Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Valuation of Financial Assets. Co-requisite: MBA 8135. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course develops core competencies that all finance graduates regardless of area of specialization should possess. Topics include foreign exchange markets, interest rate risk measures, term structure theory,introductory option pricing, futures markets, swaps, and valuation. This course is required of all MBA students seeking a major or a concentration in finance as well as all M.S. in finance students. This course is a prerequisite for all other finance electives except Fi 8020 and Fi 8040 and may be taken in the same semester as MBA 8135.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Financial Analysis and Loan Structuring. Prerequisite: MBA 8135. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course provides students with the skills to analyze a business, determine its funding needs, and design a financing structure to satisfy those needs (primarily, private debt instruments). There is minimal discussion of pricing; the focus is credit analysis. The principal teaching method is case analysis, and a significant course objective is the development of logical thinking and communication skills. The case mix includes companies of all sizes including small- and medium-sized firms. Students have the opportunity to evaluate the needs of a variety of businesses that differ with respect to type, industry, profitability, growth, cyclicality, and degree of distress.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Survey of International Finance. Prerequisite: MBA 8135. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course surveys the conceptual and institutional aspects of financial decision making in multinational firms in a global economic environment. The students are introduced to foreign exchange risk with special emphasis on the mechanics of foreign exchange and related derivatives markets as well as the parity conditions in international finance. Institutional realities of regional economic blocks, foreign exchanges regimes, euro markets, and balance of payments are discussed to highlight their impact on financial management.
Credit Hour(s): 1.0 TO 3.0
Leading the Finance Function. Co-rerequisite: MBA 8135. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course addresses the leadership, design, and organization of the finance function in a modern corporation for effectively promoting the development of human capital and firm value. First, an economics-based framework for leading and organizing a finance department is established with a focus on the optimal assignment of decision rights, the design and alignment of incentive and compensation systems, and performance review and evaluation. Next, a bridge is built between economic theory and practice with the use of case studies and guest speakers representing leading corporate organizations.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Derivative Markets I. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course focuses on the valuation, uses, and regulation of derivative instruments-contracts or agreements whose values derive from the prices of underlying assets such as equities, commodities, interest rates, and currencies. The course is presented from the perspective of corporate risk managers and institutional professionals who use these valuable risk-shifting instruments for controlling market risks. Coverage is presented of both exchange and off-exchange derivatives including futures, options, forwards and swaps, and structured products such as hybrid debt having embedded derivative features. The course keeps abreast of global trends, trading developments such as electronic markets, and new products such as electricity, weather, bandwidth, and credit derivatives.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Derivative Markets II. Prerequisite: Fi 8200. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course is a continuation of Fi 8200 and presents a more advanced treatment of derivative instruments including coverage of important risk management products that trade largely in the off-exchange market. Particular focus is on the valuation and practical application of forward contracts, swaps, and related products such as caps and floors, exotic options, and structured products. The course also explores the integration of these instruments into an overall risk management framework. In doing so, consideration is given to market, liquidity, legal, operational, and credit risks.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Global Portfolio Management. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course explores in greater depth than possible in Fi 8000 the practical aspects of investment valuation and portfolio management in a global framework. The focus is on market microstructure, bond- and equity-portfolio management and overall asset allocation. Practical aspects of portfolio management are introduced through lectures and class discussions of journal articles and cases.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Hedge Funds And Their Trading Strategies. Prerequisites: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This is an advanced graduate elective course on hedge funds, which have emerged as popular investment vehicles. The course will cover institutional topics including the history and evolution of hedge funds, the differences between hedge funds and mutual funds, funds of hedge funds, and key sources of information such as databases, indices, and benchmarks. The course will investigate hedge fund risk-return characteristics, performance evaluation, risk management, asset allocation, and managerial compensation. Trading strategies to be considered will include long-short equity, merger arbitrage, relative value arbitrage, convertible arbitrage, fixed income arbitrage, and trend-following.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Advanced Corporate Finance. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course develops a framework and tools for analyzing corporate investment and financing decisions. Students become familiar with the cutting-edge techniques for evaluating capital investments, the central issues in capital structure and dividend policy decisions, and the interaction between financing and investment decisions. Techniques covered provide the tools necessary to evaluate strategic investments in technology, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and research and development. Skills are developed for the valuation of firms in traditional and new technology industries as well as security offerings such as initial public offerings. Reliance is placed on a variety of pedagogical vehicles including problem solving, case studies, lectures, and group projects.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Investment Banking. Prerequisites: MBA 8135, Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course covers the three distinct activities of investment banking: (1) underwriting- new issues of securities, (2) fee banking-activities that earn a fee like advising on corporate restructurings, securities and economic research, and other types of financial consulting, and (3) transactions- trading in the secondary markets, proprietary trading for the firms own account, and retail brokerage. The emphasis of the course will be on equity underwriting and advising in orporate restructuring activities. It will also focus on the principles of firm valuation. These tools will be used to value, for example, an initial public offering firm, the target firm in a takeover contest, and a leveraged buyout firm.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Corporate Financial Strategy. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course uses a combination of lectures, case analyses, class discussion, and team projects to develop the ability and skills necessary to make strategic financial decisions within the firm. The emphasis is on investment and financial decision-making and their impact on firm value; capital market imperfections and their impact on the capital acquisition process; and corporate governance and its impact on firm value. Specific topics will vary according to current relevance and may include the estimation of divisional cost of capital, project analysis including flexibility and real options, incentive alignment, corporate governance, and the influence of alternative financing choices on firm value.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Multinational Corporate Finance. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1,2,6. This course covers various aspects of the financial manage- ment of the nonfinancial multinational firm in a global setting. It deals with currency exposure management, capital expenditure processes, capital structure decision, and short-and long-term financing strategies in the presence of impediments to market integration such as reporting requirements, taxes, and regulations. The phenomena of globalization and multinational firms are examined from a variety of conceptual viewpoints and their policy implications are analyzed using cases.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Corporate Restructuring and Workouts. Prerequisite: FI 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This is an advanced course examining corporate restructuring. It exposes students to a broad range of restructuring strategies that can be employed to increase firm value. Class coverage and case discussions will illustrate how the various corporate restructuring strategies can be used to improve firm performance. The course begins with a brief consideration of mergers and acquisitions. It then focuses on restructuring strategies available to individual firms to improve their competitive situation and enhance shareholder value. Topics here include spin-offs, equity carve-outs, split-offs, sell-offs, leveraged recapitalizations and LBOs. This is followed by a consideration of restructuring of financially distressed firms under both out of court and formal bankruptcy circumstances.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Special Topics in Corporate Finance. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 6. This seminar-style course allows for in-depth study of select corporate finance topics of special current significance. Coverage is drawn from cutting-edge issues such as the capital acquisition process, investment banking, venture capital financing, the financial management of the e-commerce firm, corporate control, international capital budgeting and financing, project finance, corporate reorganizations and restructuring, corporate governance, and the interaction of product-market strategies and financial strategies. Reliance is placed on readings from the professional literature, lectures, case studies, and group projects. The topic of each offering will be announced in advance, and students may take this course multiple times for course credit as different topics are offered.
Credit Hour(s): 1.0 TO 3.0
Directed Readings in Finance. Prerequisites: Fi 8000, consent of instructor, good academic standing.
Credit Hour(s): 1.0 TO 3.0
Field Studies in Finance. Prerequisites: FI 8000 and Instructor Consent. The field study is a supervised, employer-site learning ex- perience that provides students the opportunity to learn and apply finance skills in a professional setting. Partici- pating students are expected to work a designated number of hours each week, to attend education lectures and seminars, and to submit assignments, projects and term papers. The field study is typically non-paid; students will receive course credit. Participating students will be selected through a competitive review.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Financial Management of Depository Financial Services Firms. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course addresses financial management of firms that specialize in deposit-type financial assets (i.e., com- mercial banks and bank holding companies, savings organizations, and credit unions). Specific topics include: the economic foundation of depository financial institutions, legal/regulatory structure, market dynamics, performance analysis, asset/liability management, liquidity management, and other risk/return management issues. One area not covered is loan analysis since that topic is treated in great depth in Fi 8020.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
The Financial System. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This is a macro-finance course, focusing on the broad issue of funds flows through the entire economy. The course analyzes the dynamic and complex pattern of world-wide funds flows, the identity of the major players in the system and the factors influencing their behavior in financial markets, the basis for the myriad financial assets available, the crucial importance of a well-developed financial system for economic development, the influence of the legal/regulatory system, and financial innovation. Special attention is placed on the structure and role of interest rates.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Finance and Banking in the Global Economy. Prerequisite: Fi 8000. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course allows for in-depth study of select finance and banking topics of global significance. Coverage is drawn from cutting-edge issues such as the global financial architecture, the management of risk exposures (market/credit/operational/other risks), financial value chains, regulatory frameworks and developments, project financing decisions, corporate governance, and the interaction of product-market strategies and financial strategies. Topic coverage will also include newer developments in the financial world such as, for example, Islamic banking, microfinance, peer-to-peer lending, or credit derivatives.
Credit Hour(s): 1.0 TO 3.0
Current Isues in Finance. Corequisites: MBA 8135. CSP: 1, 2, 6. This course allows for in-depth analysis of select, topical issues in finance. Coverage is drawn from current issues in financial markets that do not necessarily require an entire semester of study. As examples, topics could include corporate governance, executive compensation, financial market regulation, and financial system reform. Reliance is placed on authoritative faculty having specific expertise in a topic area, readings from the current professional literature, guest speakers, case studies, and group projects. The topic of each offering will be announced in advance, and students may take this course multiple times for course credit as different topics are offered.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Mathematical Methods in Contemporary Financial Theory. Prerequisites: Math 3435 or equivalent; and consent of instructor. CSP: 6. This course develops techniques of mathematics useful in a variety of problems in finance, including asset pricing, consumption and portfolio choice, game theory, contingent claim valuation, and the economic theory underlying financial markets. Topics covered may include relevant parts of the theory of topological vector spaces, convex analysis, probability theory, stochastic processes, stochastic calculus, dynamical systems, dynamic programming and stochastic control theory. The techniques covered depend on the instructor and the needs of the students.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
The Theory of Asset Valuation. Prerequisite: Fi 9000 or consent of instructor. CSP: 6. This course acquaints students with the modern theory of asset valuation. Topics covered may include the relationship between no-arbitrage conditions and the existence of equilibrium pricing measures, spanning, market completeness and the uniqueness of the pricing functional, and the pricing of derivative securities in both continuous-time and discrete-time stochastic economies. The specific topics covered depend on the instructor and the needs of the students.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Seminar in the Theory of Investments. Prerequisites: Fi 9000, Fi 9100; or consent of instructor. This seminar exposes the student to the basic theoretical paradigms of contemporary investments research. Topics which may be covered include portfolio theory, two-fund separation, mean-variance analysis, contingent-claim pricing, consumption-based asset pricing theory, asset pricing in a rational expectations setting, and the microstructure of securities markets. The specific topics covered depend the instructor and the needs of the students.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Seminar in Corporate Finance. Prerequisite: Fi 9000 or consent of instructor. CSP: 6. This course acquaints students with theoretical and empirical research in corporate finance. Topics covered may include the effect of taxes and transactions costs on corporate capital structure, bondholder-stockholder and stockholder-manager agency conflicts, the effect of informational asymmetry between firms and outside investors on financial decisions, the design of securities, the design of optimal control mechanisms, theory of corporate control, bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, shareholder heterogeneity, and corporate governance. The specific topics covered depend on the instructor and the needs of the students.
Credit Hour(s): 1.0 TO 3.0
Directed Readings in Finance. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and PhD doordinator; good academic standing. This course will be taught as a level equivalent to a doctoral seminar and thus limited to students in the finance PhD program and related disciplines. The topics for each offering will be announced in advance; students may take this course multiple times for course credit as different topics are offered.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Theory of Financial Management of Financial Institutions. Prerequisite: Fi 9000 or consent of instructor. CSP: 6. This course develops the theory of the financial markets and institutions which link suppliers and users of investment capital. Topics which may be covered include: the reasons for the existence of financial intermediaries, productivity of financial institutions, the determinants of interest rates, the pricing of interest-rate-contingent instruments, optimal regulatory policies for financial institutions, the capital structure and hedging policies of institutions, market microstructure and non-depository financial intermediation, bank credit policies and credit rationing, macro finance, and the role of intermediaries in supplying liquidity. The specific topics covered depend on the instructor and the needs of the students.
Credit Hour(s): 3.0
Advanced Topics in Contemporary Finance Research. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. CSP: 6. This doctoral-level course is devoted to analyzing significant topics in finance research. Topics covered in the course will vary across a wide spectrum of possible areas and methodologies in finance research. The course may be repeated when the topics vary.