This is a graduate course, and I hope that this course will not only be a learning experience for you, but will be an interesting class and fun in the process. If you need to talk to me, you will find me at my desk during the day (Eastern-Time).

I plan to be an active participant in class discussion. My responsibility as the professor is to facilitate discussion, I will act as mentor/coach. If you have any question or concerns, feel free to post the question to the appropriate discussion board or e-mail me.

This graduate course explores the issues of defining the environment in which the international financial manager operates. The course emphasizes on the risks of doing business overseas and the tools available to minimize those risks. Foreign exchange risk, political risk, international financing, foreign investment, working capital management, accounting, and control are examined within this context.

1. The student will learn the foundations of International Trade and Finance, globalization, IMS, and foreign exchange rates.
2. The student will learn various techniques to identify international banking and money market, bond and equity markets, interest rate swaps and investment.
3. The student will learn about foreign exchange exposure and management.
4. The student will learn about tactical FDI, and acquisitions, capital structure and budgeting.
5. Finally, the student will learn about exports / imports, international tax environment, and corporate governance around the world.

BU - 540 will involve various components such as: reading assignments, lectures, discussion questions; cases; participation; and, of course, the term paper (Project).

Weekly reading assignments require students to read the assigned chapters. I do not expect students to read each chapter word for word. I do expect, however, that students have a general understanding of the concepts covered throughout the various chapters. Reading Assignments will be listed under assignments.

The student is required to respond to topic-related discussion questions. These questions will be provided weekly. Grading of responses will be based on content, grammar, and punctuation. Although a specific length is not mandated, responses should be well thought out and add value to the class discussion. (Due Day 3...Wednesday)

The application component of BU - 540 involves, analyzing and writing a case study. Again, a specific length is not mandated; but, responses should be well thought out and add value. (Due Day 6...Saturday)

It is extremely important to generate ideas and participate in class discussion. Students are required to participate in at least three out of every seven days. participation includes adding new thoughts as well as commenting on fellow student responses to issues related to International Trade and Finance. The understanding and application of concepts is best reinforced by communicating with others. I will be the observer/facilitator of this process and will be assessing your contributions to the topic-related discussions. From time to time, I will interject comments; but, for the most part, the discussions will be left to the class.

The project is a critical component of BU - 540. It is a significant portion of your final grade. The Term Paper (Project) will conduct a risk analysis of a country of your choice. The student will examine the exchange rate risk, economic and political risk, as well as FDI, and Import / export, all of which be covered in class and will write a research report For investment decisions.

The paper should be a minimum of 10-12 pages in length, excluding the cover sheet and table of context. The paper should include abstract, introduction, data to support the findings, headings and sub-headings and references. A minimum of six references are required, four of them must be from research journals. It should also be typed according to APA guidelines. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). The project will be graded based on content, identify specific country using data to support the findings, current references (2000-2003), grammar, and punctuation.....as well as APA format.

Topics for the (Project) should be submitted for approval no later than day 7 (SUNDAY) of week one; the actual paper is due day 1 (MONDAY) of week eight. It should be submitted as a word file to me, I will grade the document, and return (via e-mail) with specific comments. If completed, the paper may be submitted early.

Reading Assignments:
Chapter 1 "Globalization & Multinational Firm"
Chapter 2 "International Monetary System"

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 1: Answer the D.Q. on page 22 (No. 1, 3, and 9)M
Chapter 2: Answer the D.Q. on page 56 (No. 2, 8, and 13)

Case Assignment: (Due day 6 Saturday)
Do case on page 57

Reading Assignments:
Chapter 3 "Balance of Payment"
Chapter 4 "The Market for Foreign Exchange"
Chapter 5 “ International Parity Relationship”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 3: Answer the D.Q. on page 71 (No. 2, 6, and 12)
Chapter 4: Answer the D.Q. on page 95 (No. 4, 6, and 8)
Chapter 5: Answer the D.Q. on page 122 (No. 4, 7, and 10)

Reading Assignments:
Chapter 6 "International Banking and Money Market"
Chapter 7 "International Bond Market"
Chapter 8“International Equity Markets”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 6: Answer the D.Q. on page 151 (No. 2, 4, and 5)
Chapter 7: Answer the D.Q. on page 174 (No. 1, 6, and 7)
Chapter 8: Answer the D.Q. on page 197 (No. 1, 5, and 6)

Case Assignment: (Due day 6 Saturday)
Do case on page 198

Reading Assignments:
Chapter 9 "Future and Options on foreign Exchange"
Chapter 10 "Currency an Interest Rate Swaps">
Chapter 11 “International Portfolio Investment”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)

Chapter 9: Answer the D.Q. on page 222 (No. 1, 3 and 7)
Chapter 10: Answer the D.Q. on page 242 (No. 2, 5, and 10)
Chapter 11: Answer the D.Q. on page 271 (No. 2, 6, and 7)

Reading Assignments: Chapter 12"Management of Economic Exposure"
Chapter 13"Management of Transaction Exposure"
Chapter 14“Management of Translation Exposure”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 12: Answer the D.Q. on page 299 (No. 3, 7, and 10)
Chapter 13: Answer the D.Q. on page 320 (No. 1, 5, and 7)
Chapter 14: Answer the D.Q. on page 345 (No. 2, 4, and 5)

Case Assignment: (Due day 6 Saturday)
Do case on page 322

Reading Assignments:

Chapter 15 "Foreign Direct Investment"
Chapter 16 "International Capital Structure"
Chapter 17 “International Capital Budgeting”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 15: Answer the D.Q. on page 376 (No. 3, 5, and 16)
Chapter 16: Answer the D.Q. on page 402 (No. 2, 7 and 13)
Chapter 17: Answer the D.Q. on page 420 (No. 5, 10, and 12)

Reading Assignments:

Chapter 18 "Multinational Cash Management"
Chapter 19 “Exports and Imports”
Chapter 20 “International Tax Environment”

Discussion Questions: (Due day 3 Wednesday)
Chapter 18: Answer the D.Q. on page 443 (No. 1, 3 and 5)
Chapter 19: Answer the D.Q. on page 454
Chapter 20: Answer the D.Q. on page

Case Assignment: (Due day 6 Saturday)
Do case No. 3 on page 444

Term paper (Project) due, and must be sent to the professor.
Each student will discuss (summarize) his/her project during the week. Feed back and class discussion from students is mandatory. Good Luck !
Are you having fun yet?!!!