COURSE SYLLABUS
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

Department of Economics and Finance                                   Course No.  FI368
Title of Course:  Investments                                                  Revision:  Spring 2001

  I.    Catalog Description and Credit Hours of Course:

First course in investments.  Provides information on planning an investment program, selection of securities, growth stocks and related topics.  (3 hours)

 II.    Prerequisites:  FI361 financial Management with a minimum grade of
        "C".

III.    Purposes or Objectives of Course:

A.    To study the objectives and techniques of investment and to stimulate the reasoning poser of students as prospective investors.  (Demonstrate capabilities for critical thinking, reasoning, and analyzing.)

B.    To gain an understanding of market process and their behavior and to study the techniques of securities analysis and selection.  (Demonstrate the ability to locate and gather information.  Demonstrate the ability to make informed, sensitive aesthetic responses.)

C.    To study how to apply the techniques of finance, statistics and other skills in investments analysis and decisions.  (Demonstrate the ability to integrate the breadth and diversity of knowledge and experience.)

D.    To give the student a broad perspective which is more valuable to a beginner in investments than thorough coverage of a few subjects.  (Demonstrate the ability to make informed, intelligent value decisions.)

IV.    Expectations of Students:

A.    General:  Each student is expected to perform professionally with reference to attendance, participation, compliance with assignments, etc.  This is a professional course and requires a professional attitude on the part of the student.  This means that the assigned material should be read with discrimination, intellectual curiosity, reflective thinking and critical analysis.  Periodic access to the microcomputer will occur.

B.    Readings:  Each student will be expected to read the current issues of the Wall Street Journal and become familiar with other financial publications.

C.    Class Projects:  Each student will complete at least one class project.  The project will be designed to give the students the opportunity to apply the classroom discussions to the current investment environment.

  V.    Course Content or Outline:                                Suggested Time In
                                                                                    50 Minute Periods

A.    The Investment environment                                        9
        1.    Introduction to investment management
        2.    Financial markets and sources of information
        3.   Ethical standards.  CFA guidelines
B.    Risk, Return, and Valuation                                          9
        1.    Time value of money and risk management
        2.    Valuation concepts and techniques
C.    Equity Valuation                                                            9
        1.    Analysis of growth
        2.    Company analysis
D.    Fixed Income Investing                                                  8
        1.    Fixed income concepts and strategies
        2.    Fixed income securities analysis and selection
E.    Introduction to Portfolio Management                            7
        1.    Portfolio construction
        2.    Capital asset pricing
        3.    Technical analysis
F.    Specialized Investments                                                   3
        1.    Futures
        2.    Options
                                                                    TOTAL                45

 VI.    Text (s) or Other Required Materials or Equipment:

Jones, Charles P., Investments:  Analysis and Management, 5th Edition New York:  John Wiley, 1996.

VII.    Basis for Student Evaluation:

Level of performance on examinations, computer assignments and other assigned activities.