FINANCE
(FIN)
College
of Business Administration
Department
Chair: Lise Graham
404A
Wimberly Hall, 608-785-8115
e-mail:
graham.lise@uwlax.edu
Professors: Aiuppa, Carney, Colclough
Graham, Krueger; Assistant Professor: Wolf; Lecturer: Morrison.
(College
of Business Admininstration) —
21
credits, including FIN 370, 380, 390, 485 plus the following: select one course
from Group I: FIN 362, 410, 430, 440, 475, 477, 480. Select one course from
Group II: FIN 360, 456, 465; ECO 301, 305, 308, 310; ACC 321, 325, 330; MGT 395
or any course listed in Group I. Select one from Group III: any course numbered
300 or higher which is offered through the College of Business Administration,
including those listed in Group I and Group II.
(College
of Business Administration) —
21
credits, including FIN 360, 362, 370, 380, 390; FIN 361 or 465 or ECO 471; and
FIN 460 or 485.
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.
BUS 230 Cr.
3
The
study of the scientific method as used in business and economics research,
beginning with the identification of the problem and culminating in the final
report. Analysis of the reliability and validity of data, effectiveness of
presentation, and a critical study of the validity of conclusions.
Prerequisites: completion of the College of Business Administration English
requirements, C-S 101 and MTH 205.
Introduction
to International Business
The
course serves as an introduction to the field of international business and
relates it to both the functional areas of business and to the basic
disciplines which define the international environment. Within this frame of
reference, the course focuses on the problems and opportunities which arise
when firms conduct business abroad.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
300/400
level finance courses are open only to those students who have been admitted to
the Business Program and students in business related programs for which such a
course is specifically required. Exceptions to this policy may be made only by
the College of Business Administration dean.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FIN 355 Cr.
3
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
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.
BUS 400 Cr.
1
Foreign
Study Tour
This
course and accompanying tour will give students an opportunity to gain an
in-depth knowledge of a foreign city and/or region. The class will prepare
students for international travel in general, and for the experience of
visiting selected cities/areas. The specific cities/areas to be visited may
vary by semester and by professor. Students are encouraged to meet with
prospective professors/leaders early so that the students’ interests will best
be served. Prerequisites: FIN 355, MKT 309, permission of instructor,
concurrent enrollment in INS 226. Notes: 1) class is open only to those
students participating in the class tour which will generally be for two weeks
and commence at the end of the regular semester. 2) students who enroll in the
class/tour will be asked to make a non-refundable deposit prior to the
beginning of the semester.
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 426/526 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.