Course Descriptions

Bridging Courses

(may be waived, based on student academic background)

BUS 501 Introduction to Economics (1.5-0-1.5)

Provides an introductory survey of microeconomics and macroeconomics, designed primarily as a bridging course for graduate students unfamiliar with the principles of economics. Includes elements of supply and demand, consumer behavior, costs, market structures and income distribution. Analyzes movements in prices and national output, inflation, unemployment, and monetary and fiscal policy. Offered over an eight week period. Graded as Pass/Fail. Restricted to School of Business Administration students.

BUS 502 Quantitative Methods (1.5-0-1.5)

Examines the decision-aiding tools that can be applied by managers to gain insight into decision problems, ranging from simple graphic displays of data to sophisticated statistical tests. Uses real-world data sets and PC-based software to describe sets of measurements, construct probability distributions, estimate numerical descriptive measures and build multiple regression models. Offered over an eight-week period. Graded as Pass/Fail. Restricted to School of Business Administration students.

BUS 503 Financial Accounting (1.5-0-1.5)

Develops the ability to analyze and interpret financial statements for the purpose of making managerial and investment decisions. Improves communication, leadership and presentation skills, which are essential for business executives. Offered over an eight-week period. Graded as Pass/Fail. Restricted to School of Business Administration students.

BUS 504 Econometric Analysis (1.5-0-1.5)

Examines the basic forecasting methods and tools that can be applied by managers and professionals working in the public and private sector. Covers topics including time series analysis, linear dependence and links to economic models, deterministic and stochastic trends, forecasting volatility, and forecasting with nonlinear models. Offered over an eight-week period. Graded as Pass/Fail. Restricted to School of Business Administration students.

BUS 505 Introduction to Financial Management (1.5-0-1.5)

Presents the basic foundations of accounting information and financial statements analysis, including the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows. Covers the present value, compounding and discounting of financial cash flows, evaluation of capital projects with their risk and return, choice of investment projects and choice of financing. Offered over an eight-week period. Graded as Pass/Fail. Restricted to School of Business Administration students.

Master of Science in Finance

FIN 681 Advanced Financial Statements Analysis (3-0-3)

Provides a rigorous exposure to modern financial analysis and applications to business challenges in valuation, risk analysis, corporate investment decisions and basic securities analysis, and investment management. Covers earnings management models. Prepares for CFA Level 2. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 682 Advanced Corporate Finance (3-0-3)

Covers advanced topics in corporate finance along three dimensions: investment, financing and corporate governance. Emphasizes the empirical evidence in the field of corporate finance, as well as the most recent developments in the field. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 683 Applied Econometrics Methods (3-0-3)

Covers the evaluation of quantitative information and how to use data to answer quantitative questions in the financial economics field. Focuses on econometric techniques, including cross sectional and panel techniques, financial forecasting techniques and time series analysis. Builds competency in the use of various modeling procedures, including structural equation modeling (SEM), and ARCH and GARCH models. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 684 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (3-0-3)

Covers quantitative techniques relating to financial market structure and financial asset valuation. Emphasizes key aspects of investment analysis and portfolio management, including arbitrage, portfolio selection and portfolio theory, equilibrium asset pricing (CAPM), fixed income securities and derivative pricing. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 685 Advanced Asset Valuation (3-0-3)

Provides a rigorous exposure to different company valuation models, from fundamentals to multiples to cash flow valuation models. Covers cost of capital calculation techniques, and applies these concepts to different situations, including acquisitions, private firms, public firms, financial distress and IPO. Includes material relevant to CFA Levels I, II and III.  Prerequisite: FIN 681.

FIN 686 Pricing and Hedging of Financial Derivatives (3-0-3)

Places emphasis on market operations and the valuations of forward, futures, swaps, and options contracts and their interrelations. Covers topics of trading strategies include hedging, arbitrage and speculation, and of market operations on stock index, interest rate instruments, and foreign currencies. Addresses Binomial and Black-Sholes option pricing models, as well as recent innovations in derivative markets.  Prerequisite: FIN 684.

FIN 687 Financial Markets and Institutions (3-0-3)

Emphasizes the understanding of financial institutions, markets and instruments. Includes commercial banking, expansion process of money, central banking and other financial institutions, as well as the types of financial markets and instruments, and interest rates. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 688 Private Equity and Venture Capital (3-0-3)

Provides a framework for understanding the venture capital and private equity industry in today’s finance. Explores the evolution of this asset class, its players and the characteristics that contributed to its success. Analyzes the risk and return, analysis and valuation of high-growth companies and the capital structure specific to venture-backed companies. Prerequisite: FIN 681.

FIN 689 Risk Management (3-0-3)

Covers risk management practices in the corporate world with special attention to financial institutions. Covers different topics in market risk and credit risk, as well as various types of risk faced by corporations, such as operational and liquidity risks. Prerequisite: FIN 684.

FIN 691 International Financial Management (3-0-3)

Provides an overview of topics in international finance in the context of globalization and international trade and finance. Builds on the basic theories of exchange rate determination and how arbitrage leads to purchasing power and interest rate parity. Emphasizes the financial management activities of the multinational firm. Prerequisite: FIN 684.

FIN 692 Islamic Finance (3-0-3)

Provides a critical understanding of Islamic finance and banking, including the foundation of traditional Islamic financial tools and practices and the development of modern Islamic banking and financial instruments and institutions. Relates the theory of Islamic finance to current development in Islamic banking and the finance industry. Examines the compliance of various financial products with Islamic (Sharia’a) law, and considers the risk factors associated with the Islamic banking and finance industry. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSF program. Requires background in business courses, including finance.

FIN 694 Special Topic in Finance (3-0-3)

Presents a theoretical or practical topic proposed by the faculty beyond what is offered in existing courses. Can be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: topic specific. Lab/tech fee may apply.

FIN 699 Master’s Thesis (6-0-6)

Requires completion of original research work in the field of study. Requires the thesis to be completed under the supervision of a faculty member serving as thesis advisor, and a final defense to the examining committee. Prerequisite: Good academic standing and approval of Head of Department.