IBF207 Behavioral Finance
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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International Business and Finance
Course Objectives
This course is designed to provide an overview of an exciting new and fast growing area in finance, which takes as its premise that investment decision-making and investor behavior are not necessarily driven by 'rational' considerations but by aspects of personal and market psychology.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Beyong Greed and Fear (2002) - Hersh Shefrin and Investments by Zvi Bodie, Alex Cane and Alan J. Marcus
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids)
Student presentations
Projects and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Lecture | |
| 2 | Introduction | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Heuristics- Driven Bias: The First Theme | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Frame Dependence : The Second Theme | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Inefficient markets | Chapters 4 |
| 6 | Quiz I & Trying to Predict the Market (Chapter 5) | Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 7 | Midterm Exam | |
| 8 | Get Eventis: Riding Losers Too Long | Chapter 9 |
| 9 | Portofolios, Pyramids, Emotions and Biases | Chapter 10 |
| 10 | Retirement Saving: Myopis and Self Control | Chapters 11 |
| 11 | Rationales Managers and Irrational Investors | Chapter 6 |
| 12 | Quiz II, Optimism in Analysts Earnings (Chapter 18) | Chapter 5, 9, 10, 11, 6 |
| 13 | Corporate Takeovers and the Winner's Curse | Chapter 16 |
| 14 | Options | Chapter 19 |
| 15 | Excessive Speculation in Foreign Exchange Markets | Chapter 20 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
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)
Home Study
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Quiz Study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Midterm Exam Study
25 hours ⏳ (1 week × 25 h)
Final Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (1 week × 30 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 [IBF207] 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 | |||||||||
| IBF207 | Behavioral Finance | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tue 15.00-15.50 / Th 12.00-13.50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Currently not available |
||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is designed to provide an overview of an exciting new and fast growing area in finance, which takes as its premise that investment decision-making and investor behavior are not necessarily driven by 'rational' considerations but by aspects of personal and market psychology. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Beyong Greed and Fear (2002) - Hersh Shefrin and Investments by Zvi Bodie, Alex Cane and Alan J. Marcus | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids), student presentations, projects and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | |||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introductory Lecture | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Heuristics- Driven Bias: The First Theme | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Frame Dependence : The Second Theme | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Inefficient markets | Chapters 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Quiz I & Trying to Predict the Market (Chapter 5) | Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Get Eventis: Riding Losers Too Long | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Portofolios, Pyramids, Emotions and Biases | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Retirement Saving: Myopis and Self Control | Chapters 11 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Rationales Managers and Irrational Investors | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Quiz II, Optimism in Analysts Earnings (Chapter 18) | Chapter 5, 9, 10, 11, 6 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Corporate Takeovers and the Winner's Curse | Chapter 16 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Options | Chapter 19 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Excessive Speculation in Foreign Exchange Markets | Chapter 20 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 15 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Project | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home Study | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Quiz Study | 10 | 2 | 20 | Midterm Exam Study | 25 | 1 | 25 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||