Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Format
- Synchronous Online: Learning occurs online and in real time, using technology such as web-conferencing software for synchronous interaction. 2-hour Live Sessions will occur weekly via Zoom.
Course Materials
The following texts are to be purchased prior to the start of the term:
- de Swaan, J. C. (2020). Seeking virtue in finance: Contributing to society in a conflicted industry. Cambridge University Press.
- Sandel, M. (2013). What money can’t buy. Penguin Books.
- Shiller, R. (2012). Finance and the good society. Princeton University Press.
Additional required materials, such as CFA resources, case studies, or podcasts will be detailed on the Resources: Course Materials page and made available within weekly modules.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Alignment
| CLO | Description |
|---|---|
| A |
Establish the main strengths and weaknesses in the three major ethical theories in philosophy |
| B |
Contrast the CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct to the three major ethical theories in philosophy |
| C |
Distinguish between the ethics of a practice or behavior and its legality |
| D |
Analyze the role of a set of cognitive psychological factors in an individual’s ability to adhere to professional ethical standards |
| E |
Evaluate ethical issues in the financial industry to establish a personalized framework for examining current and future issues they may face |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Active participation in weekly Live Sessions and periodic discussion boards. | 15% |
| Quizzes | Weekly quizzes assessing comprehension of the module's materials. | 25% |
| Assignments | Weekly assignments assessing application of the module's materials. | 20% |
| Final Paper | Summative assessment connecting course material to a real-world case study, submitted as a draft in Week 6 and final draft in Week 8. | 25% |
| Final Presentation | Final presentations involving both a pre-recorded presentation submitted to a small-group in Week 7, followed by a small-group discussion and whole-group debrief in Week 8. | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Participation
Participation, including engagement in weekly Live Sessions and discussion boards, contributes to your course grade.
Live Sessions
Weekly online meetings involve lecture, group discussions, and synthesis of assigned materials. Full attendance credit requires active presence with camera on. Absences can be compensated with make-up assignments, but even one missed Live Session may grievously impact your ability to synthesize material and regular attendance is expected due to its extreme importance.
Discussion Boards
Some weekly assignments take the form of discussion boards, aiming to deepen understanding and encourage perspective-taking. Participation is evaluated based on quality, timeliness of postings, and responses.
Quizzes
Each module includes a quiz, which consists of some combination of true or false (T/F), multiple choice, and short response questions. The T/F and multiple choice questions are designed to test your mastery of the module material, while the short response questions are designed for you to synthesize material, make comparative analysis, and reflect on your own views. Each module's quiz will test one CLO component- A, B, C, D, or E, in accordance with that module's content. The T/F and multiple choice questions are graded automatically, and answers are released once all students have completed the quiz. Short answer questions are graded by hand, and unless full credit is given will receive instructor feedback. 45 minutes will be allowed for each quiz, except in cases where students have accommodations which include extra time.
Assignments
Assignments are designed to be longer-form 'labs' that allow you to explore your own thinking, and test your ability to apply each module's knowledge to a case study or scenario. Each module's quiz will test one CLO component- A, B, C, D, or E, in accordance with that module's content. Assignments will receive instructor feedback when a student demonstrates a misunderstanding of content or where assignments are incomplete.
Final Paper
This is the summative assessment of our course. The final paper assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to deploy course material to a real-world case study and establish your written communication skills to articulate a complex situation and associated argument. The rubric for this assignment can be found on the Final Paper assignment page, and asks you to use a topic of your choosing to address two opposing arguments and your own view, using material from the course to make your analysis.
Final Presentation
For discussion in our last Live Session, you will record a presentation about your final paper. This presentation is designed to give you an opportunity to develop your verbal communication skills, both in the generation of your own presentation and through the discussion of other students’ recorded presentations. Based on the theme or topic of your final paper, you will be assigned small groups. You will be asked to watch your group mates' presentations and provide a peer review to one group member prior to discussion together during our last Live Session.
Course Policies
Communication
You can reach me via email and can expect a response within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours over the weekend. When reaching out, please list FIN5472 in the subject line with a clear and concise message outlining your question or concern. When reaching out to schedule office hours, I ask that your requested meeting time be 24 hours or more from the time at which you make your request.
You may address me as Professor Victoria, and I encourage all persons with all sorts of views to speak up and engage in our Live Sessions. Discussion is necessary for us to have meaningful conversations that deepen our understanding of the subject matter.
Feedback
Students can expect feedback and grades within one week from the date at which the last student submitted their assignment.
Late Policy
I understand that you all live lives outside of this course, and sometimes things happen! Due to the accelerated nature of this course, it is difficult to catch up if you miss several assessments in a row. I strongly suggest that you reach out as soon as you anticipate that you are unable to complete course material by a given deadline so we can work together for a solution. Quizzes may not be taken after answers have been released to the class. Mathematically, a failing grade on an assignment is worth more than a zero (and will get you some feedback on things you've gotten wrong), so I encourage students to complete assignments even if they don't feel optimally prepared.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is 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.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|