Finance (390)

53:390:505 Financial Foundations (0) Waiver/proficiency requirement towards the course Financial Management (53:390:506)as deemed appropriate by program director or associate dean for graduate programs

53:390:506 Financial Management (3) Valuation as the unifying principle of finance. Topics include forms of business ownership, firm and project cash flows, time value of money, bond and stock valuation, capital budgeting, operating and financial leverage, risk and diversification, and the cost of capital.

53:390:513 Advanced Financial Management (3) Advanced issues in business investment, financing, and cash distributions with emphasis on corporations. Likely topics include asset replacement policy, optimal investment horizon, investment under taxes and inflation, financial leverage policy, buy-or-lease decision, earnings distribution policy, and intercompany investments and acquisitions. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:514 Multinational Financial Management (3) Financial skills required for effective management of companies engaged in international business. Topics include exchange rates and the balance of payments, the international monetary system, measuring and managing foreign exchange risk exposure, multinational capital budgeting, financing of international trade and investment projects, political risk management, taxation, and international transfer pricing. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:521,522 Directed Study in Finance (3,3) A faculty-directed individual study requires the approval of two finance faculty members: the area coordinator and the associate dean of graduate studies. Prerequisite: 53:390:506

53:390:530 Fixed Income Analysis (3) An introduction to fixed-income securities and interest rate derivatives. This course describes important securities and their markets, and develops the analytical tools to value those securities, understand their investment characteristics, and manage interest rate risk. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:531 Real Estate Investments (3) This course provides an overview of the financing decision, methods, and techniques utilized in a commercial real estate transaction while promoting sound real estate investment decision-making. Students will learn three approaches to real estate valuation, cost, sales comparison, and income capitalization, with a primary focus on the income capitalization approach. Students will participate in extensive hands-on work solving real-world case studies. The course provides training in Argus Enterprise, the global standard for real property asset management and valuation, and the primary software utilized by real estate companies to track the performance of their assets throughout the lifecycle of an investment. This course will also guide students on determining the appropriate capital structure for a real estate transaction, ranging from fixed vs. floating senior debt structures to joint venture equity waterfalls.

53:390:535 Behaviroral Finance (3) By unifying standard financial principles and descriptions of how people behave, behavioral finance bridges financial theory, empirical evidence, and practice and leads to an understanding of how human behavior affects financial decision making and financial markets. Studying people's wants, cognitive biases, and emotional shortcuts and errors leads to insights on important issues in finance, pricing, and market efficiency.�
Prerequisite: 53:390:506

53:390:540 Investment and Portfolio Management (3) This course explores recent innovations in the practice of private wealth management. It provides comprehensive coverage of structured products, also known as equity-linked derivatives. Such products combine traditional securities and derivatives to create securitized financial instruments that facilitate the achievement of highly customized risk-return objectives. The course also touches on the rise of automated investment advisers and the role of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Etherium, in building comprehensive diversified portfolios. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:541 Principles of Financial Planning (3) This advanced graduate course delves into the intricacies of financial planning, blending the fundamental principles from the CFP's core knowledge areas with a deep focus on ethical considerations and critical thinking. Students will navigate topics such as professional conduct, investment strategies, tax implications, retirement and estate planning, and communication techniques. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on maintaining the highest ethical standards while using critical analysis to address contemporary financial challenges. By the end of this course, students will be proficient in creating comprehensive financial strategies that prioritize client goals, societal values, and regulatory standards.

53:390:542 Insurance and Estate Planning (3) Explore the strategic world of insurance and estate planning in this comprehensive course. Master the art of risk assessment, learn strategies to minimize financial exposure, and unravel the intricacies of estate planning from trusts to tax maneuvers. Grounded in the principles of financial planning, this course prepares students to safeguard client assets and support their clients� financial and philanthropic goals through effective insurance selection and estate preservation.

53:390:543 Tax Planning and Financial Regulation (3) Delving into the intricacies of tax optimization and financial market regulation, this course marries academic theory with real-world practice. Viewed through the lens of financial planning, students will master strategic tax planning techniques and gain an understanding of the complexities of regulatory systems. Central to the coursework is a commitment to the ethical principles outlined in the CFP Board窺 Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, preparing students for responsible and ethical financial leadership.

53:390:545 Private Wealth Management (3) Students learn a unified framework that will help them put the often bewildering array of investment choices into comprehensive plans for achieving the overall financial and personal goals of high net-worth individuals and families. Topics explored include the nature and objectives of private wealth management, basic investment planning and strategies, investment asset classes, income tax planning, retirement planning, insurance and risk management, and estate planning. Prerequisite: 53:390:506

53:390:546 Wealth Management Technology (3) This course explores recent innovations in the practice of private wealth management. It provides comprehensive coverage of structured products, also known as equity-linked derivatives. Such products combine traditional securities and derivatives to create securitized financial instruments that facilitate the achievement of highly customized risk-return objectives. The course also touches on the rise of automated investment advisers and the role of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Etherium, in building comprehensive diversified portfolios.� Previous Title: Innovations in Wealth Management.
Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:565 Mergers and Acquisitions - Financial Analysis (3) The financial analysis of merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities, applying the valuation methodologies currently used on Wall Street. Use of the Bloomberg terminal is an integral part of the course. Qualitative dimensions, such as deal structure, form of financing, and acquisition strategies, are incorporated into the M&A analysis. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:570 Statistical Financial Analysis (3) Model-building and analysis of financial data using statistical techniques and computer software such as SAS or SPSS. Topics include predicting business failures and corporate acquisitions, evaluating consumer and business loans, estimating portfolio inputs and evaluating portfolio performance, forecasting sales and earnings, and analyzing time-series of financial data. Prerequisite: 53:390:506.

53:390:580 Fintech and Financial Innovation (3) The course provides a comprehensive overview of new financial technologies. Such technologies combine traditional investment practice with the ever increasing power of computation to facilitate the achievement of highly customized objectives. The course covers the rise of big data analytics (artificial intelligence and machine learning) as well as the rise of automated investment advisers and algorithmic trading. We also discuss the role of the Blockchain in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and their implications for investment management practice and financial services.

53:390:581 Financial Data Analytics (3) This course provides a broad and practical introduction to the modern methods of financial data analysis. The course emphasizes the use of modern analytical techniques to extract insights from the most commonly used financial data. Using a hands-on approach, students will develop deep practical intuition into the nature of financial returns, bond valuation, and stock pricing. Using a programming language such as R, students will build financial models using a mix of market and accounting information, build optimally weighted portfolios, learn the basics of risk management, and learn simulation techniques such as Bootstrap and Resampling. Prerequisite: 53:390:506. OR 53:390:505

52:390:582 Investment Management and Machine Learning (3) This course provides a broad and practical introduction to the modern methods of investment management. The course emphasizes the use of big data and modern analytical techniques of machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve the performance of investment management. We start with the introduction to Python and financial data. We then apply Python and machine learning algorithms to the fundamental topics of investment management, such as bond valuation, stock pricing, derivative pricing, portfolio construction and optimization, international asset allocation, Monte Carlo simulation, and performance measurement. Prerequisite: 53:390:506. OR 53:390:505

53:390:583 Textual analysis in Finance (3) This course aims to explore the application of online textual content for understanding financial phenomena. The course offers a comprehensive and hands-on introduction to unstructured data mining in finance.� The course will include exposure to many different applications and AI tools, including Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Model (LLM).� Topics will allow students delve into multiple cutting-edge topics, such as how manager tone, media news, and analyst reports affect the financial market and corporate finance. Students will gain the in-depth skills to prepare, process and interpret textual data and apply the programming techniques to solve real-world problems. Prerequisite: None

53:390:597 Internship in Finance (BA) An internship provides real-world experience to those looking to explore or gain the relevant knowledge and skills within the finance field. Credits will be applied by arrangement. By permission only. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor or associate dean for graduate programs.

53:390:670 Special Topics in Finance (3) Topics vary from semester to semester. Consult the associate dean of graduate studies for specific content each semester. Students may enroll in more than one special topics course. Prerequisite: As determined by instructor.