FIN - Finance

This course is intended to help students understand and apply basic principles of good financial management in their personal financial decisions. Topics include personal budgeting, tax planning, managing cash and credit, making sound insurance decisions, investments and retirement planning. Not counted as a finance elective for the minor or the major.

This course focuses on financial analysis and decision-making for corporations including the legal and ethical obligations of financial managers. Students use accounting information to assess a firm's performance. Time value of money and incremental discounted cash flow techniques are used to value stocks, bonds, and potential corporate investments. Students calculate the weighted average cost of capital and learn to apply short-term financial management tools. The risk-return trade-off is introduced using a statistical framework and the Capital Asset Pricing Model. MS Excel and a financial calculator are required.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the financial and accounting features of SAP as a solution for enterprise resource planning. The cross functional nature of business processes requires an integrated view of the company. The integration between finance and other business functions are analyzed within the context of the enterprise resource system. The configuration, data and critical transactions required by financial management are demonstrated in the course.

An in-depth study of financial decision-making primarily in the corporate environment. This course builds and expands on the skills developed in the managerial finance course. Topics include financial statement analysis, the capital budgeting process, cost of capital, capital structure, dividend policy, working capital management and short- and long-term financial planning. The course will include both theory and practice, and students will make extensive use of MS Excel.

This course provides an opportunity for students to blend the theory of investments with the practical demands of hands-on investment management. Hands-on management of a real portfolio achieves the practical objectives. Periodically, security analysts and portfolio managers are invited as guest speakers to share practical insights on the investment management process. Bloomberg training is available.

The course examines the role of the multinational firm as a catalyst and facilitator of international business. Examines and explores the management of international financial risk, foreign exchange, corporate financing from a global perspective, direct foreign investment decisions and international portfolio allocation.

A survey of the global financial environment, including major financial institutions, securities markets and other financial markets. Topics include money and banking, the determination of interest rates, monetary policy, market efficiency, investment banking, hedging, risk management and derivatives. The course emphasizes current and recent economic trends and financial innovations.

This internship exposes the student to a real-life learning experience. Students are hired by an organization for the specific objective of gaining work experience in that organization. The paid or unpaid internship position should be relevant to the student's major, and is worked out between the organization and the student. May not be used to satisfy major requirements. Approval of the department chair required.

Senior seminar course for finance majors. An advanced, in-depth course in finance with heavy use of cases that explore timely topics in-depth, such as forecasting and financial modeling, financial statement analysis and working- capital management. 

A course offered at the discretion of the finance department. Subject may focus on a topic of current interest in the field, training in a specific area of the field, or a topic that is of interest to a particular group of students.

A readings or independent study course taken under faculty guidance for variable credit.

Covers the basic tools and applications used in financial management. Includes time value of money, valuation, project evaluation, risk-return analysis and capital structure. Students will solve a variety of problems using financial calculator and spreadsheet programs.

For graduate students only. This course is concerned with the theory and the practice of managerial finance, especially in the context of the publicly held corporation in a competitive global environment. The course includes analysis of current and historical financial position and short-term financial decisions. The course emphasizes long-term strategic decisions such as major investments, acquisitions and capital structure decisions. The principles of cost-benefit analysis, value creation, risk and return, and time value of money are demonstrated in a variety of business case examples. The course includes an introduction to portfolio theory, international finance and financial derivatives. Includes curriculum from the CFA® program.

Course applies no-arbitrage theory to multinational financial management. Topics include international financial markets, international parity conditions, hedging foreign cash flows, arbitrage portfolios, international capital budgeting, international portfolio allocation and international cost of capital. Includes curriculum from the CFA® program.

Encompasses portfolio management at both introductory and intermediate levels. Topic areas include: quantitative analysis, the portfolio management process and investor policy statements, portfolio construction and types of securities, portfolio performance measures and the option strategies for equity portfolios. The course also includes detailed analysis of fixed income securities, macroeconomics, industries and individual firms. Includes curriculum from the CFA® program.

This course deals with the theory and practice of portfolio management and investment analysis at an advanced level. The emphasis is on strategic investment management topics and applications including portfolio optimization, performance attribution techniques, fixed income analysis and portfolio risk management. Students will learn to critically evaluate and implement existing and recently developed portfolio management models. Includes curriculum from the CFA® program.

Applied Corporate Finance is designed to provide an in-depth examination of important financial management concepts integrated with SAP. Using a balanced approach of theory and application, this class focuses on the analytical techniques involved in financial planning and decision-making in the firm. Primary emphasis is placed on the importance of strategic investment and financing choices and the logic behind these critical decisions made by the financial manager. An introduction to the financial accounting features of SAP as a solution for enterprise resource planning is provided, along with using SAP to generate information used to make financial decisions.

International students must consult with the Office of International Programs. May be used to satisfy practicum requirements.

A course offered at the discretion of the finance department. Subject may focus on a topic of current interest in the field, training in a specific area of the field, or a topic that is of interest to a particular group of students.

For graduate students only. Contemporary topics in finance.