Principles of Finance 1 provides a broad understanding of basic principles in the area of finance. The course introduces techniques for effective financial decision-making and helping managers to maximize shareholders’ wealth. The course covers topics related to the operation of financial markets and banking systems and the problems of financing and investment decisions and provides a theoretical background for critical and productive thinking.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Understand the general framework of financial concepts
2. Examine how decision-making increases firm value
3. Valuate an investment
4. Explain the Risk-Return tradeoff
5. Analyze how financial decisions affect the bottom line

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).
Unit 1 Week 1- Financial World and Money
Unit 2 Week 2- Interest Rates
Unit 3 Week 3- Financial Structure
Unit 4 Week 4- Banking
Unit 5 Week 5- Financial Crisis and Regulation
Unit 6 Week 6- Monetary Policy Tools
Unit 7 Week 7- IS-LM Model
Unit 8 Week 8- Advanced Financial Topics
Unit 9 Week 9- Final Examination

Learning Guide

Unit 1: Financial World and Money

● Read Chapters 1, 2, 3 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 1 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Interest Rates

● Peer-Assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 4, 5, 6 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 2 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: Financial Structure

● Peer-Assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 7, 8 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 3 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz
● Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: Banking

● Peer-Assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
● Read Chapter 9,10 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 4 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: Financial Crisis and Regulation

● Peer-Assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 11,12,13 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 5 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Monetary Policy Tools

● Peer-Assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 14,15,16,17,18 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 6 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz
● Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 7: IS-LM Model

● Peer-Assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 19, 20, 21, 22 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Complete and submit Unit 7 Written Assignment
● Make entries to the Learning Journal
● Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Advanced Financial Topics

● Peer-Assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
● Read Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26 from the Textbook
● Participate in the Discussion Forum (post, comment and rate)
● Take the Self-Quiz
● Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
● Take the Review Quiz

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

● Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
● Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
● The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor