Program Emphasis/Objective

The objective of the major in Finance is to provide students with a background of knowledge and a set of skills to enable them to perform successfully in finance-related fields. These fields reflect both global and domestic dimensions and they include corporate or business finance, financial management in government and not-for-profit organizations, financial planning, investments, banking, insurance, real estate, and public accounting. Advanced work in the Finance major features a problem-solving and decision-making orientation. Case problems and investment games are used and current developments in the economy and in financial markets and institutions are emphasized to help students appreciate the complexities of financial management in the 1990s. A student may choose the Finance major because of its universality, even if the student is meeting all or most of the requirements in real estate or insurance. Finance majors have acknowledged the quality and benefits of the major, making it one of the most popular majors in the School of Business.

Career Opportunities

The field of finance offers a broad and varied range of employment opportunities for the qualified individual. Many graduates are hired by financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies as financial analysts or management trainees, while others venture into potentially more lucrative occupations in the securities markets and real estate. There are also relatively stable jobs in corporate finance such as forecasting, cash management, and controlling. The Finance major can also provide excellent background for graduate work in law or an MBA program. Recent starting salaries for undergraduates in this field generally range upward from the thirty thousand-dollar levels. However, potential is unlimited and some relatively recent graduates have made six-figure incomes.

Academic Program/Courses

*Specific criteria pertaining to admission to the School of Business, details regarding graduation and degree requirements, course requirements, and course descriptions can be found in the University's General Catalogue, available by visiting the University of Connecticut website at www.uconn.edu/.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES - Department of Finance

For major requirements, see the School of Business Administration section of the University of Connecticut Undergraduate Catalog.

Courses in the department are open to juniors and seniors only.

3101. Financial Management Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ACCT 2101 (may be taken concurrently), ECON 1201 and 1202, ENGL 1010 or 1011 and 1011 or 3800, MATH 1071 or 1122 or 1132, STAT 1000 or 1100. An introductory examination of how a business plans its needs for funds, raises the necessary funds, and invests them to attain its goals.

3302. Investment and Security Analysis Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101. A study of the nature of securities, the mechanics and costs of trading, and the way in which securities markets operate. Risk-return analysis will be applied in making decisions to buy or sell stocks, bonds and options. Written analysis is required.

4209. Applications in Financial Management First and/or second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101. Recommended preparation: OPIM 3103. An intermediate level course using cases; i.e., problems faced by actual firms, to teach students how to apply financial management concepts and techniques to real-world situations.

4304. Financial Risk Management First and/or second semester. Three credits, Prerequisite: FNCE 3101. Applications of financial structuring and engineering with particular attention to uses of derivatives.

4305. Global Financial Management Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101. Focuses on the detailed study of: (1) exchange rate determination, (2) operation of the foreign currency and global capital markets, and (3) hedging both transaction and economic exposure to exchange rate changes.

4306. Financial Services First and/or second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101. Study of the role of financial services companies in the money and capital markets, funds acquisitions, investment and credit extension.

3451. Economics for Global Business Decisions First and/or second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101 (may be taken concurrently). Impact of globalization of the world economy on business and financial decisions. Trade, balance of payments, tariff policies, international economic institutions, exchange rates, capital flows.

3221. Risk Management and Insurance Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101 or BADM 3730 or MATH 2620 or MATH 3630 A study of the concept of risk and its treatment by insurance. It covers why the individual or corporation purchases insurance, what constitutes an intelligent insurance plan and what products are available in the insurance marketplace.

4324. Health Insurance Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3221. This course will provide a detailed overview of health insurance from the perspective of insurance company owners, employers, and individual consumers of health insurance services. Emphasis is given to individual and group health insurance product management and to the relationship between product characteristics and insurance company investments, financing, and marketing decisions. Managed care techniques, benefit package design and cost sharing mechanisms are assessed in the context of resolving insentive conflicts and meeting cost-containment objectives. Evaluation of insurance company financial strength and the impact of regulation on company management and behavior are considered in detail.

4325. Life Insurance First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3221. A detailed study of the basic principles underlying life insurance. Emphasis is given to the following general topics: needs and uses of life insurance and annuities, types of life insurance and annuity contracts, the mathematics of life insurance, company operations, and settlement options and life insurance programming.

4326. Risk Management: Property and Liability Exposures First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3221. This course critically examines the risk management process introduced in FNCE 221. Emphasis is on identification and treatment of pure loss exposures faced by commercial and institutional entities. Available risk management treatment techniques are identified and discussed. Analysis of applicable commercial property and liability insurance coverage is stressed.

3230. Real Estate Decision-Making Either semester. Three credits. Overview of the personal, social and business aspects of real estate. Emphasis on location analysis, market characteristics and investment decision-making.

3332. Income Property Valuation Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101 or 3230 or BADM 3730. Focus is on techniques and applications of value estimation. Emphasis on cash flow forecasting, rate derivation, ratio models and discounted cash flow techniques.

3333. Real Estate Finance, Investments and Taxation First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: FNCE 3101 or FNCE 3230 or BADM 3730. Focuses on the equity investment position. Considers the impact of financing and the federal income tax on real estate investment decisions. Field work or class projects evaluate investment returns and identify and measure risk.

3334. Real Estate Market Analysis First semester. Three credits. Focuses on efficient utilization of land resources with emphasis on use of the microcomputer for market analysis, marketability analysis and investment feasibility. Case studies, field work and group projects provide skills in problem identification and analysis. Oral and written presentations may be required.

4891. Field Study Internship Either or both semesters. One to three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Students enrolled in the Real Estate Intern program must have earned a "C" or better in Finance 230. For all others, completion of Finance 201 and at least one other finance course related to the internship area, with a grade of "C" or better in each course. Consent of instructor and Department Head prior to beginning the internship. Designed to provide students with an opportunity for supervised field work in relevant major areas within the Department. Students will work with one or more professionals in their major academic area. Student performance will be evaluated on the basis of an appraisal by the field supervisor and a detailed written report submitted by the student. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

4893. Foreign Study Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement, up to a maximum of six credits. Consent of Department Head required, prior to the student's departure. Special topics taken in a foreign study program.

4895. Special Topics Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Announced separately for each offering. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Classroom course in special topics in finance, insurance or real estate as announced in advance for each semester.

4997. Senior Thesis in Finance Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher; open only to Finance Department Honors Students with consent of instructor and Department Head.

4899. Independent Study Either or both semesters. Credits by arrangement, not to exceed six in any semester. Open only with consent of instructor. Individual study of special topics in finance, insurance or real estate as mutually arranged between a student and an instructor.