Finance (FIN)

This class provides an introduction of terminology in financial markets and basic functions of various financial products and instruction in the preparation of professional etiquette and business communication. Discussions are held with industry experts on roles of finance professionals in business, government and capital markets.

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad introduction to the markets and instruments of engineered finance. The focus of the course is to expose students to the properties and uses of the array of non-traditional financial instruments that are increasingly trading in both the exchange and over-the-counter markets.

This is a sophomore level course that covers finance-related topics of interest such as introductory financial markets or finance career options. Topics may vary according to the instructor. May be taken for a maximum of six credits if the topics vary.

The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation in the principles and tools of finance, which include financial analysis, the time value of money, capital budgeting and capital structure. Open to students with a B.S. or B.A. economics major with a concentration in finance as well as students majoring in health sciences.

The purpose of this course is to assist students in developing a foundation in real estate principles, apply finance and economic principles to valuation and evaluation of real estate and analyze contracts and financing in residential and commercial real estate transactions.

The purpose of this course is to examine the economic role of money, banking and monetary policy within current institutional settings and under alternative theories explaining the interrelationships between money, the financial system and economic activity.

Regression and exponential smoothing methods for forecasting nonseasonal and seasonal time series, stochastic processes, Box-Jenkins' autoregressive and moving average models.

Offers an introduction to the basic principles in financial decision-making, providing an overview of the role of the forms of business, taxation and financing of a business enterprise. This course develops the basic financial skills and tools necessary for financial analysis, capital investment project analysis and valuation. Not recommended for students seeking admission to MBA programs. Students will not receive credit for this course if they also take FIN 301 or COB 300B.

The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive examination of the investing and financing decisions of a multinational business entity. Particular emphasis is on global financial markets and instruments, exchange-rate risk management, short-term and long-term financing for multinational firms and asset-liability management in an international environment.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the finance major to quantitative methods in finance, as applied to financial instruments and capital markets. Emphasis is placed in the theoretical determination of asset prices, risk and return, as well as the estimation and analysis of returns and asset prices.

This course is designed to prepare the finance major to use and interpret economic and accounting information that is essential in financial analysis and valuation.

The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth study of the theories of capital structure, long-term financing decisions, working capital management and current topics such as mergers and bankruptcy. Computer applications.

The purpose of this course is to offer a comprehensive examination of the decision-making processes involved in purchasing and financing real assets. The focus is on the cost of funds and optimal financial structure of complex real estate projects.

The purpose of this course is to provide an investor's view of the operation of the capital markets. This course covers the theories and practice of investments, including analysis of financial instruments and real assets and their effective combination into portfolios.

Examines international financial markets, instruments and institutions; determination of spot and forward exchange rates, interest arbitrage, hedging and speculation; and alternative policies for achieving equilibrium in international payments.

The course is an accelerated introduction to the investment environment with a focus on fundamental analysis of stocks, overlay strategies to enhance portfolio performance, and familiarization with the trading and pricing of the wide variety of instruments in the modern financial marketplace. The course is limited to members of the Madison Investment Fund.

The purpose of this course is to examine the market for and the price/yield determinants of various fixed income securities including Treasury debt, corporate bonds, agency debt, municipal bonds and mortgage and asset-backed securities. Topics include securitization, the term structure of interest rates and portfolio management strategies such as duration, convexity and immunization.

The purpose of this course is to undertake an in-depth examination of the broad array of financial instruments traded in contemporary finance markets that are available for financing, investing and managing financial price risk.

This course presents an overview of the role of mathematical concepts in financial applications. Topics include continuous time finance, optimization, numerical analysis and applications in asset pricing.

A quantitative treatment of the theory and method of financial securities pricing to include an examination of closed form pricing models such as the Black-Scholes and its various derivatives as well as numerical solution techniques such as binomial methods.

This course introduces the student to financial planning and wealth management. The course is designed for students who may want to pursue a career in financial planning and related professional designations. In addition to the financial planning process and working with clients, this course covers the topics of insurance, cash management, debt management, investment management, taxes and estate planning.

An introduction to data analysis and programming in finance. Emphasis is placed on problem identification, the selection and application of tools and techniques to address problems, and data analysis.

The purpose of this course is to explore forward contracts, futures, swaps and options, which are the basic building blocks for creating financial risk management programs for companies subject to financial risks such as changes in exchange rates, commodity price fluctuations and changes in interest rates.

The purpose of this course is to present an intermediate treatment of the theory and applications of market, credit, liquidity and operational risk management. It builds upon concepts introduced in previous course work to present the theoretical constructs underlying risk management, as well as the quantitative skills required for risk analysis and the implementation of risk management techniques.

The purpose of this course is to focus on the analysis of major international financial management issues and risk faced by businesses operating in global markets. The emphasis is on the management of foreign exchange transactions, operating and translation exposures by multinational corporations, the functions of various currency hedging instruments, and the application of international funding and investment techniques.

The purpose of this course is to study the objectives, functions, policies, organizational practices and government regulation of commercial banks. An intensive study is undertaken of the asset and liability structure of commercial banks. Special emphasis is placed on how banks are adapting to the changes in their operating and regulatory environments.

The purpose of this course is to cover the application of investment concepts within a case format. The course focuses on investment management, bringing together economics, capital markets and valuation to form a basis for decision making in financial asset selection, risk/reward analysis, portfolio selection and formation.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to practical methods used to identify, quantify, predict, value, diversify and manage risk in the financial environment. Students use sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo and Latin Hypercube simulations, bootstrapping, time series forecasting and dynamic optimization techniques as applied to capital budgeting and structure, pro forma financial statements, multi-objective portfolio allocation, discounted cash flow analysis and real options.

The purpose of this course is to develop the research skills of quantitative finance students. The primary focus of the course is on empirically-oriented student-initiated research. Students are guided through the process of financial research with a particular emphasis on the analysis of real-world data. Presentation of original research is expected.

The financing of a new business enterprise or expansion and the financial condition of existing firms is examined within a case format. The objective of this examination is to elicit a policy decision which effectively addresses the issues identified in the case.

Designed to give capable students in finance an opportunity to complete independent study under faculty supervision. Admission by recommendation of the instructor and permission of the director.

The purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to explore areas of current topical interest or to exploit special situations. Course content will vary. For current course content, consult with your advisor.