FIN and GEN Course Descriptions
FIN 175 Personal Finance 4 cr.
This course is an introduction to personal finance planning. Basics of stocks, bonds, annuities, 401-K plans, mutual funds, and estate planning will be discussed.
FIN 200 Introduction to Business Finance 4 cr.
Students will get a complete understanding of financial terms, statements, and ratios, and how they affect the operations of a business corporation. This course is meant to be an introduction to finance and accounting for all students who may have budget, profit and loss responsibilities, and intend to contribute to the financial success of their companies. This is a basic finance course for all students aspiring to be entrepreneurs and non-financial professionals.
FIN 395 Advanced Personal Finance (residency status) 4 cr.
This course provides an overview of financial planning and the tools available to a planner. Students will be taught how to prepare personal financial statements. Topics include credit and debt management, education funding, savings options, time value of money, home and automobile financing, and regulation requirements of the financial services industry. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.
FIN 400 Financial Management (MTH 344) (co-requisite MGT 420*) 4 cr.
Selected topics in both the financial and managerial aspects of financial management for business organizations are studied with the intention of providing a survey of important concepts, issues, tools, and vocabulary that administrators need to effectively manage a business organization. Students will learn how managers and investors use financial statements in order to meet their financial objectives. The goals of the financial manager, the trade-off between risk and return, and the time value of money will be explained. The application of these basic concepts to the valuation of bonds and stocks, capital budgeting problems, and the process for determining capital structure will also be emphasized.
FIN 405 Financial Statement Analysis (residency status) 4 cr.
The objective of this course is to provide students with a thorough understanding of financial statements. Students will be analyzing financial statements of companies in different industries. In this course the students will be assessing the current financial conditions of a company and forecasting its future position.
FIN 415 Investments (MTH 344 recommended) 4 cr.
Emphasis in this course is on understanding the financial markets, how securities are traded, the efficient market theory, and the valuation of stocks and bonds.
FIN 425 Portfolio Management (FIN 415) 4 cr.
This course focuses on the development of modern portfolio theory and measurement of investment performance under different risk scenarios. It discusses the various investment alternatives available in today's financial markets and the risks associated with these investments. Methods of measuring the performance results from these investments relative to their risk profiles are discussed.
FIN 435 Financial Institutions (FIN 400) 4 cr.
This course discusses how a bank operates, the government regulation of the banking industry, and the importance of non-bank financial institutions. It will also address how adverse selection and moral hazard have led to problems in financial institutions.
FIN 440 Insurance and Risk Management (FIN 395) 4 cr.
This course enables the student to gain a thorough understanding of both risk management and insurance theory and practice. Students are exposed to the legal, actuarial, financial, and economic principles underlying personal, property, and casualty insurance. In addition to explaining the definition and principles of risk, the details of health, disability, long-term care, and life insurance are also taught. Risk management and insurance theory, functions, and strategies are all examined with reference to changes in the legal, regulatory, and economic environment. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.
FIN 445 Retirement Planning (FIN 425) 4 cr.
This course provides a good understanding of the retirement planning process. Students learn how to do a retirement needs analysis and help clients save enough for a comfortable retirement. Topics include social security, Medicare, and types of retirement plans and their tax implications. All topics are discussed using case studies, taking into consideration the changing legal, regulatory, and political environment.
FIN 450 Employee Benefit Planning (FIN 425) 4 cr.
This course examines employee benefit plans including stock options, stock plans, and deferred compensation. Case studies will be used to study the employee benefit environment and the approaches to benefit plans.
FIN 455 Income Tax Planning (FIN 395) 4 cr.
The focus of this course is on the fundamentals of income tax planning. Topics include income tax laws, methods of tax calculations, characteristics of entities, taxes on trusts and estates, alternative minimum tax, tax management techniques, charitable contributions, and deductions. The most recent tax laws will be incorporated into this course. A case study approach will be used.
FIN 460 Real Estate Finance (FIN 395) 4 cr.
This course applies finance theory to the evaluation of real estate finance. The mechanics of the mortgage market, lease structures, concepts of rents, and yields are discussed. This course also examines the role of the banking system in the real estate market. Regulation, taxation, and management of property trusts are some other topics covered.
FIN 465 Estate Planning (residency status) 4 cr.
This course surveys topics such as wills, trusts, gifting strategies, tax implications in estate planning, business and inter-family transfers, incapacity planning, postmortem techniques, charitable giving, use of life insurance in estate planning, and the role of fiduciaries. Case studies will be used to illustrate estate planning principles.
FIN 475 Corporate Finance (FIN 400) 4 cr.
This course deals with financial management topics such as cash flow estimation and capital budgeting. In addition, students will learn about capital structure, dividends, working capital management, lease financing, warrants, convertibles, rights offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.
FIN 480 International Finance (residency status) 4 cr.
In this course, students learn about exchange rates, balance of payments, and parity conditions in international finance. The concept of managing exchange rate risk will be explained. Students will also be exposed to the concepts of multinational financial management.
GEN 272 Social Responsibility, Ecology, and Business 4 cr.
Current environmental issues will be examined. Topics include population growth, climate change, energy shortages, and pollution. Students will study business enterprises exhibiting socially responsible behavior toward the planet.
GEN 273 Public Policy and Business 4 cr.
Students will become familiar and conversant with public policy and contemporary business issues. Students will apply governmental and non-governmental solutions to public policy and contemporary business issues.