Department of Finance

FIN 201. Fundamentals of Financial Management.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of financial management. Topics include the uses and valuation of securities, the structure and purpose of capital markets, financial risk, interest rates and yield curves, and corporate financial analysis and decision making.

Prerequisites: Take EC 111.
Offered: Every year, All

FIN 300. Special Topics.3 Credits.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310, FIN 320.
Offered: As needed

FIN 301. Introduction to Financial Technology.3 Credits.

Students will be introduced to the landscape of Financial Technology (FinTech) and the role it plays in the digital economy. The course develops the perspective of FinTech as a set of disruptive innovations and processes that have changed the nature of capital flow and information exchange. Topics will include an introduction to Digital Identity, Blockchains, Distributed Ledger Technology and Crypto Assets. Additionally, students will learn about the disruptive role of FinTech in Financial Intermediation, Capital Markets, Investment & Portfolio Management, Financial Advising, as well as efficiencies introduced by Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine & Deep Learning.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 310. Investment Analysis.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of investment analysis. Emphasis is on the uses, characteristics and valuation of fixed income securities, equities and derivatives in the global financial marketplace. Students are exposed to both classical and modern theories of evaluating and quantifying financial risks and returns.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 315. Financial Planning: A Service Learning Course.3 Credits.

Students are introduced to financial planning, which includes budgeting, credit, insurance and risk management, investments, income tax planning and retirement planning as they apply to consumer decision-making. Students also explore the importance of financial education in reducing poverty and create financial awareness in the community through a service learning project. As part of the service learning project, students design and organize basic financial education workshops for local high school students.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: As needed

FIN 320. Financial Modeling.3 Credits.

This course examines standard financial models and data analysis in the areas of capital budgeting, financial statement analysis, asset pricing, portfolio management and performance, hedging and option pricing. Students learn to extract, model and analyze data using computer spreadsheets.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Fall and Summer

FIN 325. Financial Analytics.3 Credits.

This course focuses on the further development of analytical skills used by investors, analysts and managers. Students learn methods of data acquisition and storage. Subsequently, they apply and analyze relevant statistical tools and methods analyze and interpret the results to aid appropriate decision making.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201, CIS 245.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 331. Decentralized Finance: Blockchain, Crypt.3 Credits.

This class is an overview of decentralized finance (DeFI) that focuses on the key infrastructure components, such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, stablecoins, and decentralized applications (or dApps, NFTs). The architecture of cryptocurrencies will be studied in addition to cryptocurrency pricing and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). The specific problems that DeFi is designed to solve, such as inefficiency, limited access, trust to regulators to monitor banks, centralized control, and difficulty of moving funds from one financial institution to another will be studied. Regulations, consumer protection, privacy, and security issues will also be part of class discussion.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201
Offered: Every year, Summer

FIN 345. Risk Management & Insurance.3 Credits.

This course covers risk management principles and the nature of insurance as a risk-transferring device to reduce various loss exposures. Topics include insurance programs, financial aspects of insurance companies and markets, insurance industry structure, managerial aspects of underwriting and pricing, and public policy issues.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 350. Financial Markets and Institutions.3 Credits.

This course presents a study of financial markets and intermediaries in a global setting with emphasis on how funds flow from investors in financial assets to investors in real assets. The types and functions of markets and institutions that exist today are discussed along with the differences between them. Topics include the role of monetary policy and the operations of central banks; the regulatory environment in which financial markets and institutions operate; and the financial instruments traded in the markets today.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Spring and Summer

FIN 355. Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits.3 Credits.

This course provides students with an understanding of the retirement planning process. The main objectives are to learn the usefulness of retirement plans and employment-based benefits, and to develop recommendations on important retirement and employee benefit decisions. Topics include: Social Security, qualified retirement plans, nonqualified retirement plans, self-employed plans, IRAs, group life insurance, group disability insurance and group health insurance.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: As needed

FIN 356. Real Estate Finance.3 Credits.

This course examines the structure of real estate markets. Topics include principles of mortgage lending; property appraisal; the secondary mortgage market; mortgage securitization and valuation; residential and commercial real estate investment; leverage and capital structure for real estate project analysis; and real estate investment in the portfolio context.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 360. Financial Statement Analysis.3 Credits.

This course focuses on the development of analytical skills used by investors and analysts in their evaluation of various financial statements. Topics include the review and analysis of balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flow; ratio analysis and developing pro forma financial statements to support equity analysis and credit analysis.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Fall and Summer

FIN 370. Commodities.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the fundamental and technical analysis of commodity markets with application to real market problems. Strategy development and risk management are studied with alternative market concepts and unconventional views.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 380. Intermediate Corporate Finance.3 Credits.

Students gain an advanced understanding of corporate finance. The main objectives are to learn to apply financial concepts, construct and implement financial decision models, and relate various financial theories to one another. Topics include capital budgeting, the valuation of firms, capital structure, cost of capital, dividend policy and risk management.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, Spring and Summer

FIN 420. Bank Management and Loan Underwriting.3 Credits.

This course focuses on the theory and techniques used to underwrite bank loans and manage a bank loan portfolio. Other fundamental bank processes such as management of liquidity, investment portfolios, funding costs and capital adequacy also are examined. Emphasis is placed on the application of real-world best practices.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 350.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 425. Advanced Financial Analytics.3 Credits.

This course covers topics in financial time series, computational finance, working with large scale empirical applications, and risk management systems. The focus will be on exposing students to the technical and analytic pipeline involved in bringing new financial products to market, including problem identification and concept development. An independent guided group project will be required. The course will primarily utilize Python.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 325.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 430. Portfolio Theory and Practice.3 Credits.

This course offers a rigorous examination of the theory and practice of portfolio management. Topics include portfolio construction, valuation and performance measurement. Equity and fixed-income portfolio strategies are considered as well as the use of futures and options in portfolio management.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310, FIN 320.
Offered: As needed

FIN 440. Introduction to Fixed Income Analytics.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the analytical processes associated with fixed income investing. The course bridges the gap between valuing bonds based on a yield to maturity and valuing bonds as a package of zero-coupon instruments. The concepts of theoretical spot rates, par rates of the on-the-run treasury securities, duration and convexity are discussed. A binomial model is explained and used to value bonds that have built-in options.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310, FIN 320.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 450. Applied Portfolio Management.3 Credits.

Students apply investment and portfolio management techniques and strategies in a real-life environment by managing a portion of the Quinnipiac University Endowment fund--the Student-Managed Portfolio. Students are responsible for developing investment strategies, constructing, monitoring and rebalancing the portfolio, and reporting on actual portfolio performance. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310, FIN 320, FIN 360.
Offered: Every year, All

FIN 451. Applied Portfolio Management II.3 Credits.

This course is a continuation of FIN 450 for students who have excelled in Applied Portfolio Management I and wish to take a leadership role in the management of the fund. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 450.
Offered: Every year, All

FIN 460. Mergers and Acquisitions.3 Credits.

This course presents the theory and evidence of corporate acquisitions and restructuring activities. Topics include the foundations of mergers and restructuring, the valuation of assets, various means of financing acquisitions, defensive strategies, as well as post-merger, acquisition, and takeover performance.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 380.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 465. Working Capital Management.3 Credits.

This course examines the theory and practice of cash and liquidity management. Topics include cash management, credit and accounts receivable management, collections and cash concentrations, short-term investments and borrowing, forecasting cash flows, and international cash management.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: As needed

FIN 470. Trading Strategies and Practices.3 Credits.

This course introduces financial market microstructure and trading strategies to students. The lectures focus on how trading on exchanges is organized and regulated as well as price formation, informational efficiency and liquidity. Various trading strategies are explored using the Rotman Interactive Trading simulation.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 370.
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 480. Valuation of Privately Held Businesses.3 Credits.

This course involves the analysis of company and financial information as well as understanding the impact the economy and industry can have on the value of a private company. Fundamental analysis is examined in detail and applied to private and public corporations. Topics include valuation, forecasting growth and value generation in a firm, assessing the quality of and normalizing earnings, analyzing risk and determining pricing multiples and the cost of capital.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 380.
Offered: Every other year, Spring

FIN 485. Derivative Securities.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to derivatives and the markets in which they are traded. Emphasis is on the techniques for the valuation of options, futures and related contracts as well as the use of derivative contracts in investments, corporate finance and risk management and engineering of structured products.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 310.
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 488. Finance Internship.3 Credits.

This internship in finance must be approved by the department chair and the dean in accordance with school and departmental regulations. Junior/senior status is required. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 201.
Offered: Every year, All

FIN 498. Independent Study.3 Credits.

Students may make an individual in-depth study of a topic of current interest in the field of banking or investment management. Objectives and methods must be submitted in writing to supervising instructor prior to time of enrollment.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed

FIN 499. Independent Study in Managerial Finance.3 Credits.

This course provides an opportunity for individual in-depth study of a topic of current interest in the field of managerial finance. Objectives and methods submitted in writing to supervising instructor prior to time of enrollment.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed

FIN 604. Risk Management.3 Credits.

This course provides a broad perspective of risk management including traditional risk management and insurance practices as well as financial risk management and hedging with derivative contracts. Emphasis is on making risk-management decisions that maximize shareholder value.

Prerequisites: Take MBA 640.
Offered: As needed

FIN 610. Investment and Portfolio Analysis I.3 Credits.

This course focuses on the theory and practice of investment and portfolio analysis in a global environment. Part of a two semester sequence, FIN 610 primarily focuses on Modern Portfolio Theory and its application to Asset Allocation and Asset Pricing Models including CAPM, APT, and Multifactor Models. The course also covers Industry Analysis, Equity Valuation, and Empirical Evidence on Security Returns. Students are encouraged to take FIN 630 Investment and Portfolio Analysis II following successful completion of this course.

Prerequisites: TAKE MBA 640 or a B.S. in Finance
Offered: Every year, Fall

FIN 612. Fixed Income Investments.3 Credits.

This course rigorously evaluates fixed-income securities, including default-free bonds, floating-rate notes and corporate bonds. Closely related financial instruments, such as forwards and futures on fixed-income securities, bond options and interest rate swaps are strongly emphasized. In addition to analyzing specific types of fixed-income securities, students examine the tools used in bond portfolio management.

Prerequisites: Take MBA 640.
Offered: As needed

FIN 615. Emerging Financial Markets.3 Credits.

This course is an introduction to emerging financial markets. Market instruments, regulations and players in these markets are thoroughly covered. The risk and return framework of investing in emerging markets also is explored.

Prerequisites: Take MBA 640.
Offered: As needed

FIN 616. Derivatives.3 Credits.

This course provides an in-depth analysis of derivative securities (futures, options, swaps, and other contingent claims). Topics include valuation, hedging, market structure, trading strategies and the application of option pricing theory to agency problems, financial contracting and capital budgeting.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 610.
Offered: As needed

FIN 630. Investment and Portfolio Analysis II.3 Credits.

This course expands students' understanding of investment and portfolio management through the introduction of Behavioral Finance and Technical Analysis, Bond Portfolio Management, the use of Options, Futures, and Swaps, Active vs Passive Portfolio Management, Hedge Fund Strategies, Return Measures and Attribution, and Portfolio Performance Metrics.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 610
Offered: Every year, Spring

FIN 660. Cases in Corporate Finance.3 Credits.

This applications-oriented course deals with cases involving working capital, mergers, corporate valuation and capital budgeting analysis and planning. The course reinforces and applies concepts and techniques from accounting and financial economics in a practical setting.

Prerequisites: Take MBA 640.
Offered: As needed

FIN 665. Issues in Equity Compensation.3 Credits.

This course is a seminar in the theory and practice of equity compensation. Students are introduced to the economic and managerial incentives for utilizing equity compensation as well as the agency, corporate governance, valuation and accounting issues that arise when firms utilize equity compensation.

Prerequisites: Take MBA 640.
Offered: As needed

FIN 670. Trading and Exchanges.3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the market microstructure of equity markets. The impact of the design, organization and regulation of equity markets on trading is explored. Students utilize real-world trading simulations to learn and reinforce concepts.

Prerequisites: Take FIN 610.
Offered: As needed

FIN 680. Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies.3 Credits.

This class is an overview of evolving area of blockchain technologies, with a focus on investing in cryptocurrencies. The architecture of cryptocurrencies will be studied as well as analyzing cryptocurrency pricing and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). We will also analyze potential barriers to entry in cryptocurrencies, and how new product development may affect industry structure in economy and financial services industry. Regulations, consumer protection, privacy, and security issues will also be discussed.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed

FIN 688. Independent Study - Finance.3 Credits.

Permission of the MBA director and School of Business dean is required.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed

FIN 689. Independent Study - Finance.1-6 Credits.

Permission of the MBA director and School of Business dean is required.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed

FIN 697. Special Topics in Finance.3 Credits.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: As needed