Undergraduate Degree Program

All students completing requirements for degree programs in finance must complete the finance core courses listed below. In addition, each student in finance must choose one of the following concentrations: banking and financial services; corporate finance and investment management (which is subdivided into four options: financial management, investment management, quantitative finance, and international finance); insurance; or real estate. Students are encouraged to take MATH 125 and MATH 126 instead of MATH 112 and MATH 121. In addition, students considering graduate work should take ST 410 and ST 411. The requirements for each finance concentration are outlined below.

Finance Core Courses*
Courses Hours
EC 308 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
EC 309 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
FI 301 Introduction to Financial Institutions and Markets 3
FI 389 Computerized Management Information Systems 3
FI 410 Intermediate Financial Management 3
FI 412 Money and Capital Markets* 3
FI 414 Investments 3
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*Students concentrating in financial management, real estate, and insurance have modified finance cores as described in the concentration course requirements below. (See Concentration I–Financial Management, RLES, and INS.)

 

CONCENTRATION IN BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES (BANK)

The banking and financial services program prepares students for careers in financial institutions like commercial banks and in firms that offer personal financial planning services. Students in the program study the roles of financial institutions in the economy, the workings of the money and capital markets, and the interrelationship of financing and investment decisions. After completing a core of basic finance courses covering investments, financial management, bank administration, and money and capital markets, students may choose from a number of electives or may take specific courses which will enable them to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP™) examination(s). Faculty Advisors: Gup, Ligon, and McLeod

Major Program Requirements*
Courses Hours
Finance core courses 21
FI 341 Personal Insurance Planning 3
FI 421 Bank Administration 3
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CONCENTRATION IN CORPORATE FINANCE AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (CFIM)

Option I—Financial Management.* The financial management program is designed to provide broad professional competence to students preparing for executive positions in the financial management of business enterprises and government agencies. The program involves intensive study of the modern theory of finance and its applications to (a) the management of corporate and public funds; (b) the behavior of securities prices; and (c) the relationship between financial markets and business enterprise. Faculty Advisors: Agrawal, Brooks, Carroll, Downs, Helms, Ligon, McLeod, and Page

Major Program Requirements
Courses Hours
FI 410 Intermediate Financial Management 3
FI 411 Corporate Financial Policy 3
FI 412 Money and Capital Markets 3
FI 413 Working Capital Management 3
FI 414 Investments 3
AC 310 Financial Reporting and Analysis of Business Activities I 3
AC 311 Financial Reporting and Analysis II 3
AC 361 Cost Analysis for Planning and Control 3
AC 389 Accounting Information Systems Development,
    Operation, and Control		 3
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Option II—Investment Management*. The investment management program provides broad professional competence to students preparing for positions in investment management. The program involves intensive study of the modern theory of finance and its applications to (a) the behavior of securities prices; (b) portfolio management; and (c) the relationship between financial markets and business enterprise. Faculty Advisors: Agrawal, Brooks, Carroll, Downs, Helms, Ligon, McLeod, Page, and Schlesinger

Major Program Requirements
Courses Hours
Finance core courses 21
FI 415 Advanced Investments 3
FI 419 Financial Engineering 3
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Option III—Quantitative Finance*. This program is for students who plan to work in positions requiring financial planning, investment analysis, and portfolio management at an advanced technical level. This program is suggested for students thinking of entering M.A., M.B.A., or Ph.D. programs as part of their career objectives. Faculty Advisors: Agrawal, Brooks, Carroll, Downs, Helms, Ligon, McLeod, Page, and Schlesinger

Major Program Requirements
Courses Hours
Finance core courses 21
ST 410 Concepts of Probability 3
ST 411 Statistical Inference 3
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Option IV—World Business Concentration in International Finance*. The international finance program provides broad professional competence to those preparing for executive positions in multinational firms or staff positions in the international departments of major banks. The program involves intensive study of international trade, markets, and accounting conventions. Faculty Advisors: Agrawal, Helms, McLeod, and Schlesinger

Major Program Requirements
Courses Hours
Finance core courses 21
FI 431 International Finance 3
FI 441 International Financial Management 3
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CONCENTRATION IN REAL ESTATE (RLES)

Real estate students will find themselves concerned with real estate investments, the management and development of land, real estate appraisal, real estate financing, and brokerage or sales. Career opportunities are available in the lending departments of financial institutions, in real estate sales, in urban planning, and in the numerous government agencies that specialize in housing. Faculty Advisor: Zumpano

Major Program Requirements
Modified Finance Core
Courses Hours
EC 308 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
EC 309 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
FI 301 Introduction to Financial Institutions and Markets 3
FI 389 Computerized Management Information Systems 3
 
Real Estate Core
FI 331 Principles of Real Estate 3
FI 334 Introduction to Real Estate Property Management or
    FI 410 Intermediate Financial Management		 3
FI 432 Real Estate Appraisal or FI 414 Investments 3
FI 436 Real Estate Finance 3
LGS 407 Real and Personal Property Law 3
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Students concentrating in real estate should consider choosing their electives from the following courses: FI 421 Bank Administration, AC 371 Income Tax, MKT 371 Site Selection and Market Area Analysis, and CET 467 Construction Cost Estimating.

CONCENTRATION IN INSURANCE (INS)

Persons in the insurance field need to understand risks and the methods of financing them. They need to know how insurance companies and agencies operate, what insurance contracts cover, and how the industry responds to the many problems it faces. Graduates of the insurance program find employment openings not only in the insurance field, but also in financial, industrial, and commercial organizations concerned with problems of risk management. Faculty Advisor: Schlesinger

Major Program Requirements
Modified Finance Core
Courses Hours
EC 308 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
EC 309 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
FI 301 Introduction to Financial Institutions and Markets 3
FI 389 Computerized Management Information Systems 3
 
Insurance Core
FI 341 Personal Insurance Planning 3
Four of the following:
    FI 410 Intermediate Financial Management
    FI 412 Money and Capital Markets
    FI 414 Investments
    FI 442 Business Risk Management
    FI 443 Property and Liability Insurance
    FI 444 Life and Health Insurance 12
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