Finance

An exam preparation course covering topics related to the SIE and General Securities Registered Representative Exam (Series 7). Expose students to topics currently covered by the SIE and Series 7 examination including (but not limited to) corporate, equity/fixed-income securities, local/state/federal government, securities, derivative securities, and investment company products. This course is not affiliated with FINRA, the Series 7, exam provider, and does not exempt students from the examination eligibility requirements.

Covers introductory principles needed to make sound financial management decisions for business and personal purposes. Develop skills for analyzing and evaluating investment projects, valuing debt and equity securities for investment purposes and managing business cash flows. Fundamental principles surrounding topics such as the time value of money, security valuation, risk / return tradeoff, cost of capital, capital budgeting, short-term financing and planning, and international parity relationships are discussed.

Provides an in-depth knowledge of business financial management. The central topics include: the financial and business environment of the firm, the time value of money, and financial analysis planning and control. Special focus will be on security and asset valuation. Capital budgeting and working capital management are also strongly emphasized.

An analysis of the major parameters in the financial decision-making process with an emphasis on long-term financing. Develop key concepts and applications of corporate financial analysis for the student through an in-depth study of the principles underlying corporate financial decision making. Enhance the student's analytical and problem-solving ability in dealing with modern business environment problems with an emphasis on financial management control and analysis, and investment decisions.

A comprehensive analysis of the personal financial planning process as it relates to planning the total financial and estate affairs of individuals and families. Provide students with the knowledge, information and skills that can be applied by them in making personal financial planning decisions, developing a financial plan consistent with the goals and resources of the individual, and implementing and achieving the goals of the plan.

Emphasizes a wide range of topics pertaining to personal financial planning including credit management, risk analysis, effective communication of the financial counselor, tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning, retirement planning and investment strategies. Explore how to develop successful financial planning strategies and how to pursue career opportunities in the field.

An analysis of financial markets and their impact on the creation, operation, and public regulation of financial institutions. Provide a rigorous analysis of financial markets and institutions serving the various sectors of the U.S. economy. It also deals with the Federal Reserve System, its monetary policy and regulatory controls over the various financial institutions. It is a Finance elective course, intended for senior finance majors in the Department of Finance.

Introduce financial markets and discuss market participants, the basics of cash and derivatives markets, the structure of interest rates and the pricing of debt obligations, equity markets, and debt markets. It is an undergraduate finance elective for finance majors and a business elective for non-finance business majors. It is a required course for students completing the Capital Markets, Sales & Trading, or Investment Management tracks and an elective course completing other tracks in finance.

Provide conceptual foundations and the practical pursuit of investment objectives. Explore and become familiar with the body of knowledge, including theoretical principles and empirical evidence, that is applied in the evaluation of alternative investments and the development of successful investment strategies. Emphasize on the application of computer software and data bases as a decision support tool for your investment strategies.

Provide students with important knowledge, and develop their critical skills, for analyzing and answering questions based on the curriculum for the Level I exam of the CFA program. This course requires extensive independent study. Highlight and explain important materials from the assigned readings in classes, but the entire curriculum cannot be covered in classes.

Explore the fundamental concepts of technical analysis and how to apply them toward the development and implementation of profitable investment strategies. Become knowledgeable of the of risk management and money management principles that are an integral part of the successful implementation of technical analysis. Become familiar with the application of software, databases and websites that can be a valuable support tool for technical analysis.

An introductory course in computer application to business and financial decision-making. Uses Excel to develop, use, and analyze financial models relating to discounted cash flows, loan amortization, bond valuation, lease analysis, yield curves, capital budgeting, break-even analysis, corporate and life-cycle financial planning, valuation of firms and stocks, and option pricing.

Provide the professional practices of investment banks including raising capital through IPO's, or secondary issues of equity, and debt for clients. Explore investment banks which advise on M&A transaction, sell securities to institutional investors, engage in proprietary trading, or trade for their own account. Analyze the professional objectives and behavior in the various departments of an investment bank: departments of research, equity capital market, debt capital market, M&A and asset management, etc.

An in-depth analysis of options, futures, and other derivatives. Study financial derivatives whose prices are derived from the prices of other underlying securities. Provide students with a sound understanding of the significance of financial derivatives in the process of financial risk management. The types of contracts (derivative securities) studied include forwards, futures, options and swaps. Discuss each contract in detail with respect to its mechanics and institutional features, trading strategies, and equilibrium pricing relationships.

Learn a wide of knowledge pertaining to investment management including risk measurement and management, modern portfolio theory, fundamental analysis of securities, fixed income investing, behavioral finance, futures markets, options, and alternative investments. Explore the interrelationships between the business cycle and financial market cycles. Emphasize the analytical methods and sources required for the development and implementation of successful investment strategies. Focus on risk management principles and strategies in the investment.

An in-depth analysis of fixed-income securities. Topics include: measuring yields, bond price volatility (duration and convexity), the term structure of interest rates, non-U.S. bonds, treasury and agency securities markets, corporate and municipal debt instruments, convertible bonds, collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage-backed securities, other asset-back securities, interest rates, futures, options, swaps and agreements. Also includes bond portfolio management strategies.

Prepare students for future finance courses built upon the foundation laid by the concepts and topics learned in prior courses. Evaluate company performance and calculate its value using various methods of analysis and Excel techniques through a more in-depth understanding of the stories told by the three primary financial statements and Form 10-K. Show students how to utilize a company's current and forecasted financial statements for strategic decision making.

Equip students with knowledge and skills for measuring and maximizing shareholder value, including foundations of value and core valuation techniques as well as valuation in special situations, such as high-growth companies and cyclical companies.

This is a finance capstone course in which we will apply the case study and PC Fingame simulation methods to identify, analyze and make decisions concerning business problems that have financial implications. Ensure the in depth understanding and use of corporate financial concepts and applications through the use of case study analysis and study.