Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance Courses
Undergraduate Courses
- FIN 2860. Personal Finance. (3) On demand.
- A study of the key concepts, tools, and techniques of personal financial management. Focus is placed on the financial statements of the individual. The balance sheet model includes a discussion of personal assets – both financial and non-financial, personal liabilities including all types of loans, and personal net worth. The implications of the current financial environment (i.e., changing tax laws, savings instruments, interest rates, etc.) is also considered from the standpoint of the individual.
- FIN 3010. Survey of Finance. (3).F;S.
This course is not open to business majors for credit.
- An introduction to the field of finance in the private sector. The student is introduced to financial management in the business firm to the principles of investment and valuation, and to financial markets and prices.
- FIN 3071. Principles of Risk Management and Insurance. (3).F;S.
- An introductory study of the risk management process and the importance of insurance as a method of handling risk. This course is designed to generate an awareness of the nature of risk, its effects on individual and business decisions, and the methods available for treating risk. Course content includes property insurance, auto insurance, life and health insurance, workers compensation and employee benefits. Relationships between risk management and other functional areas of business are also considered. Prerequisite: admission to the College of Business
- FIN 3072. Personal Property, Liability, Life and Health Insurance. (3).F,S.
- Provides a comprehensive examination of the personal risk management and financial planning uses of personal property and liability insurance, and life and health insurance. Discussion includes homeowners policies and other residential insurance coverages, small business needs for property and liability insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. Also considered are retirement planning, estate planning, and business continuation planning. Prerequisite: FIN 3071 (WRITING)
- FIN 3073. Commercial Property and Liability Insurance. (3).F;S.
- Provides a comprehensive examination of commercial property and liability insurance including commercial property and commercial liability risk management; the legal environment of property and liability insurance; and property and liability insurance function, practices and issues. Prerequisite: FIN 3071.
- FIN 3350. International Business Transactions. (3).F;S.
- The mechanics of international trade involving private and public law are the essentials for study. Emphasis is on providing the exporter/importer with legal knowledge to facilitate international trade and its related activities. Basic international agreements for trade will be examined, including GATT and its implications for U.S. importers under American law. Legal problems of multinational corporations, technology transfer, and business ethics are also studied. Prerequisite: LAW 2150 or permission of the instructor.
- FIN 3520. Instructional Assistance. (1).F;S.
- A supervised experience in the instructional process on the university level through direct participation in the classroom situation. Grading 3will be on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. May be repeated for a total credit of three semester hours.
- FIN 3680. Introduction to Finance. (3). F;S.
- An introduction to the field of finance in the private sector. The student is introduced to financial management in the business firm to the principles of investment and valuation, and to financial markets and prices. Prerequisite: ACC 1100 and admission to the College of Business.
- FIN 3690. Financial Management. (3).F;S.
- Study of financial functions of a business enterprise conducted from the standpoint of the financial manager. Emphasis on analysis, planning, and financing control; working capital management, capital budgeting, long-term financing; financial structure and valuation, and required return. Prerequisite: FIN 3680.
- FIN 3780. Estate Planning. (3). On Demand.
- This course covers the basic concepts and constraints of estate and gift tax planning as the primary method of orderly and intentional wealth transfer. Students will be exposed to the major strategies employed by practitioners developing estate plans. Topics covered include wills, trusts, estates, risk management, insurance, retirement planning, and taxation. Prerequisites: FIN 3680 and FIN 3071.
- FIN 3790. Banking and Financial Markets. (3).F;S.
- A study of the theory and practice of the flow of funds from savers to borrowers through the financial markets.� It includes the study of banks and other financial institutions through which funds flow, and of the financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, T-bills, etc. used in the transfer of funds from savers to borrowers. The focus is on the supply and demand for short-term and long-term funds in the financial markets, the resulting yields, and the overall effects of financial market conditions on the functioning of the economy. Prerequisite: FIN 3680. (WRITING)
- FIN 3850. Real Estate Principles and Practices. (3). F;S
- A comprehensive introduction to real estate, with emphasis on finance, investment, law, appraisal, brokerage, and property management applications.
- FIN 3880. Retirement and Employee Benefit Planning. (3). On Demand.
- This course covers the concepts involved in developing retirement and employee benefit plans from both the employer and employee perspectives. Participants will study the legislation that impacts plan design and the tax advantages and disadvantages of various qualified and non-qualified plans including IRAs and pension and profit sharing plans. Federal Social Security, Medicare, and business applications will also be addressed. Prerequisite: FIN 3071. Corequisite: FIN 3890.
- FIN 3890. Survey of Investment. (3).F;S
- A survey of investment instruments and investment goals. The course provides an overview of basic techniques used to analyze, evaluate, and manage investments. Investment instruments examined include money market instruments, common stocks, bonds, options, futures, and investment companies. Prerequisite: FIN 3680. (SPEAKING)
Senior/Graduate Courses
- FIN 3900. Internship. (6-9).F;S.
- A full-time work experience in business. Nine semester hours of credit are granted for a normal 15-week internship. Six semester hours are granted for a 10-week internship which is generally during the summer only. Prerequisite: Admission to the College of Business and permission of the department chairperson. Graded on an S/U basis.
- FIN 4510. Senior Honors Thesis. (3). On Demand.
- Independent study and research project directed by departmental faculty advisor on a topic of mutual interest to both student and advisor. The thesis should be completed during the senior year as a final requirement for graduation with honors in business and includes a formal presentation to the college faculty.
- FIN 4570. Risk Management. (3).F;S
- Study of risk recognition, risk control, and risk financing techniques used to achieve basic organizational goals such as profit maximization, earnings stability, and growth. Case studies are used to provide insight to the risk management process. Prerequisite: FIN 3071. (SPEAKING) [Dual-listed with FIN 5570.]
- FIN 4580. Financial Planning. (3). F;S.
- Covers the gathering of financial information necessary to determine individuals’ financial needs and evaluating life insurance and other financial instruments which will best meet these needs. Prerequisite: FIN 3780 and FIN 3880.
- FIN 4610. Commercial Bank Management. (3).F;S
- A study of the management decisions needed in order to successfully operate a commercial bank as a part of the financial services industry. The competitive structure of the industry and problems of banks and other financial instutions are considered. Emphasis is given to asset/liability management. Prerequisites: FIN 3690 and FIN 3790 or ECO 3070. [Dual-listed with FIN 5610.]
- FIN 4620. Investment Management I. (3).F;S.
- An introduction to security analysis and investment management. Topics covered include using investment information resources, evaluation of overall economic and market conditions, and stock selection and evaluation methods. Particular emphasis is placed on the practical application of stock valuation techniques and other security analysis tools. Detailed stock analysis projects are completed and presented. Students receive hands-on experience through the management of the Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund. Students taking this course MUST also take FIN 4622 (Investment Management II) and will not receive a grade in this course until FIN 4622 is completed. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Corequisites: FIN 3690 and FIN 3890.
- FIN 4622. Investment Management II. (3).F;S.
- A continuation of the study of security analysis and investment management. More advanced topics and techniques are covered, including portfolio theory, asset allocation, market efficiency, and portfolio risk/return measurement and evaluation. Additional stock analysis projects are completed and presented. An annual report for the Elbert V. Bowden Student Investment Fund must be prepared and presented. Students receive hands-on investment experience through the management of the Student Managed Investment Fund. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
- FIN 4660. Financial Decision Making and Statement Analysis. (3). F;S.
- A corporate finance course that focuses on applied financial analysis and financial decision making. Emphasis is placed on financial statement analysis and forecasting. Course coverage also includes analysis of risk and return and working capital management. Computer applications are required. Students are required to make presentations to the class. Prerequisites: FIN 3690 and FIN 3890.[Dual-listed with FIN 5660.]
- FIN 4710. Issues in Bank Management. (3). On Demand.
- This course focuses on the real world, day-to-day operation of commercial banks and the rapidly changing legal, regulatory, and competitive environment in the banking/financial services industry. Important topics covered include commercial and consumer lending, trust functions and services, mergers and acquisitions, funds management and investments, international banking activities, and others. Students are required to do a research project involving interviews with bankers, and focusing on a current topic of interest to bankers. Prerequisite: FIN 4610 and permission of the instructor.
- FIN 4750. International Business Finance. (3).F;S.
- A study of international markets and the financial operations that take place in those markets. The financial aspects and operations of multinational corporations are highlighted. Key topics covered include exchange rate behavior and risk management, financing of international trade and operations, and international capital budgeting. Prerequisite FIN 3680. (MULTICULTURAL). [Dual-listed with FIN 5750.]
- FIN 4770. Derivatives and Financial Risk Management . (3). F;S.
- This course provides a theoretical and practical analysis of the following derivative instruments: forwards, futures, options, options on futures, and swaps. Topics include speculative and hedging strategies, with additional emphasis placed on arbitrage pricing and the mathematics of security valuation. Prerequisite: FIN 3890.
- FIN 4910. Seminar: Hospital and Health Law. (3). On Demand.
- This course is designed to provide students with a background in health and hospital law principles. Particular emphasis is placed on the basis of liability of public and private hospitals, other health care service organizations, and health care personnel. Other topics include contracts, torts, duties, and administrative agency regulations unique to health care services organizations. (Same as HCM 4910.)
- LAW 2150. Legal Environment of Business. (3).F;S.
- An introduction to the legal process in order to demonstrate its effect on individuals and businesses. A philosophical and historical background of jurisprudence and of the American legal system is supplied as well as a larger in-depth study of the federal and state court systems. Emphasis is also placed on legislative, administrative and common law, stressing specific topics affecting businesses, such as contracts, business crimes and torts, government regulations, environmental protection, and the ethical problems confronting businesses in both the national and international trade settings.
- LAW 3910. Business Law I. (3).F;S.
- A study of selected traditional areas of the law that affect the commercial community. Includes law of contracts, commercial paper, agency, personal property and bailments. Common law concepts are investigated as well as the impact of the Uniform Commercial Code on commercial transactions. The course is designed to give students an awareness of legal problems that may exist in a commercial transaction, and to develop the analytical skills necessary to recognize and seek assistance for such problems. (A special objective of this course is to assist students in preparing for the CPA examination.)
- LAW 3930. Hospitality Law. (3). On Demand.
- Laws applicable to ownership and operation of hotels, restaurants and resorts. Consideration of contracts, real property, ownership forms, torts, liabilities, duties and administrative agency regulations. Prerequisite: HOS 2000.
- LAW 3960. Insurance Law. (3). On Demand.
- A study of the legal issues that affect licensing, regulation, sales and claims in the insurance industry. Common law and statutory schemes are investigated as well as the ethical responsibility of all involved parties. This course is designed for insurance majors that seek an in-depth understanding into the legal framework of the insurance process. Prerequisite: LAW 2150.
- LAW 4640. Business Law for Accountants. (3).F.
- An in-depth study of legal rules, theories and regulations that impact upon the accounting profession. Common law and statutory sources will be utilized, with special emphasis in the areas of business organizations, SEC, accountants’ legal liability and ethics. Objectives of this course include exposing the accounting student to legal issues that confront the profession and assist the student in preparing for the CPA examination. [Dual-listed with LAW 5640.]
