Finance

Annie Wong, Chair
wonga@wcsu.edu
Westside Classroom Building 141, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8577
(203) 837-8955 (fax)

Judy McGee, Department Secretary
mcgeej@wcsu.edu
Westside Classroom Building 249, Westside Campus
(203) 837-8342
(203) 837-8955 (fax)

Faculty

 

Overview

The finance curriculum is designed to provide students with the theoretical background and practical skills for pursuing a career in financial investments and markets or in financial management.

Finance courses offer the students an opportunity to analyze financial problems, learn the tools of financial decision-making, and utilize sound methodologies in the resolution of the problems confronting businesses, markets and nonprofit organizations today.

Our students learn through lectures, case studies, model building, and individual and team problem solving.

Mission

Consistent with the School and University missions, the Department provides finance students with the theoretical background, critical thinking and practical skills needed for successfully pursuing a career in financial investments and markets or in financial management. To do so, the program emphasizes the development of analytical, quantitative, statistical, and communication methodologies. The Department is also committed to providing all business students with the statistical knowledge and tools necessary to make data-based decisions across all functional areas of business.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance (B.B.A.)

Requirements:

• Completion of all general education competency requirements (see departmental program sheet for specific requirements).
• Completion of the business core courses as listed below.*
• Completion of the required finance courses.**

*Business Core Courses:

ACC 201	Financial Accounting
ACC 202	Managerial Accounting
FIN 230	Business Statistics
FIN 310	Principles of Finance
JLA 240	Commercial Law or ACC 340 Business Law I (for accounting majors)
MGT 250	Organizational Behavior
MGT 320	Operations Management
MGT 415	Strategic Management
MIS 260	Information Systems Concepts
MKT 101	Orientation to Ancell Undergraduate Programs
MKT 200	Principles of Marketing
MKT 305	Global Environment of Business

 

**Required Finance Courses:

FIN 320 Financial Management
FIN 330 Financial Decision Models
FIN 340 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
FIN/ECO 360 Money, Banking, and Capital Markets
FIN 370 Financial Institutions
FIN 490 Cases in Managerial Finance

In addition to the six required courses listed above, a finance student must select either the Financial Investments and Markets option or the Financial Management option by taking an additional three required courses listed below each option:

Financial Investments and Markets Option

Students who choose the financial investments and markets option will be exposed to the latest advances in financial securities pricing, international finance and financial risk management. Graduates of this option can pursue careers in the financial services industry as investment analysts, securities traders, investment or commercial bankers, and in any of a host of careers that require analytical ability and the commitment to solving unique and challenging financial problems.

FIN 316 Quantitative Methods in Finance or FIN 317 Fixed Income Securities
FIN 486 Financial Engineering
FIN/ECO 488 Multinational Financial Issues

Financial Management Option

Students who choose the financial management option will have the opportunity to acquire skills in the areas of financial planning, analysis, and control. Graduates of this option typically work in a corporate, public or not-for-profit entity as financial analysts, financial planners, and in any of a number of careers that require the ability to synthesize a broad range of financial, accounting, and economic variables to make sound financial decisions.

ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
And a choice of one of the following:

ACC 303 Accounting Theory and Topics
ACC 361 Cost Accounting
ACC 403 Federal Taxation
ACC 407 Consolidations and Partnerships

Course Restrictions

For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Finance Department should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of portfolio management, security valuations, financial statement analysis, and risk-return analysis.
• Demonstrate knowledge of financial planning, long & short term financing, and the functions of financial management.
• Apply basic analytical and quantitative techniques to solve complex problems and make sound financial decisions.
• Utilize computer based analytic methods
• Demonstrate knowledge of domestic and international markets & institutions
• Effectively communicate financial problems and solutions orally and in writing

Minor in Finance

Admission to the minor requires completion of at least 45 semester hours with a GPA of 2.3.  Successful completion of the minor requires the student to take 18 semester hours and to maintain a 2.3 GPA in all finance courses.  There are two tracks in the Finance minor:

Track 1: Investments

This minor requires the completion of the following courses:

FIN 310 Principles of Finance
FIN 320 Financial Management
FIN 330 Financial Decision Models
FIN 340 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
And a choice of two of the following:

FIN 316 Quantitative Methods of Finance
FIN 317 Fixed Income Securities
FIN/ECO 360 Money, Banking and Capital Markets
FIN 370 Financial Institutions
FIN 486 Financial Engineering
FIN/ECO 488 Multinational Financial Issues

Track 2: Financial Management

This minor requires the completion of the following courses:

FIN 310 Principles of Finance
FIN 320 Financial Management
FIN 330 Financial Decision Models
FIN 340 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
And a choice of two of the following:

ACC 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACC 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
ACC 361 Cost Accounting

The department reserves the right to approve alternative requirements on a case–by–case basis after advisement from a finance faculty member and approval by the department chair. Students receiving a B.B.A. degree must attain a GPA of 2.3 or better.