Graduate Finance Course Descriptions

EC-501. Advanced Macroeconomics. 3.00 Credits.

The primary objective of macroeconomic analysis is to explain the phenomena of aggregate movements in output, employment, and the price level. In the course of the semester, students will supplement theoretical models with case studies to examine the intellectual influences that have shaped the development of macroeconomic theory and policy. The course will examine the main theoretical and methodological differences among competing models, the empirical evidence supporting each model, and particular policy instruments for achieving macroeconomic stability.

EC-502. Advanced Microeconomics. 3.00 Credits.

This class covers the workings of supply and demand in the determination of price, resource allocation, and distribution. It analyzes how individuals make decisions regarding consumption (including intertemporal consumption), savings, and employment. It looks at how firms make decisions regarding production output, pricing, and investment in different markets such as perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly. Game theory will be employed to shed light on how individuals and firms can make strategic decisions by considering the possible moves of other parties. It also uses the concepts of equity, efficiency, and market failure to analyze and evaluate government policies such as price floors and ceilings, tax policy, and environmental policy.

FN-503. History of Financial Economic Thought. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers the major ideas in the history of financial economic thought. Students will be exposed to the seminal contributions made by giants in this field representing different traditions. Special attention will be paid to how these individuals laid the intellectual foundation for the creation and critical assessment of financial models and structures.

FN-504. Adv Econometrics and Financial Modeling. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers simple linear regression and multiple linear and nonlinear regression, including regressions with dummy variables and interaction variables. It also covers regression with a binary dependent variable, panel data, instrumental variables, and time series models. It will build on these tools by showing students how to apply them to financial modeling. The course will challenge students to use econometric software to estimate and interpret regressions with real world financial data.

FN-505. Global Money Credit and Banking. 3.00 Credits.

This course will focus on the global dimensions of financial markets. Of particular interest will be comparative central banking and the interaction of different financial systems and institutions. In doing so, students will examine the historical evolution of financial and banking concerns in different countries and how they operate in the modern global economy with its interconnected financial markets.

FN-506. Advanced Corporate Finance. 3.00 Credits.

This course provides the framework, concepts, and tools for analyzing modern corporate financial decisions based upon the fundamental principles of modern financial theory. The course will cover topics including discounted cash flow techniques, corporate capital budgeting and valuation, and investment decisions, supplemented by case studies. It will analyze how these issues influence short- and long-term financial policies, an appropriate capital structure, the cost of capital, and dividend policy.

FN-512. Adv Investment Analysis & Portfolio Mgmt. 3.00 Credits.

This course provides an overview of security analysis and portfolio management. It introduces the advanced concepts needed for analysis of individual securities such as stocks and bonds and groups of securities such as mutual funds. In addition to pricing of securities, the course will cover strategies for combining securities into portfolios and the management and evaluation of portfolios as market conditions change. The course will explore how statistical and mathematical tools can be used effectively to analyze many aspects of asset pricing and portfolio management.

FN-514. Financial Engineering and Derivatives. 3.00 Credits.

This course will introduce students to the pricing of derivatives securities such as forwards, futures, options, convertible bonds, swaps, credit derivatives, and asset-backed securities. It will also consider the role that some of these asset classes played during the latest financial crisis. The course will also cover financial engineering-the combination of derivatives and other assets to achieve hedging or investment return benefits.

FN-516. Financial Ethics. 3.00 Credits.

This course uses ethical theories to examine past and contemporary questions in finance involving ethical issues, with an explicit focus given to situations that present conflicts between/among parties. Through the use of case studies, students will become capable of investigating issues of value in a reasoned and coherent manner and how this has come to shape the rules and institutions that structure financial markets.

FN-524. International Finance. 3.00 Credits.

This course provides students with advanced training on the topics of foreign exchange markets, the international monetary system, and the balance of payments. It then examines exchange rate determination, currency derivatives, hedging against risk, and related concerns. Particular attention is paid to factors that influence how international investment decisions, including direct foreign investment, are formed. Considerable use of case studies and empirical evidence will be made.

FN-554. Emerging Markets. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers the essential elements of investing in emerging markets, including how such markets developed, how their processes of intermediation differ from developed country markets and what limitations exist, and what the dominant methods for arranging development finance are. The focus of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of why market conditions may differ from those in the mature economies. In doing so, certain policy issues will be discussed concerning the evolution of emerging market macroeconomic development and how investing strategies are informed by stakeholders in the Global North and the Global South.

FN-595. Mentored Research and Master's Thesis. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will undertake an in-depth mentored research project that culminates in the completion of a Master's length thesis.

FN-596. Zero Credit Internship. 0.00 Credits.

This non-credit internship course allows students to acquire practical experience in the field of finance in a role that is related to the MS Finance degree program and with approval from the Program Director. This course may be recommended for students seeking Curricular Practical Training (CPT) while pursuing their Master's degree.

FN-597. Industry Internship in Finance. 3.00 Credits.

This course introduces the student to working experience within the financial industry. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to identify the role of supply, demand, and competition in a market economy , understand the role of public policy options to scientifically assess the likelihood of improving our well being (especially fiscal policy, monetary policy, and central banking) in a global economy, and apply economic theory to a range of contemporary economic issues while developing students abilities' to effectively communicate their analysis.