Dual Degree, MBA/MS in Finance

BA 605     Managerial Decision Making     3 Credit Hours

This course covers the findings of research on behavioral decision making as they apply to managerial decision making. You will learn how the human mind works, what it is particularly good at and not so good at, and what the implications of this are for managerial decision making. The course will help you make better decisions and understand the potential shortcomings of the decisions made by your colleagues, competitors, collaborators, and customers. Topics include human cognition, overconfidence, heuristics and biases in decision making, bounded awareness, framing, preference reversal, motivational and emotional influences on decision making, escalation of commitment, expertise in decision making, and fairness and ethics in decision making. We will apply the research on behavioral decision making to a wide variety of problems in various domains of business, study how applications of information systems can mitigate limitations of the human mind, and apply our knowledge of the way the human mind works to develop an understanding of ways to improve managerial decision making. Students interested in careers in a wide variety of business professions will find the knowledge and skills gained in this course to be useful in their professional endeavors.

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

BA 690     Graduate Research     1 to 3 Credit Hours

To provide masters candidates with the opportunity to undertake a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. The research topic is chosen by the student, in consultation with a faculty member in the appropriate discipline. Written approval must be obtained at least two weeks prior to registration on a form available in the Graduate Office. The request must include a comprehensive description of the proposed research project, as well as a time line for the project's completion.

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate
Can enroll if College is Business

BA 691     Graduate Seminar     1 to 3 Credit Hours

Topics Course. To provide masters candidates with an opportunity for study of selected advanced topics in particular fields. Topics vary. See Schedule of Classes for current offerings. May be elected more than once if topics differ.

Prerequisite(s): (MIS 525 or MIS 502) and (MKT 515 or MKT 610)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

BA 691A     Graduate Seminar     3 Credit Hours

Topic: The Internal Revenue Service. This course introduces the student to the structure, organization, practices and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service. The course is intended to give students an understanding of the organizational makeup of the Internal Revenue Service and the authority of its various employees. The different approaches to resolving tax controversies will be explored through the study of assigned readings and in-depth class discussions. The course will be conducted in a seminar-like fashion with each student expected to make significant contributions to class discussions. Attentiveness to news items affecting the area of federal tax procedures is expected, as well as conveyance to class of these newsworthy developments. This course is appropriate for MSA? Tax Concentration students.

FIN 531     Fin Fundament & Value Creation     3 Credit Hours

This course provides the fundamentals of the finance discipline with an emphasis of value creation as the primary objective of a corporation. Capital budgeting analysis and techniques are extensively discussed. Valuation of securities is presented along with an introduction to modern portfolio theory and market efficiency. Issues related to international financial management are also introduced.

Prerequisite(s): (Math Placement with a score of 105 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115) and (DS 520* or BA 510* or IMSE 510* or IMSE 514*) and ACC 505

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

FIN 581     Advanced Corporate Finance     3 Credit Hours

This course integrates theory and practice for major topics such as capital structure and dividend policy. Additional topics may include capital raising, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, short-term financial management, valuation of levered firms, leasing, and risk management, etc.. These topics are examined from the perspective of the corporate financial manager.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 531 and ACC 505 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514) and (Math Placement with a score of 105 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115)

FIN 650     Corporate Valuation & Strategy     3 Credit Hours

This course examines a variety of financial management topics, such as project and enterprise valuation and risk analysis, corporate restructuring, dividend policy, corporate governance, and current asset management using case studies and readings.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 581

FIN 651     Investment Procedures, Analysis & Management     3 Credit Hours

This course provides an examination of the process of investment analysis and management. Topics include: analysis of fixed income securities, stock valuation, and introduction to derivative securities; discussion of portfolio theory and management; and an overview of investment environment. Wherever it is appropriate, the above topics will also be discussed in a global context.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 505 and FIN 531 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514) and (Math Placement with a score of 115 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

FIN 652     Derivatives & Risk Management     3 Credit Hours

The focus of this course is on understanding the derivative securities and their use in risk management. This course provides an in-depth introduction to options and option pricing as well as an extensive overview of forward, future and swap contracts. This course will draw upon the intuition and analytic tools developed to examine sophisticated financial products or strategies that firms and investors have used in their risk management.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 531 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514) and (Math Placement with a score of 105 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

FIN 653     Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management     3 Credit Hours

This course prepares students for career development and advancement in the challenging investment profession. The course provides an in-depth study of advanced contemporary topics in asset pricing and portfolio management. Topics may include a subset of: advanced investment theory and valuation techniques, behavioral finance, asset allocation strategies, fixed income and equity investment management, portfolio management techniques, performance evaluation and risk management of assets in financial institutions.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 651 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

FIN 654     Banking, Insurance, and Fintech     3 Credit Hours

Financial intermediaries provide services to borrowers and lenders, and investors and businesses. This course will examine the financial intermediation. While commercial banking will be a particular focus, attention will also be paid to firms such as pension funds and insurance companies. The role of risk management, from both a corporate and a regulatory perspective, will be explored. New technologies are affecting banking and other financial intermediaries, and this course will examine the roles of fintech both for financial intermediaries and the economy as a whole.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 531 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514) and (Math Placement with a score of 115 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

FIN 655     International Financial Mgt     3 Credit Hours

This course views international finance at the micro level, but of necessity it will cover some aspects of macro-level international finance as well, such as the international financial system and balance of payments mechanism. The following topics will be covered: the international financial system, balance of payments, foreign exchange, exchange risk management, international financial markets, foreign investment, and foreign trade financing.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 531 and ACC 505 and BE 530 and (Math Placement with a score of 115 or MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115)

FIN 656     Fixed Income Securities     3 Credit Hours

The fixed income market, accompanied by the introduction of sophisticated financial engineering techniques, has become a vital segment of the global financial market and fixed income securities are key component of any investment strategy. This course focuses on the valuation and application of fixed income securities and their derivatives. Topics include the types of fixed-income securities and their unique features, term structure of interest rate dynamics, how to price fixed income securities and their derivatives, and how to measure and manage the risks associated with investment in these securities. The materials covered in this course are compatible with the Common Body of Knowledge in Analysis of Debt Investments that is required by the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) examination.

Prerequisite(s): (MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 113 or MATH 115 or Math Placement with a score of 116) and FIN 531 and ACC 505 and (DS 520 or BA 510 or IMSE 510 or IMSE 514)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate