Finance

Acting Chairperson: Atha Hunt

Faculty: Chang Choi, Ernst Coupet, Bijesh Tolia

The College of Business offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Administration, with a concentration in Finance. Finance students study corporate financial management, capital markets, investment evaluation and decision making, and portfolio

management. They learn the concepts and the methods of finance that are current in industry and research. Career opportunities are available in banking, finance, investment companies, and the public sector. Finance programs prepare individuals to provide financial or banking services to individuals or institutions. Occupations include financial managers, loan officers, securities sales people, business executives, bank tellers, and budget analysts.

Program Assessment

Students majoring in finance are expected to fulfill the following three assessment requirements:

• Capstone Analysis - a pre and post examination will be given in 4000 level finance courses. The purpose of the examination is to assess student understanding of financial concepts, ratios, and computations.
• Standardized Field Test Examination – all College of Business students must take a standardized field test examination in business. This examination is given in MGMT 4890/ 389. The purpose of the examination is to provide students with feedback on their mastery of general business concepts compared to other senior business students. The students’ ability to analyze and solve problems, understand relationships, and interpret material is also covered in the examination.
• Senior Exit Interview - all graduating seniors are required to complete a senior exit interview questionnaire as part of their application for graduation. The purpose of the questionnaire is to learn the student’s perceptions regarding his or her academic experience at CSU. The senior exit interview forms can be obtained from the department secretary.

Assessment results will be used to evaluate the quality of learning within the accounting and finance program. The results will also be the basis for any future revisions in the curriculum.

General Education Requirements

Composition (6 credit hours)

ENG 1270/ 127, 1280/ 128.

Foreign Language (6 credit hours)

In a single foreign language

Humanities (12 credit hours)

3 hours in English; 3 hours in CMAT; 3 hours in Fine Arts; 3 hours in Diversity.

Mathematics (3 credit hours)

MATH 1200/ 162 (also satisfies the critical thinking requirement).

Physical and Life Science (6 credit hours)

3 credit hours from biological sciences and 3 credit hours from physical sciences. At least one course must be with a laboratory.

Social and Behavioral Science (6 credit hours)

ECON 1010/ 101, 1020/ 102

Business Core Courses (45 credit hours)

ACCT 2110/ 110, 2111/ 111, 2291/ 291; FIN 2660/ 266; INSY 1370/ 137; MGMT 1030/103; QBA 1500; QBA 2000/ 200, QBA 2010/201; MGMT 3010/ 249, 3020/ 251, 3240/ 224, 4850/ 358, 4890/ 389,; and MKTG 3110/ 276.

Finance Major Courses (12 credit hours)

FIN 3660/ 366, 3680/ 368, 3690/ 369, and 4700/ 370.

Business Electives (15 credit hours)

Select from FIN 3640/364, 3650/365, 3670/367, 3750/375, 3805, 4505; ACCT 2120/ 212, 3213/ 213, 3293/ 293; BLP 3207/ 207; and other 3000-level or 4000-level College of Business courses. 

Non-Business Electives (9 credit hours)

Electives must be in social and behavioral science courses.

Minor in Finance 21 credit hours

Required Courses (12 credit hours)

ACCT 2110/ 110, 2111/ 111; FIN 2660/ 266; INSY 1370/ 137 or CPTR 1060/106;

Elective Courses (9 credit hours)

Select three 3000-level or 4000-level finance courses. Students must complete required courses with a C or better.

Finance (FIN)

Course Offerings

1010/ 101  PERSONAL FINANCIAL DECISION (3)

Management of personal income and expenditures, including the development of competencies in logic as a consumer in the areas of budgeting, credit, housing

and mortgages, insurance, savings and investment and retirement and estate planning. (Critical thinking course.)

2660/266  PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE (3)

Prerequisite: ACCT 2110/ 110.

Nature of financial management. Analysis of financial statements and fund flows. Time value of money and capital budgeting, capital structure, and leverage.  Characteristics and use of securities.

3630 FINANCIAL MODELING (3)

Develop financial models using electronic spreadsheet.  Topics include financial statement analysis, cash budget, forecasting, break-even analysis, stock valuation, bond valuation, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and portfolio statistics and diversification.  Advanced functions of spreadsheet application will be utilized to facilitate the development and analysis process.

3640/364 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/ 266; junior standing.

Understanding the nature and valuation of derivative securities including options and futures contracts.  Use of financial derivatives for risk management and hedging for businesses.

3650/365  INTERNATIONAL FINANCE (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/ 266.

The multinational environment and the nature of corporate policy and decision making. Includes the financial management of short-term funds, exchange rates and restrictions on commitment of resources, and the repatriation of capital and profits. Analysis of financial statements and funds flow in a multinational firm including problems in capital budgeting and sources of financing.

3660/366  FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/ 266.

Study of corporate financing from the standpoint of financial institutions which provide funds and facilitate the process of financing, including banks, savings and loan associations, securities markets and exchanges, underwriters, small business administration agencies, economic development corporations,

and others. Impact of these institutions on the urban environment. Writing emphasis course.

3670/367  COMMERCIAL BANKING (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/266.

Quantitative analysis of the role of commercial banks in the savings investment processes, including deposit creation, allocation of assets, structure of liabilities, and the production of bank services.

3680/368  INVESTMENTS (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/ 266.

Major sources of investment information, financial markets, portfolio management, current investment

theories, and investment advisement.

3690/ 369  ADVANCED CORPORATE FINANCE (3)

Prerequisite: Admitted major or minor. FIN 2660/ 266 and senior standing.

Quantitative analysis of the acquisition, allocation and management of funds within a business enterprise.  Financial goals, funds flow, capital budgeting and financing strategies.

3750/ 375  REAL ESTATE FINANCE (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 2660/ 266.

Principles and methods of financing real estate, sources of funds, types and content of financing instruments, analysis of loans, screening of borrowers, legal aspects and the role of various financing institutions, both private and governmental.

3840 RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE (3)

Risk identification, risk-evaluation, and risk treatment methods.  Consideration is given to both business and personal risks, with an emphasis on insurance as a risk management tool.  Risk management tools and processes will include insurance and other alternative methods.

4700/ 370  CORPORATE FINANCE SEMINAR (3)

Prerequisite: Admitted major or minor. FIN 3690/ 369.

Courses focuses on integration of financial operations with other operations of a business unit. Includes

working capital management, financial planning, capital budgeting, capital structure and financial control. Course focuses on application of corporate finance theory using case studies.

4990/ 399  INDEPENDENT STUDY AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS (3)

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Designed for independent research and study of special finance problems. A comprehensive research paper is required. Maximum of two enrollments, not in the same term, for a total of six credit hours.