Finance (FIN)

FIN 501 - Survey of Finance

Credits: 4

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of finance. It will be offered to non-business major students. Students will learn basic macroeconomic notions and financial concepts such as supply and demand, time value of money, and market risk, and will be able to analyze economic factors and growth, value future cash flows of a project, make capital budgeting decisions, understand risk and return trade-offs and determine the cost of capital.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 608 - Real Estate Finance

Credits: 4

This course provides an introduction to residential and commercial real estate. Topics include market analysis, cash flows, debt and equity financing, valuation, and real estate investment trusts. Case studies, projects, and real world applications of the concepts learned are significant components of the course.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C- or FIN 501 with a minimum grade of C- or HMGT 655 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 708, FIN 708

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 620 - Topics in Finance I

Credits: 4

Special topics, vary by semester.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of D- or FIN 501 with a minimum grade of D- or HMGT 655 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 650 - Wildcat Investment Fund

Credits: 2

Wildcat Investment.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 695 - Real Estate Internship

Credits: 4

This course provides an experiential learning opportunity to students who are considering developing a career in real estate industry. It is the advanced-level follow-up elective course of FIN 608 (Real Estate Finance) and CEP 672 (Fundamentals of Real Estate). It is not a traditional lecture type course, but rather a semester-long or summer internship in a real estate company. The instructor is the Minor Program Coordinator and would coordinate with the Paul College Career and Professional Success (CaPS) team and real estate companies to allocate intern opportunities to students, oversee student progress and analyze performance feedback, and develop rubrics for credit/fail grading.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C- or FIN 501 with a minimum grade of C- or HMGT 655 with a minimum grade of C-.

Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading

FIN 701 - Financial Policy

Credits: 4

Development of analytical tools and practical skills for recognizing and solving complex problems of business finance. Working-capital management, capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure, and dividend policy.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 701

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 702 - Investments Analysis

Credits: 4

Security valuation, efficient markets, portfolio management, options, and alternative investments. Computer research topics.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 702

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 703 - International Financial Management

Credits: 4

An exploration of financial management of firms operating in a global environment. Topics include foreign exchange markets, translation, transaction, and operating risk exposures, risk exposure management, sourcing capital globally, the financing of international trade, multinational tax management, and derivatives used to mitigate international exposure. Students also engage in a country specific analysis that incorporates the 2030 UN development and sustainability goals framework.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 703

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 704 - Derivatives Securities and Markets

Credits: 4

Derivative assets and markets, and their role in business decision-making and portfolio management. Emphasis on practical and theoretical aspects of heading and speculating using futures and options for both commodities and financial assets, including their market mechanics.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 704

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 705 - Financial Institutions

Credits: 4

Examination of financial institutions, financial instruments and financial markets. Emphasis on how commercial banks create value, the influences of the Federal Reserve and its monetary policies, and the workings of markets such as money markets, bond markets and mortgage markets. Throughout the course, the 2008 global financial crisis is central to the discussion. The course helps student develop knowledge and skills needed to start a career in finance industry.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 705

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 706 - Financial Modeling and Analytics

Credits: 4

The main objective of the course is to bridge the gap between theory and practice by using software applications and real-world data to solve a variety of financial problems. The course is very 'hands-on' and is expected to help students develop skills that are useful in a variety of jobs in finance, accounting, insurance, and real estate.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 706

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 707 - Equity Analysis and Firm Valuation

Credits: 4

This course is intended to provide practical tools for analyzing and valuing a company's equity. Primarily an applications course, it covers several valuation models such as market multiples and free cash flow models, and focuses on the implementation of finance theories to valuation problems.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 707

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 709 - Fixed Income Analysis and Valuation

Credits: 4

This course is a rigorous and analytical study of a wide range of topics in the fixed income arena. It focuses on securities (mainly bonds), and things that can look like securities (mainly loans) that promise an ongoing and consistent cash flow (hence: "fixed income"). The valuations of these things are influenced by interest rates and credit risk. The course is focused on the concepts and tools that are important to practitioners and investors who want to use these securities, whether as issuer or as investor. It includes a study of the markets in which these securities trade.

Prerequisite(s): (ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C- or HMGT 655 with a minimum grade of C-) and FIN 702 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 709

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 710 - Big Data in Finance

Credits: 4

This course serves as an introduction to many aspects of big data utilization, specifically as it applies to finance. Topics typically include high frequency trading, stock market anomalies, data management, fintech innovations, and safety and ethics when working with big data. Programming languages common to finance, such as Stata, SAS, and Python, are learned and used to analyze and manipulate data.

Prerequisite(s): FIN 702 with a minimum grade of C-.

Equivalent(s): ACFI 710

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 711 - Investment Banking

Credits: 4

This course explores several areas of investment banking. Investment bankers play a critical role in financial markets. Among their many roles, they provide advisory services to firms, help raise capital, and assist with complex financial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. Course topics typically include company strategy, valuation, initial public offerings (IPOs), leveraged buyouts (LBOs), and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Students cannot earn credit for the course after taking FIN 720 as Investment Banking.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 720 - Topics in Finance II

Credits: 4

Special topics, vary by semester.

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 16 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 720W - Topics in Finance II

Credits: 4

Special topics, vary by semester.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Prerequisite(s): ADMN 570 with a minimum grade of C-.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 16 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 725 - Independent Studies in Finance

Credits: 1-4

Student-designed individual research projects, approved by a faculty sponsor. Paper required. Course credits vary according to the nature of the project, to be determined by the faculty sponsor. For juniors and seniors in high standing; by permission.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

FIN 799H - Honors Thesis in Finance

Credits: 4-8

Supervised research leading to the completion of an honors thesis or project in finance; required for graduation from the honors program in administration for students in the finance option. Permission of director of undergraduate programs and Accounting and Finance department chair.

Attributes: Honors course; Writing Intensive Course

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Mutual Exclusion: No credit for students who have taken ADMN 799.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading