Covers the theory and practical applications of corporate investing and financing. Students perform quantitative and economic analysis that accompanies financial decision making. Students also review the current academic literature related to these management decisions and propose a research question that makes a significant contribution to the field.

Theory and applications of financial asset pricing. Specific topics include equity trading strategies, investment decision process and equity valuation. The objective is to provide a framework for security analysis and critical tools to analyze the value of stocks and companies.

Covers a variety of economic, financial and investment models to make inferences and forecasts. Discusses how estimation techniques span from simple linear regression models to panel data estimation. Explores time series modeling techniques, ranging from ARIMA models to volatility and correlation modeling. Covers how to deal with qualitative variables and limited dependent variables, using both parametric and non-parametric techniques. Uses the statistical tools of Excel and R, though other tools may be used depending on the application. Offers practical use for all types of financial research where data must be examined, and relationships must be explained or predicted.

Overview and management of commercial banks in the U.S. economy. Includes an evaluation and assessment of current issues facing commercial banks, for implications for the future of the economy and the financial sector. Practice through problems and an online bank simulation to solidify key concepts and to organize and present an Earnings Release of actual results obtained. Students develop a sound understanding of the need for and application of commercial bank activities in the business sector.

In-depth examination of financial issues faced by multinational firms. Analysis of a variety of multinational business topics, including hedging currency and interest rate risk, multinational capital budgeting, direct foreign investment and managing a global business firm. Integrates empirical financial literature to practical applications.

Focuses on the mechanics, pricing, use of financial derivatives and use of programming language to price financial derivatives. Financial derivatives covered include futures, options, swaps, collateralized securities, Treasury Bond and Eurodollar. Discusses important pricing models, including Black-Scholes and the Binomial Option Pricing Model. Emphasizes risk management using these instruments. Uses programming language to understand and replicate the pricing of financial derivatives.

Provides an in-depth knowledge of real estate finance, mortgage valuation, real estate investment, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and the operation of the real estate capital markets. The objective is to understand the many sources and uses of capital in the commercial real estate industry. Begins with the mechanics of mortgage finance, followed by a detailed presentation of mortgage underwriting, lender ratios and discounted cash flow analysis, and an application to REIT valuation.

Focuses on the concepts and tools that are useful to managers and investors who want to use fixed income securities, such as bonds, whether for investing, hedging, market-making or speculating. While the cash flows of fixed income securities are contractually specified, which makes the payoffs relatively easy to quantify, the subtleties of interest rate movements and credit risk make the valuation of bonds particularly challenging. Emphasis is placed on linking the theoretical and practical aspects of fixed income investing.

Ethics, finance and sustainability are studied as integrated subjects, beginning with an introduction of ethical principles of investment management, accounting and corporate governance, and moving through concepts of the circular economy, financial analysis, financing and valuation. Covers diverse aspects of sustainable investments and offers tools for effective financial valuation, opportunity and risk assessment.

Covers the theory and practical applications of financial technology topics as well as FinTech applications within banking, investments, insurance, and other financial sectors. Introduces the technical underpinnings, including basic programming, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and blockchain. Emphasizes ethics and explores digital privacy and security. Objective is to understand the impact of the convergence of technology, finance, regulation and ethics.

Emphasizes essential skills and decision-making principles employed globally within investment banking, private equity and corporate development/M&A contexts. Reviews principles and quantitative techniques employed in mergers, acquisition and divestitures, and debt and equity capital markets activities. Also covers the historical evolution of the investment banking industry and considers possible future implications for the industry.

Focuses on the psychological, social, and cultural determinants of suboptimal investor and managerial behavior from both a theoretical and a practical standpoint. Includes the identification of a variety of behavioral biases and the examination of the impact of those mistakes for security prices, corporate policies, and aggregate economic outcomes. In addition, investigates whether the mistakes generate market inefficiencies that can potentially be exploited.

Topics vary.

Faculty-supervised, independent study/research of a specific area or topic in finance.

Provides direct supervision of the research that constitutes the core of the professional project. Students submit a proposal and then drafts of various sections of their final project as they are completed. The sections of the proposal (1-credit component) are: literature review, development of the theoretical model, and specification of the empirical model of theory. The sections of the final project (2-credit component) are: literature review, development of the theoretical model, specification of the empirical model of theory, creation of the necessary data set and execution of the empirical model. The final output is a complete draft of the project that meets project director's approval and an oral presentation of the project. S/U grade assessment.