RES500: Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis Credit Hours: 3

Contact Hours: This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing papers, completing projects, and doing research.

Course Description and Outcomes

Course Description: This course explores four major components of research for graduate program: business research and descriptive statistics, fundamentals of accounting analysis, fundamentals of financial analysis, and decision making through statistical and logical methods. The course includes quantitative methods to support research methodologies. The course is not intended to provide an in-depth study of these components but provides basic knowledge to support intensive learning that will occur in the core courses of their programs. Course Overview: This course includes statistical analysis primarily focused on accounting and finance topics. Exploration of logical decision-making through analysis of financial statements, accounting methods and statistical reasoning frames the course. Upon completion of the course students will understand and apply fundamentals of business analytics in constructing evidenced-based analysis, describe and apply basic types of quantitative analysis used in accounting, describe, apply and critique accounting/financial ratios, apply financial analysis techniques to business problems, demonstrate the use of probability and statistics, demonstrate the use of correlation and simple linear models, and explain the relationship among all quantitative fields discussed. Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Apply the fundamentals of business analytics in constructing evidenced-based analysis. 2. Describe and apply basic types of quantitative analysis used in accounting. 3. Describe and apply accounting/financial ratios. 4. Apply financial analysis techniques to business problems. 5. Demonstrate the use of probability and statistics. 6. Demonstrate the use of correlation and simple linear models. 7. Explain the relationship among all quantitative fields discussed.

Participation & Attendance SAMPLE

Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor. Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as possible. Course Materials

Textbook Information is located in the CSU-Global Booklist on the Student Portal. Course Schedule

Due Dates The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.

• Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.

• Opening Exercises: Take the opening exercise before reading each week’s content to see which areas you will need to focus on. You may take these exercises as many times as you need. The opening exercises will not affect your final grade.

• Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until they achieve the scores they desire.

• Critical Thinking: Assignments are due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT. • Live Classroom: Although participation is not required, Live Classroom sessions are held during Week 2

and Weeks 5 or 6. There are two total sessions.

Week # Required Readings Assignments

1 • Chapter 1 in Financial Accounting • Discussion (25 points)

• Critical Thinking (75 points) • Portfolio Project Milestone

Discussion (0 points)

2 • Chapters 4 & 15 in Financial Accounting • Discussion (25 points) • Critical Thinking (75 points)

3 • Chapter 24 in Financial Accounting • Discussion (25 points) • Critical Thinking (75 points)

4

• Chapters 1, 2, & 3 in Online Statistics • Discussion (25 points) • Critical Thinking (75 points) • Portfolio Project (50 points towards

Portfolio Project total) • Live Classroom (0 points)

SAMPLE

5 • Chapters 5 & 6 in Online Statistics

• Discussion (25 points) • Critical Thinking (75 points)

6 • Chapters 7, 8, & 9 in Online Statistics • Discussion (25 points) • Critical Thinking (75 points)

7

• Chapters 4 & 12 in Online Statistics • Heer, J., Bostock, M., & Ogvietsky, V. (2010). A tour

through the visualization zoo. Communications Of The ACM, 53(6), 59-67. doi:10.1145/1743546.1743567

• Shetgiri, R., Lin, H., Avila, R. M., & Flores, G. (2012). Parental characteristics associated with bullying perpetration in US children aged 10 to 17 years. American Journal Of Public Health, 102(12), 2280-2286. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300725

• Discussion (25 points)

8 • Chapter 16 in Financial Accounting • Situm, M. (2014). Inability of gearing-ratio as predictor

for early warning systems. Business Systems Research, 5(2), 23-45.

• Discussion (25 points) • Portfolio Project (350 points)

Assignment Details

This course includes the following assignments/projects: Module 1

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 1 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Preparing Financial Statements and Cash Calculations; Accessing and Examining Financial Statements Complete Exercises I.1.08 and I.1.10 in the Walther text. Click Chapter 1 problems to find the assignments. Note that there is a naming convention used with each of the assignments in the Walther accounting textbook:

• The first letter refers to the section of problems, either B for Basic of I for Involved • The next number refers to the chapter • The last number refers to the specific problem to use for the assignment.

So for the assignment this week, you are completing the Involved Problems 8 and 10 in Chapter 1.

• For I.1.08, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • For I.1.10, provide the answer as a 1-2 page paper that is formatted per CSU-Global Guide to

Writing and APA Requirements. SAMPLE

Provide the Central Index Key (CIK) number of the company along with the name of the company for clarity. Option #2: Preparing Financial Statements and Cash Calculations; Accessing and Examining Financial Statements Complete Exercises I.1.07 and I.1.9 in Walther. Click Chapter 1 problems to find the assignments. Note that there is a naming convention used with each of the assignments in the Walther accounting textbook:

• The first letter refers to the section of problems, either B for Basic of I for Involved • The next number refers to the chapter • The last number refers to the specific problem to use for the assignment.

So for the assignment this week, you are completing the Involved Problems 8 and 10 in Chapter 1.

• For I.1.07, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • For I.1.9, provide the answer as a 1-2 page paper that is formatted per CSU-Global Guide to

Writing and APA Requirements. Provide the Central Index Key (CIK) number of the company along with the name of the company for clarity. PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the two options for the Portfolio Project description and rubric in the Module 8 folder. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company With the first Portfolio Project option, you will analyze one of three publicly traded companies:

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Select your company and notify your instructor in the Module 1 Portfolio Project Topic Selection Discussion. Once you have done that, start the process of working toward the requirements for the Portfolio Project. Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as income statements and retained earnings. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice With the second Portfolio Project option, you will select your own publicly traded company to analyze. Select your company and notify your instructor in the Module 1 Portfolio Project Topic Selection Discussion. The instructor will formally approve your topic selection in this discussion board. SAMPLE

Once you have done that, start the process of working toward the requirements for the Portfolio Project. Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as income statements and retained earnings. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder.

Module 2

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 2 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Financial Statement Analysis Complete Exercises B.04.09, and I.04.07 in the Walther accounting textbook. Click Chapter 4 problems to find the assignments.

• For B.04.09, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • For I.04.07, provide the answer as a 1-2 page paper that is formatted per CSU-Global Guide to

Writing and APA Requirements.

Provide the Central Index Key (CIK) number of the company along with the name of the company for clarity. Option #2: Financial Statement Analysis Complete Exercises B.15.09 and I.15.03 in the Walther textbook. Click Chapter 15 problems to find the assignments.

• For B.15.09, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • For I.15.03, provide the answer as a 1-2 page paper that is formatted per CSU-Global Guide to

Writing and APA Requirements.

Provide the Central Index Key (CIK) number of the company along with the name of the company for clarity. PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the Portfolio Project Description and Portfolio Project Rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as financial ratios. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your SAMPLE

project. You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. By now you should have selected one of the following three companies for your Portfolio Project:

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Begin to gather information on one of the three companies that you chose for your Portfolio Project. This week, you may want to begin with finding information to address the following:

• Describe the company’s organization. Provide key statistics and graphs regarding employees, customers, trading volume, and share price for at least the last three years. At a minimum, provide measures of central tendency and dispersion.

Review the rubric in the Module 8 folder to confirm you are meeting the assignment requirements. Note that while there are two options for the Portfolio Project, there is only one rubric. Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as financial ratios. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Begin to gather information on your professor approved publicly traded company. This week, you may want to begin with finding information to address the following:

• Describe the company’s organization. Provide key statistics and graphs regarding employees, customers, trading volume, and share price for at least the last three years. At a minimum, provide measures of central tendency and dispersion.

Review the rubric in the Module 8 folder to confirm you are meeting the assignment requirements. Note that while there are two options for the Portfolio Assignment, there is only one rubric.

Module 3

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 3 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Financial Statement Analysis SAMPLE

Complete Exercises B.24.08 and I.24.03 in the Walther textbook. Click Chapter 24 problems to find the assignments.

• For B.24.08, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • Include an explanation of how a lump sum is different from an annuity as part of your answer

(this is not required as a computation, but rather a part of your written answer). • Complete problem I.24.03 in a document, providing the answer in a 1-2 page paper formatted

per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Option #2: Financial Statement Analysis Complete Exercises B.24.07 and I.24.23 in the Walther textbook. Click Chapter 24 problems to find the assignments.

• For B.24.07, use a spreadsheet to provide your answer. • Include an explanation of how a lump sum is different from an annuity as part of your answer

(this is not required as a computation, but rather a part of your written answer). • Complete problem I.24.23 in a document, providing the answer in a 1-2 page paper formatted

per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the Portfolio Project Description and Portfolio Project Rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as compounded interest. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Begin working on your specific company that you selected.

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Continue gathering information on the company you chose for your Portfolio Project. This week, you may want to begin with finding information to address the following:

• What was your organization's stock price over the last three years? Generate a scatter plot with the vertical axis being the price and the horizontal axis the time. Interpret the scatter plot. Interpret whether the company's stock price foreshadows any problems or shows only positive gains for the company.

• What were some of the organization's key financial ratios for the last three years? Interpret them. At a minimum, you should discuss earnings per share, liquidity ratios, debt ratios, return on assets, and return on equity ratios. Interpret what these financials mean and if they are indicative of any problems that the company may be experiencing.

SAMPLE

In Module 4, you will submit a rough draft of what you have completed up to this point on your Portfolio Project. Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as compounded interest. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Continue gathering information on the company you chose for your Portfolio Project. This week, you may want to begin with finding information to address the following:

• What was your organization's stock price over the last three years? Generate a scatter plot with the vertical axis being the price and the horizontal axis the time. Interpret the scatter plot. Interpret whether the company's stock price foreshadows any problems or shows only positive gains for the company.

• What were some of the organization's key financial ratios for the last three years? Interpret them. At a minimum, you should discuss earnings per share, liquidity ratios, debt ratios, return on assets, and return on equity ratios. Interpret what these financials mean and if they are indicative of any problems that the company may be experiencing.

In Module 4, you will submit a rough draft of what you have completed up to this point on your Portfolio Project.

Module 4

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 4 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Descriptive Statistics Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.

• Lane, Chapter 1, exercises 18 & 19 (ADHD Treatment Study) • Lane, Chapter 2, exercises 13 & 14 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 3, exercises 20 & 23 (Angry Moods Study)

Option #2: Descriptive Statistics SAMPLE

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.

• Lane, Chapter 1, exercises 14 & 15 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 2, exercises 11 & 12 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 3, exercises 1 & 2 (Data set positive skew, data set negative skew)

PORTFOLIO PROJECT MILESTONE (50 points towards Portfolio Project) Review the Portfolio Project Description and Portfolio Project Rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Note that while you will not be graded on this assignment during Module 4; your completion of the assignment will be assessed in the Portfolio Project rubric in Module 8. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as qualitative and quantitative data. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Submit a draft of what you have completed up to this point on your Portfolio Project with an analysis on one of the following companies:

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

You may refer to the Module 8 folder to gain additional information on what might be included in your draft, such as the following:

• Share prices • Employee data • Customer data • Trading volume • Earnings per share • Brief interpretation of data

Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as qualitative and quantitative data. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. SAMPLE

Submit a draft of what you have completed up to this point on your Portfolio Project with an analysis on the company of your choice. You may refer to the Module 8 folder to gain additional information on what might be included in your draft, such as the following:

• Share prices • Employee data • Customer data • Trading volume • Earnings per share • Brief interpretation of data found

Module 5

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 5 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Descriptive Statistics and Probability Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.

• Lane, Chapter 5, exercises 13 & 25 (Coin, Insurance) • Lane, Chapter 6, exercises 29 & 30 (Women, Automobile)

Option #2: Descriptive Statistics and Probability Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.

• Lane, Chapter 5, exercises 14 & 16 (Card Deck, Test Questions) • Lane, Chapter 6, exercises 23 & 26 (Physician Reactions, Test Scores)

PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the Portfolio Project Description and Portfolio Project Rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company SAMPLE

Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as probability. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Continue to collect information on your selected company:

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as probability. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. At this point in the course, you should be gathering information on your selected company. Continue working on your Portfolio Project.

Module 6

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 points) Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Note that while there are two options for the Critical Thinking Assignment, there is only one rubric. Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed through the Module 6 folder. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. Option #1: Estimation and Hypothesis Testing Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.

• Lane, Chapter 7, exercise 25 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 8, exercise 25 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 9, exercise 27 (Angry Moods Study)

Complete parts a - c in the directions above the question. Option #2: Estimation and Hypothesis Testing Complete the following questions in a 1-3 page document formatted CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Be sure to use Version 1 of Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. SAMPLE

• Lane, Chapter 7, exercise 28 (Animal Research) • Lane, Chapter 8, exercise 26 (Angry Moods Study) • Lane, Chapter 9, exercise 28 (Angry Moods Study)

Complete parts a - c in the directions above the question. PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the Portfolio Project Description and Portfolio Project Rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-Selected Publicly Traded Company Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as hypothesis testing. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as hypothesis testing. Reflect on your learning and document how these learning concepts might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder.

Module 7

PORTFOLIO PROJECT REMINDER Review the Portfolio Project description and rubric in the Module 8 folder for details. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-selected Publicly Traded Company Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as linear models. Reflect on your learning and write out your ideas, considering how they might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder. Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Consider the most important learning concepts this week, such as linear models. Reflect on your learning and write out your ideas, considering how they might relate to the company you chose for your project. How do they relate to your previous week’s work? You will need to develop these concepts for your Portfolio Project as described on the Module 8 folder.

Module 8

PORTFOLIO PROJECT MILESTONE (350 points) SAMPLE

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not complete both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission. Review the grading rubric to learn more about how this assignment will be graded. Note that while there are two options for the Portfolio Project, there is only one rubric. Option #1: Evaluate a Pre-selected Publicly Traded Company Your choice of company should have been submitted to your instructor in the Module 1 Portfolio Project Topic Selection discussion. Complete a review of one of the following pre-selected publicly traded companies:

• CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. • Medtronic, Inc. • Level 3 Communications, Inc.

You will write a paper, 8 to 10 pages in length, well-written, and formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Research your selected organization using 5-7 credible sources, at least three of them scholarly. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to search for credible and scholarly sources. You can find historical company financials in the CSU-Global Library using LexisNexis and Datamonitor (via EBSCOhost) as well as at the SEC.GOV website. Conduct an analysis of your selected organization's accounting and financial issues per the following elements:

• Describe the company’s organization. Provide key statistics and graphs regarding employees, customers, trading volume, and share price for at least the last three years. At a minimum, provide measures of central tendency and dispersion.

• What was your organization's stock price over the last three years? Generate a scatter plot with the vertical axis being the price and the horizontal axis the time. Interpret the scatter plot. Interpret whether the company's stock price foreshadows any problems or shows only positive gains for the company.

• What were some of the organization's key financial ratios for the last three years? Interpret them. At a minimum, you should discuss earnings per share, liquidity ratios, debt ratios, return on assets, and return on equity ratios. Interpret what these financials mean and if they are indicative of any problems that the company may be experiencing.

• In your estimation, will this organization be around for a while or is it destined to fail? What quantitative evidence can you show for your choice? At a minimum, you should discuss the elements of accounting, finance, probability, and statistics that indicate whether the organization is either going to last or fail.

Option #2: Evaluate a Publicly Traded Company of Your Choice Your choice of company should have been submitted to your instructor in the Module 1 Portfolio Project Topic Selection discussion. The second Portfolio Project option allows you to select your own publicly traded company. SAMPLE

You will write a paper, 8 to 10 pages in length, well-written, and formatted per CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Research your selected organization using 5-7 credible sources, at least three of them scholarly. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to search for credible and scholarly sources. You can find historical company financials in the CSU-Global Library using LexisNexis and Datamonitor (via EBSCOhost) as well as at the SEC.GOV website. Conduct an analysis of your selected organization's accounting and financial issues per the following elements:

• Describe the company’s organization. Provide key statistics and graphs regarding employees, customers, trading volume, and share price for at least the last three years. At a minimum, provide measures of central tendency and dispersion.

• What was your organization's stock price over the last three years? Generate a scatter plot with the vertical axis being the price and the horizontal axis the time. Interpret the scatter plot. Interpret whether the company's stock price foreshadows any problems or shows only positive gains for the company.

• What were some of the organization's key financial ratios for the last three years? Interpret them. At a minimum, you should discuss earnings per share, liquidity ratios, debt ratios, return on assets, and return on equity ratios. Interpret what these financials mean and if they are indicative of any problems that the company may be experiencing.

• In your estimation, will this organization be around for a while or is it destined to fail? What quantitative evidence can you show for your choice? At a minimum, you should discuss the elements of accounting, finance, probability, and statistics that indicate whether the organization is either going to last or fail.

Course Policies

Course Grading 20% Discussion Participation 45% Critical Thinking Assignments 35% Final Portfolio Paper 0% Live Classroom

Grading Scale and Policies

A 95.0 – 100

A- 90.0 – 94.9

B+ 86.7 – 89.9

B 83.3 – 86.6

B- 80.0 – 83.2

C+ 75.0 – 79.9

C 70.0 – 74.9

D 60.0 – 69.9

F 59.9 or below

SAMPLE

In-Classroom Policies For information on late work and incomplete grade policies, please refer to our In-Classroom Student Policies and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies. Academic Integrity Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment), unauthorized possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSU-Global Library provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet resources. Citing Sources with APA Style All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this document should also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page. Disability Services Statement CSU–Global is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability requesting academic accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Coordinator at 720-279-0650 and/or email ada@CSUGlobal.edu for additional information to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Netiquette Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words? Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom. If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.

SAMPLE