FIN 202 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING | 2 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of basic statistical tools of financial analysis. Students will become familiar with the design and application of spreadsheet models for the analysis of financial data and tests of hypotheses. (2 quarter hours)
FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 205 | LEARNING AND TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Learn the fundamentals of financial literacy and teach these concepts to leaders of Chicago community groups that focus on helping limited-resource individuals.
FIN 250 | CAREER EXPLORATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 2 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course is designed to help students articulate specific goals and implement strategies to successfully pursue career opportunities and help to develop a professional persona. Students will fine-tune their professional resume, begin to establish a personal brand, practice a variety of professional communications, and hone their interviewing skills. Students will participate in a variety of activities including lectures, assignments, and group collaboration.
Students must be intended or declared Finance majors to take this course.
FIN 251 | CAREER MANAGEMENT IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE | 0 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course is designed to help you articulate your specific goals and implement strategies to successfully pursue opportunities as an Actuarial Science graduate and 21st century professional. You will fine-tune your professional resume, begin to establish your personal brand, practice a variety of professional communications, and hone your professional interviewing skills. Students will participate in a variety of activities including lectures, assignments, and group collaboration.
Status as a BSB Actuarial Science major or BS Actuarial Science major or BA/BS Math major with a concentration in Actuarial Science is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 290 | FINANCE FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course will provide to non-business majors a foundation in the concepts and basic tools used in finance and financial management of the business firm, including time value of money, risk and return, interest rates and how companies raise money and reward their investors. Students will be able to understand at a basic level the financial statements, ratios and performance measures and financial markets and institutions they are likely to encounter in a general business environment. Students will also learn how to analyze and make more effective the operations of the firm from a financial perspective.
FIN 310 | INTRODUCTION TO FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course introduces students to the logic, principles, institutions, and terminology of finance. The goal of the course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the role of finance and its functions. It is designed to familiarize the students with tools necessary for making sound financial decisions, both at a personal level and at an enterprise level.
ACC 101, ECO 105, MAT 137 are prerequisites for this class. For Actuarial Science majors, ACC 101, ECO 105 and MAT 150 are prerequisites for this class.
FIN 311 | CORPORATE FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The goal of the course is to provide students with the basic tools and theoretical background necessary to understand the corporate financial decision making process. Emphasis is on valuation principles with application to bonds, stocks, and capital budgeting as well as issues involving the capital structure, working capital, and dividend policy.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 313 | INVESTMENT BANKING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of investment banking, focusing on valuation, mergers & acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and debt capital markets. The course is intentionally taught from a practitioner's point of view, exposing students to various analytical tools and to a full appreciation of what is all required to complete an investment banking transaction. The course will foster collaboration skills through group case studies and presentations. A real world learning component designed to give students a true sense of working in an investment banking environment is integrated into the course.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 315 | DATA ANALYTICS IN FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Data analytics is transforming the field of finance. Firms can analyze internal data to optimize financial decision-making and investors can use sophisticated analytical tools to improve investment decisions. In the course, students will learn about this growing trend and how to use common software tools for analyzing data. The course provides experience in applying statistical models to financial data from a range of real-world cases. These skills will prepare students for the rapid evolution of data analytics in finance.
FIN 320 | MONEY AND BANKING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The study of money and banking as a means to understanding how operations of our financial institutions affect functioning of our economic system and evaluation of monetary policies and goals.
ECO 106 and (a grade of C- or better in FIN 310 or a grade of A- or better in FIN 300) are prerequisites for this class.
FIN 323 | COMMERCIAL BANKING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course will analyze the role of commercial banks in the financial system and will focus on understanding what banks actually do, how they make money and how this has been changing over time, what risks they are exposed to and how they manage those risks. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate banks' financial statements, develop an appreciation for the complexity of risk in banking and the role and responsibility of regulators. The course will introduce students to banking case studies designed to take concepts learned and how to apply them to real world situations. This real world learning experience will revolve around a corporate credit risk analysis.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 324 | BANKING & CREDIT ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course is designed to give students practical insight into the role commercial banks play in the global financial system through corporate credit intermediation. Specifically, the course is oriented to understanding the credit analysis and loan origination process a bank goes through in the extension of corporate credit as well as the resulting implications on risk mitigation, loan structuring and pricing. Students will gain industry analysis and technical finance knowledge, while significantly improving their financial analysis capacity and excel modeling. A real-world learning component designed to give students a true sense of working in a commercial banking environment is integrated into the course.
FIN 310 & (FIN 333 or ACC 304 or ACC 307) are prerequisites for this course.
FIN 330 | INVESTMENTS: THEORY & PRACTICE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course focuses on Investment principles and problems. It seeks to develop the student's perception of risks and opportunities in investment instruments and markets. It will inform their description of the markets and the operational effects of current financial events upon the various markets.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 333 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Corporate performance and its effects on outstanding securities. Evaluation and interpretation of financial soundness of an enterprise. Economic, management and corporate financial factors as they affect specific security issues.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 335 | PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Theories and techniques to achieve superior selection and management of securities portfolios. Review and evaluation of significant literature. Problems of timing and strategies in response to changing economic and financial conditions.
FIN 330 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 336 | EQUITY RESEARCH | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills critical for analyzing equities (stocks) including using Bloomberg, Excel, and Thomson ONE to conduct industry analysis, company analysis, basic financial modeling, and valuation to communicate a successful stock pitch.
FIN 330 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 340 | INTERNATIONAL FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The objectives of this course include: understanding the effect of political and economic factors on the financial decision-making of the firm, determining the major factors influencing currency value; analyzing and managing the spectrum of risks arising from a firm's international operations; and acquiring knowledge of the international financial system and the major players in that system.
FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 350 | REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course introduces essential institutional, legal, regulatory, and financial aspects of real estate in the U.S. economy and financial system. The course incorporates demographic data for real estate market analysis and includes an exercise in land use planning. PREREQUISITE(S): Junior standing.
FIN 355 | GLOBAL IPOs & VENTURE CAPITAL | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course explores equity financing alternatives for young, innovative start-up companies, including their final funding step as a private company: their initial public offering (IPO), when they go public. These early-stage financial markets have been influenced by various economic systems and cultures around the world, and in turn there have been major cross-country differences in the motivation of and funding for innovation. This course has quantitative elements, but our focus will typically be on the analytics: on contract design, optimal regulation, balancing various risks and objectives, and structuring a deal to minimize conflicts of interest while optimizing incentives. A major focus of this course will be on why and how the venture capital industry developed, and how it funds and encourages innovation. This requires examining various economic and governmental systems and the incentives they provide for technological innovation and progress. Similarly, for IPOs, we will compare IPO markets and regulations in various countries, and explore how cultural and governmental systems have affected those markets. The IPO case studies will illustrate the three main IPO methods used around the globe.
FIN 310 or FIN 300 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 362 | ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Theories and techniques of risk management that employ statistical techniques which enhance risk decision-making. This course develops a framework of analysis that can be applied by corporate or investment risk managers.
FIN 363 | DERIVATIVES: PRICING & APPLICATIONS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This is an advanced course that focuses on the pricing models for the four derivative instruments: forwards, futures, options and swaps. The first part of the course is devoted to the two general classes of derivative pricing models: discrete time and continuous time, with each model's properties discussed in detail. These models are then applied to a range of realistic pricing situations which include swaps, exotic options and fixed income derivatives. The course concludes with a detailed examination of value at risk.
FIN 330 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 365 | PRINCIPLES OF RISK & INSURANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course surveys fundamental principles of risk, the risk management process, and insurance as a systematic approach to transfer and finance risk. It examines how insurance offers protection against major risks that firms and individuals face, how the insurance market is structured, and how and why the industry is regulated. This course also delves into theories and philosophies that provide insights into how the risk management industry functions in the larger society. Emphasis will be placed on understanding that insurance is just one of the techniques to be relied upon in planning a comprehensive risk management program.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 366 | FINANCIAL MODELING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course will focus on the use of EXCEL in implementing financial theory to solve practical, real world problems in finance.
FIN 367 | PROPERTY & LIABILITY INSURANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course identifies property and liability loss exposures that corporations commonly face and examines how they manage these exposures. The theories and principles governing insurance contracts addressing these risks are then discussed in detail. The course also offers cases and data for an analysis of the commercial property liability Insurance and Reinsurance industry and recent market performance.
FIN 365 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 380 | CASES IN FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This is the capstone course for students majoring in Finance. The course applies the case study methodology to hone the student's analytical skills with applied finance issues, as well as to further develop verbal and written communication skills, the ability to work effectively within teams, and to engage in reasoned debate. This course will provide students the opportunity to apply and integrate the knowledge acquired in their previous finance courses.
FIN 381 | BEHAVIORAL FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The primary objective of this course is to better understand investor behavior, return predictability in asset markets, and corporate decisions by considering behavioral aspects of decision making. We will discuss market efficiency, psychology of decision making, anomalies, investor behavior, limits of arbitrage, and behavioral corporate finance.
FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 393 | FINANCE INTERNSHIP | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
An academically supervised working experience in a major financial institution. Registration in this program requires approval of the department internship director.
A grade of C- or higher in FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 395 | INVESTMENT SEMINAR | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Experience a rich learning and application opportunity focusing on financial investing. Learn methods to find the intrinsic value of a company's stock and explore catalysts that will increase the stock price. Make buy and sell recommendations for a 'live' portfolio.
FIN 330 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 396 | HONORS SEMINAR | 2 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This is a required course for all Honors Students in Finance. It is conducted on a year-long basis (Fall, Winter & Spring) for the benefit of the students in the program. Participants are required to attend all events sponsored by the class conductor. These include, but are not limited to, distinguished speakers series, networking luncheons, current topics forums, communications and protocol workshops, field trips and community service programs. All students are required to complete an empirical analysis paper, utilizing databases available to the department, as assigned by the seminar's conductor. (2 quarter hours)
Status as an Honors Finance student is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 397 | HONORS SEMINAR CONTINUATION | 0 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This is a continuation of FIN 396 Honors Seminar. Students register for FIN 397 during autumn and winter quarters. Participants are required to attend all events sponsored by the seminar's coordinator. These include, but are not limited to, distinguished speakers series, networking luncheons, current topics forums, communications and protocol workshops, field trips and community service programs. All students are required to complete an empirical analysis paper, utilizing databases available to the department, as assigned by the coordinator.
Status as an Honors Finance student is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 398 | SPECIAL TOPICS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Content and format of this course are variable. An in-depth study of current issues in finance. Subject matter will be indicated in class schedule.
FIN 310 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 399 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Available to students of demonstrated capability for intensive independent work in finance. (variable credit)
Junior standing with at least 88 cumulative units is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 512 | COMMERCIAL BANKING | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The objective of this course is to analyze the role of commercial banks in the financial system in order to understand the problems and issues confronting bankers now and in the future. The student will learn to measure and evaluate bank performance; understand how banking firms make their money and how this has been changing over time; understand the management of assets and liabilities, the valuation of bank mergers and acquisitions, and how government policy influences the behavior of commercial banking firms. The course applies traditional finance and strategic management concepts to the management of financial institutions. The emphasis will be on developing a toolkit to solve problems not only in commercial banks but also in other financial services firms. The student will develop proficiency in relevant financial concepts, analytical frameworks, data analysis, and techniques in the field of financial economics. The course consists of a blend of lectures, discussions, and case studies.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 513 | MONEY AND CAPITAL MARKETS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course analyzes interest rates, foreign exchange rates, federal funds futures market, the operation and regulation of financial institutions, and the impact of Central Bank actions on securities markets and the economy. The educational objective of the course is to provide graduate business students with the opportunity to acquire a thorough understanding of the theoretical and applied concepts that determine the operations of the money and capital markets. When you finish this course you will be able to demonstrate how the release of economic news about the real sector and the conduct of monetary policy influence the pricing of assets (interest rates and foreign exchange rates); measure and evaluate the impact of central bank actions on securities markets and the economy; understand the importance of having an independent central bank for macroeconomic performance; measure and evaluate the price volatility of interest-bearing securities; and understand how central bank monetary and regulatory actions can affect the stability and soundness of financial institutions. This course is designed to achieve maximum student involvement in order to add the greatest amount of value to their graduate educational experience. The emphasis will be on developing a toolkit to solve problems that financial analysts and other researchers encounter in security markets and financial institutions. We desire to become proficient in certain financial market concepts, analytical frameworks, data analysis, and various techniques in the field of financial economics. Accordingly, the course is structured to include extensive reading, several written statistical assignments, and class discussions that are based on the readings. These written assignments have three objectives: to make sure that the reading material has been absorbed in full measure; to serve as the foundation for class discussions; and, to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the substantive class material and the ability to apply this material in "real world" situations.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 523 | INVESTMENT ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course provides an introduction to capital markets and financial instruments with an emphasis on security valuation. It is not a course on personal investing. The course builds on FIN 555 and covers relevant aspects of fixed-income markets, asset pricing, portfolio management, equity markets, and derivatives markets. The course provides background material for both FIN 662 (Derivatives Valuation) and FIN 675 (Cases in Investments and Financial Engineering).
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 524 | FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course provides an introduction to analyzing corporate financial statements. Considering a firm's operating and financial strategies, students assess strengths and weaknesses of historical performance. Keeping in mind value drivers such as profitability, liquidity, efficiency, leverage and returns, students then assess opportunities in the decision-making process.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 525 | PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course covers topics and techniques appropriate for institutional portfolio management. The course does not examine personal investment or personal portfolio management. The topics and readings are designed to be at the level of the portfolio management coverage in all the three levels of the CFA program.
FIN 523 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 526 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN INVESTMENTS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course provides an understanding of several topics that are important to successful completion of the CFA examination. The course will focus on equity valuation including valuation of closely held companies, real estate valuation, venture capital, behavioral finance, hedge funds, distressed debt, commodity futures, and benchmarks. The course will proceed from simple valuation models to those used to value assets wherein daily mark-to-market accounting is not available (e.g., real estate, venture capital, etc.).
FIN 523 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 528 | ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Alternative investments are the fastest growing sector of the financial industry, and probably the least understood, including by many market professionals. Although the range of sophistication in people associated with alternative investments varies, it is more and more common to use them in investment strategies, either as direct investments, through funds of funds or structured products. The purpose of this course is to give students a good understanding and workable knowledge of the techniques that should be part of the toolkit of anyone investing in, analyzing and/or advising private and institutional clients on the inclusion of alternative investments in their portfolios. Because this course is geared for students wishing to pursue careers in Wealth Management or related fields, it will largely be taught from a practitioner's point of view. Throughout the course we will pay special attention to capital market trends as they relate to the various investment vehicles we discuss. We will also turn our attention to corporate governance issues as they pertain to alternative investment strategies.
FIN 523 is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 530 | REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Analysis of real estate investment opportunities and the characteristics that distinguish them from other assets. Emphasis is upon forecasting cash flows and estimating risk. Case analysis is an integral part of the course technique.
RE 527 or FIN 555 (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for this class.
FIN 540 | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is designed to intersect three areas of interest: (a.) Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity; (b.) Family and Closely Held Firms, and; (c.) International Finance with special emphasis on cross-border valuation and access to finance. The course is, by nature, a finance course that deals with ventures, family, and closely held firms in an international context. The core question behind GEF is: "How do entrepreneurial managers, family firms, closely held firms and those who finance them design and execute ventures that effectively match opportunities and resources in an international context?" An overreaching insight of the GEF course is that the notions of risk and reward are as important in privately held as in publicly held firms. In privately held firms, however, entrepreneurs and financiers are often forced to make assumptions based on incomplete data. The course will provide you with the tools necessary to value these ventures domiciled in countries around the world.
FIN 551 | PROBLEMS IN CORPORATE FINANCIAL POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course enables the student to apply the basic principles of corporate finance learned in FIN 555 and in FIN 553 to problems in corporate finance with the complexities encountered in practice. Through cases and discussion of topical issues, the course provides the student with an opportunity to analyze practical financial situations and problems. The course requires the student to be familiar with fundamental concepts such as valuation methods (WACC, Free Cash Flow and Capital Cash Flow, APV, Trading and Transaction Multiples), portfolio selection, CAPM, and analysis of capital structure. The course emphasis is sufficiently general so as to be of interest to a wide cross-section of students. At its most fundamental level, the course attempts to improve problem-solving skills that relate to problem definition, gathering and organizing the relevant information, developing feasible alternative courses of action, evaluating alternative choices, and recommending and defending the best course of action. In addition to analyzing specific problems or issues, the course will consider how these issues relate to the strategic objectives of the firm and examine the "big picture" assumptions that are used in the numerical calculations. FIN 553 is strongly recommended.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 553 | ADVANCED CORPORATE FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course builds on FIN 555 and focuses on fundamental themes in corporate finance. Topics covered include the analysis of capital investments, valuation methods, cost of capital, real options, agency costs, corporate governance, payout policy, equity issues, hybrid forms of financing, and mergers and acquisitions. The main theme of the course is on valuation and the overall focus is on enhancing enterprise value. The course also uses several case studies to illustrate the application of finance theory to practical problems.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 555 | FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course provides an introduction to concepts and techniques required to analyze and implement optimal financial decisions by firms and serves as the core course in the graduate finance curriculum. The course focuses on the effect of time and uncertainty on investment and financing decisions. It develops a framework for corporate financial decision-making. Topics covered include basic discounting techniques, stock and bond valuation, capital budgeting, portfolio theory, asset pricing, and capital structure. The course uses several case studies to illustrate the application of finance theory to practical problems.
(ACC 500 or ACC 502 or equivalent) and (GSB 420 or GSB 519 or equivalent) are prerequisites for this class.
FIN 557 | INTERNATIONAL FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course examines the effect of political and economic factors on the financial decision-making of the firm. The objective of the course is to enable the student to i) utilize the knowledge of the determinants of currency values, and the mechanism through which they work, to forecast changes in currency values ii) to analyze and manage the spectrum of risks arising from a firm's international operations and iii) to be familiar with how the international financial system works and with the major players in the system.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 558 | MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The course provides an overview of common corporate restructuring strategies and the economic motives for undertaking them. Topics covered include mergers, acquisitions, friendly and hostile takeovers, financial re-capitalization, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, going private, convertible securities, tracking-stock, spin-offs, split-ups, carve-outs and reorganization under bankruptcy, liquidation, and out-of-court restructuring. The course integrates corporate governance and agency dimensions, financial and strategic management aspects, and legal and accounting considerations into a unified framework. This framework is then used to investigate issues such as pre-merger planning, fact-finding, accounting and tax implications, anti-trust problems, post-merger integration, and the short-term and long-term shareholder wealth consequences of financial and organizational restructuring transactions. The course examines transactions that significantly affect a corporation's assets, liabilities, and/or equity claims. Transactions will be examined from the perspectives of both the corporation (e.g. CFO and CEO) and the capital markets (e.g. investors). Common "arbitrage" trading strategies involving corporate transactions will also be discussed. A basic understanding of financial options and pricing is recommended.
FIN 555 and (FIN 551 or FIN 553) are prerequisites for this class.
FIN 559 | SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course examines how firms create and sustain value over time. The course explores environmental/social sustainability issues as real business risks through analysis and discussion of current events and case studies. The course begins with an introduction to financial statements and the data they contain to inform investors about a firm's financial position and value to investors. We then examine how common environmental/social sustainability issues and solutions impact firm value. Finally, we look beyond firms to the impact on public and private resources as firms seek to create sustainable value.
FIN 562 | RISK MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course examines risk management from a broad enterprise perspective by focusing on the various risks faced by a firm. The course covers various methods that can be used to minimize risk and its effect on firm value.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 571 | FINANCING NEW VENTURES | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course will focus on identifying, examining and evaluating various sources of original and growth capital. Emphasis will be on legal, financial and tax issues related to capital formation as well as specific problems experienced by the small-to-medium-sized firm undergoing rapid growth. Topics discussed will include financing startups, financial planning and strategy, going public, selling out and bankruptcy. A formal proposal for capital acquisition developed through field research will be required of each student. Cross-listed with MGT 571.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 581 | BEHAVIORAL FINANCE | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
After the development in the last four decades, Behavioral Finance has become an integral part of the toolkit that is essential for a successful career in any finance-related field: asset management, investment banking, corporate finance, finance-related policy work, among others. The traditional framework for thinking about financial markets assumes that all market participants are fully rational. The past four decades, however, have witnessed the emergence of an important new paradigm, behavioral finance, which argues that many financial phenomena are the result of less than fully rational thinking. In this course, we will cover the building blocks of behavioral finance: limits to arbitrage and psychology. Then, we will move on to applications to individual investor behavior, financial markets, corporate finance and policy. (Prerequisite: FIN 555)
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 595 | INVESTMENT SEMINAR I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The Investment Seminar is intended to provide a rich learning and application opportunity focusing on financial investing. The learning module comes about through the fusion of academic knowledge gained from advanced courses in investments and corporate finance with the actual practice of analyzing securities and making and defending buy and sell recommendations for a "live" portfolio. Students taking the course are paired with executives from top financial firms and will present stock recommendations at company headquarters. The course is unique to collegiate business education and provides a definite competitive education and provides a definite competitive edge in the job market.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 617 | TOOLS OF FINANCIAL ANALYTICS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course provides the student with a comprehensive introduction to the mathematics of finance. The course will focus on applying mathematical concepts, quantitative tools, and modeling techniques to practical problems encountered in finance.
FIN 660 | IPOs AND VENTURE CAPITAL | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
In IPOs and Venture Capital, we will explore equity financing alternatives for private companies, including their final funding step as a private company: their initial public offering or IPO, when they go public. Unlike many finance classes, this is not primarily a quantitative course. While there are some quantitative elements, the focus will typically be on the analytics: on contract design, optimal regulation, balancing various risks and objectives, and structuring a deal to minimize conflicts of interest and optimize incentives. Our focus will be largely on the U.S., but we will also cover fund-raising methods and options in other countries. We will work in part from Harvard Business School Case Studies. This course should be useful for those interested in investment banking, venture capital, private equity, or securities law, or those who hope to have a start-up of their own someday.
FIN 662 | DERIVATIVES VALUATION | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course focuses on the theory and practice of the valuation of derivative securities such as forward contracts, futures contracts, swaps, and options. The course also examines the underlying properties of each of these instruments and their use in managing the various risks faced by market participants.
FIN 719 | EQUITY RESEARCH | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills critical for analyzing equities (stocks) including using Bloomberg, Excel, and Thomson ONE to conduct industry analysis, company analysis, basic financial modeling, and valuation to communicate a successful stock pitch.
FIN 555 is a prerequisite for this class
FIN 793 | INTERNSHIP | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Knowledge acquired in the classroom is applied in an actual business environment through varied theoretical and basic assignments under supervision in industry, government or public finance.
FIN 798 | SPECIAL TOPICS | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Content and format of this course are variable. In-depth study of current issues in finance. Subject matter will be indicated in class schedule. Offered variably.
FIN 799 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Available to graduate students of demonstrated capability for intensive independent work in finance.