2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
Finance
Credit designation at right of title is expressed in (c) class hours per week, (l) lab or (d) discussion section hours per week, and (sh) semester hours of credit per semester.
FIN: Finance
Department of Finance and Legal Studies
Eberly College of Business and Information Technology
Note: All courses at the 300 and 400 level are open only to students with junior or senior standing. All students, regardless of major or program affiliation, must meet course prerequisite requirements in order to enroll for a given course. Business majors (except those majoring in Business Education) who have not achieved Junior Standing are normally not permitted to enroll in 300- or 400-level courses.
var-1-3sh
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
Special topics are offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics that are not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 281 are offered primarily for lower-level undergraduate students.
var-1-3sh
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
Special topics are offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics that are not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 281 are offered primarily for lower-level undergraduate students.
FIN 310 Fundamentals of Finance
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites for Business majors: ACCT 202, MATH 214
Prerequisites for non-Business majors: ACCT 202, MATH 214 or 217 (MATH 214 recommended)
The study of valuation models, financial statement analysis and forecasting, capital budgeting methods, and working capital management. Also includes an introduction to risk and return, capital markets and institutions, and security valuation.
FIN 315 Financial Analysis Using Electronic Spreadsheets
3c-01-3sh
Prerequisite: BTED/COSC/IFMG 101
Develops the financial students’ computer modeling and analysis skills. Students will be taught how to utilize current computing resources, electronic spreadsheet, and other computing software to analyze, model, and solve a variety of financial problems. (Offered as FIN 355 prior to 2002-03)
3c-01-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 310
The study of corporate financial management and decision-making, its theory, and application. Provides a higher level of study and many of the same topics covered in Fundamentals of Finance, particularly in the area of capital budgeting. Other topics covered include capital asset pricing models, costs of capital, capital structure, leasing bond refunding, and financial distress.
FIN 324 Principles of Investments
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisite: FIN 310
An introduction to securities markets, trading, and valuation. Topics include security types and characteristics, the mechanics of trading, valuation models for fixed-income securities and common stock, mutual fund evaluation, basics of options and futures, and tax-advantaged investments.
FIN 350 Short-Term Financial Management
3c-01-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 310, 315
Provides the conceptual framework and analytical techniques for the short-term financial decisions made by the practicing manager as related to the corporate cash and marketable securities, inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and the short-term borrowing and investing activities.
FIN 360 Insurance and Risk Management
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 310, 315
Covers the nature of risk, the application of the risk management process to business risk management problems, and the essentials of insurance contracts and insurance markets. Appropriate methods of risk control and risk financing are discussed. The primary focus is on accidental losses resulting from situations involving pure risks, although financial risk management techniques for dealing with speculative risks are introduced.
FIN 410 Financial Institutions and Markets
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisite: FIN 324
A review of the structure of financial institutions and money and capital markets. Provides students with the knowledge of the theory and practices of managing financial institutions, with particular emphasis on the management of financial risks.
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 320, 324
Integrates the work of the various courses in the finance areas and familiarizes the student with the tools and techniques of research in the different areas of investments.
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 320, 324, seniors only
Primarily for the senior Finance major, covers topics in all areas of finance by using recent articles, cases, discussions, speakers, and a financial simulation game.
FIN 424 International Financial Management
3c-0l-4sh
Prerequisite: FIN 310
The financial management concepts, useful in a single-country context, are adapted for the international variables and constraints caused by being international. Provides an insight into unique issues and problems the manager of the multinational enterprise will face, such as working capital management; capital budgeting process; financing and investing abroad; capital and money markets; foreign exchange markets; and risk management.
3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites: FIN 320, 324
Intended to provide the student with an understanding of how the derivatives markets work, how they are used, and how prices are determined. Topics include the common types of derivatives, their characteristics and properties, and trading methods and strategies. Also covered are fundamental pricing models based on arbitrage pricing theory, binomial, and Black-Scholes models. (Offered as FIN 385 Securities and Commodities Markets prior to 2002-03)
var-3sh
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
Special topics are offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics that are not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 481 are offered primarily for upper-level undergraduate students.
var-3sh
Prerequisite: Prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, dean, and Provost’s Office
Students with interest in independent study of a topic not offered in the curriculum may propose a plan of study in conjunction with a faculty member. Approval is based on academic appropriateness and availability of resources.
var-3-12sh
Prerequisites: FIN 310, 315, 324, prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, and dean. Minimum overall 2.0 GPA 2.0; major 2.5 GPA
Intended to provide practical experience in the finance field to develop knowledge and provide application of theory to actual problems in a non-classroom situation. 3sh are awarded for at least 120 hours of on-site work, up to 12sh for at least 480 work hours. A maximum of 3sh may be applied toward the finance major area elective requirements. Additional internship credits must be used as business electives only.
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