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FN 216 Personal Finance (3) Offered on campus: Spring; online: Interterm, Summer. This course introduces the issues involved in long-term financial planning. Students learn money management, credit management, home ownership, and retirement and estate planning and use these skills to prepare a personal budget, manage consumer credit, and evaluate the cost of asset ownership. In addition, the students will gain a basic understanding of insurance, taxes, and investment options and associated risk as they apply to personal finance. This course may be taken as a social science elective.
FN 310 Financial Institutions (3) Offered Spring. Prereq.: At least “C-” in BA 301. The student will understand the monetary and financial systems in the U.S. including an analysis of money, prices, interest rates, credit, national income, and employment, all in relation to the framework in place in various foreign markets.
FN 315 Principles of Investments (3) Offered Fall. Prereq.: At least “C-” in BA 302. This course develops the topic of investments from a personal finance perspective. Students will learn the various investment vehicles available as well as how to evaluate the risks and rewards of each type of investment. Required for FN 448.
FN 431 Financial Statement Analysis (3) Offered Fall. Prereq.: At least “C-” in BA 302. Students will apply analytical tools and techniques to financial statements to derive measurements and relationships useful for decision making. This course may be taken as an accounting elective. Required for FN 452.
FN 433 International Finance (3) Offered Fall. Prereq.: Credit for or concurrent enrollment in BA 302. In addition to learning the goals of and risks faced by multinational corporations (MNCs), students learn the characteristics of and financial instruments used in international markets. Students also learn how inflation, national income, and agencies affect international trade and how inflation and interest rates affect currency exchange rates. From this knowledge, students are able to hedge risk through forward and futures contracts.
FN 447 Financial Modeling and Forecasting (3) Offered Fall. Prereq.: BA 330 and at least “C-” in BA 302 and 322 (or MA 326). Students gain facility in several modeling and forecasting techniques such as the Gordon model, CAPM, and Black-Scholes, with an emphasis on the statistical analysis of economic and financial data. Using this knowledge, students construct spreadsheets to generate pro forma statements; perform sensitivity analysis; and assist in capital budgeting, firm valuation, and working capital management decisions. Required for FN 452.
FN 448 Advanced Portfolio Management (3) Offered Spring. Prereq.: At least “C-” in FN 315. Students will use portfolio theory and asset pricing models to determine rational investment and portfolio management policies. Students will also analyze expected returns to determine the optimal portfolio mix for hypothetical clients and will perform risk assessment and performance evaluation to minimize portfolio risk while maximizing returns.
FN 452 Case Studies in Finance (3) Offered Spring. Prereq.: At least “C-” in FN 431 and 447. Students will apply financial theories to “real world” situations and will develop the ability to analyze financial scenarios and practice the communication skills required in a business environment. Students will perform analytical reviews of financial statements, calculate capital budgets and cost of capital for decision-making, and will prepare cash budgets. Students will also learn to identify the interrelationships among financial statement components to generate financial projections.