Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
Graduate standing or by permission from the instructor.
Course Materials
Several corporate finance, investment, and valuation textbooks are recommended (but not required):
- Corporate Finance by Smart, Megginson and Gitman
- Corporate Financial Management by Emery, Finnerty and Stowe
- Fundamentals of Corporate Finance by Brealey, Myers and Marcus
- Introduction to Oil Company Financial Analysis by David Johnston and Daniel Johnston (By Pennwell Corporation)
In addition, class notes/PowerPoint slides, lecture recordings and other materials will be posted or supplied to the class through Canvas.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation | Online Discussions and Live Session Participation | 10% |
| Problem Sets | Practice activities to check your knowledge and refine your understanding | 20% |
| Midterm Exam | Three-hour exam | 35% |
| Final Exam | Three-hour exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
The final course grade will be determined based on the following table:
≥90% A
≥80% B
≥70% C
≥60% D
Receiving a grade of “D” or less in this course will stop your progression through the Petroleum Engineering curriculum. You will not be allowed to take advanced PE courses until you satisfy the requirement of passing with at least a “C.” Be aware that this will add a year to your projected graduation date
Course Components
Class Participation
Live Session Attendance
Our class will meet virtually in real time every other week. They will take place from 7-8 pm (Central), so please plan accordingly. The first session will be on Thursday January 26th. During that time, you may be asked to present "Key Take Aways" from the course modules, work in groups on Mini Case Studies or present "Focus Points". If you are unable to attend the session in real time, you can watch the recording (which will be posted in the “Live Session” tab in Canvas), and compose a brief (1 page) summary of our discussion. Your "attendance" will be part of your participation grade.
Discussion boards
There will be several types of discussion boards throughout the course and you are expected to participate actively.
(a) Questions for the Live Session - As you watch the pre-recorded lectures or read the texts, identify a few questions or issues you'd like to discuss further during the Live Session. Questions can be about a specific calculation or a general question. List these on the provided question board in Canvas. I will select a few of the questions from the class to discuss during the Live Session.
(b) Focus Points - You will take turns posting a recent article, video, report, study, etc... related to the topics we are studying. Your peers will respond to the post and you will monitor and facilitate the online discussion. During the next Live Session, you will present a summary of the online discussion and raise any remaining issues or final thoughts.
Problem Sets
You will have a chance to check your knowledge by working through the problem sets provided on Canvas. From these you can get valuable feedback to help you validate or revise your understanding. I may choose one of the problems from the problem set as inspiration for a scenario, problem, case study during the Live Session or as an item on one of the exams. This will give you an opportunity to apply knowledge to a real-world scenario.
Exams
For each exam, students will have a three-day window to take the exam. Each exam will last 3 hours. Once the exam starts, students will need to finish it within 3 hours.
Course Policies
Communication
I prefer that you contact me via my ou.edu email account. I will aim to respond within 24 hours Monday through Friday, although it may take me longer to reply at the weekend.
Late Policy
Students will typically have a week’s time to complete the assignment. All work can be turned in to Canvas. No late assignment will be accepted.
No make-ups for missed exams. Special requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Course Evaluations
The Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering utilizes student ratings as one of the bases for evaluation in the teaching effectiveness of each of its faculty members. The results of these ratings are important data used by the faculty members to improve their own teaching effectiveness, and programs use the data to assess achievement of a set of learning outcomes. The original request for the use of these forms came from students, and it is the students who eventually benefit most from their use. Please take this task seriously, evaluate courses on-line, and respond as honestly and precisely as possible, both to the machine-scored items and to the open-ended questions. We appreciate your feedback.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|