Finance Concentration Requirements

New concentration requirements are in effect for students entering the University in the 2024-25 academic year and after, as well as transfer GradTracker will reflect the updated requirements once students declare an area of study.

The requirements include:

  • FIN366 Investments
  • FIN361 Corporate Finance
  • Two courses, chosen from:
    • FIN461 Corporate Valuation and Modeling
    • FIN466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities
    • FIN467 Portfolio Management and Analysis
    • FIN462 International Financial Management
  • One additional finance course, except as noted below

Notes:

  • A maximum of eight FIN courses may be taken in the finance concentration.
  • FIN200, FIN259, FIN270, and FIN468 do not count toward the concentration.
  • FIN368 Directed Indpeendent Study will not count toward the finance concentration unless the student receives prior approval from the chair of the finance department.
  • IBUS students taking FIN462 and concentrating in finance need only four additional courses in finance. 
  • A maximum of one transfer/abroad courses counts toward the five required FIN courses.
  • Students planning to enroll in FIN468 should complete FIN366 during their junior year.
  • Program tracks do not affect the finance concentration requirements of the B.S.B.A degree.
  • Concentration

    The Finance Concentration

    In addition to satisfying the B.S.B.A. degree requirements for a Robins School major, the finance concentration requires a minimum of four units of FIN courses as noted below. More than four is suggested.

    • Investments

    • One course, chosen from:

      •  Corporate Finance

      • Corporate Valuation and Modeling

      • Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

      • Portfolio Management and Analysis

    • Two additional finance courses, except as noted below

    Notes:

    • A maximum of seven FIN courses may be taken in the finance concentration.

    • Finance Concentration Tracks

      Optional Finance Concentration Program Tracks (suggested courses and sequences)

      The finance concentration offers optional curriculum tracks. Students may pursue one of the optional tracks by taking all of the finance courses listed under each track.

      • (1) CFA庐 Track (emphasis on investments and securities)

        • The CFA track prepares students for investment careers and the CFA Level I Exam. The courses have been designed to prepare a student to take the CFA Level I exam shortly after graduation.

          •  Investments

          • Corporate Finance

          •  Corporate Valuation and Modeling

          • Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

          Suggested Supporting Courses:

          • Corporate Valuation and Modeling

          • International Finance

          • Technical Analysis

          •  The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets

            • FIN 200 Personal Finance

              Units: 1

              Description
              Major changes in financial institutions, new methods of borrowing, expanded insurance products, and new investment vehicles that have changed how we live our lives and organize our finances. Personal finance addresses all of the major personal financial planning problems that individuals and households are expected to encounter, including how to set savings goals, assess career choices, use banking, credit, and other financial services, make good investment decisions, and compare insurance products. This course does not count towards the finance concentration. Does not count toward the concentration.
            • FIN 259 Special Topics in Finance

              Units: 0.5-1

              Description
              Finance topics not covered in other courses.
            • FIN 270 Introduction to Equity Analysis

              Units: 0.5

              Description
              Practical application of principles of equity valuation learned in FIN 360. Use real time information to create a report and 鈥減itch,鈥 for one or more stocks, including an earnings analysis, relative and discounted cash flow valuation, the creation of a written report, and a presentation. Creation of a current equity market outlook as a top-down investing exercise.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 360

            • FIN 359 Special Topics in Finance

              Units: 0.5-1

              Description
              Finance topics not covered in other courses to enhance the Finance concentration.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, and FIN 360

            • FIN 360 Principles of Financial Management

              Units: 1

              Description
              Analysis and examination of financing, investment, and dividend decisions of business organizations. Financial management in the global environment.

               

              Prerequisites

              ACCT 201, ECON 101, ECON 102, and either ECON 170 or BUAD 202, and a Business School major or minor. ECON 102, ECON 170, or BUAD 202 may be taken concurrently.

            • FIN 361 Corporate Finance

              Units: 1

              Description
              The study of theory and practice of corporate finance with special emphasis on the evaluation and financing of capital expenditures. The goal is for the student to become thoroughly competent in areas of financial mathematics, capital budgeting analysis, and capital structure theory. Topics covered include decision tree analysis, sensitivity analysis, non scale-enhancing projects, dividend policy, rights offerings, call policy, warrants, convertible debt, international corporate finance, financial distress, and financial planning.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, and FIN 360

            • FIN 366 Investments

              Units: 1

              Description
              Security markets, investment theory, security valuation and selection. Application of investment concepts. International, derivative, and option markets.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, and FIN 360

            • FIN 368 Directed Independent Study

              Units: 0.5-1

              Description
              Independent research on a finance topic conducted under the direct supervision of an instructor. Does not count as one of the required finance concentration courses unless written permission is obtained from the department chair in advance.
            • FIN 461 Corporate Valuation and Modeling

              Units: 1

              Description
              Case study analysis of corporate financial policies and strategies. Includes development of spreadsheet-based models to analyze corporate financial strategies and valuation issues and an investigation into measuring and managing the value of companies.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 361, Business School major

            • FIN 462 International Financial Management

              Units: 1

              Description
              Focuses on study and analysis of financial markets confronting globally oriented firms. Currency markets, international capital markets, risk exposure, risk management techniques, and valuation principles in global economy. Emphasis on application of financial management principles for multinational firms.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, FIN 360, and Business School major

            • FIN 463 Deal Structure and Private Equity

              Units: 1

              Description
              Study of the valuation of non-publicly traded firms and the structure of deals for purchasing such firms. Introduction to the different types of equity investors and debt investors that participate in this type of investment, generally referred to as 鈥減rivate equity鈥. Extensively utilizes spreadsheet modeling and lectures from practitioners.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 366 or FIN 361, Business School major

            • FIN 464 Alternative Asset Classes

              Units: 1

              Description
              Alternative asset classes and alternative assets. Advantages and disadvantages of hedge funds, private equity instruments, commodity futures, and credit derivatives. Exposure to real world professionals from the areas of endowment, private equity, hedge funds, and closed end funds and explaination of how they use alternative asset to improve returns.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, FIN 360, and Business School major

            • FIN 465 Technical Analysis

              Units: 1

              Description
              Involves study of supply and demand through data generated by the action of markets and through the study of psychology and behavior of the various market participants. Will cover basic tools of technical analysis including the Dow theory, techniques of chart construction and interpretation, momentum and cycle studies, relative strength, industry group analysis, investor sentiment, contrary opinion, and intermarket relationships. Emphasis will be placed on practical application of these tools to the investment decision-making process for both the short- and long-term. Studies will be taken from both historical and real-time situations.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, FIN 360, and Business School major

            • FIN 466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

              Units: 1

              Description
              Focuses on institutional features, pricing, risk management in fixed income, futures, option, and swap markets. Fixed income topics include bond sectors and yield spreads, arbitrage-free valuation, forward rates and term structure theories, and interest rate risk. Derivatives topics include futures pricing, option payoffs and strategies, option pricing, option sensitivities and hedging, and swaps.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 366, Business School major

            • FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

              Units: 1

              Description
              Analyzing financial data and analysis of securities. Selection of securities and portfolios to meet investment objectives and measure portfolio performance. International dimensions of portfolio management and risk/return matrix.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 366, Business School major

            • FIN 468 Student Managed Investment Fund

              Units: 1

              Description
              Authority and attendant responsibilities of managing part of 麻豆传媒高清's endowment fund. Initial value of portfolio was $200,000. Enrollment is open to seniors only and is limited. Students enroll in fall semester for two consecutive semesters with grade awarded at end of spring term. Does not count towards the finance concentration.

               

              Prerequisites

              FIN 467

            • FIN 469 Trading and Markets

              Units: 1

              Description
              Trading, the people who trade securities and commodities, the marketplaces where they trade, and the rules that govern trades and traders. Investors, brokers, dealers, arbitrageurs, informed traders, high frequency traders, and direct market access; exchanges, boards of trade, dealer networks, ATS/ECNs (electronic communications networks), crossing markets, and dark pools.

               

              Prerequisites

              ECON 102, BUAD 202 or ECON 170, FIN 360, and Business School major