Ethics in Finance

Subject FNCE30009 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

3 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

January, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: 36
Total Time Commitment: 120 self study hours + 36 contact hours

Prerequisites:

FNCE20001 Business Finance

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Paul Kofman

Contact

pkofman@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	Ethical practices instil a public trust in the fairness of financial markets and transactions, allowing them to function efficiently. Ethical practices by finance and investment professionals benefit all market participants and stakeholders and lead to increased investor confidence in global capital markets. The perspectives acquired in this subject should be useful to students in their chosen finance profession as this subject presents a framework for ethical conduct in the investment profession by focusing on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Citing and discussing examples of the financial scandals that have shaken public confidence in the ethics of financial market participants, this subject explains the importance of ethics in the operation of financial institutions and in the personal conduct of finance professionals.
Objectives:	On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to: • apply major intellectual theories of ethics as a basis for the analysis and resolution of ethical dilemmas in finance; • critically examine ethical standards and issues of questionable professional conduct in finance by addressing topical issues related to ethics in investment decisions, financial markets and financial services; • relate ethical principles to the financial theory of the firm including issues related to stakeholder theory, agency theory, corporate social responsibility and international businesses; • describe standards of professional conduct and recommend practices and procedures designed to prevent violations of ethical and professional financial market trading practices.
Assessment:	2 hour Mid-term Exam (30%) 2 hour Final Exam (70%)
Prescribed Texts:	Boatright, J.R., 2009. Ethics and the Conduct of Business, 6 th Ed., Pearson Education International, New Jersey, USA. CFA Institute, 2005. Standards of Practice Handbook, 9 th Ed., Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Breadth Options:	This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses: Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Biomedicine Bachelor of Environments Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Engineering You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	High level of development: written and oral communication; application of theory to practice; ability to recognise attitudes, actions and beliefs of others; working effectively within groups/ teams; adaptability to respond readily to changing situations and priorities; application of high ethical standards in professional practice and social interactions
Related Breadth Track(s):	Ethics && Investing

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