Finance (FIN)

FIN 125 Introduction to Finance 0,3 Credits

An introductory finance course that provides students with the basic finance skills and knowledge needed to undertake downstream courses in the finance major. Major topic areas will include time value of money, risk and return valuation of stocks and bonds, capital budgeting, cost of capital, and financial statement analysis.
Prerequisites: ACCT 151 and (ECO 145 or ECO 045 or MATH 231 or ISE 111 or IE 111 or SR 111) and (MATH 021 or MATH 031 or MATH 076 or MATH 081)
Can be taken Concurrently: ACCT 151

FIN 273 Finance Internship I 1-3 Credits

Based on a student’s work experience, a sponsoring faculty member shall direct readings, projects, and other assignments—including a “capstone report.” It should be noted that the work experience (at least 80 hours), by itself, is not the basis for academic credit. The faculty directed activity must be provided concurrent with the work. Course registration and related arrangements must be made in advance of the work engagement. This course must be taken Pass/Fail and cannot be used to satisfy finance major requirements. Declaration of a finance major. Consent of department required.
Prerequisites: (ECO 129 or ECO 029 and ACCT 151) and (ECO 145 or ECO 045 or MATH 231 or ISE 111 or IE 111 or SR 111) and (MATH 021 or MATH 031 or MATH 076 or MATH 097 or MATH 081)

FIN 300 Apprentice Teaching 1-3 Credits

Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 323 Investments 3 Credits

This course covers the concepts of risk and returns on financial assets from the viewpoint of various constituents. Investor objectives, attitudes, and constraints are considered within the risk-return matrix. Concepts of valuation are covered. Prerequisites: FIN 125. The course is open to sophomores with the appropriate prerequisites.
Prerequisites: FIN 125

FIN 324 Security Analysis and Portfolio Management 3 Credits

The course will expose students to the concept of Corporate Valuation via Equity and Debt instruments including examining transactions and events leading to market crashes. Forecasting models will be used. Coverage includes: portfolio management concepts, market factors, technical analysis, timing, and screening of securities. Online version is designed for maximum flexibility (access to instructor, optional group work, recorded video and live sessions) enabling students to pursue professional interests.
Prerequisites: FIN 323 and FIN 328

FIN 328 Corporate Financial Policy 3 Credits

The study of corporate financial management issues related to capital budgeting, working capital, capital structure, mergers, and financing. Prerequisites: FIN 125. The course is open to sophomores with the appropriate prerequisites.
Prerequisites: FIN 125

FIN 330 Financial Markets and Institutions 3 Credits

Functions and portfolios of financial intermediaries. Sectional demand and supply of funds, nature and role of interest rates, term structure and forecasting, impact of inflation and regulation on financial intermediaries and markets, and current developments in the financial system. Management of assets and liabilities within the U.S. financial institution’s legal and economic constraints.
Prerequisites: (FIN 323 and FIN 328)

FIN 333 Global Finance 3 Credits

Issues that underlie the investment, financing, and dividend decisions of multinational firms from both the buyer’s and seller’s viewpoints. Current transactions in foreign currencies, direct and portfolio investment and associated risk management when dealing in foreign countries.
Prerequisites: (FIN 328 and FIN 323)

FIN 334 Derivatives and Management of Risk 3 Credits

Theoretical and practical aspects of various instruments and markets that involve financial derivative instruments. Emphasis on the management of risk for corporate managers and portfolio managers.
Prerequisites: (FIN 323 and FIN 328)

FIN 335 Advanced Topics – Financial Management 3 Credits

Advanced topics relating to specific areas of corporate finance such as: bond refunding, asset valuation and capital budgeting including the role of uncertainty, imprecise forecasts, risk preferences, inflation, market conditions, and the global marketplace; working capital management, leasing, mergers, and financing. The course content may vary between instructors and over time, therefore, the course descriptor is subject to change each time the is offered.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Prerequisites: (FIN 328 and FIN 323)

FIN 336 Real Estate Finance 3 Credits

An advanced survey of modern residential and commercial real estate financing techniques from the perspective of the borrower and the lender. Topics include: the principles of financing decisions; financing methods and techniques, institutional sources of funds for real estate, and real estate financing decision-making. The course includes lectures, demonstrations, spreadsheet software exercises, and guest speakers.
Prerequisites: (FIN 328 and FIN 323)

FIN 337 Financial Market Regulation and Innovation 3 Credits

In FIN 337, students gain an in-depth knowledge of financial market regulation, its intent, and effect on intermediaries/markets. Since this course provides the finance foundations for the FinTech minor, advances in the use of technology throughout financial services and the role of innovation will be explored. The course combines lecture and case materials to understand the economic and regulatory environment surrounding markets and the disruption/opportunities arising from financial technology.
Prerequisites: FIN 323 and FIN 328

FIN 371 Directed Readings 1-3 Credits

Readings in various fields of finance designed for the student with a special interest in some field of finance not covered in scheduled courses. Consent of sponsoring instructor required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 372 Special Topics 1-3 Credits

Special problems and issues in finance for which no regularly scheduled course work exists. When offered as group study, coverage varies according to interests of instructor and students. Consent of sponsoring instructor required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 373 Finance Internship II 1-3 Credits

Based on a student’s work experience, a sponsoring faculty member shall direct readings, projects, and other assignments—including a “capstone report.” It should be noted that the work experience (at least 80 hours), by itself, is not the basis for academic credit. The faculty directed activity must be provided concurrent with the work.Course content and work experience should have added rigor from Finance Internship I due to the satisfactory completion of the finance core (FIN 323 and FIN 328).Course registration and related arrangements must be made in advance of the work engagement. This course must be taken Pass/Fail and cannot be used to satisfy finance major requirements. Declaration of a finance major. Consent of department required.
Prerequisites: (FIN 323 and FIN 328)

FIN 374 Portfolio Management Practicum 1 Credit

Readings, projects and papers designed to complement the leadership and analytical activities associated with the management of the Student Investment Club or Thompson portfolios and similar activities. Consent of instructor required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 377 Advanced Topics--Investments 3 Credits

Advanced topics to specific areas of Investments such as: valuation/security analysis; portfolio/risk management; fixed income securities; mutual funds; hedge funds; microstructure; and trading.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Prerequisites: FIN 323 and FIN 328

FIN 382 Guest Speaker Seminar Series 1 Credit

This course is designed to help prepare students for ‘real’ world problems by exposing them to a variety of career opportunitites. The purpose of this seminar is to give students the opportunity to network with successful professionals in the Financial Services industry, connecting students and practitioners across places and generations to build community around shared work-as-service interests. For future professionals, this seminar advances co-curricular programming to the “pro-curricular” level – linking classroom study of finance to the dynamic world of the practicing financial professionals.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 388 FinTech Capstone 3 Credits

This course combines experiential learning via a semester long hands-on project with a series of lectures on relevant topics. Students will learn how to apply the information technologies and financial concepts they learned in the other courses to issues in the creation, distribution, servicing, or operations of financial products and services. These issues may include cybersecurity, payment processing, algorithmic trading, credit scoring, blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, machine learning, peer-to-peer lending, online banking, and mobile banking.
Prerequisites: (CSE 012 or CSE 017) and BIS 352 and (BIS 348 or CSE 347 or ISE 364 or ISE 365) and (BIS 324 or CSE 241 or ISE 224) and FIN 330

FIN 389 Honors Project 1-8 Credits

Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

FIN 418 Principles of Corporate Finance and Investments 3 Credits

This course provides students with a basic foundational knowledge of finance principles, working knowledge of various aspects of corporate finance, and the principles of investments. Short-term financial decisions will be discussed. Long-term capital investment will be explored starting with the basics of time value of money and capital investment techniques. Topics include the determination of the appropriate investment discount rate, the organization’s cost of capital and hurdle rates, the risk-reward tradeoff, and specific financial instruments.

FIN 433 Financial Analysis for Managers 3 Credits

The class introduces the key elements of financial reporting, budgeting, and analysis in corporate finance decision-making. From understanding the financial statements to implementing strategic plans, operational budgets, and financial forecasts, the course prepares students to make capital-investment decisions that lead to improved financial efficiencies and operating performance.
Prerequisites: MGT 431 and GBUS 401
Can be taken Concurrently: MGT 431