Finance

FIN 200     Personal Finance     3 Credit Hours

To survey financial planning for the individual. Topics include: bank relations, credit, borrowing money, savings, budgeting, investments, stocks and bonds, mutual funds, insurance, real estate, annuities, social security, income taxes, wills, trusts and estate planning.

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Graduate
Can enroll if College is Business

FIN 401     Corporate Finance     3 Credit Hours

Introduces the financial goals of a corporation with particular attention to the creation of value. The time value of money and the valuation of financial and real assets receive particular attention. Additional topics include risk and return, market efficiency, short-term financial management, and the domestic and international economic environments.

Prerequisite(s): ACC 298 and ECON 201 and ECON 202 and (DS 300* or DS 301* or HHS 410* or STAT 305* or STAT 325* or MATH 325* or IMSE 317*)

FIN 402     Advanced Corporate Finance     3 Credit Hours

To provide the study of advanced topics, with particular attention to capital structure and dividend policy. Additional topics such as hedging, option pricing, agency theory, methods of financing, and corporate control will be presented. Global aspects of these topics will be addressed where appropriate. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 301 or MATH 325 or STAT 305 or STAT 325)

FIN 406     Fin Mkts and Institutions     3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce students to the financial markets, institutions, and instruments. The contents consist of the role and importance of the financial markets, interest rate determination and security valuation, the functions of money, bond, mortgage, stock, foreign exchange and derivative securities markets, the activities of financial institutions such as insurance companies, securities firms and investment banks, hedge funds, and pension funds, and management of credit and interest rate risks on the balance sheet of financial institutions. Familiarity with these topics is necessary for students to be competent in their future professional career in finance. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 301 or MATH 325)

FIN 407     Investment Fundamentals     3 Credit Hours

To study the current investment scene and analyze the characteristics of securities and the role in investment strategies. Topics include: securities markets, bonds, stocks, options, investment strategies, portfolio theories and management.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 302 or STAT 325 or MATH 425 or STAT 430)

FIN 411     Financial Planning     3 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to the primary areas of personal financial planning and helps them prepare for the professional financial planning examinations. Topics include overview of the financial planning process, analysis of clients' needs; principles of personal income taxation; investment analysis and planning; retirement and estate planning; insurance planning and major types of insurance, ethics and standards of professional practice; and quantitative methods used in the analysis and derivations of decision rules. This course is designed for students who consider a career in financial advising, as well as those who are interested in managing their own personal finances. Students will practice critical thinking and business communication through written presentation of case analysis and recommendations. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 301 or MATH 325 or STAT 305 or STAT 325)

FIN 412     Retirement Planning     3 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to the nature of retirement planning analysis and the functions of major retirement plans and other investment-oriented employee benefits, as well as discusses advantages and disadvantages of the various wealth accumulation and tax deferral alternatives. Topics include the administration, characteristics and distributions of qualified corporate retirement plans such as pension and profit sharing plans; non-corporate retirement programs such as IRAs and Simplified Employee Pension (SEPs) plans. In addition, stock options, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and other non-pension related benefits, as well as recent legislation will be examined. This course prepares students for career pursuit in financial advising or human resources management, as well as for the professional financial planning examinations. Students will practice critical thinking and business communication through written presentation of case analysis and recommendations. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 301) and FIN 411*

FIN 443     Com Bank: Functn and Operatns     3 Credit Hours

The topics to be included in the course are: commercial bank management, loan portfolio management and international banking. Specific aspects of the commercial banking environment, such as legislation and regulation, are also covered.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (DS 300 or DS 301 or MATH 325)

FIN 445     Corporate Finance Capstone – Advanced Financial Analysis     3 Credit Hours

This course provides a capstone experience for finance majors interested in pursuing a career in corporate finance. Topics introduced in corporate finance as well as in accounting and economics are integrated into readings and case analysis of companies that may include capital budgeting, capital structure, financial budgeting and forecasting, lease versus buy, mergers and acquisitions, and valuation of IPOs, etc. Students are required to intensively use Excel to build models for analysis. The coursework is also appropriate for students seeking careers in commercial lending and investment banking.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 402 and (DS 300 or DS 302 or STAT 325 or MATH 425 or STAT 430)

FIN 447     Derivative Markets     3 Credit Hours

Going beyond investment fundamentals, the focus of this course is on the more speculative aspects of investment. Speculative securities (such as options, warrants, and convertibles) and commodity futures (including financial and currency futures) are covered. The structure of the speculative markets and the role of speculation, such as hedging, risk-shifting, and the establishment of future-spot price relationship are analyzed in the context of a competitive market environment.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401 and (FIN 402 or FIN 407 or FIN 443) and (DS 300 or STAT 325* or DS 302*)

FIN 448     Real Estate Financing     3 Credit Hours

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the different types of mortgages, the sources of real estate loans and the workings of the secondary mortgage markets. It will also cover the application, loan processing, underwriting, and closing processes as well as closely related topics such as property appraisal and insurance, title insurance, and foreclosures.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401

FIN 456     Fixed Income Securities     3 Credit Hours

The fixed income market, accompanied by the introduction of sophisticated financial engineering techniques, has grown enormously over the last two decades. Today, the fixed income market has been a vital segment of the global financial market. This course covers major topics associated with this market, including bond pricing, yields, and volatility; term structure of interest rates and yield curve; market structure and analytical techniques for Treasury, municipal, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and bond with embedded options. The fundamental objective of this course is to help students develop analytical skills for pricing fixed income securities and managing interest rate risk. In addition, 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. Students will not receive credit for both FIN 456 and FIN 656.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 407 and FIN 447 and (MATH 113 or MATH 115)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior
Can enroll if College is Business
Can enroll if Major is Finance

FIN 457     Investment Fund Management     3 Credit Hours

This course introduces finance students to investing approaches and analytical techniques including both Intrinsic and Relativistic analyses used for security analysis employed and implemented by professional money managers. The course is recommended for finance students seeking to develop careers related to money management, investment analysis, financial analysis, portfolio management and related financial services careers. The main focus of the course is to gain the experience and skills of equity securities analyses through the Student Managed Investment Fund. The course requires application of fundamental and intrinsic equity analyses valuation. Students cannot receive credit for both FIN 457 and FIN 657. (F,W,OC)

Prerequisite(s): FIN 407

FIN 484     Seminar: Financial Management     1 to 3 Credit Hours

To provide students with an opportunity for intensive study in current selected areas related to the research activities and/or professional activities of faculty members. Permission of College of Business.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401

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

FIN 494     Research:Financial Mgt     1 to 3 Credit Hours

To provide the advanced student with the opportunity to undertake a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. At least two weeks prior to the term when such a course is to be elected, an interested student must submit to the dean of the school a written request for permission to elect a research course, on a form available in the school office. The request will include a description of the proposed research project. The dean will review the proposal with faculty members to ascertain availability of relevant faculty supervision and to establish appropriate credit. Permission of College of Business.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 401

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