Master of Science in Finance: Curriculum

Principles of policy formation in the modern corporation; the institutions, instruments and customary procedures that influence the determination of corporate policy; and the reasons for choices in seeking solutions to specific financial problems. A case approach will be utilized to cover problems of working capital management, capital budgeting, and capital structure. Computerized approaches to financial problems will be emphasized.

A case oriented approach to financial decision making with emphasis on current management, capital budgeting, capital structure, mergers, and bankruptcy.

A detailed study of the investment environment and the process of investment management. Topics covered include the study of equity and debt markets, options and futures markets, stock and bond valuation models, portfolio selection theory, bond portfolio management and the use of derivative securities for hedging risk.

The course develops the theory of option pricing based on the Black-Scholes model. It then applies these ideas to the use of options in investment strategies and in portfolio management. The students get hands-on experience with real-time data to assess the feasibility of various investment opportunities in options markets.

This course develops the fundamental concepts of portfolio theory in the risk-return framework. Different analytical tools for risk management; optimization, duration, immunization, and portfolio insurance are considered. The students are required to construct and maintain a simulated portfolio using real data.

An intensive study of the problems of value and costs, including demand theory, empirical demand analysis, production theory, cost theory linear programming applications in resource allocation and cost analysis, empirical cost analysis, market structure and pricing theory, pricing practice and the role of government in the private economy.

This course revolves around one of the most significant and controversial concepts of the 21st century. Sustainable Development (SD) involves ethical, environmental and economic issues. The course will analyze and reflect on the relationship between SD, business and all affected stakeholders through case studies, reading, discussions, and guest lecturers.

This course introduces quantitative tools used in finance with fundamental aspects on corporate financial policy and practice through statistical and econometric analysis. Financing and investment decision making will be examined through discussions on valuations and strategic financing decisions. Topics include risk and return, portfolios, financial assets and corporate valuation, options, cost of capital, capital budgeting under uncertainty, dividend policy, optimal capital structure, and lease financing.

A detailed survey of the more important financial institutions of the United States in order to determine their functions and interrelations in the national economy. Monetary and fiscal policy. Material covered will assist the student to understand better the economic, social and political scene in America.

A detailed survey of the financial decision process in multinational corporations. Topics include the international finance environment, foreign exchange markets, measuring and managing foreign exchange risks, financing the global firm, foreign investment decisions, managing multinational operations, and other advanced issues in multinational finance.

This is an eight-week online-MBA course, which focuses on the short-term financial management of a firm. The course uses SAP to keep track of inventory, cash, receivables, and payables of a firm. The course develops financial models to maintain the firm’s current assets and liabilities at the optimal level. This course is not open to those students who have received credit for ERP 513.

A critical study of the major accounting pronouncements on general purpose financial statements. Research tools such as FARS will be used to analyze annual reports and SEC filings.

It is a comprehensive study of macroeconomics designed to examine how macroeconomic events and policies, both national and global can shape the strategic decisions in a business organization. Emphasis is on the analysis of macroeconomic data and understanding their importance in the managerial decision making process.

(Prerequisites: FIN 508 and any 5 of the following courses- MGT 501, ECO 507, FIN 582, FIN 583, FIN 585, FIN 586, FIN 588) This course covers a number of topics contained within the subject areas of the CFA (Level 1 exam) body of knowledge, including those that are not already covered elsewhere within the existing graduate Finance curriculum. Those areas include: 1. Ethical and Financial Standards in the Financial Industry, 2. Quantitative Methods in Finance, 3. Economics, 4. Financial Reporting and Analysis, 5. Corporate Finance, 6. Equity Investments, 7. Fixed Income, 8. Derivatives, 9. Alternative Investments, and 10. Portfolio Management.

(Prerequisite FIN 508) The course will focus on fixed income securities and related products. It will cover valuation techniques and the quantification of risk and return. Topics discussed will include risk measurement and management techniques specific to fixed income securities. Fixed income valuation will focus on price and yield calculations, securitization, and the impact of incorporating securities into bond portfolios.

This course module is intended to develop the statistical concepts and techniques that are needed to make business decisions. Topics to be covered include detailed coverage of descriptive statistics, probability theory (including Bayes’ Theorem), and discrete and continuous probability distributions with an emphasis on business applications. A survey of modern statistical methods covering sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression and correlation analysis will be discussed.

An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of financial accounting. Emphasizes the accounting process and the interpretation and use of basic financial statements.

Emphasis is placed on ways to use, analyze and interpret accounting data in planning and controlling organizational activities. Selected techniques required for analysis and managerial decision-making are introduced.

Intended to provide a foundation in microeconomics for MBA students, this is an intensive course that stresses functioning of the market system. It introduces students to applications of microeconomics in business decisions.

Intended to provide a foundation in macroeconomics for MBA students, this is an intensive course that introduces the student to macroeconomic theory and applications as they pertain to the business decisions. Topics include measurement of GDP, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, fluctuations, and growth.

Intended to provide a foundation in finance for MBA students, this is an intensive course that introduces students to financial decision making process and to the tools and techniques of financial analysis.

(Prerequisites MBA 501A, MBA 501B, and MBA 501C) Business analytics is widely recognized as a strategic weapon in today’s competitive business environment as being merely a supporting tool. As the gateway to the MBA specialization in Business Analytics, the goal of this introductory course is to provide an overview and exposure to the areas of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. It will combine the study of key analytics concepts with hands-on exercises in data visualization and mining, statistical and predictive modeling, optimization and simulation.

Data mining refers to an analytic process designed to explore “big data” in search of consistent patterns and/or systematic relationships between variables, and to validate the findings by applying the detected patterns involved in a variety of phases that will involve data preparation, modeling, evaluation, and application. The instructor will provide hands-on demonstrations using a variety of data mining techniques (e.g. classification, association analysis, clustering, text mining, anomaly detection, feature selections) using widely adopted data mining software tools. (Prerequisites MBA 501A and MBA 501C)

Principles of policy formation in the modern corporation; the institutions, instruments and customary procedures that influence the determination of corporate policy; and the reasons for choices in seeking solutions to specific financial problems. A case approach will be utilized to cover problems of working capital management, capital budgeting, and capital structure. Computerized approaches to financial problems will be emphasized.

A case oriented approach to financial decision making with emphasis on current management, capital budgeting, capital structure, mergers, and bankruptcy.

A detailed study of the investment environment and the process of investment management. Topics covered include the study of equity and debt markets, options and futures markets, stock and bond valuation models, portfolio selection theory, bond portfolio management and the use of derivative securities for hedging risk.

The course develops the theory of option pricing based on the Black-Scholes model. It then applies these ideas to the use of options in investment strategies and in portfolio management. The students get hands-on experience with real-time data to assess the feasibility of various investment opportunities in options markets.

This course develops the fundamental concepts of portfolio theory in the risk-return framework. Different analytical tools for risk management; optimization, duration, immunization, and portfolio insurance are considered. The students are required to construct and maintain a simulated portfolio using real data.

This course introduces quantitative tools used in finance with fundamental aspects on corporate financial policy and practice through statistical and econometric analysis. Financing and investment decision making will be examined through discussions on valuations and strategic financing decisions. Topics include risk and return, portfolios, financial assets and corporate valuation, options, cost of capital, capital budgeting under uncertainty, dividend policy, optimal capital structure, and lease financing.

This course is used to review and indicate officially on the student’s degree audit that they have completed the requirements of Goals 2 and 3 of the MS in Finance program. Available for non-credit, non-graded transcript recognition only. Students must register for the capstone in their final semester of the program.