UG Course Descriptions

This course focuses on retirement savings and income planning for individuals and businesses.Topics include retirement needs analysis, Social Security and Medicare, types of retirement plans, qualified plan rules and options, key factors affecting plan selection for businesses, distribution rules and strategies, and business succession planning. Pre-requisite: FIN 367

This course discusses the characteristics, uses, and taxation of investment vehicles. Also addressed are the types of investment risk, calculating investment returns, asset allocation and portfolio diversification, and portfolio development and investment strategies. Prerequisite: FIN 362

This course provides a deeper understanding of subjects covered in FIN 325 Securities Analysis. Emphasis is given to derivative investments and security analysis. Mutual Funds are examined as investment vehicles. Portfolio management and risk management are explored. Case studies are analyzed in the context of theory. (Prerequisite: FIN 325)

This course provides an overview of the gift and estate tax system and basic estate planning strategies. Topics include characteristics of property titling and strategies to transfer property, critical estate planning documents, gift and estate tax calculations, sources for estate liquidity, types and features of trusts, and estate planning for nontraditional relationships. (Prerequisite: FIN 367)

This capstone course applies the knowledge gleaned during the program in the areas of risk, tax, retirement, investment, and estate financial planning through the use of case study analysis. Pre-requisite: FIN 367

Introduction to financial decision-making: institutions, markets, essential concepts, analysis, planning, strategies, and methods. (Prerequisites: ACC 201 or 203-204 or ACC 205 & 206; MATH 203, 207, 217 or 221 may be taken concurrently)

A look at the global financial marketplace, focusing on the foreign exchange market and the balance of payments. Examination of the political, legal, and economic variables that determine the exchange rate. (Prerequisites: ECO 203 or ECO 201 and 202; FIN 362)

This course provides the basic securities industry concepts necessary to master the SIE Exam, an introductory-level FINRA exam, and prep for the Series Exams. The course is broken into four principle sections: knowledge of capital markets; understanding products and their risks; understanding trading, customer accounts and prohibited activities; and an overview of the regulatory framework. All areas addressed in the course are fundamental to careers in investment banking, wealth management, and securities sales and trading. Pre-requisite: FIN 362

This course provides an overview of the financial planning process, including the role and responsibilities of a financial planner and the analytical tools required for effective decision making. Topics include professional conduct and ethics, regulatory issues, economic concepts, time-value-of money, debt management, and education planning. Student may only receive credit for BUS 302 or FIN 367.

An examination of corporate restructuring, equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, derivative securities such as options, futures and swaps, and other topics of current interest in the corporate finance area. The course will also examine case studies of prominent and news-worthy businesses and discuss corporate culture as it relates to financial performance. (Prerequisite: FIN 362)