Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Finance

FIN 110 Personal Finance (4 credits)
This course gives students a practical, down-to-earth introduction to sound money management. It explores the real-life problems that students will face, and trains them to solve those problems. Students will develop the skills needed to deal with housing, insurance, investments, budgeting, the workplace, retirement, smart shopping, borrowing and more.

FIN 210 Sport Finance (4 credits)
A study of the application of economic thinking to sport enterprises. It shows how economic and financial analyses pertaining to different aspects of sports including player compensation, labor relations, facility development, broadcast rights, and competitive structure, are employed in managerial decision making in amateur and professional sports. Prerequisite: ECN 101.

FIN 310 Investments (4 credits)
Providing a solid foundation for success in the field of investments, this course focuses on the useful and practical implications of financial theory. The usefulness of financial theory lies in the framework it provides for characterizing and predicting stock and bond returns. The major focus of the course is on stocks, bonds and financial derivatives, such as options, futures and futures options. This course serves as the springboard to more advanced courses within the Finance major. Prerequisite: ACT 210.

FIN 325 Managerial Finance (4 credits)
A study of the forms of business organization, the financial organization of business activities, and financial decision theory. Prerequisite: ACT 220 or ACT 205, ECN 101, MTH 140.

FIN 328 Entrepreneurial Finance (4 credits)
This course introduces the theories, knowledge, and financial tools an entrepreneur needs to start, build, and harvest a successful venture. Sound financial management practices are essential to a venture’s operation. The successful entrepreneur must know how and where to obtain the financing necessary to launch and develop the venture. Eventually, that same successful entrepreneur must know how and when to interact with financial institutions and regulatory agencies to take the venture to its potential and provide a return and liquidity for the venture’s investors. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 330A Case Studies in Financial Services Management (2 credits)
A study of financial decision making in financial services through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative factors presented in case situations. Analysis of case situations may include utilization of computer applications. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 330B Case Studies in Corporate Financial Management (2 credits)
A study of financial decision making in corporate finance through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative factors presented in case situations. Analysis of case situations may include utilization of computer applications. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 380 A Review for NASD Series 6 Exam (2 credits)
This course is designed to prepare students to sit for the NASD Series 6 examination. The NASD Series 6 is used to qualify candidates for an investment company/variable contracts products limited representative. Registered Representatives in this limited category of registration are permitted to transact a member's business in redeemable securities of companies registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, securities of closed-end companies registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the period of original distribution only, and variable contracts and insurance premium funding programs and other contracts issued by an insurance company except contracts which are exempt securities. This category of registration does not allow a RR to transact a member's business in corporate securities, direct participation programs, municipal securities, or option products. It is anticipated that students who successfully complete this course will find internships with financial institutions that sponsor them for the actual exam. Prerequisite: FIN 310.

FIN 405 Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation (4 credits)
The premise of this course is that students learn financial statement analysis most effectively by performing the analysis on actual companies. Students learn to integrate concepts from economics, business strategy, accounting, and other business disciplines. This course is designed to synthesize the knowledge learned in accounting, finance, and economics and apply that knowledge to the study of actual companies. Prerequisite: ACT 210 and FIN 325. Not open to students with credit for AIS/BUS/FIN 350.

FIN 410 Intermediate Finance (4 credits)
This course is designed for finance majors and serves as an extension of FIN 325 Managerial Finance. Much of the material in FIN 325 will be revisited in greater depth. The objective of the course is to explore the theories and concepts of corporate finance, including the fundamentals of working capital, acquisition of capital, capital budgeting, and dividend policy in greater depth. The focus of this course in on financial management techniques under uncertainty and managing the balance between assets and liabilities. This course is designed to prepare the student for graduate level finance work. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 425 Bank Management (4 credits)
The management and regulatory environment of commercial banks has seen rapid change in recent years. This course is designed to introduce commercial bank management and the recent changes. The course focuses on bank management problems now and in the 21st Century in a way that helps students apply financial concepts to a variety of credit, investment, and funding decisions. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 430 Real Estate Finance and Investments (4 credits)
The management and regulatory environment of commercial and residential real estate has seen rapid change in recent years. This course is designed to provide a modern introduction to the investment opportunities and the recent changes. The course focuses on financing and investment problems now and in the 21st Century in a way that helps students apply financial concepts to a variety of credit, investment, and funding decisions. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 435 Risk Management and Insurance (4 credits)
An introduction to the legal principles underlying insurance, the basics of risk management, the application of risk management techniques to personal risk management problems, personal property and liability insurance contracts including the personal auto policy and the homeowner’s package, insurance regulation, and the insurance marketplace. This course provides a comprehensive study of the property-liability insurance industry as well as various economic and financial implications related to issues such as automobile, life, health and property insurance costs and prices, tort reform effects on insurance markets, insurance distribution systems, corporate governance and organizational structure of insurance companies. Prerequisite: FIN 325.

FIN 480 A Review for the NASD Series 7 Exam (4 credits)
This course is designed to prepare students to sit for the NASD Series 7 examination. Successful completion of this examination would qualify a candidate to conduct a member's business in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and limited partnerships. The Series 7 exam determines whether a candidate has attained the level of competency required to function as a Registered Representative. This category of registration does allow a RR to transact a member's business in corporate securities, direct participation programs, municipal securities, or option products. It is anticipated that students who successfully complete this course will find internships with financial institutions that sponsor them for the actual exam. Prerequisites: ACT 220; FIN 310, 325.