BUS616 Seminar in Special Topics in Finance
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Department of Economics and Management
Šejma Aydin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course examines corporate finance decision-making with emphasis on value creation, investment and financing choices, risk, valuation, and governance. It develops the ability to critically evaluate financial decisions and apply financial logic in research, policy, and academic contexts.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Berk, J., & DeMarzo, P. (2020). Corporate Finance (5th Global Edition).
Additional Literature
HandoutsTeaching Methods
The methods include lectures
Student presentations
Simulation
Projects
And class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| 2 | Non-working day | |
| 3 | The Corporation and Financial Markets | Chapter 1 |
| 4 | Interpreting Financial Performance | Chapter 2 |
| 5 | Financial Decision Logic and Market Pricing | Chapter 3-4 |
| 6 | Time Value of Money and Interest Rates | Chapter 5-6 |
| 7 | Investment Decision Criteria & Capital Budgeting in Practice | Chapter 7-8 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Valuing Firms and Equity | Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Risk, Return, and Capital Markets | Chapter 10 |
| 11 | Cost of Capital and Portfolio Logic | Chapter 11-12 |
| 12 | Market Efficiency and Behavioral Finance | Chapter 13 |
| 13 | Capital Structure and Financing Choices | Chapter 14-15 |
| 14 | Financial Distress, Incentives, and Information | Chapter 16 |
| 15 | Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Financial Systems in Transition | Chapter 29-30 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUS616.1 | Course | Monday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.2 - Class/ECON Lab | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 17:00 | B F1.30 | |
| Wednesday | 15:00 - 17:00 | B F1.30 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 4
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Research Integration Presentation
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Applied Finance Activities
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Applied activities
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Presentations
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Project
15 hours ⏳ (3 week × 5 h)
Midterm exam study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final exam study
25 hours ⏳ (1 week × 25 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BUS616] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BUS616 | Seminar in Special Topics in Finance | 3 | 0 | 6 | Monday 17:00 - 19:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Šejma Aydin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-17:00 Wednesday: 15:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| saydin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course examines corporate finance decision-making with emphasis on value creation, investment and financing choices, risk, valuation, and governance. It develops the ability to critically evaluate financial decisions and apply financial logic in research, policy, and academic contexts. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Berk, J., & DeMarzo, P. (2020). Corporate Finance (5th Global Edition). | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures, student presentations, simulation, projects, and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Non-working day | |||||||||
| Week 3 | The Corporation and Financial Markets | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Interpreting Financial Performance | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Financial Decision Logic and Market Pricing | Chapter 3-4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Time Value of Money and Interest Rates | Chapter 5-6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Investment Decision Criteria & Capital Budgeting in Practice | Chapter 7-8 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Valuing Firms and Equity | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Risk, Return, and Capital Markets | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Cost of Capital and Portfolio Logic | Chapter 11-12 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Market Efficiency and Behavioral Finance | Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Capital Structure and Financing Choices | Chapter 14-15 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Financial Distress, Incentives, and Information | Chapter 16 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Financial Systems in Transition | Chapter 29-30 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Research Integration Presentation | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3 | Consult Instructor | |
| Applied Finance Activities | 5 | 20 | 2,3,4 | Consult Instructor | |
| Participation | 15 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Applied activities | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Presentations | 15 | 1 | 15 | Project | 5 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Midterm exam study | 20 | 1 | 20 | Final exam study | 25 | 1 | 25 | |||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 09/03/2026 | |||||||||