FIN    207    Cr. 3
Personal Finance

A survey course covering personal financial issues; topics include goal setting. budgeting, major purchases, loan provisions, taxation, insurance coverages, investment opportunities, (including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) and retirement planning.  Open to students in all colleges.

FIN    355    Cr. 3
Principles of Financial Management

Introduction to financial management of the firm. Topics include: relationship of the finance function with other functional areas of the firm, use of financial statements as measures of corporate performance and for financial forecasting, working capital management, time value of money and its use in the valuation of cash flows, security evaluation, capital budgeting, capital structure, financial intermediaries and investment banking, long-term debt, preferred and common stock, and the effect of these financial decisions on dividend policies.
Prerequisites: ECO 110, 120 and ACC 222.

FIN    360    Cr. 3
Principles of Insurance

A survey of insurance and risk management concepts, the insurance industry and common insurance contracts. Topics include: types of insurers, functions of insurers, legal principles of insurance, and analysis of property, liability, life and health contracts. Special emphasis will be placed on personal insurance for the home, automobile, life and health. 
Prerequisite: ACC 221.

FIN    361    Cr. 3
Life Insurance

A study of life insurance and its relationship to financial planning. Topics covered are the determination of financial needs for survivors resulting from premature death of a family member, concepts of life insurance and annuities including quantitative foundations, policy provisions, comparisons of alternate products, and taxation issues. 
Prerequisites: FIN 355 and 360. Offered Sem. II.

FIN    362    Cr. 3
Commercial Property/Liability Insurance and Risk Management

Risk management and insurance for the corporate entity. Topics include: coverages for direct and indirect property, general liability, workers’ compensation, fidelity, crime, and boiler and machinery, property valuation, insurance surveys, and lease analysis. 
Prerequisites: FIN 355 and 360. Offered Sem. I.

FIN    363    Cr. 3
Social Insurance

A review of economic security, and public and private approaches to the problem of insecurity. A study of the economic problems of old age, disability, health, and unemployment. The various forms of social legislation designed to cope with the consequences of such origins of economic insecurity are analyzed. In addition, attention is accorded public assistance and other income maintenance programs. 
Prerequisite: FIN 360. Offered occasionally.

FIN    364    Cr. 3
Private and Group Pensions

The development of pension plans, including funding, basic features of the plan, cost considerations, tax aspects, underwriting, installation and administration, and pension planning. Analysis of individual policy plans, group insured plans, trust fund plans, profit sharing plans, plans for the self-employed, and tax deferred annuities.
Prerequisite: FIN 360.

FIN    370    Cr. 3
Corporation Finance

Comprehensive study of current theories concerning the valuation of the firm and its capital structure. Topics emphasized are risk analysis, capital structure, dividend theories, cost of capital, capital budgeting and management of working capital. 
Prerequisite: FIN 355.

FIN    380    Cr. 3
Principles of Investment

The study of investment instruments. Topics include: valuation of common and preferred stocks, bonds, options, futures contracts, real estate, and several other securities and commodities. The risk associated with each form of investment, construction and management of investment portfolios, investment databases, and current trends in investments are studied. Prerequisite: FIN 355.

FIN    390    Cr. 3
Money and Capital Markets

Examination of the factors influencing the level and structure of interest rates. Includes the processes, institutions, and public policy implications of markets for short-term and long-term debt instruments, the stock market, and current trends in capital markets. 
Prerequisite: FIN 355.

FIN    400    Cr. 1-3
Finance Forum

Emphasis will be on the examination and study of current financial issues. Topics will vary by semester. Prerequisites: junior standing and consent of department. 
Repeatable for credit — maximum 6. Department option for Pass/Fail grading.

FIN    410    Cr. 3
Management of Financial Institutions

The management of commercial banks and other deposit-type financial institutions. Emphasis is placed on the environment in which financial institutions operate, its changing nature, and managerial decision making within that environment. Specific topics include loan and investment policies, asset/liability management, management of investment risk, and regulation of financial institutions. 
Prerequisite: FIN 390 or ECO 301.

FIN    426/626    Cr. 3
Real Estate Finance

The contractual nature and legal implications of the instruments used in financing real estate. The structure and operation of the primary and secondary mortgage markets; instruments, techniques, and strategies in financing real property investments. 
Prerequisite: FIN 456.

FIN    427    Cr. 3
Real Estate Appraisal

Development of the process of value determination for real properties in the context of a market setting. Development of the analytical tools to be used in implementing the valuation process. Development of the complex interactions among the site, the neighborhood, the community, and the region in value determination. 
Prerequisite: FIN 456. Offered occasionally.

FIN    430/530    Cr. 3
Financial Planning and Strategy

Long-term planning as it relates to special problems of acquiring funds and selecting and deploying assets. Emphasis is placed on forecasting long-term funds requirements, and the suitability of specific financing vehicles for particular needs. 
Prerequisite: FIN 370.

FIN    440/540    Cr. 3
Multinational Financial Management

The international financial system and the application of basic principles of business finance in an international context. Topics include: the finance function in the multinational firm, foreign exchange markets, cost of capital, and capital expenditure analysis in the multinational firm. International accounting and reporting  procedures are reviewed. 
Prerequisite: FIN 355. Offered Sem. II.

FIN    450    Cr. 1-6
College of Business Administration Internship

The internship program as conceived and implemented is an unusual program designed to provide an opportunity for students in the College of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to participate in an approved program with cooperating business, governmental or civic organization for usually 15 weeks of their undergraduate work. For additional information, see internship description under the College of Business Administration heading. 
Repeatable for credit. Pass/Fail grading.

FIN    456/556    Cr. 3
Real Estate Principles

Survey of real estate principles and practices, the economic environment and valuation. Topics include: nature of real property; organization and structure of real-estate markets; alternative land uses; financing and valuation of real estate; and the legal environment. 
Prerequisite: FIN 355.

FIN    460    Cr. 3
Seminar in Risk and Insurance

A seminar course focusing on the current problems and issues of liability, life and health insurance. Financial and insurance theory are used to assess proposed solutions. Broad topics include insurance company operations; problems of ratemaking, underwriting and regulation; confidentiality of life insurance applications; and problems of financing health care. 
Prerequisites: FIN 360, 370 and FIN 361 or 362 or 465 or ECO 471.

FIN    465/565    Cr. 3
Health Care Financing

A broad micro and macro treatment of the health care financing from the insurer, consumer and institutional viewpoints. Topics include: reimbursement mechanisms, planning, capital allocation and organizational aspects of health care financing function. 
Prerequisite: FIN 355.

FIN   475/575    Cr. 3
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

An in-depth investigation of modern concepts of asset ownership, risks and the reduction of risk through portfolio construction. An efficient markets approach to contemporary capital market and portfolio theory with applications to investment management. 
Prerequisite: FIN 380. Offered Sem. I.

FIN     477/577    Cr. 3
International Investments

The international political, economic and legal environment in which investment decisions are made. An evaluation of security valuation theory and practice in the context of international money and capital markets. Topics include the motives for international investment, exchange risk, foreign money and capital market instruments and their markets, and construction and management of portfolios. 
Prerequisite: FIN 380.

FIN    480/580    Cr. 3
Financial Management and Control

Focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the controller and treasurer in today’s business and economic environment. From a controller’s/ treasurer’s perspective, the course content includes: functions, organization, characteristics, standards of ethical conduct, financial reporting, internal controls/operations analysis, cost  management and professional development. 
Prerequisites: 480 — senior status, FIN 370 or ACC 322, and ECO 301 or 305; 580 — FIN 720 or ACC 705.

FIN    485    Cr. 3
Problems and Cases in Finance

Application of concepts and techniques to the solution of financial problems in a variety of areas using the case method and computer simulation games. Topic areas include corporation finance, security analysis and investment management, and commercial banking. 
Prerequisites: FIN 370 and 380.

FIN    499    Cr. 1-3
Independent Study

Individual reading or research under the guidance of a staff member. Open to selected, advanced students who have excellent records in the department. Registration with the consent of the student’s regular adviser, the instructor and the department chairperson. Approval form available in department office. Form must be completed prior to registration. 
Repeatable for credit — maximum 6. Pass/Fail grading.