Finance Curriculum

Undergraduate Finance Curriculum 

FIN310 – Introduction to Finance
This course introduces students to the logic, principles, institutions, and terminology of finance. The goal of the course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the role of finance and its functions. It is designed to familiarize the students with tools necessary for making sound financial decisions, both at a personal level and at an enterprise level. (Prerequisites: ACC 101 & 102, MAT 135, 136 & 137, ECO 105 & 106 or equivalents)

FIN311 – Corporate Finance
The goal of the course is to provide students with the basic tools and theoretical background necessary to understand the corporate financial decision making process. Emphasis is on valuation principles with application to bonds, stocks, and capital budgeting as well as issues involving the capital structure, working capital, and dividend policy. (Prerequisite: FIN310)

FIN320 – Money & Banking
Study of money and banking as a means to understanding how operations of our financial institutions affect functioning of our economic system and evaluation of monetary policies and goals. (Prerequisite: FIN310)

FIN202 – Quantitative Reasoning
This course is designed to provide the students with an overview of basic statistical tools of financial analysis. Is a course designed to familiarize the students with the design and application of spreadsheet models for the analysis of financial data and tests of hypotheses. (Prerequisite: FIN310)

FIN333 – Financial Statements Analysis
Corporate performance and its effects on outstanding securities. Evaluation and interpretation of financial soundness of an enterprise. Economic, management and corporate financial factors as they affect specific security issues. (Prerequisite: FIN311)

FIN362 – Risk Management
Theories and techniques of risk management that employ statistical techniques that enhance risk decision-making. This course develops a framework of analysis that can be applied by corporate or investment risk managers. (Prerequisite: FIN320)

FIN330 – Investments: Theory and Practice
Investment principles and problems. Development of the student's perception of risks and opportunities in investment instruments and markets; description of the markets and their operations; effects of current financial events upon the various markets. (Prerequisites: FIN202 and FIN320)

FIN380 - Cases in Financial Decision Making
This is the capstone course for students majoring in Finance. The course applies the case study methodology to hone the student's analytical skills with applied finance issues, as well as to further develop verbal and written communication skills, the ability to work effectively within teams, as well reasoned debate. This course will provide students the opportunity to apply and integrate the knowledge acquired in their previous finance courses. (Prerequisites: FIN330, FIN333, FIN362 & ENG202)

II. Elective Courses

FIN313 – Investment Banking
This course is designed to provide students with a broad overview of investment banking, the structure of the industry, and analytical tools commonly used in the profession. Students who successfully complete the course will develop the skills necessary for an entry-level analyst position with an investment bank. Spreadsheet skills, valuation methods, company, deal and market analysis will be emphasized. The course will also foster the development of presentation and writing skills through group analysis and preparation of case studies. (Prerequisites: FIN310 + Department Consent)

FIN323 – Commercial Banking
The purpose of the course is to analyze the role of commercial banks in the financial system in order to understand the problems and issues confronting bankers now and in the future. The nature of the business of banking will be discussed with particular emphasis on bank mergers and acquisitions; competition from non-banking firms; understanding government policy and how that policy could influence the behavior of banks; measuring and evaluating bank performance; using asset and liability management techniques to gain a greater understanding of the risks that banks face and how they attempt to manage those risks. (Prerequisite: FIN320)

FIN335 – Portfolio Management
Theories and techniques to achieve superior selection and management of securities portfolios. Review and evaluation of significant literature. Problems of timing and strategies in response to changing economic and financial conditions. (Prerequisite: FIN330)

FIN340 – International Finance
The objectives of this course include: understanding the effect of political and economic factors on the financial decision-making of the firm, determining the major factors influencing currency value; analyzing and managing the spectrum of risks arising from a firm’s international operations; and acquiring knowledge of the international financial system and the major players in that system. (Prerequisite: FIN320)

FIN360 – IPOs and Venture Capital
IPOs and Venture Capital will explore equity financing alternatives for private companies, including their final funding step as a private company - their initial public offering or IPO, when they go public.  Although the course has some quantitative elements, the focus will typically be on the analytics - on contract design, optimal regulation, balancing various risks and objectives, and structuring a deal to minimize conflicts of interest and optimize incentives.   The main emphasis is on the U.S., but fund-raising methods and options in other countries also will be covered.  This course should be useful for those interested in investment banking, venture capital, private equity, or securities law, or those that hope to have a start-up of their own someday. (Prerequisite:  FIN 310)

FIN363 – Derivatives: Pricing and Applications
This is an advanced course that focuses on the pricing models for the four derivative instruments: forwards, futures, options and swaps. The first part of the course is devoted to the two general classes of derivative pricing models: discrete time and continuous time, with each model's properties discussed in detail. These models are then applied to a range of realistic pricing situations which include swaps, exotic options and fixed income derivatives. The course concludes with a detailed examination of value at risk. (Prerequisite: FIN330)

FIN393 – Finance Internship
An academically supervised working experience in a major financial institution. Registration in this program requires approval of the department internship director. (Prerequisite: FIN310)

FIN398 – Special Topics – Treasury Management
A study of the role of treasury management, working capital and short-term financial management. Major topics include cash collections, cash concentration, disbursement management, forecasting cash flows, management of receivables and inventory, banking relationships, and short-term investment/borrowing strategies. (Prerequisite: FIN333)

FIN398 – Special Topics – Financial Planning
Financial Planning is a case based course centered on building a financial plan for a family. The students learn how to assist families (including their own) in taking control of their financial future, focusing on meeting the overall financial objectives. Topics will include investments, employee benefit programs, insurance, estate planning and federal income tax. (Prerequisite: FIN330)