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MS Applied Quantitative Finance

(45-57 Credit-Hours)

Course Descriptions – Fall 2024

Pre-requisite Courses

ACTG 4610 – Financial Accounting and Reporting (4 credits)

FIN 4630 - Managerial Finance (4 credits)

This course introduces concepts and analytical techniques to identify and solve financial management problems.

It serves as the basis for all other courses in the area of finance as well as provides those basic tools that every

business student will need to be successful in her/his chosen career. Those students majoring in marketing,

management and accounting, as well as those going further in the study of finance, will find this material an

will provide the basic knowledge to make personal financial decisions.

interpreting the results of the analysis. The Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Solver Toolkits will be used to

conduct statistical analyses, allowing students to become more proficient overall in using Microsoft Excel and to

place their emphasis on applications to core business disciplines, statistical reasoning, and proper interpretation

of results. A rich variety of such problems and settings will be discussed in class.

Core Courses

FIN 4000 - Financial Modeling and Databases Bootcamp (1 credit)

This bootcamp is designed to introduce students to financial databases and to familiarize them with basic

financial data analysis using Excel. The goal is for students to become comfortable with platforms such as Capital

IQ and WRDS, which they will be using throughout their academic and/or professional careers. In addition,

organizations, and markets. Financial institutions are facing a crisis of confidence. Trust is an essential ingredient

to maintaining efficient and effective financial markets. The finance industry has acquired a reputation for

unethical and unsavory behavior. In doing so, it has lost much of the trust of general society members. Many

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financial professionals believe that they are encouraged and rewarded for engaging in unethical activities. We

will discuss the ethical issues facing financial professionals and institutions. We will explore solutions for

FIN 4180 - Global Finance (2 credits)

This course explores financial management in the international arena. Principal content elements include: The

market for foreign exchange, interest rate parity, hedging currency risk, international portfolio management.

management role. We will begin by identifying the key institutions in financial markets and how securities come

while identifying techniques to improve and assess the performance of investment portfolios. Finally, we will

introduce derivatives and techniques to wisely hedge firm risks.

FIN 4410 - Financial Planning & Analysis (4 credits)

This course integrates financial decision-making tools, techniques and theory in order to allow students to better

understand and analyze corporate finance activities. The main objective of this course is that students can

FIN 4500 - Financial Modeling (4 credits)

Financial managers today need a good knowledge of both financial model building and financial theory. This

course focuses on the construction and development of financial models from corporate finance, investments

and financial markets. It is intended for students that already have familiarity with Excel, but are not necessarily

modeling and portfolio optimization using R.

FIN 4740 - Managerial Microeconomics (2 credits)

This course combines the standard tools of microeconomic analysis with a well-rounded appreciation of the

FIN 4750 - Managerial Macroeconomics (2 credits)

forces and government policy decisions drive fluctuations in the global economy and affect the business

monetary and fiscal policies. The course uses case studies to analyze real-life macroeconomic issues, and

students are encouraged to investigate the potential and limitations of macroeconomic theory with real-world

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problems. The course is divided into two modules: the economy in the long run, and the economy in the short

run. Both modules cover impacts of government policies on the business environment in a closed economy and

FIN 4830 - Econometrics for Finance (4 credits)

Econometrics for Finance is designed to teach applied statistical tools relevant to understanding financial and

economic data. It is designed to cover essential tools for working with financial data, including return

INFO 4140 – Business Databases (4 credits)

database. This class explains how to design a database, how to use a database management system to

to support the mastery of business databases, including Visio for modeling, SQL Server for database

development, and SQL for database querying.

Elective Courses

FIN 4030 Personal Finance (4 credits)

This course provides an overview of topics which are critical to lifetime personal financial planning. The premise

of the course is that personal financial planning starts early in life and especially as a new college graduate

This course is designed for students who are interested in Financial Planning, possibly as a profession. We will

cover six of the areas of financial planning: cash flows, protection (insurance), investments, goals (education and

Financial Planning Education Program.

FIN 4090 Wealth Management (4 credits)

Wealth Management offers students important skills to become a part of the growing wealth management

industry. It includes such topics as the Financial Planning Process, Insurance Basics, Investment Basics and

Strategies, Retirement Planning, and Estate Planning. We are pleased to work with the College for Financial

FIN 4150 - Advanced Business Valuation (4 credits)

In this course, students will learn theoretical development, analytical tools and practical approaches to analyze

and tackle business valuation issues at the core of the financial professions. The theoretical section of the course

provides in-depth coverage of the financial theories and models essential to value businesses. The application

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section provides students with opportunities to apply the valuation principles and techniques to assess business

value and develop strategies to create value in a real-world context.

FIN 4160 - Treasury Management (4 credits)

The objective of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how various treasury

functions are managed in a corporation and build students’ capabilities to assume the role of a proficient

treasury manager. This course will cover techniques used by major corporations to manage cash, the capital

structure, financial risk and working capital.

understanding of the valuation process in theory and practice.

FIN 4330 - Portfolio Management and Risk Analytics (4 credits)

Case and project approach to foundation of investment portfolio management. This course emphasizes the

application of modern portfolio management concepts and risk management principles.

FIN 4420 - Capital Expenditure Analysis (4 credits)

Advanced course in capital budgeting examining capital allocation processes and procedures and the theory and

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FIN 4870 - Strategic Finance (4 credits)

Addresses theory, concepts, and techniques associated with asset management and creation of value from a

strategic orientation. Links financial theory and practice to strategic and operational objectives of the firm,

prepares student to incorporate risk and uncertainty into analytical decision-making process and to analyze

investing and venture capital, bank loans, private equity, stock issuance, and going private.

FIN 4890 - Fixed Income Analysis (4 credits)

Emphasizes valuation and management of fixed income securities in prevailing environment of complex and

innovative financial arrangements. Study of the nature of evolving markets, both domestically and

internationally.