REQUIRED COURSES
This course, coordinated with the Merage School Career Center, provides students with practical skills for success in the program and future careers in finance by teaching career planning, job search tactics and strategies, resume building, interviewing preparation, approaches to networking, salary negotiation, public speaking and business writing skills.
- MF 203A Financial Reporting
Involves the development, analysis and interpretation of financial accounting information for external reporting purposes.
- MF 210 Foundations of Finance
This course teaches the foundations of finance. The course begins by teaching financial tools such as time value of money, capital budgeting techniques and cash flow analysis. The course then examines the foundations of investment management. Theory and empirical evidence related to portfolio theory, market efficiency, asset pricing models, factor models and option pricing theory.
- MF 240 Financial Research Methodology
This course bridges the gap between theoretical financial models and financial econometrics and empirics. The course explores the strengths and weaknesses of empirical finance and econometrics as well as implement many of the methods based on data the individual has drawn from the market.
This course examines modern techniques for managing financial risks. Financial risks are generally classified into market risks, due to movement in financial prices or volatilities, credit risks, due to fact that counterparties are unwilling or unable to fulfill their contractual obligations and operational risks, which arise from human or technical failures.
The course covers measurement techniques for different types of financial risks (equity, fixed income, currency, commodity) and instruments. It also covers tools such as duration, portfolio beta, factor sensitivities, portfolio distribution analysis and value at risk (VAR). We also discuss how risk measurement tools can be used for active management of the risk/return profile of financial institutions.
Derivatives are new financial instruments whose value “derives” from the values of other, more basic, underlying assets such as stocks and bonds. The course covers major derivative instruments including forward, futures, swaps and options. Derivatives are widely used for hedging, speculation and arbitrage. The size of this market is several times larger than the global economy. The focus of the course is on understanding the instruments, how to use them, how to price them and basic risk management principles. In particular, the course will show how to implement investment strategies with derivatives.
Students work in teams on an applied finance project, one that is associated with an internship or experiential project. This project should be associated with the area of focus of your electives, as it will illustrate your knowledge and expertise, which you can reference when speaking to potential employers.
