Finance

• SMG FE 323: Financial Management
  Junior requirement—component of SMG SM 323, The Cross Functional Core. Introduces students to the themes of financial decision making: valuation and risk management. The focus is on the problems of forecasting, capital budgeting, working capital management, project risk management, and financing in a cross-functional context. A semester-long business-plan project explores the interaction between marketing, operations, management information systems, and finance decisions. The course compares the financial objectives of the manager and the investor. Introduction to securities valuation, portfolio diversification and the cost of capital.
• SMG FE 427: International Financial Management
  Required for International Management concentrators. Managing financial risk in the global environment. Determination of exchange rates. Latest developments in foreign exchange markets, forwards, futures, options and swaps, opportunities and problems arising from international portfolio diversification. Analyzes and discusses tools of currency risk management.
• SMG FE 429: Futures, Options, and Financial Risk Management
  Covers the theory of futures pricing and option pricing, and applies the theory to develop a framework for analyzing hedging and investment decisions using futures and options. Attention is paid to practical considerations in the use of these instruments, especially in financial risk management.
• SMG FE 442: Money, Financial Markets, and Economic Activity
  Required for Finance concentrators. The role of money and the importance of interest rates in determining economic activity; determinants of level of interest rates. The nature and operation of central banks; the goals and instruments of monetary policy. The roles, activities, and risk management of financial institutions. Instruments traded in money and capital markets, and their valuation. Role of derivative securities; contemporary issues in the financial system.
• SMG FE 445: Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
  Required for Finance concentrators. Introduction to the investment management process. Defining investment objectives and constraints. Introduction to Modern Portfolio Theory, CAPM, APT, Efficient Markets, stock and bond valuation models. Immunizing interest-rate risk. Active vs. passive investment strategies, fundamental vs. technical analysis, trading practices, and performance evaluation. Introduction to the role of futures and options in hedging and speculation. Students are expected to become familiar with current events in the financial news.
• SMG FE 449: Corporate Financial Management
  Required for Finance concentrators. The financial manager’s role in obtaining and allocating funds. Debt and dividend policies, obtaining financing to expand a business, valuation of companies, mergers and acquisitions, and capital investment analysis. Emphasizes constructing and using financial models, and using spreadsheets. Applications to current events and everyday business finance problems.
• SMG FE 450: Private Equity: Leveraged Buyouts
  Private Equity (PE) has become a major force in the capital markets. This course will expose students to, and demystify, the world of PE. The focus will be centered on LBOs and their position in the “alternative asset” class. Students will learn about the activities of a PE firm including formation, fund-raising, investing (including deal structure, terms, due diligence, and governance), and exiting. We will also discuss what other industry sectors serve or are affected by PE and who the players are. Case study and class participation will be the primary modes of learning.
• SMG FE 454: Investment Banking
  Prereq: SMG FE 449 or consent of instructor. This course provides an overview of the economic functions provided by investment banks including a history of the industry, current events, public policy issues and the difference between large, full service investment banks and smaller, boutique firms. Topics include: What do investment bankers do? What are the different types of analyses performed by investment bankers? What are the various types of financial securities? What is the underwriting process and how are securities priced? The course will focus on the issuing process and pricing for equity, fixed income, and equity-linked securities. The course will also focus on the role of investment banks in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other restructuring. Additional topics include equity research, capital markets, institutional sales, trading, asset management, securitization, industry regulations, as well as typical career paths and opportunities. 4 cr. (Pilot course for Spring 2011.)
• SMG FE 469: Real Estate Finance
  Introduces methods of evaluating real estate investment properties. Reviews major topics relevant to the real estate development and financing process.
• SMG FE 498: Directed Study: Finance
  Directed study in Finance

Note that this information may change at any time.

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