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Cox School of Business

COX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
FINANCE (FINA)

Professor  Darius P. Miller, Department Chair
Professors: Andrew H. Chen, Albert W. Niemi, James L. Smith, Rex W. Thompson, Michael R. Vetsuypens; Associate Professors: Chun H. Lam, Darius Miller, Kumar Venkataraman; Assistant Professors: Evrim Akdogu, Amar Gande, Qin Lei, Natalia Reisel; Lecturers: Jeffrey W. Allen, Brian R. Bruce, Michael L. Davis, Jeffrey R. Hart, Charles Ruscher.

See requirements to major in Finance in the "Programs of Study" section.

3300. Special Topics in International Finance. Offered through SMU International Programs. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

3310. Finance Concepts. This course provides a solid foundation in key financial concepts and tools for managerial decision making. Participants develop their ability to analyze, decide and communicate based on financial data and concepts, skills that will prove invaluable throughout their careers. Topics include: (1) risk-return relationship in financial management, (2) basic valuation models of financial securities, and (3) decision rules used to value and choose between corporate projects. Students who have already taken FINA3320 will not receive credit for FINA 3310.

3311. Markets and Freedom. Markets and Freedom includes discussion of indicators of economic freedom and the benefits of globalization. The course explores how markets raise living standards, including the roles that technology, globalization, public policy and economic growth play in a functioning market economy. This course can count as a free elective for BBA majors if they have not taken FINA4355. Students will not receive credit for both.

3312. Personal Finance. In this course students will touch on the components of personal financial planning. Topics will include setting up financial accounts at banks and brokerages; investments in stocks and mutual funds; personal income taxation; auto, property, life and health insurance; and employee benefit plans. Course content will include hands-on case work. Elective for Business Minor. BBA Majors can take course for free elective credit only.

3320. Financial Management. Survey of concepts, practices and problems surrounding financial markets, securities and decision-making. Includes time value of money, market efficiency, evaluation of securities and capital budgeting. Prerequisites: Calculus, ECO 1311, 1312; ACCT 2301; and EMIS 4340 or 5370, or ITOM 2305 or STAT 2301/2331. Students may not receive credit for this course and ECO 4368. Economics courses will not fulfill B.B.A. requirements.

3330. Money and Capital Markets. Analyzes the structural interrelationships among the important participants in the U.S. financial markets. Topics discussed include flow of funds, determinants of interest rates, monetary policy and interest rates, money and capital market instruments, and problems in managing financial institutions. Prerequisite: FINA 3320. Students may not receive credit for this course and ECO 3355.

4320. Development of the American Private Enterprise System. This course examines the evolution of private enterprise in the American economy. The course will track changes in American capitalism from the establishment of the nation in the late 1700s, to the global challenges facing U.S. companies today and in the future. This course does not count as a Finance elective.

4325. Advanced Financial Management. In-depth analysis of capital budgeting, cost of capital, sources of capital open to the firm, capital structure, dividend policy, mergers, and bankruptcy, in a combined lecture-case format. Prerequisite: FINA 3320.

4326. Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. Evaluation of the interactive effects of economic, industry, company and market considerations on the risk and return of individual assets. Analysis of the interrelationships of risky assets when combined in portfolios; asset pricing theory and implications. Prerequisite: FINA 3320. Students may not receive credit for this course and ECO 4378.

4327. Speculative Markets (Spring only). Introduction to analysis of speculative securities such as options and futures. Evaluates underlying theories explaining speculative markets in which such securities are traded. Discusses strategies such as hedging and arbitrage. Prerequisite: FINA 4326.

4328. Management of Financial Institutions (Spring only). Management of assets, liabilities and capital accounts of financial institutions in general and commercial banks in particular. Emphasis on an understanding of the interrelationship among profitability, liquidity and capital adequacy. Uses simulations and/or cases to illustrate the concepts. Prerequisite: FINA 3330.

4329. International Finance. Analyzes the effects on financial transactions of dealing in foreign markets. Considers international financial markets and such issues as interest rate differences between countries and spot and forward transactions in foreign currencies. Major emphasis is given to the impact of international operations for the corporate financial manager. Prerequisite: FINA 3320.

4355. Doing Business in a Globalized World. This course focuses on how globalization is rapidly changing the operating manual for running a successful business. The course explores which market sectors are experiencing the most global product demand, the business opportunities offered by China and India, which jobs are being outsourced (and how to make outsourcing work for, and not against the organization), which employee skills and talents are rising on the value-added high-paying ladder, as well as changes in capital markets and the optimal market structure of industry. Students will not receive credit for both FINA 3311 and 4355. Prerequisite: FINA 3320.

5325, 5326. Independent Studies in Finance.

5331. Advanced Concepts in Financial Management (Fall only). Selected advanced topics in corporate finance such as cost of capital, efficient markets, acquisitions, cash management and applications of options concepts. Combined lecture-case format. Prerequisite: FINA 4325 or permission of instructor.

5132/5232/5332. Practicum in Portfolio Management (Honors Section, One Hour Fall and Two Hour Spring). Offers practical experience in investments through management of the Ann Rife Cox Investment Fund. Economic and industry analysis and the determination of their effect on investment decisions. Money and capital market forecasts; selection of individual securities; development of a portfolio strategy. Prerequisites: Application process required. FINA 4326 and minimum 3.50 G.P.A. are highly recommended.

5340. Alternative Assets 1. Prerequisite: Application process required.

5341. Alternative Assets 2. Prerequisite: Application process required. Continuation of Alternative Assets 1.