BUSI 538 is Liberty's MBA course in investments and derivatives. Its written work is two forums with set topics (a 500 to 750-word main post with Scripture, then two 450 to 600-word replies) and an investment project in which you build your own investment management process and investment policy statement, delivered as a PowerPoint and a 10 to 15-minute Kaltura video.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 538 Investments and Derivatives, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI538.
What BUSI 538 covers
The catalog description: This course explores the framework from which a company makes investment decisions, provides a foundation for the study of derivative products, and how companies may effectively use investments and derivatives to make wise financial decisions.
The course explores the framework for a company's investment decisions, lays a foundation for the study of derivative products, and shows how investments and derivatives can be used to make wise financial decisions. The text is Bodie, Kane and Marcus, Essentials of Investments.
Sixteen Connect homework sets and sixteen Connect quizzes (640 points) have no guide here. Week 1 runs Monday to Friday and Weeks 2 to 8 run Saturday to Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Bodie et al., Essentials of Investments (2017). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 538 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Discussion Board 1: Parable of the Talents | 80 | Main post 500 to 750 words; replies 450 to 600 words |
| 5 | Discussion Board 2: Scripture and Investing | 80 | Main post 500 to 750 words; replies 450 to 600 words |
| 7 | Investment Project PowerPoint | 100 | At least 10 slides on table 22.1, 9 to 10 on table 22.2 and 2 to 3 on table 22.3 |
| 7 | Investment Project Kaltura Video | 100 | 10 to 15 minutes |
Week 3: Discussion Board 1: Parable of the Talents
A 500 to 750-word main post relating five types of investments and their risk and return to the Parable of the Talents, then two 450 to 600-word replies. How to write BUSI 538 Week 3 Discussion Board 1: Parable of the Talents.
Week 5: Discussion Board 2: Scripture and Investing
A 500 to 750-word main post integrating four Scriptures (other than Matthew 25) on investing, budgeting or wealth management with the text, then two 450 to 600-word replies. How to write BUSI 538 Week 5 Discussion Board 2: Scripture and Investing.
Week 7: Investment Project PowerPoint
A PowerPoint presenting your own investment management process and investment policy statement for wealth creation and retirement, built on Bodie's tables 22.1 to 22.3. How to write BUSI 538 Week 7 Investment Project PowerPoint.
Week 7: Investment Project Kaltura Video
A 10 to 15-minute Kaltura video presenting your investment management process and investment policy statement. How to write BUSI 538 Week 7 Investment Project Kaltura Video.
How BUSI 538 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The two forum main posts are 50 each and the replies 30 each (160), the investment project PowerPoint 100 and video 100, Connect homework 320, Connect quizzes 320 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Threads (2) | 100 |
| Discussion Board Replies (2) | 60 |
| Investment Project PowerPoint | 100 |
| Investment Project Kaltura Video | 100 |
| Connect Homework (16) | 320 |
| Connect Quizzes (16) | 320 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Module/Week 1 begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Friday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Module/Weeks 2-8 will begin on Saturday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and end on Friday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
How to approach BUSI 538
Read Bodie chapter 22 early, even though it is not on the weekly schedule; the Week 7 project is built on its three tables (the investment management process, the investment policy statement and portfolio policies).
Forum topics are set in the syllabus, so you can start researching them before Week 3.
Questions students ask
What is the BUSI 538 investment project?
You analyze your own investment management process (IMP) and develop your own investment policy statement (IPS) for wealth creation and retirement, covering the points in Bodie's tables 22.1 to 22.3, delivered as a PowerPoint and a separate 10 to 15-minute Kaltura video in Week 7.
What are the BUSI 538 forum topics?
Forum 1 relates money market instruments, bonds, equities, mutual funds and derivatives to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14 to 30) and to risk and return; Forum 2 asks for 4 other Scriptures on investing, budgeting or wealth management integrated with the text.
Working through BUSI 538 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.