Finance Concentration Requirements

  • Concentration

    The Finance Concentration

    In addition to satisfying the B.S.B.A. degree requirements for a Robins School major, the finance concentration requires a minimum of four units of FIN courses as noted below. More than four is suggested.

    • FIN-366 Investments

    • One course, chosen from:

      • FIN-361 Corporate Finance

      • FIN-461 Cases and Financial Modeling

      • FIN-466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

      • FIN-467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

    • Two additional finance courses, except as noted below

    Notes:

    • A maximum of seven FIN courses may be taken in the finance concentration.

    • FIN-200, FIN-270, and FIN-468 do not count toward the concentration.

    • FIN-368 Directed Independent Study will not count toward the finance concentration unless the student receives prior approval from the chair of finance department. 

    • IBUS students taking FIN-462 and concentrating in finance need only three additional courses in finance.

    • A maximum of one transfer/abroad courses counts toward the four required FIN courses. 

    • Students planning to enroll in FIN-468 should complete FIN-366 during their junior year.

    • Program tracks do not affect the finance concentration requirements of the B.S.B.A. degree.

    The finance department accepts a maximum of one course to count towards the concentration from outside the university, this includes study abroad.  Transfer requests require department approval.  Online classes are not accepted for transfer credit.  Finance 360 must be taken at the University of Richmond.  Exceptions will be considered only in extraordinary circumstances.

  • Finance Concentration Tracks

    Finance Concentration Tracks

    Optional Finance Concentration Program Tracks (suggested courses and sequences)

    The finance concentration offers optional curriculum tracks. Students may pursue one of the optional tracks by taking all of the finance courses listed under each track.

    • (1) CFA® Track (emphasis on investments and securities)

      • The CFA track prepares students for investment careers and the CFA Level I Exam. The courses have been designed to prepare a student to take the CFA Level I exam shortly after graduation.

      • Suggested Supporting Courses:

        • FIN-461 Cases and Financial Modeling

        • FIN-462 International Finance

        • FIN-465 Technical Analysis

        • ECON-200 The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets

        • FIN-468 Student-Managed Investment Fund (senior year)

    • (2) Corporate Finance Track

      • The corporate finance track is designed for students interested in working within the finance departments of public and private corporations.

      • Suggested Supporting Courses:

        • ACCT-301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I

        • ACCT-302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II

        • ECON-200 The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets 

Finance

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  • FIN 200 Personal Finance

    Units: 1

    Description
    Major changes in financial institutions, new methods of borrowing, expanded insurance products, and new investment vehicles that have changed how we live our lives and organize our finances. Personal finance addresses all of the major personal financial planning problems that individuals and households are expected to encounter, including how to set savings goals, assess career choices, use banking, credit, and other financial services, make good investment decisions, and compare insurance products. This course does not count towards the finance concentration. Does not count toward the concentration.
  • FIN 270 Introduction to Equity Analysis

    Units: 0.5

    Description
    Practical application of principles of equity valuation learned in FIN 360. Use real time information to create a report and pitch, for one or more stocks, including an earnings analysis, relative and discounted cash flow valuation, the creation of a written report, and a presentation. Creation of a current equity market outlook as a top-down investing exercise.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360.

  • FIN 360 Principles of Financial Management

    Units: 1

    Description
    Analysis and examination of financing, investment, and dividend decisions of business organizations. Financial management in the global environment.

    Prerequisite

    ACCT-201, ECON-101, ECON-102, either ECON-170 or BUAD-202, which may be taken concurrently, and business school major or minor

  • FIN 361 Corporate Finance

    Units: 1

    Description
    The study of theory and practice of corporate finance with special emphasis on the evaluation and financing of capital expenditures. The goal is for the student to become thoroughly competent in areas of financial mathematics, capital budgeting analysis, and capital structure theory. Topics covered include decision tree analysis, sensitivity analysis, non scale-enhancing projects, dividend policy, rights offerings, call policy, warrants, convertible debt, international corporate finance, financial distress, and financial planning.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360 and BUAD-202 or ECON-170

  • FIN 366 Investments

    Units: 1

    Description
    Security markets, investment theory, security valuation and selection. Application of investment concepts. International, derivative, and option markets.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360 and BUAD-202 or ECON-170

  • FIN 368 Directed Independent Study

    Units: 0.5-1

    Description
    Independent research on a finance topic conducted under the direct supervision of an instructor. Does not count as one of the required finance concentration courses unless written permission is obtained from the department chair in advance.

    Permission of instructor

  • FIN 369 Selected Topics in Finance

    Units: 0.5-1

    Description
    Topics depend on mutual interests of instructor and students. Intended primarily as elective for finance and business administration students.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360, permission of instructor, business school major

  • FIN 461 Cases and Financial Modeling

    Units: 1

    Description
    Case study analysis of corporate financial policies and strategies. Includes development of spreadsheet-based models to analyze corporate financial strategies and valuation issues and an investigation into measuring and managing the value of companies.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360, FIN-361, business school major

  • FIN 462 International Financial Management

    Units: 1

    Description
    Focuses on study and analysis of financial markets confronting globally oriented firms. Currency markets, international capital markets, risk exposure, risk management techniques, and valuation principles in global economy. Emphasis on application of financial management principles for multinational firms.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360 and business school major

  • FIN 463 Deal Structure and Valuation

    Units: 1

    Description
    Study of the valuation of non-publicly traded firms and the structure of deals for purchasing such firms. Introduction to the different types of equity investors and debt investors that participate in this type of investment, generally referred to as private equity. Extensively utilizes spreadsheet modeling and lectures from practitioners.

    Prerequisites

    ACCT-201, ECON-101, ECON-102, BUAD-202 or ECON-170, FIN-360, FIN-361 or FIN-366

  • FIN 464 Alternative Asset Classes

    Units: 1

    Description
    Alternative asset classes and alternative assets. Advantages and disadvantages of hedge funds, private equity instruments, commodity futures, and credit derivatives. Exposure to real world professionals from the areas of endowment, private equity, hedge funds, and closed end funds and explaination of how they use alternative asset to improve returns.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360.

  • FIN 465 Technical Analysis

    Units: 1

    Description
    Involves study of supply and demand through data generated by the action of markets and through the study of psychology and behavior of the various market participants. Will cover basic tools of technical analysis including the Dow theory, techniques of chart construction and interpretation, momentum and cycle studies, relative strength, industry group analysis, investor sentiment, contrary opinion, and intermarket relationships. Emphasis will be placed on practical application of these tools to the investment decision-making process for both the short- and long-term. Studies will be taken from both historical and real-time situations.

    Prerequisites

    FIN-360 and business school major

  • FIN 466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

    Units: 1

    Description
    Focuses on institutional features, pricing, risk management in fixed income, futures, option, and swap markets. Fixed income topics include bond sectors and yield spreads, arbitrage-free valuation, forward rates and term structure theories, and interest rate risk. Derivatives topics include futures pricing, option payoffs and strategies, option pricing, option sensitivities and hedging, and swaps.

    Prerequisites

    FIN-366 and business school major

  • FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

    Units: 1

    Description
    Analyzing financial data and analysis of securities. Selection of securities and portfolios to meet investment objectives and measure portfolio performance. International dimensions of portfolio management and risk/return matrix.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-366 and business school major

  • FIN 468 Student Managed Investment Fund

    Units: 1

    Description
    Authority and attendant responsibilities of managing part of University of Richmond's endowment fund. Initial value of portfolio was $200,000. Enrollment is open to seniors only and is limited. Students enroll in fall semester for two consecutive semesters with grade awarded at end of spring term. Does not count towards the finance concentration.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-467, permission of department, business school major

  • FIN 469 Trading and Markets

    Units: 1

    Description
    Trading, the people who trade securities and commodities, the marketplaces where they trade, and the rules that govern trades and traders. Investors, brokers, dealers, arbitrageurs, informed traders, high frequency traders, and direct market access; exchanges, boards of trade, dealer networks, ATS/ECNs (electronic communications networks), crossing markets, and dark pools.

    Prerequisite

    FIN-360.