University of Richmond Robins School of Business

Undergraduate

Finance Concentration Requirements

Finance

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 courses. Two of the four courses must be chosen from:

FIN 361 Corporate Finance

FIN 366 Investments

FIN 461 Cases and Financial Modeling

FIN 466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

A maximum of seven courses can be taken in any area of concentration. The finance concentration offers optional curriculum tracks. Students may pursue one of the optional tracks listed below by taking all of the finance courses listed under each track.

Note: FIN 368 Directed Independent Study will not count toward the finance concentration unless the student receives prior approval from the Chair of Finance Department. FIN 200 and FIN 468 also do not count toward the concentration.

Optional Finance Concentration Program Tracks (suggested courses and sequences)

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

FIN 366 Investments

FIN 462 International Financial Management

FIN 466 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities

FIN 467 Portfolio Management and Analysis

FIN 468 Student-Managed Investment Fund (senior year)

Suggested Supporting Courses:

ECON 200 The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets

FIN 369 Alternative Assets

FIN 369 Deal Structure and Valuation

FIN 461 Cases and Financial Modeling

(2) Corporate Finance Track

FIN 361 Corporate Finance

FIN 366 Investments

FIN 461 Cases and Financial Modeling

FIN 462 International Financial Management

Suggested Supporting Courses:

ACCT 301-ACCT 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting 1-2

ECON 200 The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets

FIN 369 Deal Structure and Valuation

Notes:

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.

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

Finance courses taken abroad do not transfer as fulfilling specific finance courses, but rather as satisfying general finance electives.

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: 1

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. Business School major. Business School 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

Finance 360. Business School major.

FIN 366 Investments

Units: 1

Description

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

Prerequisites

Finance 360. Business School major.

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 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.