IBF407 Special Topics in Finance
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Jan 01, 2026
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International Business and Finance
Šejma Aydin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course examines the financial impact of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, exploring their role in investment, trading, digital payments, and decentralized finance (DeFi), while also analyzing their influence on monetary policy, financial markets, global trade, and the future of digital economies.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Handouts regularly shared with students.
Additional Literature
/Teaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids)
Student presentations
Assigments and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to cryptocurrencies | |
| 2 | Cryptocurrency ecosystem and types | |
| 3 | Cryptocurrencies as investment tools | |
| 4 | Introduction to blockchain technology | |
| 5 | Smart contracts and Ethereum | |
| 6 | Decentralized Finance (DeFi) | |
| 7 | Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) | |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | NFTs,DAOs and ICO | |
| 10 | Non-working day | |
| 11 | Security, privacy in blockchain and blockchain regulation | |
| 12 | Virtual economics | |
| 13 | Blockchain beyond finance | |
| 14 | Challenges and risks of blockchain adoption | |
| 15 | Future trends and innovations |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBF407.1 | Course | Thursday 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Class work
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
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
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
20 hours ⏳ (5 week × 4 h)
Class work
10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)
Midterm exam study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Final exam study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 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 [IBF407] 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 Jan 01, 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 | |||||||||
| IBF407 | Special Topics in Finance | 3 | 0 | 6 | Wednesday 15:00 - 17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Šejma Aydin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| saydin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course examines the financial impact of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, exploring their role in investment, trading, digital payments, and decentralized finance (DeFi), while also analyzing their influence on monetary policy, financial markets, global trade, and the future of digital economies. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Handouts regularly shared with students. | |||||||||
| 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, assigments and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to cryptocurrencies | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Cryptocurrency ecosystem and types | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Cryptocurrencies as investment tools | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Introduction to blockchain technology | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Smart contracts and Ethereum | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Decentralized Finance (DeFi) | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | NFTs,DAOs and ICO | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Non-working day | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Security, privacy in blockchain and blockchain regulation | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Virtual economics | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Blockchain beyond finance | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Challenges and risks of blockchain adoption | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Future trends and innovations | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Class work | 2 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Assignments | 4 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| Assignments | 4 | 5 | 20 | Class work | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| Midterm exam study | 15 | 1 | 15 | Final exam study | 15 | 1 | 15 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 30/01/2026 | |||||||||