FINA 3320
Principles of Finance
3
FINA 4323
Financial Markets, Institutions &
Instruments
3
FINA 4325
Options & Futures
3
FINA 4427
Portfolio Theory & Management
4
Additional Approved Upper Level Finance Elective
3
16 Credits
Total
19 credits
Course Listing
FINA 3320 Principles of Finance (3)
Survey of foundational concepts in finance; in particular, discounted cash flow analysis and its
application to valuation of bonds, stocks, and corporate capital assets. Introduction to the following
topics: bond and stock markets; pricing mechanisms in those markets; relationship between risk and
return; capital budgeting methods based on discounted cash flow valuation. Prerequisites: ACCT 2301
and MNGT 2342.
FINA 4320 International Finance (3)
The application of finance principles in financial management of international corporations, including
analysis of the financing of investment abroad and the management of assets in global financial
environments. The course also covers currency exchange mechanisms in theory and practice, including
international monetary systems; and currency risk management, including interest rate and currency
derivatives. Prerequisite: FINA 3320 with a grade of "C" or better.
FINA 4321 Intermediate Corporate Finance (3)
Foundational concepts of modern financial management that every financial professional should know.
Core topics include capital budgeting and long-term financing. Capital budgeting: application of
valuation methods to long-term investment decisions. Long-term financing: how the corporation will
raise funds to pay for its investments. Related topics include leverage, capital structure, and financial
distress; dividend policy; methods for raising capital; and corporate control and governance. Prerequisite:
FINA 3320 with a grade of “C” or better.
FINA 4322 Management of Financial Institutions (3)
Management of financial institutions in the post Glass-Steagall world where integrated financial service
companies play a greater role. Examination of risk measurement, risk management, regulatory
compliance, and profitability from a manager’s perspective. Risk management topics include hedging
with futures and options, interest rate swaps, and loan securitization. Prerequisite: FINA 3320 with a
grade of “C” or better ECON 3322 is recommended but not required.
FINA 4323 Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments (3)
Comprehensive survey of institutions and instruments of modern financial markets. Topics may include
depository institutions, non-depository financial intermediaries, investment banking, underwriting and
issuance of securities, brokerage services, government and corporate debt, determinants of interest rates,
mortgage-backed securities and other types of securitized assets. Prerequisite: MNGT 2342.
UTPB 2013-2015 Undergraduate Catalog page 356
FINA 4324 Market Microstructure (3)
Study of the structure of capital markets and the behavior of traders in those markets. In-depth
exploration of one or more of the following topics: capital market microstructure; informed and
uninformed traders; liquidity and volatility in capital markets; market efficiency and its consequences for
financial decision making. Prerequisites: ACCT 2301, ECON 2302, and MNGT 2342.
FINA 4325 Options and Futures (3)
Introduction to options, futures, and other derivative securities. Topics include option valuation models,
principles of forward and futures pricing, structure of markets for derivative securities, and strategies for
hedging and speculation. Prerequisites: ECON 2302 and MNGT 2342.
FINA 4331 Energy Finance (3)
Study of financing decisions in the energy industry. Introduction to financial principles, energy financing
strategies, and financial statement analysis of energy firms and the energy industry. Topics include risk
management and the finance of energy trading. Prerequisites: ACCT 2301, COSC 1335, and ECON 2301.
FINA 4340 Financial Securities Analysis (3)
This course provides a comprehensive framework to understand and practice fundamental analysis
applied to stocks, bonds, and other fixed-income securities. Develop equity and fixed-income valuation
models to analyze a firm’s securities for investment purposes. Conduct financial statement analysis: ratio
and trend analysis to evaluate a company’s financial position through time, among its domestic and
international industry competitors, where accounting recognition and disclosure requirements are used
to interpret publicly available information. Apply valuation models using data collected from financial
statement analysis, as well as relevant macroeconomic information, to make investment and lending
decisions. Topics may include technical analysis and fixed-income research. Prerequisites: FINA 3320 and
either ACCT 3301 or ACCT 3310, with a grade of “C” or better in both courses.
FINA 4427 Portfolio Theory & Management (4)
Comprehensive investigation of modern portfolio theory. Unifying theme: optimization of the trade-off
between risk and return. Examination of asset pricing models, the efficient market hypothesis, behavioral
finance, and security analysis within this framework. Portfolio management topics may include
performance evaluation, globalization, and effect of taxes and inflation on investment strategy.
Prerequisites: MATH 1325 or equivalent, and FINA 3320 with a grade of “C” or better.
FINA 4389 Selected Topics in Finance (3)
Undergraduate courses which will be offered only once or will be offered infrequently or which are being
developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.
FINA 4391 Contract Study in Finance (1-3)
An individual independent study course or research project that addresses a topic not offered in the
curriculum. Prerequisite varies.
FINA 4392 Internship (3)
A supervised field experience as a financial professional that enables the student to explore career
options. Internship must involve work that is substantially financial in nature with job responsibilities
similar to those that a full-time employee would face. May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisites:
FINA 3320, FINA 4323, FINA 4427, and either FINA 4321 or FINA 4322; minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and
2.75 in the major; and permission of academic advisor and faculty internship advisor
UTPB 2013-2015 Undergraduate Catalog page 357