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.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of principles of investments, and covers topics such as asset pricing, fixed income, security analysis and portfolio management, derivatives, market efficient and behavioral finance. Additionally, focus is on security valuation using fundamental analysis, and on the elements of the investment policy statement.

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.

Examination of the increasing use of marketing techniques in the financial services industry and the changing environment of financial services. Course is structured around the core marketing principles of buyer behavior, segmentation, product development, distribution, pricing and promotion, as well as topics such as relationship marketing, customer loyalty, and technological developments. Designed for students with an interest in banking, insurance, securities, and other financial services industries. Cross listed with MTG 330.

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.

Modeling financial processes, cash flows, security prices, etc., for decision making. Econometric, distribution-based, Markov and Stochastic Process concepts are employed. Treats risk/uncertainty identification, measurement and management.

Contemporary review of theory and practice of financial risk management. Principles for managing financial risk are applied to interest rates, exchange rates, and commodity prices. Financial engineering is incorporated into unified ethical and sustainable managerial problem solving and policy decisions designed to achieve successful operations. Supporting financial elements areas are integrated to understand and appreciate their interdependencies and benefits as a culminating academic experience.

Development of comprehensive personal financial plans. Investment planning strategies will be applied to the work of the financial service professional with a client service orientation. Integration of analytical skills will be developed through mini and comprehensive cases that will be presented in wriiten and oral formats.

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