FSMA: Finance (Graduate)

FSMA 6010  Quantitative Methods in Finance  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of this course is to expose students to modern data analysis with an emphasis on a specific domain of application: Finance. Students are expected to have an understanding of basic statistics, since concepts such as random variables, expectation, correlation, and statistical inference (estimation, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals) are fundamental to the analyses addressed in the course. It is also expected that students have a basic understanding of linear algebra. The course relies on real financial data, and uses spreadsheets and statistical softwares to cover a range of topics from exploratory data analysis techniques, simulations, to regression analysis methods, with a strong emphasis on their application. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration.

FSMA 6015  Financial Economics  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of this course is to examine the economic foundations of finance with focus on corporate finance and in investment theory, in order to allow a deeper understanding of the connection between financial markets and the real economy. The course provides in-depth examination of financial markets mechanisms, corporate finance models, personal wealth management and the government’s role in markets. It also covers financial models for resource allocation and market efficiency; basic tools of microeconomics, including optimization, comparative statics and equilibrium will also be discussed; and applications to finance will be highlighted throughout the course. This course was previously ECO-655500. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration.”

FSMA 6016  Financial Management  (3 Credits)  

The course addresses three main areas. First, it focuses on how firms assess their performance over time and against an industry benchmark. In addition, it reviews ways of how companies are organized and deal within the financial markets. It also looks at the time value of money and examines the ways of identifying, assessing risk & return, and valuing the bonds and securities. Second, it studies firm's cost of capital, basis of capital budgeting, effects of cash flows and associated risks. Furthermore, it discusses the capital structure formation, concepts and theories. The third area of the the course addresses the diagnostics of working capital, financial planning and forecasting techniques, and finally the financial management of multinational corporations. Prerequisites: MGMT 6010 if not waived.

Cross-listed with MGMT 6016.

FSMA 6020  Investment Analysis  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of this course is to engage students with procedures and tools necessary to evaluate investment variables, determine value and analyze risk and return characteristics of financial assets namely, equity, fixed income securities, mutual and hedge funds and to study risk diversification and optimum portfolio analysis. The students will develop a better understanding of the investment environment, and the functioning of different asset classes and financial instruments, that include the money market, the bond market, the equity market, and financial derivatives. This course aims at developing a structured framework of investment analysis by requiring students to complete a set of assignments and to undertake a term project of tracking a selection of stocks and presenting a term paper in the context of firm analysis.

FSMA 6025  Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance  (3 Credits)  

This course builds on the concepts covered in Quantitative Methods in Finance, and introduces more advanced quantitative methods that are applicable in various areas of finance; applied concepts and methodologies of both univariate and multivariate long term financial data processes. In addition, topics and financial data applications related to stationary processes, co-integration analysis, ARCH and GARCH models, and simulation methods are also covered. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration. Pre-Requisite: FSMA-6010

FSMA 6035  Financial Risk Management  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of this course is to impart financial risk management concepts and optimal financial risk management practices and strategies in a business environment. The course focuses on methods and processes of assessing a firm's financial vulnerability. Students develop applicable skills and tool sets in risk analysis and management of financial risk, and how measures of risk relate to strategic and tactical business decisions. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration.

FSMA 6040  Mergers & Acquisitions  (3 Credits)  

The primary objective of this course is to give students experience in valuing firms. While the primary focus of the course is on mergers and acquisitions, the course will also cover topics such as initial public offerings, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, and divestitures. This course was previously FIN-655503.

FSMA 6045  Money Banking & Financial Institutions  (3 Credits)  

This course explores monetary and banking theory. It covers monetary system and financial system, the banking structure and an introduction to international finance with focus on monetary practices, theory and policy. The course puts an emphasis on an analysis of the nature and functions of money, banking operations and other financial institutions, with an overview of the banking system and the structure of the Federal Reserve System. Students also examine the monetary policy as related to the macroeconomic policies, economic activity and international financial activities. Topics covered include: the creation of money, interest rates, inflation, reserves, the time value of money, risk return relationships, informational symmetries and asymmetries, financial transparency, bank performance analysis. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration.

FSMA 6050  Financial Analysis & Control  (3 Credits)  

This course provides students the necessary management control tools to make far more persuasive business proposals, business cases and strategic recommendations. A particular focus is on learning to use financial information to support strategic decisions and improve operating results. This includes: how to use financial analysis concepts and methods to help prepare business cases or funds approval requests; how to use decision models for key issues such as: adding or dropping business lines, make or buy decisions, accepting special orders, constrained resource utilization, sell or process further; capital planning and capital asset selection: how to make the right capital investment decisions; preparing financial plans and budgets; and principles that can be used to create accurate budgets. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration. This course was previously FIN-651648.

FSMA 6055  Financial Instruments & Derivatives  (3 Credits)  

The course introduces students to financial instruments such as options, futures, swaps and other derivative securities; the course examines institutional aspects of the markets; theories of pricing; discusses simple as well as more complex trading strategies such as arbitrage, hedging and spread; finally the course discusses also the application of these strategies for asset and risk management. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration.

FSMA 6060  Strategic Cost Analysis  (3 Credits)  

This course focuses on the analysis and reporting of the cost of obtaining resources and their consumption in a fashion that is explicitly directed at strategic management. It provides managers with critical analytical skills needed to survive in a highly competitive environment. Its main emphasis is on strategically manage the cost to strengthen a business competitive position and increase its value and profitability. The key elements to be studied are cost structure, value chain analysis, strategic cost management, and analysis of cost drivers in support of strategic and operational decisions. Generally, the course is about using accounting-based strategies to control costs, improve performance, justify project outcomes, and create value for the organization. Course material relies on concepts studied in financial and managerial accounting courses, and shows how managers can leverage cost analysis to better influence the outcomes of product/project development and/or management. It covers both, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. This course was previously MGT-650618.

FSMA 6065  Portfolio Management  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of the course is to examine techniques of managing portfolios (constructing, monitoring, rebalancing, and evaluating) of various asset classes. It addresses efficient risk/return allocations, stock selection, market timing recommendations to meet different investors’ objectives. Additionally, students will engage in addressing possible portfolio hedging techniques relevant for different risks. This course was previously FIN-655507.

FSMA 6070  Real Estate Finance  (3 Credits)  

The course discusses approaches to the evaluation of real estate investment opportunities, the identification of the real estate investor’s goals, discusses the economic, legal, fiscal and physical environment, and their consideration in the decision making process. The course also discusses real estate financing techniques and the secondary market for real estate financial assets including mortgage-backed securities and mortgage-backed finance. This course was previously FIN-655505.

FSMA 6075  Real Estate Law & Taxation  (3 Credits)  

The course supplements the real estate track with examination of legal contains of the real estate ownership and transactions affecting the real estate market. It also explores the implication of the regulatory framework of the real estate market, governmental involvement in the real estate market and liability issues related to the real estate investment and development. This course was previously FIN-655510.

FSMA 6080  International Accounting  (3 Credits)  

The course introduces students to the differences between accounting principles and standards across the world and their impact on decision-making process for multinational corporations and cross-border deals. This is considered essential knowledge for all professional accountants and global managers for better penetration into the world that is dominated by global businesses’ competitiveness and cross-border investing and resources needs. It focuses on the enforcement status of various rules and standards and how they shape the analysis and presentation of financial data used for global managerial decisions. It emphasizes the understanding of internal and external financial communications and economics and legal mandates in various countries. In addition, the course introduces students to the international dimensions of accounting, financial reporting and financial control, foreign financial transactions and translations of financial statements, and hedging techniques. More specifically, it discusses various comparative accounting systems, international accounting convergence, and expands to the notions related to international financial reporting standards IFRS, corporate governance, international auditing, reporting and disclosure practices spanning over both developed and emerging market countries. This course is required for the certificate in Global Finance and Investment. This course was previously MGT-651642 Prerequisites: MGMT 6010 if not waived.

FSMA 6085  Behavioral Finance  (3 Credits)  

The course focuses on the key psychological barriers to value-maximizing behaviors along with options available for managers to mitigate these barriers. It covers the theory and practice of behavioral finance, including a history of financial bubbles, failures, financial market anomalies, and the role of heuristics ('cognitive shortcuts') and biases that drive human behavior. Other topics in this course include prospect theory, common investment mistakes, the role of randomness in finance, and practical applications of behavioral finance. The goal is to help students learn how to benefit the analysis and understanding of financial markets by using additional tools of finance. This course was previously FIN-655508.

FSMA 6090  Financial Engineering  (3 Credits)  

The course objective is to review and practice the main financial pricing models and optimizing techniques used in financial modeling inpractical business settings. Considerations will be given to stochastic factors, various probability predictions functions and calibration challenges. The course is highly quantitative and engages students with advanced software for simulations and programming. Students will scrutinize the applicability and limitations of the models and techniques for incorporating them into an integrated framework. It will cover the full cycle of modeling, analysis, decision and ex-post evaluation (testing). This course was previously FIN-655509.

FSMA 6095  International Financial Law & Regulation  (3 Credits)  

The aim of this course is to cover and address topics such as flow of capital in international financial markets, regulatory characteristics of international banking and securities markets, types of financial market transactions, techniques and instruments, banking and securities transactions, securitization and derivatives. This course was previously MGT-650619.

FSMA 6998  Individualized Studies in Finance (FSMA)  (1-8 Credits)  

Students have the opportunity to develop individualized studies with their mentor/advisor in Finance (FSMA). Students have the opportunity to develop individualized studies with their mentor/advisor in Finance (FSMA). Registration for this class must be approved by the student’s mentor.

FSMA 7015  Strategies of Financial Management  (3 Credits)  

The purpose of this course is to examine and learn best financial management practices and strategies, through analysis of key finance case studies. Students will be able to integrate best practices in financial analysis, bond and stock valuation, capital budgeting, optimal capital structure, and corporate valuation through analysis of their effectiveness in coping with operational and strategic business challenges, both local as well as global. Course Materials Fee: Graduate Studies is pleased to be able to provide access to the Thomson Reuters Eikon online database, a required resource of this course, for a fee which will be charged at the time of registration. Prerequisites: MGMT 6016.

FSMA 7020  Global Financial Strategy  (3 Credits)  

Global financial strategies enhance business finance to operate in a global platform, make optimal investment decisions, perform valuation under financial distress, and to make value-added strategic decisions for the enterprise. Applications include large-scale investment projects, brand launches, venture capital investments, IPOs, mergers, diversication decisions, R&D, expansion or resource allocation, and international joint ventures. As a capstone, the course will integrate skills required to make coherent decisions about interrelated strategic issues while designing a global financial strategy of MNEs and assessing proposals such as overseas subsidiary investment.This course is required for the certificate in Global Finance and Investment. This course was previously FIN-650620. Prerequisites: MGMT 6005 or MGMT 6016 or MGMT 6075.

FSMA 7998  Individualized Studies in Finance (FSMA)  (1-8 Credits)  

Students have the opportunity to develop individualized studies with their mentor/advisor in Finance (FSMA). Registration for this class must be approved by the student’s mentor.