FINANCE (FIN) COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
5003 Business Finance
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ACC 5003 or an equivalent.
The framework, tools, and basic concepts of financial management. Areas of inquiry include discounted cash flow techniques, financial forecasting, working capital management, external financing, capital budgeting.
5023 Financial Management
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: ACC 5003, ECO 5003, and FIN 5003, or their equivalents. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ACC 5023 is recommended.
The study of concepts related to the financial management of the firm. Topics include asset and liability management, capital investment analysis and valuation, risk and uncertainty, sources and costs of financial alternatives, and corporate financial policy.
5033 Cases in Financial Management
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
A case approach will be used to illustrate the applications of financial management to business situations and to integrate topical areas. Primary areas of focus include planning, current asset management, capital budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, and financing alternatives.
5413 Real Estate Finance
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
A study of finance concepts applied to real estate lending and development. Topics may include the primary and secondary mortgage markets, construction and development financing, lender loan analysis, an introduction to the legal aspects of real property lending, and an overview of real estate investment trusts.
5433 Real Estate Investment
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
This course focuses primarily on the fundamentals and valuation of real property as an investment class. The course examines the major concepts and analytical methods useful for making real estate investment and finance decisions relating to individual properties. It builds upon the modern corporate finance perspective and treats property as one particular class of capital assets. This course may cover other topics that relate to investment property analysis such as securitized equity real estate investment where the emphasis is on multiple property valuation and decision making and such as commercial appraisal methods as they relate to property valuation.
5453 Real Estate Development
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
This course studies the real estate development process. Topics may include evaluation of real estate trends to project development needs, zoning and other legal considerations, site selection and evaluation, ownership and financing consideration, project scheduling, and evaluation of completed projects. Real estate professionals may be invited to present proposed or recently developed projects in San Antonio or other locations that may be used as case studies.
5633 Investment Theory and Problems
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
A study of investment analysis and decision making with regard to financial instruments traded in organized markets. Topics include descriptions and functions of markets; impact of market structure on market efficiency and security pricing; valuation of stocks, bonds, and options; analysis of risk and return characteristics of investment alternatives; and selection and management of bond and stock portfolios.
5713 Financial Markets
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
An examination of major financial markets with emphasis on current trends and developments. Topics include markets used for risk management, such as financial futures, listed options, and swaps.
5723 Fixed Income Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5633 or an equivalent.
Develops a framework for the analysis of fixed income securities, valuation and risk-return characteristics of these instruments, and trading and portfolio strategies. Various data sources and financial software used to integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications.
5733 Banking and the Financial Services Industry
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
The study of management practices applicable to banks and other firms operating in the financial services industry. Bank management practices using an asset/liability management approach are emphasized. Topics include major trends and developments having an impact on the financial services industry.
5813 Corporate Valuation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
The techniques and issues involved in making long-term investment decisions and valuing the financial claims on a company. Topics include the concepts of the cost of capital and financial structure, dividend policy, risk assessment and management, forecasting, and cash flow analysis. (Same as ACC 5913. Credit cannot be earned for both
FIN 5813 and ACC 5913.)
5833 International Financial Management
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
The theory of business finance as applied to the operations of multinational firms. The determinants of exchange rates and the management of exchange rate risk are analyzed in terms of their impact on how a multinational corporation functions in the international setting. Topics include the financial analysis and control of foreign investment decisions, management of working capital, participation in the international capital markets, financing of international trade, and management of corporate risk.
5853 Entrepreneurial Business Finance
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
The course focuses on the financial needs and conditions unique to the small firm that arise as it progresses from the development stage through the start-up, expansion, and harvesting stages. Topics include comparison of operating and managerial characteristics, valuation issues, and financial alternatives.
5943 Financial Statement Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5633 or an equivalent.
The processes by which the economic information contained within financial statements is interpreted and used to evaluate historical performance, project future performance, and valuation of the firm. Topics include hidden assets and liabilities, earnings quality, liquidity and cash flows. (Same as ACC 5943. Credit cannot be earned for both
FIN 5943 and ACC 5943.)
5963 International Business Internship
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and the Graduate Advisor of Record.
Opportunity for work experience in international business or a public agency.
5983 International Business Essay
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and the Graduate Advisor of Record.
Original research report on an international management topic.
6213 Speculative Markets and Securities
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5633 or an equivalent.
An examination of derivative financial instruments such as options and futures and their potential role in controlling portfolio risk. Valuation and the risk and return characteristics of these instruments, as well as trading and portfolio strategies, will be developed.
6223 Corporate Risk Management
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5633 or an equivalent.
An understanding of derivative instruments and their application in corporate risk management is developed. The topics covered reflect the fact that management of risk in the corporate context is a source of competitive advantage and growth. Derivative instruments such as options, futures, and swaps are analyzed. The choice of different instruments and their properties in managing corporate risk is examined.
6313 Modeling of Financial Decision Making
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FIN 5023 or an equivalent.
Computer models of financial problems commonly encountered in industry are developed. Topics include financial statement analysis, financial planning and forecasting, capital investment analysis, and financing decisions. Applications to investment analysis include security and options valuations, performance analysis, and portfolio management. Decision making under uncertainty is examined through various techniques, including simulation.
6943 Finance Internship
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Graduate standing, 15 semester credit hours of graduate work, and consent of instructor. Internship must be approved in advance by the Internship Coordinator and the student’s Graduate Advisor of Record. Cannot count as a finance elective toward the M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance.
Supervised full- or part-time off-campus work experience and training in finance. Individual conferences and written reports required.
6951-3 Independent Study
1 to 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission in writing (form available) of the instructor and the student’s Graduate Advisor of Record.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. For students needing specialized work not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to the degree.
6961 Comprehensive Examination
1 hour credit. Prerequisite: Approval of the appropriate Graduate Program Committee to take the Comprehensive Examination.
Independent study course for the purpose of taking the Comprehensive Examination. May be repeated as many times as approved by the Graduate Program Committee. Enrollment is required each term in which the Comprehensive Examination is taken if no other courses are being taken that term. The grade report for the course is either “CR” (satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination) or “NC” (unsatisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination).
6971-3 Special Problems
(1-0, 2-0, 3-0) 1 to 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Problems courses may be repeated for credit when the topics vary, but not more than 6 hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to the degree.
6983 Master’s Thesis
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Permission of the Graduate Advisor of Record and thesis director.
Thesis research and preparation. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 hours will apply to a Master’s degree. Credit will be awarded upon completion of the thesis. Enrollment is required each term in which the thesis is in progress.
7013 Financial Theory
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
The course covers financial theory, including considerations of financial decision making in an uncertain environment, introduction to utility theory; state-preference theory; and mean-variance choice theories. Considerations of market equilibrium, introduction to financial derivatives, and international finance will be covered, as well as empirical findings in finance.
7023 Corporate Finance
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
The theory of financial management of the firm, including Miller and Modigliani propositions and their extensions; imperfect information and agency problems; and asymmetric information and signaling, will be considered. Corporate finance issues such as capital structure, dividend policy, corporate governance, and bankruptcy topics will be covered. Empirical research in corporate financial decisions will also be covered.
7033 Valuation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
The concepts of valuation are developed through such topics as asset pricing models and arbitrage methods. Development of concepts of value additivity, stochastic dominance, and state preference will be undertaken. Stochastic processes and stochastic calculus are developed for the pricing of options in continuous time. Other discrete time processes and valuation methods will also be covered.
7043 Empirical Finance
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Theoretical concepts of asset pricing are presented, techniques for testing various hypotheses regarding asset pricing models, option pricing models, and fixed income models are examined. Market structure issues using event studies and time series applications are developed.
7053 Topics in Financial Research
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
This is a research seminar course where the topics may vary. Topics envisaged include the following: advanced international financial management topics, the theory and management practices in financial intermediaries, and advanced topics in real estate finance. The course may be repeated for credit when topics vary.
7113 International Financial Markets
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Techniques are demonstrated in how to conduct empirical research in international financial markets (Forex, stocks, bonds, commodities, and derivatives) with sophisticated econometrics and extensive data analysis. Topics include trading mechanisms, market efficiency, price discovery, arbitrage, transaction costs, portfolio management, and exchange policies.
7201-3 Finance Research Colloquium
(1-0, 2-0, 3-0) 1 to 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Presentation and analysis of literature in a selected area of research. May be repeated.
7211-6 Doctoral Research
1 to 6 hours credit.
May be repeated for credit, but not more than 24 hours may be applied to the Doctoral degree.
7311-6 Doctoral Dissertation
1 to 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: Admission to Candidacy for the Doctoral degree in Business Administration.
May be repeated for credit, but not more than 12 hours may be applied to the Doctoral degree.
