Finance Course Descriptions

FINA 104 PERSONAL FINANCE, 3 hours credit. Comprehensive survey of personal financial topics, including budgeting; borrowing; savings and investments; life; health and casualty insurance; and home buying. Emphasis on lifetime economic cycle.  Three hours per week.

FINA 311 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT I, 3 hours credit. Addresses fundamental concepts in financial management such as security markets, interest rates, taxes, risk analysis, time value of money, valuation models and related global issues. Explains how financial managers help maximize the value of a firm by making capital management, costs of capital, and capital structure decisions.  Prerequisites: Majors: Admission to the professional program, ECON 211, 212.  Minors or others: Junior standing (60 or more credits) ACCT 201; MATH 155, ECON 150 or 211. Three hours per week. 

FINA 312 RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE, 3 hours credit. Examines principles and practices of asset and income conservation for businesses and individuals through various risk-management techniques including insurance. Prerequisite: FINA 311 with grade of B or better. Three hours per week.

FINA 440 CORPORATE FINANCE, 3 hours credit. Study of corporate financial policy issues within the context of value creation. Topics include in-depth analysis of advanced capital budgeting methods, capital structure policy, dividend policy, derivatives and hedging risk within the context of corporate financial policy. Case studies, application-oriented articles and daily media reports used to bridge the academic/theoretical arguments to the real life problems/situations. Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311. Three hours per week.

FINA 441 INVESTMENTS I, 3 hours credit. Examines the capital market and marketable securities traded in the market, with emphasis on stocks and fixed income securities. Topics include portfolio theory, the efficient market hypothesis and evaluation of portfolio performance. Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311. Three hours per week.

FINA 442 FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES, 3 hours credit. Advanced study of security markets and investment alternatives.  Topics include options, futures, advanced security analysis, portfolio theory, portfolio management and international dimensions of investing.  Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 441. Three hours per week.

FINA 443 ESSENTIALS OF REAL ESTATE, 3 hours credit.  
Analysis of the structure of the real estate markets. Study of principles of mortgage lending, property appraisal and real estate investments. Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311. Three hours per week.

FINA 445 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS, 3 hours credit.
Examines the structure and functions of depository and non-depository financial institutions, the money and capital markets, and the role of government in the financial markets.  Prerequisites: B or better in FINA 311 or economics major with senior status. Three hours per week.

FINA 446 RETIREMENT PLANNING
3 hours Credit
This course introduces the student to the study and application of contemporary techniques for individual retirement planning.  The instruction will include the retirement field as a profession, as well as the personal financial planning process (budgeting, emergency fund planning, credit and debt management) and personal financial statements.  Other topics covered include the social security system and Medicare, defined benefits plans, versus defined contribution plans, vesting, tax effects of investing, qualified versus nonqualified plans, and tax-advantaged retirement plans (401K, 403B, etc. accounts). 
Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311

FINA 447 INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT,  3 hours credit.
Analysis of the foreign exchange markets, exchange rate behavior and risk management, international trade financing, country risk analysis, international banking and the role of direct foreign investment. Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311. Three hours per week.

FINA 448 ESTATE PLANNING
3 hours credit.
This course introduces  the student to the study and application of contemporary techniques for individual estate planning.  The instruction will include the estate-planning field as a profession, as well as relevant financial services industry regulation.  The course covers the personal financial planning process (budgeting, emergency fund planning, credit and debit management), personal financial statement, property titling (types and consequences), monetary settlement, property transfer at death and estate documents.
Prerequisite: B or better in FINA 311

FINA 449 PRACTICUM IN PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT,  3 hours credit. 
Practical experience in managing an investment portfolio in a teamwork environment, with emphasis on economic, industry and company analysis; report preparation; security selection; daily decision making; record keeping; and performance evaluation. students will be responsible for making all material decisions in managing the Perdue School Management Investment Fund. May be related for an additional three hours credit. Prerequisite: BUAD 441 and consent of instructor. Three hours per week.

FINA 490  FINANCE INTERNSHIP:  3 hours credit

Intern experience in Finance.  May be used as a business concentration/track elective if approved by the school dean.  Prerequisite: Finance Major, FINA 311 with grade of B or better, placement approval and permission of the department chair, completion of ABLE office administrative requirements.  Three hours per week.