FNCE 2101 Introduction to Finance    3 Credits

Fee: $140 DSB Financial Technology Fee

Prerequisites: ACCT 1011, ECON 1011, ECON 1012, MATH 1016 or higher, sophomore standing.

This course provides the building blocks for understanding the role of finance in the domestic and international environments. Specifically, in a qualitative and quantitative manner, this course addresses the three interrelated fields of finance, namely: financial markets, investments, and business finance. Previously FI 0101.

FNCE 2190 Personal Finance    3 Credits

This course for non-majors covers financial decision-making from a personal standpoint. The course examines investments including stocks, bonds, housing purchases, and mutual funds with an emphasis on the elementary financial principles of risk and return. Other topics include life, health, and other insurance needs, and pension and estate planning. Previously FI 0190.

FNCE 2980 Internship    1 Credit

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

Students may take up to two semesters of a department-approved internship. Students must be matriculated in the Dolan School of Business and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Previously FI 0393-0394.

FNCE 3200 Global Capital Markets    3 Credits

Attributes: IBEL International Business Elective, INEL International Studies Elective

Prerequisites: FNCE 2101, junior standing.

This course surveys a variety of financial instruments, institutions, and markets from a global perspective and covers the relationship between financial intermediaries and central banks. Students review the use of traditional and new financial instruments in the context of the specific markets they serve. Previously FI 0200.

FNCE 3210 Principles of Investment    3 Credits

Prerequisites: FNCE 2101, junior standing.

This course offers a general view of the operation of security markets and the factors that influence security prices. Further, it includes basic analysis and valuation of stocks, bonds, options, and futures. The course also provides an introduction to the tools and techniques that can be used to measure performance, manage risk, and construct efficient portfolios. Previously FI 0210.

FNCE 3215 Financial Management    3 Credits

Prerequisites: FNCE 2101, junior standing.

This course examines the role of financial managers in the context of the firm. The course covers the theory and operationalization of the major financial decisions faced by financial managers. Major topics include optimal financial decision-making, capital budgeting, financing, and cash distribution decisions within the framework of firm value maximization. Previously FI 0215.

FNCE 3235 Financial Technology    3 Credits

Prerequisites: FNCE 3210 or FNCE 3215.

Financial Technology commonly known as FinTech in the marketplace refers to technological innovation in the financial industry. FinTech entrepreneurs are attempting to change how the financial services are delivered to the users. The class will cover overview of FinTech industry and examine FinTech application in wealth management and payments as well as cryptocurrency including Bitcoin. It will cover FinTech background, ecosystem, evolutions, FinTech and financial institution and collaboration with Fintech entrepreneurs. The course will also cover how FinTech reshaped asset management and financial planning, cryptocurrency and blockchain and its regulation.

FNCE 3340 Environmental, Social and Governance Investing    3 Credits

Attributes: EVME Environmental Studies Major Elective, EVPE Environmental Studies Elective, EVSS Environmental Studies: Social Science

Prerequisite: Select one course from: ECON 1011; ECON 1012; FNCE 2101.

ESG investing presents the arguments for maximizing shareholder returns, alternative theories of the firm and various approaches for investors to ‘do well while doing good’. Topics covered include impact investing, sustainable investing, shareholder activism, and religious values investing. Empirical performance of ESG funds will be reviewed, providing evidence to those who wish to participate in ESG investing as well as those looking to improve their competency in the area of these increasingly prominent strategies.

FNCE 3980 Internship    3 Credits

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Students may take up to two semesters of a department-approved internship. Students must be matriculated in the Dolan School of Business and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Previously FI 0391-0392.

FNCE 4240 International Financial Management    3 Credits

Attributes: IBEL International Business Elective, INEL International Studies Elective

Prerequisite: FNCE 3215.

This course deals with the international aspects of corporate finance. Topics include foreign exchange with emphasis on exchange rate determination, exchange rate risk management, international money and capital markets, international capital budgeting, cost of capital, and international trade financing. Previously FI 0240.

FNCE 4300 Seminar in Fixed Income    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FNCE 3210 or FNCE 3215.

This course provides an in depth analysis of fixed income securities and markets. The primary focus of the course is the analysis and valuation of fixed income securities. The course also provides an overview of fixed income markets and an introduction to fixed income portfolio management. Topics to be discussed include interest rate exposure (duration and convexity), credit risk analysis, hedging with swaps and futures, and the term and credit structure of interest rates. Previously FI 0300.

FNCE 4305 Financial Trading and Strategic Simulations    3 Credits

Attributes: BUEL Business Elective, FIEL Finance Elective

Prerequisites: FNCE 3210, FNCE 3215.

In this course, students will be introduced to the forces at work that create a market for various types of financial securities. The emphasis of the course will be to understand the microstructure of financial markets and to investigate the risks and returns of various trading strategies. Students who complete the course satisfactorily will be able to design and execute trading strategies with a firm understanding of their potential outcomes. Previously FI 0305.

FNCE 4310 Portfolio Analysis    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FNCE 3210.

This course deals with the principles and applications of modern portfolio theory from the point of view of both the institutional and the individual investor. More specifically, the course analyzes portfolio objectives, efficient portfolio construction, performance evaluation, and portfolio risk management using derivatives. Previously FI 0310.

FNCE 4315 Futures and Options Markets    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FNCE 3210.

This course deals with options and futures on financial assets, as well as commodities. The course covers the basic uses of these instruments and the various pricing methodologies based on equilibrium conditions. Previously FI 0315.

FNCE 4320 Financial Modeling    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FNCE 3210 or FNCE 3215.

In this course, students will build financial models in a spreadsheet environment. Emphasis is placed on the use of financial models to conduct quantitative analysis and aid in decision making using advanced spreadsheet analytical tools and commands including simulation. The modeling assignments cover a wide range of topics in corporate finance and investment topics. The course requires group work and a final project. Previously FI 0320.

FNCE 4325 Seminar in Real Estate    3 Credits

Attributes: FIEL Finance Elective

Prerequisite: FNCE 3210 or FNCE 3215.

This course provides an in depth analysis of real estate debt and equity markets. Both primary and secondary markets will be studied. The course will cover the following topics: analysis of real estate markets; valuation of residential and commercial real estate; investment and financing of residential and commercial real estate property; application of financial mathematics to the calculation of payment streams, outstanding loan balances, equity returns and other basic financial measurements; secondary mortgage market securitization and the market for residential and commercial mortgage backed securities; Real Estate Investment Trusts. Previously FI 0325.

FNCE 4330 Case Studies in Finance    3 Credits

Prerequisites: FNCE 3210, FNCE 3215, senior standing.

This course examines and applies the principles developed in financial management and investments in a domestic and international context with the objective of integrating finance practice and theory using case studies. Previously FI 0330.

FNCE 4390 Seminar in Finance    3 Credits

Attributes: FIEL Finance Elective

This course involves contemporary or specialized topics in finance. Seminars are open to finance majors only; prerequisites may vary. Previously FI 0397-0398.

FNCE 4990 Independent Study    3 Credits

This course offers students the opportunity for independent study in contemporary or specialized topics in finance. Independent studies are open to finance majors only and require senior standing and a GPA of 2.5 or higher.