing, there will be four to six discussion cases that you will prepare awritten analysis of
the issues and action plans. The first case we will go through as “practice”, to give a sense for the level
of analysis. Information about getting the cases will be presented in class.

Class Contribution
You are expected to participate in class, mentally and physically, especially during case discussions.
Express your views and allow others the same opportunity (don’t dominate the discussion!). Especially
with cases, I may “cold call” on class members to give short presentations of their group’s solution of
the case.

GRADING POLICIES
Course Requirement Weighting:
Exams (100 points each), Group Case Analysis (50 points each)
Total 400-500 points (depending on how many cases we get to)

Calculation of Final Course Grade:

A 90%
B 80%
C 70%
D 60%
F Below 60%
Plus class participation which may help your grade if you are between grades. Class
participation can only help your grade, not hurt it.

ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Any student in need of a special accommodation should contact the staff in the Office of Disability
Concerns at 438-5853 (voice) or 438-8620 (TDD) by the end of the first week of class.