2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
 

Department of Finance and Legal Studies

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

Credit designation below each title is expressed in (c) class hours per week, (l) lab or (d) discussion section hours per week, and (cr) credits per semester.

Note: Except for Accounting, Business Education, and nonbusiness majors who have met the required prerequisites, students scheduling 300 and 400 courses are expected to have achieved junior standing as described in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology Academic Policies.

FIN 281 Special Topics

var-1-3cr

Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content

Offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics 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-3cr

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-0l-3cr

Prerequisite: BTED/COSC/IFMG 101

Develops the financial students’ computer modeling and analysis skills. Teaches how to utilize current computing resources, electronic spreadsheet, and other computing software to analyze, model, and solve a variety of financial problems.

FIN 320 Corporate Finance

3c-0l-3cr

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 include capital asset pricing models, costs of capital, capital structure, leasing bond refunding, and financial distress.

FIN 324 Principles of Investments

3c-0l-3cr

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-0l--3cr

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-3cr

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-3cr

Prerequisite: FIN 324

A review of the structure of financial institutions and money and capital markets. Provides the knowledge of the theory and practices of managing financial institutions, with particular emphasis on the management of financial risks.

FIN 420 Investment Analysis

3c-0l-3cr

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.

FIN 422 Seminar in Finance

3c-0l-3cr

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-3cr

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.

FIN 425 Financial Derivatives

3c-0l-3cr

Prerequisites: FIN 320, 324

Provides an understanding of how the derivatives markets work, how they are used, and how prices are determined. Includes the common types of derivatives, their characteristics and properties, and trading methods and strategies. Also covers fundamental pricing models based on arbitrage pricing theory, binomial, and Black-Scholes models.

FIN 481 Special Topics

var-3cr

Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content

Offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics 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.

FIN 482 Independent Study

var-3cr

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.

FIN 493 Finance Internship

var-3-12cr

Prerequisites: FIN 310, 315, 324, prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, and dean, minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA; major 2.5 GPA

Provides practical experience in the finance field to develop knowledge and provide application of theory to actual problems in a nonclassroom situation. Three credits are awarded for at least 120 hours of on-site work, up to 12cr for at least 480 work hours. A maximum of 3cr may be applied toward the finance major area elective requirements. Additional internship credits must be used as business electives only.

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