Academic Year/course:
2023/24
417 - Degree in Economics
27407 - Introduction to finance
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
27407 - Introduction to finance
Faculty / School:
109 - Facultad de Economía y Empresa
Degree:
417 - Degree in Economics
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
1
Semester:
Second semester
Subject type:
Basic Education
Module:
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1. General information
The main objective of this subject is that the student learns the tools used for the resolution and study of financial problems and acquires a first vision of the basic concepts of the discipline of Finance.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), in particular, the activities planned in the subject will contribute to the achievement of SDG1 (end poverty) and SDG2 (zero hunger) because students will be taught how to manage their income, SDG4 (quality education) by improving financial literacy, SDG5 (gender equality) by empowering women and increasing their economic independence, and SDG8 (economic growth) by fostering entrepreneurship.
2. Learning results
In order to pass this subject, the students shall demonstrate they has acquired the following results:
1. Is able to understand and deepen the basic concepts of finance.
2. Can pose and solve introductory level financial problems.
3. Is able to solve real practical cases in which issues covered in the topics studied in class are applied or developed.
4. Is able, if a problem requires it, to assimilate the complementary concepts necessary for the practical study of the problem.
3. Syllabus
Unit 1. Introductory concepts on finance. Financial valuation
Unit 2. Financial operations: income
Unit 3. Financial information
Unit 4. Stock market valuation and financial markets
Unit 5. Sources of financial information
Unit 6. Return on an investment
Unit 7. Liquidity of an investment
Unit 8. Risks associated with investment projects
Unit 9. Fundamentals of business valuation
Unit 10. Non-financial information
Unit 11. Bank financing: loans and credits
Unit 12. Other sources of non-bank financing
Unit 13. Social finance: financial economics and sustainable development
4. Academic activities
The learning process is based on the coexistence of theoretical lectures with the active participation of students, the realization in the practical classes of problems, which are taught in the computer classroom and will be solved by the students themselves with the help of the teacher. Theoretical classes will consist of lectures given by the professor, that transmit the contents of the subject in a clear, synthetic and pleasant way. Audiovisual materials are used in the explanation, with the use of Internet resources. The resolution and presentation of problems and case studies are carried out in the computer classroom using spreadsheets and other computer programs. The autonomous work includes activities of study of theoretical and practical contents, resolution of practical activities, individual work , search and analysis of information, among others.
Evaluation activities necessary to assess student performance:
Lectures: 30 hours
Practical classes: 30 hours
Personal Study: 90 hours
Assessment tests. 2h
5. Assessment system
The subject is passed by means of a global test at the end of the term in any of the two calls foreseen in the University regulations. The level of demand of the exam is adjusted to the real capacities of the students, valuing that the student makes use of both the theoretical knowledge developed in the subject and the practical knowledge on financial problem-solving using a spreadsheet to answer the specific questions posed.
The exam is a multiple-choice test and consists of 12 exercises (each valued at 4 points, with each failure subtracting 0.8 points) and 52 true/false questions (each valued at 1 point, with each failure subtracting 1 point). Therefore, the exam is graded out of 100 points. It is carried out in a computer classroom using the Moodle platform. The exam lasts two hours.
In addition, the evaluation of 13 exercises corresponding to the practical classes, delivered through the Digital Teaching Ring (ADD) , will be incorporated, each one valued at 0.7692 points, totalling a maximum of 10 points. In Moodle there is a bank of questions similar to those of the exam, so that each student can self-evaluate before the exam.
In order to pass the subject, the student must obtain a grade equal to or higher than 50 out of 100. This grade will be obtained by adding the grades obtained in the two evaluation tests, choosing the higher score between the following two: a) the grade obtained in the exam, b) the sum of 5/6 for the grade obtained in the exam plus 5/3 for the grade obtained in the 13 exercises.