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.

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.

FIN 366 Investments

FIN 361 Corporate Finance

FIN 466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

FIN 369 Alternative Assets or FIN 369 Trading and Markets

BUAD 389 CFA Preparation Class

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.

FIN 361 Corporate Finance

FIN 366 Investments

FIN 461 Cases and Financial Modeling

FIN 462 International Financial Management

FIN 463 Deal Structure and Valuation

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

Student Managed Investment Fund

Students interested in the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) should follow CFA® Track along with the following:

FIN 270 Introduction to Equity Analysis (highly recommended prior to applying)

FIN 366 Investment (must be taken before fall semester of senior year)

FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis (must be taken by the fall term of senior year)

FIN 468 Student-Managed Investment Fund (senior year)

Opportunities

Special Opportunities and Graduate Work Preparation

Students are encouraged to speak to their academic advisors about special opportunities in programs such as the Student-Managed Investment Fund; Chartered Financial Analyst Student Program; Federal Reserve Challenge; Investments Club; and Business Conditions and Analysis Review.

Students interested in graduate work should consider taking ECON 370 Advanced Econometrics. In addition, a math minor or a combination of MATH 212 Calculus II; MATH 235 Multivariate Calculus; MATH 245 Linear Algebra; MATH 329 Probability; and MATH 330 Mathematical Statistics would be especially helpful for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in finance.

Courses

FIN 200 Personal Finance

Units: 1

Description

Introduces the analytic skills, logical thought processes, and the information literacy necessary for making personal financial decisions. Introduces topics that include: the time value of money, loan assessment, investment vehicles, insurance, taxation, and basic financial and retirement planning. Does not count toward the concentration.

FIN 270 Introduction to Equity Analysis

Units: .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.

Prerequisites

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.

Prerequisites

Accounting 201, Economics 101-102, and Business Administration 202 (may be taken concurrently). 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.

Prerequisites

BUAD 202 and FIN 360

FIN 366 Investments

Units: 1

Description

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

Prerequisites

BUAD 202 and FIN 360

FIN 368 Directed Independent Study

Units: .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.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

FIN 369 Selected Topics in Finance

Units: .5-1

Description

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

Prerequisites

Finance 360 and 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.

Prerequisites

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.

Prerequisites

Finance 360. Business School major.

FIN 463 Deal Structure and Valuation

Units: 1

Description

Focuses on the valuation of non-publicly traded firms and the structure of deals for purchasing such firms. The student will be introduced to the different types of equity investors and debt investors that participate in this type of investment, generally referred to as "private equity". The course extensively utilizes spreadsheet modeling and lectures from practitioners.

Prerequisites

ACCT 201, ECON 101, ECON 102, BUAD202, 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 explanation of how they use alternative asset to improve returns.

Prerequisites

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

Finance 360. 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

Finance 366. 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.

Prerequisites

Finance 366. 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.

Prerequisites

Finance 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.

Prerequisites

FIN 360.