Curriculum

Provides an introduction to both accounting and information systems with a focus on the preparation and interpretation of financial statements and the effective planning, implementation, and integration of information technology.

Provides an introduction to three key areas in finance-financial markets, financial management, and valuation-focusing on how capital is effectively raised and invested in a value-based management framework. Topics include: analysis of firm performance using financial ratios and other measures, techniques to assess new opportunities including new product lines, projects or corporate investments, an introduction to global capital markets, the relationship between risk and return, determinants of a firm's cost of raising capital, and the basic factors impacting the value of financial securities.

This course features a study of financial management concepts and techniques applied to international operations. Topics include foreign currency spot and forward trading, exchange rate systems and determination, country risk assessment, taxation and regulatory issues of non-U.S. markets, and sources and uses of funds for multinational corporations.

This course introduces advanced methodological tools required to do research in finance and investment analysis. Topics include basic theory of statistical inference with linear models, general linear models, Heteroskedasticity models, time series models, analysis of variance, discriminate analysis, factor analysis, and non-parametric tests. Emphasizes modern portfolio theory. This course will also cover asset pricing models (preferences, utility functions, risk aversion, basic consumption model, the mean-variance frontier, factor models, and robust preferences) and options pricing and risk management (arbitrage pricing in a complete market, delta-hedging, risk measure, and Value at Risk).

This course focuses on fundamental analysis and firm valuation. The knowledge and skills required for financial analysis of firms reporting under U.S. GAAP and IFRS are introduced first, followed by techniques for fundamental analysis of an industry and a firm. Techniques to value the enterprise and equity are emphasized with focus on mature firms in developed markets, followed by financial institution, emerging market, and private equity applications. Participants will gain proficiency in spreadsheet analysis, financial models for integrated financial forecast, and valuation. Attention to developing the communication skills needed to effectively communicate the analysis is embedded through cases and presentations. Technology and data, heavy use of Excel, and Bloomberg will be required.

The course is intended to provide an understanding of the role of modern financial theory in portfolio management and to present a framework for addressing current issues in the management of financial assets. Topics to be covered during the semester include trading, valuation, active portfolio management, asset allocation, global diversification, performance measurement, financial derivatives, and fixed income securities.

The course emphasizes modern methods of risk management. Lectures cover risk measurement and estimation, management, control, and monitoring of risk positions. The impact of risk management tools such as derivative securities will be examined. Regulatory constraints and their impact on risk management will also be assessed. This course also provides a comprehensive and in-depth treatment of valuation methods for derivative securities. Extensive use is made of continuous time stochastic processes, stochastic calculus, and martingale methods. The main topics to be addressed include A.) European option valuation, B.) exotic options, C.) stochastic interest rate, D.) stochastic volatility, E.) American options, and F.) some numerical methods such as Monte Carlo simulations. Additional topics may be covered depending on time constraints.
Prerequisite: Take MFIM-638 MFIM-636

This courses features analyses of U.S. and foreign fixed income markets and describes the various products, where and how they are traded, how they are priced, and how they are used to achieve a variety of financial goals including capital formation, interest rate risk management, and portfolio diversification. Topics covered include treasury, agency, corporate, and municipal bonds; floating rate bonds; mortgage backed securities; term structure modeling; immunization; credit risk management; credit derivatives; and interest rate derivatives including swaps, caps and floors, and swaptions. The course also provides an introduction to the valuation of fixed income securities, the management and hedging of fixed income portfolios, and the valuation and usage of fixed income derivatives. Some of the contracts analyzed in the course include pure discount bonds, coupon bonds, callable bonds, floating rate notes, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, swaptions, inflation indexed bonds, and convertible bonds. The course covers topics such as basic theoretical and empirical term structure concepts, short rate modeling, and the Heath-Jarrow-Morton methodology and market models.
Prerequisite: Take MFIM-636

This course analyzes the theory and practice of modern investment management. Topics include quantitative concepts, portfolio analysis, capital asset pricing theory model, performance measurement, efficient market hypothesis, portfolio management process, use of derivative securities, ethical and legal considerations, and professional standards. The course will also provide students with a concise introduction to recent results on optimal dynamic consumption-investment problems. Lectures will also cover standard mean-variance theory, dynamic asset allocation, asset-liability management, and lifecycle finance. The main focus of this course is to present a financial engineering approach to dynamic asset allocation problems of institutional investors such as pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, and sovereign wealth funds. Numerical methods for implementation of asset allocation models will also be presented. The course also focuses on empirical features and practical implementation of dynamic portfolio problems.
Prerequisite: MFIM-636 MFIM-638 MFIM-640

This course provides a solid foundation in the investment field. Considers aspects of accounting, economics, finance, strategic management, strategic marketing, and management science relevant to modern investment analysis. Topics include the analysis and understanding of security markets and the economy, industries, companies, and analysis and valuation of corporate securities. The course teaches students how to develop valuation techniques and technical analysis that is later used to value equities in the major industrial sectors. The variety of geographic, industrial, and other specialized circumstances requires a careful selection of the appropriate valuation methods and the interpretation of different standards of financial reporting and disclosure. The course also prepares students to analyze the firm's prospects based on forecasts of the economic environment, industrial activity, and business cycle; measures of performance and value added (EVA, MVA, CFROI); valuation for closely held companies, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; technical analysis; and alternative investments such as real estate, venture capital, investment companies, and hedge funds.
Prerequisite: TAKE MFIM-636 MFIM-638 MFIM-640

The course covers ethical issues, professional standards, and the code of conduct related to investment portfolio management and private and public sharing of information. This course will also examine regulations covering business ethics and standards of professional conduct in the financial services industry and include discussions of business leadership and professional conduct in the financial services industry.
Prerequisite: TAKE MFIM-636 MFIM-638

This course studies the flow of funds in the short-term and long-term financial markets. Sources and uses of funds, interest rate theory, and the role of the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Treasury are studied to provide background for interpretation of current developments.
Prerequisite: TAKE MFIM-636 MFIM-638 MFIM-640

This course introduces fundamentals about data and the standards, technologies and methods for organizing, managing, curating, preserving, and using data. The course will teach students the use of software such as Python for data manipulation, analysis and visualization. The course also incorparates broader issues surrounding data, including technologies, behaviors, organizations, policies, and society. Special attention will be given to ethical issues surrounding data, soical and historical perspectives on data with ethics and policies to help students develop a workable understanding of current ethical issues in data science. Finally, the ethical issues will be addressed that arises throughout the lifecycle of data - from collection to storage to analysis and application.

This course is offered as a Special Topics course in Finance and Investment and the topic will vary from section to section.

This course is required for students in the MSFIM program.  The course parallels the curriculum found in the Chartered Financial Analysts, CFA Level I examination.  Topics include ethics and professional standards, economics, financial statement analysis, equity and fixed income analysis, quantitative techniques, derivatives, and portfolio management.  Completion of the course facilitates the student in preparing for the CFA Level I examination.