Finance - FIN

The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

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300 Introduction to Finance
3 hours. Description of financial markets. Time value of money. Risk and return. Market valuation of securities. Capital budgeting, capital structure and dividend policy of firms. Recommended background: ACTG 210 and ECON 120.

301 Introduction to Managerial Finance
3 hours. Introduces students to managerial finance: the valuation of future cash flows, capital budgeting, capital structure, and banking. Current events and policy issues are discussed.

302 Introduction to Investments
3 hours. Introduces students to investments: risk/return, models of risk, efficient markets, derivative securities, fixed income securities, international aspects. Current events and policy issues are discussed. Prerequisite(s): FIN 301.

310 Investments
3 hours. Organization of security markets. Legal and institutional environment, mechanics of trade, financial intermediation, security classification. General principles of asset valuation with application to specific securities. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

311 Introduction to Urban Real Estate
3 hours. Introductory survey of urban real estate; business, legal, economic and financial perspectives. Same as ECON 311. Previously listed as FIN 371. Prerequisite(s): ECON 120.

320 Managerial Finance
3 hours. Short-term asset management, capital budgeting under certainty and uncertainty, capital structure and dividend policy, valuation and risk, capital asset prices, financial policy for firms. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

330 Quantitative Methods
3 hours. Introduces students to the quantitative methods needed for advanced finance coursework: point/interval estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, cross-section analysis, time series analysis, portfolio modeling, advanced topics. Prerequisite(s): IDS 270. Recommended background: Fin 300; or Fin 301 & Fin 302.

340 International Financial Markets
3 hours. Evaluation of exchange rate regiments and international financial institutions; develop critical understanding of the asset approach to exchange rates and international financial markets. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

396 Independent Study
1 TO 3 hours. Independent study, under the direction of a faculty member, must be arranged before the start of the semester. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor, and the Department Head.

404 Financial Strategies and Text Analysis
3 OR 4 hours. Learn the developments made in analyzing textual information. Discuss implications for financial regulations and trading strategies (including high frequency trading). 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302 (undergraduate students). FIN 500 (graduate students). Recommended background: FIN 310 (undergraduate students); FIN 510 (graduate students).

412 Portfolio Management
3 hours. Development of portfolio theory; establishment of portfolio objectives for individuals, corporations, banks, pension and mutual funds; evaluation of portfolio performance. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310.

415 Fixed Income Securities
3 hours. Valuation of fixed income securities, term structure estimation and arbitrage trading with practical application using real data. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310.

416 Options and Futures Markets
3 hours. History and institutional structure of options and futures markets. Uses of futures and options for arbitrage, speculation and hedging by managers of domestic and multinational organizations. Analysis of factors which determine futures and options prices. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310.

418 Commodities, Energy, and Related Markets
3 OR 4 hours. Covers markets; physicality; laws and regulations; market participants; fundamentals (ags, metals, petroleum, electricity, emissions, and shipping); spreads; options; and, risk management. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310; and FIN 330 or IDS 270 (undergraduate students); FIN 510 (graduate students). Recommended background: IDS 371 (undergraduate students); IDS 570 (graduate students).

430 Introduction to Money and Banking
3 hours. Payment and banking systems; credit and market risk management; The Federal Reserve System; globalization of monetary, banking, and regulatory systems. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

431 Management in the Financial Services Industry
3 hours. The principles of management of corporations in the financial services industry, emphasizing commercial bank management and risk. Methodology includes computerized bank management simulation or case studies. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300.

435 Capitalism, Finance, and American Culture
3 hours. Considers how financial theory influences other aspects of American Culture. It will also encourage critical discussion and writing to help students become more effective financial managers. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

442 International Corporate Financial Management
3 hours. Financial management within an international context. International monetary system and financial markets, management of foreign investments, working capital management, exchange risks, taxation and earnings reports. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

444 Small Business Finance
3 hours. Aspects of acquiring funds for small business enterprises. Topics include the trade-off of liquidity and profitability, management of working capital, and capitalization. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300.

449 Applied Equity Investment Management
3 OR 4 hours. Puts financial theory to practice by giving students real life, hands-on experience in managing an equity investment process, from stock selection to portfolio management. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310 (undergraduate students); FIN 510 (graduate students). Recommended background: A keen interest/ passion for the markets in general and the equity markets in particular.

455 Asset Management
1 TO 4 hours. Applied course in Investments. The emphasis is on modern quantitative techniques for asset management. Students will use real data, and learn to create their own spreadsheet optimization programs in MS excel. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310 (undergraduate students); FIN 510 (graduate students). Recommended Background: Students must be comfortable with linear regressions matrix algebra, basic calculus. Spreadsheet proficiency is essential.

465 Property and Liability Insurance
3 OR 4 hours. Using property and liability insurance to manage risk. Topics may include fire, marine, consequential loss, crime, title, automobile, and workers' compensation insurance. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

466 Life and Health Insurance
3 hours. Types, uses, and evaluation of life and health insurance. Economics of the industry. Regulation and taxation. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or FIN 301 and FIN 302.

472 Real Estate Finance
3 OR 4 hours. Finance principles applied to real estate; financing of residential and income-producing real estate; real estate development finance; secondary mortgage market; taxation and real estate finance. Same as ECON 472. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May not be used to satisfy the economics credit requirement for the MA in Economics and Ph.D. in Economics. Elective credit only will be applied toward these degrees. Prerequisite(s): ECON 220.

473 Introduction to Risk Management
3 hours. Introduction to risk management. Loan and credit management; credit scoring. Risk measurements and reserves; banking and insurance capital requirements, the BASEL accord, tail events and catastrophic event insurance. Financial contracts and hedging. Same as IDS 473. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300 and IDS 371.

479 Enterprise Risk Management
3 OR 4 hours. Overview of enterprise-wide risk management strategies and techniques: strategies that firms employ to enhance value and minimize exposure; techniques used to identify, measure, reduce, and transfer risk. Same as IDS 479. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 300; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: IDS 473 or FIN 473.

480 Market Microstructure and Electronic Trading
3 OR 4 hours. Details of how financial markets work. Market structures; models of price discovery; limit order models; liquidity and price impact; time effects; and, how electronic traders use these ideas to improve trading and research. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FIN 310; FIN 330 or IDS 270 (undergraduate students); FIN 510 (graduate students). Recommended Background: IDS 371 (undergraduate students); IDS 570 (graduate students).

494 Special Topics in Finance
1 TO 4 hours. An intensive study of a selected topic in finance. Topics vary by sections and by term. 1 to 3 undergraduate hours. 2 to 4 graduate hours. May be repeated if topics vary. Students may register for more than one section per term. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours for undergraduates; may be repeated to a maximum of 8 hourse for graduate students. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

495 Competitive Strategy
4 hours. Multidisciplinary analysis of organization strategy and policy using case method and/or business simulation. Assignments involve extensive library research as well as oral and written reports. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing in the College of Business Administration and completion of all other CBA core courses, or consent of the instructor.

499 Research Experience
1 TO 3 hours. Research experience under the supervision of a faculty member. The faculty member and student will determine the research project. Each student must submit a written report and each student must participate at a research event on campus. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and department head.

500 Introduction to Corporate Finance
4 hours. Theory of corporate finance: goal of the firm, time value of money, investment decisions (under certainty and uncertainty), net present value, capital markets, and corporate financing decisions. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in ACTG 500.

510 Investments
4 hours. Theory and practice of investment analysis. Topics included are the institutional organization of security markets, and fundamental principles of asset valuation with application to specific securities. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

512 Portfolio Analysis
4 hours. Development of portfolio theory; establishment of portfolio objectives; evaluation of portfolio performance; investment objectives for individuals, corporations banks, pension and mutual funds, and their interrelation with economic environment. Prerequisite(s): FIN 510.

516 Theory and Structure of Options and Futures Markets
4 hours. History and institutional structure of options and futures markets. Uses of futures and options for arbitrage, speculation and hedging by financial and portfolio managers of domestic and multinational organizations. Prerequisite(s): FIN 510.

520 Corporate Finance
4 hours. Advanced topics in corporate finance including capital structure, dividend policy, financial restructuring, bankruptcy, and leasing. Emphasis on recent developments in corporate finance and financial economics. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

530 Money and Banking
4 hours. The functions of money; monetary standards; development and operation of commercial banking and the Federal Reserve System. Theories of the supply and demand for money; effects of monetary changes on economic activity, interest rates, and income. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

531 Capital Markets
4 hours. Capital markets in the private economy. Flow of funds in financial markets and financial intermediaries. Pricing of securities. Short-term money markets and the Federal Reserve System. Market for long-term securities. Financial markets and the stability and progress of the economy. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

542 International Finance
4 hours. Financial management within an international context. International monetary system, exchange rates, foreign investments, working capital management, financing trade, taxation and earnings reports. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

544 Entrepreneurial and New Venture Financing
4 hours. The financing of new business. Estimating cash needs and then determining sources to finance them. This course is designed for those wanting to start their own business. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500.

551 Financial Decision Making I
4 hours. First foundation course for the study of modern financial economics. Two-period individual consumption and portfolio decisions under uncertainty and their implications for the valuation of securities. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

570 Quantitative Methods in Finance
4 hours. Statistical and optimization techniques for portfolio management, risk management, proprietary trading, securities regulation and market making. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

571 Empirical Issues in Finance
4 hours. The methodology used in analyses of market efficiency, asset pricing and capital allocation. Prerequisite(s): FIN 500 and consent of the instructor.

573 Risk Management
4 hours. Introduction to risk management. Risk measurements and reserves; banking and insurance capital requirements, the BASEL accord, tail events, catastrophic event insurance, reinsurance. Financial contracts and hedging. Same as IDS 573. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in IDS 570 and FIN 500.

594 Special Topics in Finance
1 TO 4 hours. Develops the tools for evaluating and quantifying the value of fixed-income securities. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

596 Independent Study in Finance
1 TO 4 hours. Independent study under the direction of a faculty member. Must be arranged before the start of the semester. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of department head or instructor.

599 Ph.D. Thesis Research
0 TO 16 hours. Independent research on topic approved for doctoral dissertation under supervision of faculty advisor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.