Finance courses

Course Description Prerequisites Credit
hours
FIN 250
Introduction to Quantitative Finance		 A broad introduction to the markets and instruments of engineered finance.  The focus of this course is to expose students to the properties and uses of the array of non-traditional financial instruments that are incresingly trading in both the exchange and over-the-counter markets. MATH 236 or
permission of instructor. Open to Quantitative Finance majors only

3
       
FIN/ECON 325
Money and Banking		 Examines the economic role of money, banking, and monetary plicy within current institutional settings and under alternative theories explaining the interrelationships between money, the financial system, and economic activity. ECON 201 and
GECON 200

3
       
FIN/MATH 328
Time Series Analysis		 Regression and exponential smoothing methods for forecasting nonseasonal and seasonal time series, stochastic processes, Box-Jenkins' autoregressive and moving average models.
MATH 238 and
MATH 318

3
       
FIN 345
Finance for the Non-Financial Manager		 Study of theoretical concepts and analytical techniques to aid management decisions on financial problems. Topics include: working capital and fixed asset management for profit, expansion. COB 241,
junior standing (56 hours), and
a cumulative 2.0 grade point average in all courses taken at JMU

3
       

FIN355
International Financial Managment

 A comprehensive examination of the investing and financing decisions of a multinational firm.  Particular emphasis is placed upon global financial markets and instruments, exchange-rate risk management, short-term and long term financing for multinational firms, and asset-liability management in an international environment. COB300

3
       
FIN 360
Analytical Methods in Finance		 An examination of the domestic and international markets for financial products. Emphasis will be placed on the theoretical underpinnings of cash flow valuation and basic applications of financial price determination.
Pre- or co-requisite: COB 300

3
       
FIN 362
Financial Analysis		 The purpose of this course is to prepare the finance major to use and interpret economic and accounting information that isessential in financial analysis and valuation. This course provides a foundation for the further study in mangerial finance and investments.
COB300

3
       
FIN 365
Intermediate Financial Management		 In-depth study of the theories of capital structure, long-term financing decisions, working capital management and current topics such as mergers and bankruptcy. Microcomputer applications.
Prerequisite: FIN 360 or FIN 250 

3
       
FIN 370
Real Estate Finance		 A comprehensive examination of the decision-making processes involved in purchasing and financing real assets. The focus is on cost of funds and optimal financial structure of complex real estate projects.
COB 300

3
       
FIN 371
Principles of Investments		 The investor's view of the operation of the capital markets. Theories and practice of investments, including analysis of financial instruments and real assets and their effective combination into portfolios.
FIN 360 or FIN 250

3
       
FIN/ECON 372
International Finance and Payments		 Examines international financial markets, instruments and institutions; determination of spot and forward exchange rates, interest arbitrage, hedging and speculation; and alternative policies for achieving equilibrium in international payments.
ECON 201 and
GECON 200

3
       
FIN 380
Elemental and Derivative Securities Analysis
 This course undertakes an in-depth examination of the broad array of financial instruments, traded in contemporary finance markets, which are available for financing, investing and managing financial price risk.
FIN 360 or
FIN250		 3
       
FIN/MATH 395
Mathematical Finance		 This course presents an overview of the role of mathematical concepts in financial applications. Topics include continuous time finance, optimization, numerical analysis and applications in asset pricing.
MATH 237 and
FIN 380

3
       
FIN/MATH 405
Securities Pricing		 A quantitative treatment of the theory and method of financial securities pricing to include an examination of closed form pricing models such as the Black-Scholes and its various derivatives as well as numerical solution techniques such as binomial methods.
FIN/MATH 395

3
       
FIN 416
Seminar in Real Estate Investment and Development		 An investigation of the investment process in real assets with emphasis on investment profitability. The real estate investment cycle is examined in detail to determine the sources of cash flow to the equity investor and how those cash flows may be maximized.
FIN 370.

3
       
FIN 434
Financing the Emerging Firm		 Various sources of financing for new and emerging ventures will be investigated including venture capital and initial public stock offerings. Emphasis will be on clinical studies to reinforce the theoretical principles.
COB 300

3
       
FIN 450
Financial Risk Management		 Forward contracts, futures, swaps and options are treated as the basic building blocks for creating financial risk management programs for companies subject to financial risks such as changes in exchange rates, commodity price fluctuations and changes in interest rates.
FIN 371 and
FIN 380

3
       
FIN 455
International Financial Management		 This course focuses on the financial decisions facing the multinational firm. Particular emphasis is placed upon global financial markets and instruments, exchange-rate risk management and asset-liability management in an international environment.
 FIN 365 or
FIN/ECON 372

3
       
FIN 460 Commercial Banking A study of the objectives, functions, policies, organizational practices and government regulation of commercial banks. An intensive study is undertaken of the asset and liability structure of commercial banks. Special emphasis is placed on how banks are adapting to the dramatic changes in their operating and regulatory environments.
FIN 360

3
       
FIN/MATH 465
Seminar in Actuarial Science I		 The course covers the theory and application of contingency mathematics in the areas of life and health insurance and annuities from both a probabilistic and deterministic approach. Together with FIN/MATH 466, the two-course sequence helps to prepare the student for the professional actuarial examinations.
FIN/MATH 395 or
consent of instructor, and
pre- or co-requisite: MATH 426

3
       
FIN/MATH 466
Seminar in Actuarial Science II		 A continuation of FIN/MATH 465 with additional coverage of contingency mathematics in the areas of life and health insurance, annuities, pensions and risk theory from both a probabilistic and deterministic approach. The two-course sequence helps to prepare the student for the professional actuarial examination.
FIN/MATH 465, and
Pre- or co-requisite: MATH 427

3
       
FIN 471
Advanced Topics in Investments		 Application of investment concepts within a case format. The course focuses on investment management, bringing together economics, capital markets and valuation to form a basis for decision making in financial asset selection, risk/reward analysis, portfolio selection and formation.
FIN 371

3
       
FIN 475 Financial Modelling and Risk Analysis This course introduces students to pracical methods used to identify, quantify, predict, value, diversify, and manage risk.  Students will use sensitivity analysis, Monte carlo and Latin Hypercube simulations, bootstrapping, times seires forecasting, and dynamic optimization techniques as applied to capital budgeting and structure, pro forma financial statemetns, multi-objective portfolio allocation, discounted cash flow analyss and real options. 
FIN 365 and
FIN 371

3
       
FIN 480
Seminar in Financial Engineering		 Financing engineering is the process of adapting existing financial instruments and developing new ones to meet the needs of participants in domestic and international financial markets. This process is taught within a case and project format in order to simulate actual market participation as closely as possible.
FIN 450 and
FIN/MATH 405

3
       
FIN 488
Advanced Financial Policy		 The financing of a new business enterprise or expansion and the financial condition of existing firms is examined within a case format. The objective of this examination is to elicit a policy decision which effectively addresses the issues identified in the case.
12 credit hours in finance, including FIN360 and FIN365; Completion of 105 credit hours.

3
       
FIN 490
Independent Studies in Finance		 Designed to give capable students in finance an opportunity to complete independent study under faculty supervision.
Admission by recommendation of the instructor and permission of the department head.

1-3
       
FIN 494
Business Practicum		 A course to be taken by graduating seniors to give students an opportunity to work in and with local industry in order to gain insight into the real side of modern business.
2.8 JMU GPA, 
Junior standing, and an approved internship.
Summer only.

3
       
FIN 498
Special Topics
in Finance		 The purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to explore areas of current topical interest or to exploit special situations. Course content will vary.
 FIN 360 or FIN250

3
       
FIN 499
Honors

Senior Honors Thesis: three, successive semesters
FIN 499A, FIN 499B, FIN 499C

 Permission of
Honors Coordinator

6

For more information, please consult the JMU Undergraduate Catalog. Also, please see the information on the Honors program available on the department's web site.