Schedule of Classes

This course will provide an orientation to the professional field of finance. Topics include available career paths in finance and necessary industry qualifications, overview of industry certifications, finance curriculum options, introduction to fundamental knowledge and skills required, practical application of investing and saving decisions, and review of the functions of the financial markets.

Principles and practice of management of personal income, wealth, and credit: budgeting, sources of financing, savings, estate planning, and institutions of personal finance.

Capital budgeting and principles of financial management. External and internal sources of funds: costs and profitable uses in business organizations.

Principles of investment analysis. Introduction to security valuation using fundamental analysis with associated trading rules. Introduction to technical analysis/charting with trading rules. Functions and descriptions of securities markets and trading.

Overview of options, futures, swaps, and related financial securities. Examination of exchanges, pricing issues, arbitrage, and trading strategies. Applications emphasize the use of derivative securities for managing financial risk.

Operation of financial institutions and interrelationships between their operations and economic activity; credit flow and money movements, in the context of financial institutions' operations. Structure and organization of the financial system; emphasis on markets and intermediaries.

Principles of investing by and for individual investors. Coverage includes fundamental concepts, theories, principles and strategies of investment planning. Examines various aspects of investment planning strategies emphasizing applicable knowledge and techniques with which a financial service professional provides client service.

Interpretation and analysis of corporate financial statements. Current annual and interim reports as a source of data for management, stockholders, and creditors.

Introduction to portfolio theory. Diversification concepts. Market-oriented capital asset pricing model, options pricing model, and arbitage pricing theory. Market efficiency. Relationship of portfolio theory to fundamental and technical analyses. Portfolio management and evaluation techniques.

Studies undertaken by academically qualified students under guidance of a faculty member. Open to Finance and Quantitative Methods Department majors only. May be repeated under different topics for a maximum of six hours credit.

Topics of special interest which may vary each time the course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes.