Course Descriptions

FIN301 / Managerial Finance [3-0, 3cr.]

This course is concerned with the firm’s investment and financing decisions. Students learn how financial managers raise funds for their corporations and how they allocate these funds among the assets of the firm. Topics include: the goal of the financial managers, cash flow estimation, financial statement analysis, time value of money, risk and return, valuation of bonds and stocks, and capital budgeting.

Prerequisites: ACC203 / Financial Accounting and a completion of 24 credits

FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets [3-0, 3cr.]

This course focuses on understanding the operations of financial institutions, markets, and instruments. Topics include central banks and other financial institutions, as well as the types of financial markets and instruments, and interest rates

Prerequisites: ACC203 / Financial Accounting; ACC204 / Managerial Accounting; ECO201 / Microeconomics and ECO202 / Macroeconomics

FIN311 / Banking Operations [3-0, 3cr.]

This course is concerned with the management of commercial bank operations. It provides students with a description and analysis of those operations. It also covers the techniques and tools commercial bank managers apply to perform their job. Topics include the structure and internal organization of banks, lending policies, asset and liability management, risk management, and capital adequacy.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance and FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets

FIN321 / Introduction to Insurance [3-0, 3cr.]

This course covers the theory of risk management and insurance, the institutional aspects of the insurance industry, and the decision-making tools used in the insurance industry.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance and FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets

FIN322 / Global Financial Management [3-0, 3cr.]

This course explores the global financial environment in which a multinational firm operates.  The course covers foreign exchange markets, international financial markets, international capital flows, international investing, and international trade and risk management issues.  In addition, the course will discuss financial tools used by managers of firms operating in a global market.

Prerequisites: FIN301/Managerial Finance and FIN302/Financial Institutions and Markets

FIN323 / Islamic Banking and Finance [3-0, 3cr.]

This course focuses on the principles and implications of Islamic Shariah (religious law) pertaining to economic and financial systems. It covers the operations of Islamic banks by examining various debt-based and profit-sharing financing instruments as well as liquidity and risk management techniques. It reviews different Islamic investment vehicles, including Shariah-compliant equities, Sukuk, and Takaful investments.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance, FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets, and FIN311 / Banking Operations

FIN399 / Internship / Practicum [1-0, 1 cr.]

Students may earn one credit by working for a period of four weeks at an instructor-approved banking or finance position with a business not owned by a relative of the student.

Prerequisites: Senior standing and instructor’s approval.

FIN401 / Senior Seminar in Finance [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course discusses contemporary issues in finance.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance, FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets, and senior standing.

FIN411 / Security Analysis & Portfolio Management [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course is concerned with the analysis, evaluation, and trading of financial securities. It also covers bond and stock portfolio management, which includes the topics of: risk and return, diversification, efficient portfolios, market efficiency, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model. Students will gain hands-on experience by managing a portfolio of securities during the term.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance and FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets

FIN413 / Corporate Finance [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course is concerned with the following topics: short- and long-term financial management, including capital budgeting with uncertainty, capital structure, dividend policy, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. It emphasizes the case study approach to learning.

Prerequisites: FIN301 / Managerial Finance and FIN302 / Financial Institutions and Markets

FIN421 / Financial Derivatives [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course is concerned with derivative securities and markets. Topics include options, option markets, option strategies, option pricing models, futures, futures markets, futures’ strategies, futures’ pricing models, and swaps and financial risk management using derivatives.

Prerequisite: FIN411 / Security Analysis and Portfolio Management