WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 : Ancell School of Business

Finance

FIN 100 Personal Finance 3 SH
Personal Finance emphasizes the overall personal financial planning process and other particular financial decisions within it. Topics covered include personal assets, liabilities, risk management, management of investments, retirement and estate planning.

FIN 230 Business Statistics 3 SH
This course is an applications-oriented study of basic statistical concepts and techniques. Focus is on the use of descriptive and inferential statistics as an aid to managerial decision-making and on computer-based analysis of data. Topics include charts and graphs, distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, sampling, estimation, hypothesis tests, correlation, regression and time series. Prerequisite: MAT 100 or appropriate test score and MIS 260. Competency: Quantitative Reasoning (QR).

FIN 298 Faculty Developed Study 1–6 SH

FIN 299 Student Developed Study 1–6 SH

FIN 300 Business Data Analytics 3 SH
The main objective of this course is to develop an ability to apply analytical techniques and tools, understand their applicability to real business problems, and work through relevant examples using current analytics tools. Students interpret quantitative information by recognizing the context, summarizing the empirical findings, choosing an effective visual, drawing the attention of the audience to the center of the problem, and crafting the analytics story by using the principles learned in storytelling with data. Students are required to write up all these analyses, including conclusions and recommendations, in their project reports. Topics included are Excel skills, database analytics, data visualization, storytelling with the data, trendlines and regression analysis, forecasting, and data mining. Prerequisite: MAT 120 or FIN 230 and MIS 155 or MIS 260.

FIN 310 Principles of Finance 3 SH
An introduction to the field of business finance appropriate for the core requirement of the business curriculum.  Students will learn the basic role of finance within an organization and the economy.  Emphasis is on the principles of financial management with special attention given to the corporate and tax environment, financial statement analysis, cash flow projections, time value of money, and risk and return analysis.  Similar attention is given to the valuation of stock and bonds, financial forecasting and planning, long-term securities, and working capital management.  The basics of multinational financial management will also be covered.  Prerequisite: ECO 211, ACC 201, FIN 230, and MAT 118, MAT 133, MAT 135 or MAT 181.

FIN 316 Quantitative Methods in Finance 3 SH
This course will teach the fundamental quantitative and analytical methods necessary to understand and interpret contemporary financial information. The primary focus of the course is the use of quantitative methods to aid in the process of making sound financial decisions. This is an applications-oriented course which combines computer-based analytic methods with contemporary financial decision methods. Prerequisite: MAT 118 or MAT 133 or MAT 135 or MAT 181, FIN 230, FIN 310 with a minimum C grade and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN 317 Fixed Income Securities 3 SH
This course reviews the basic and advanced bond pricing concepts and provides a complete coverage of the important features of fixed income securities. It introduces a few quantitative models of the term structure of interest rates and credit risk analysis. Students will learn to master the basic concepts of bond mathematics, yields, durations and convexity. They will also learn to develop skills to manage bond portfolios with interest rate risk under control. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with a minimum C grade and FIN 230 and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN/JLA 318 Real Estate Law 3 SH
An in-depth study of current real estate issues as they relate to modern practice application including but not limited to zoning and partnership laws as well as federal and local tax considerations.

FIN 320 Financial Management 3 SH
To acquaint the student with the three major financial decisions of the firm: capital investments, capital structure and dividends. The student will develop a knowledge of these concepts through the study of a combination of selected cases, current events, theoretical readings and problems. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with a minimum C grade and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN 330 Financial Decision Models 3 SH
The purpose of this course is to understand, apply and build up financial models to solve complex quantitative problems. This course will acquaint students with computer skills to develop spreadsheet models. It is designed to evaluate the applicability as well as limitations of certain financial models. These models will also be used to enhance our understanding of a particular theory or set of data. Prerequisite: FIN 230, FIN 320 and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN 340 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management 3 SH
Techniques that can be used to evaluate common stocks, preferred stocks, bonds, convertibles and options will be evaluated. Financial analysis and valuation of corporate securities will be covered in detail. Alternative strategies that can be used in the construction and management of common stock and fixed income portfolios will be evaluated. Portfolio theories will be analyzed in relationship to their applications for options and futures. Prerequisite: FIN 230, FIN 310 with a minimum C grade and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN 360 Money, Financial Markets & Institutions 3 SH
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the U.S. financial system. The course examines the role and operation of the Federal Reserve System, its impact on the financial markets and economy, and the flow of funds in and out of the banking system. It explores the determinants of interest rates and the roles, functions and operations of the financial markets. The course also addresses the unique operating characteristics of financial institutions, focusing on their role in the economy, the products they provide, the risks they manage, the regulations they face, and the methods for analyzing their performance. It will familiarize the students with the latest issues facing the financial sector and the institutions that operate there. Current policy issues will be integrated throughout. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with grade > C and GPA > 2.0.

FIN 370 Financial Institutions 3 SH
The objective of this course is to familiarize the student with the various types of financial institutions within our economy, the operational functions they perform and their impact on the economy. The course addresses the unique operating characteristics of financial institutions focusing on their role on the economy, the products they provide, the regulations they face, their methods of managing risk, and methods for analyzing their performance. It will familiarize the students with the latest issues facing the financial sector and the institutions that operate there. Current policy issues will be integrated throughout. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with a minimum C grade and GPA 2.3 or higher or permission of the instructor.

FIN 486 Financial Engineering 3 SH
This course will study a variety of derivative securities including forwards, futures, swaps, options, and related products such as structured notes used in financial and corporate risk management and in creating solutions to financial problems. The course will present both theory, especially pricing models, and applications focusing on the tools and techniques of financial risk management and financial engineering. Financial engineering applies methods and tools commonly used in engineering to financial problems, especially the pricing and hedging of derivative instruments. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with minimum C grade, FIN 230, MAT 118 or 133 or 135 or 181, and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

FIN 488 Multinational Financial Issues 3 SH
The objective of this course is to examine (1) the investment, (2) the financing and (3) the working capital management processes of a multinational firm within the context of market imperfections, foreign exchange risk, political risk, inflation, tax laws and accounting regulations. Within a theoretical framework, the course will emphasize a practical approach. Prerequisite: FIN 310 with grade > C, FIN 360 and GPA > 2.0.

FIN 490 Cases in Managerial Finance 3 SH
Case problems confront students with the necessity of making decisions. The various cases covered in this course encourage students to bridge the gap between classroom study and business actions. Specific areas include financial analysis and forecasting, financing current operations, long-term financing, mergers and acquisitions, investment decisions, dividends and repurchases, and capital budgeting, etc. Students utilize Excel to perform quantitative analysis and use PowerPoint slides to show their oral presentation materials. Prerequisite: FIN 330 OR take FIN 330 concurrently, FIN 340, FIN 360, Senior Standing, and a GPA 2.0 or higher.

The following course also has been approved and is offered periodically:
FIN 400 Selected Topics in Finance