Finance

Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.

First Year - Fall Semester
MTH 115	Brief Calculus With Applications I	4 hours
ATG 157	Accounting Principles-Financial	3 hours
COM 103	The Oral Communication Process	3 hours
BUS 100	Contemporary Business	3 hours
	Core Electives (FA, HUM or NS)	6 hours
EHS 120	University Experience	1 hour
Total		17 hours

First Year - Spring Semester
ATG 158	Accounting Principles-Managerial	3 hours
MIS 173	Business Computer	3 hours
ENG 101	English Composition	3 hours
	Core Electives (FA, HUM or NS)	6 hours
Total		15 hours

Sophomore - Fall Semester
ECO 221	Microeconomics	3 hours
Q M 262	Quantitative Analysis I	3 hours
	Elective	9 hours
ATG 201 (pre-req for ATG 301 or 314)	Accounting Principles-Accounting Techniques	1 hour
Total		16 hours

Sophomore - Spring Semester
FIN 322	Business Finance	3 hours
QM 263	Quantitative Analysis II	3 hours
ECO 222	Macroeconomics	3 hours
M L 350	Managing for Results in Organizations	3 hours
ATG 301 or 314	Intermediate Accounting I or Cost Accounting	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Junior - Fall Semester
FIN Tools Course	3 hours
FIN 325	Investment Analysis	3 hours
MTG 315	Principles of Marketing	3 hours
ENG 306	Business Communication	3 hours
	FIN Elective	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Junior - Spring Semester
FIN	International Course	3 hours
FIN 328	Financial Institutions and Markets	3 hours
BLW 342	Legal Environment of Business	3 hours
FCB	Elective	3 hours
WI Writing Intensive	Core Curriculum	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Senior - Fall Semester
FIN 4XX	Senior Fiance Elective	3 hours
FCB	Elective	2 hours
M L 452	Strategic Management in Organizations	2 hours
BUS 400	Client Consulting Project	2 hours
	Elective	6 hours
Total		15 hours

Senior - Spring Semester
FIN 494	Financial Strategy	3 hours
FIN	Elective	3 hours
	Electives	9 hours
Total		16 hours

FIN 200 - Introduction to Finance (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
This course will provide an orientation to the professional field of finance. Topics include available career paths in finance and necessary industry qualifications, overview of industry certifications, finance curriculum options, introduction to fundamental knowledge and skills required, practical application of investing and saving decisions, and review of the functions of the financial markets. Prerequisite: BUS 100

FIN 220 - Personal Finance (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. SF
Core Curr. SB
Principles and practice of management of personal income, wealth, and credit: budgeting, sources of financing, savings, estate planning, and institutions of personal finance.

FIN 322 - Business Finance (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Capital budgeting and principles of financial management. External and internal sources of funds: costs and profitable uses in business organizations. Prerequisite: ATG 157 and junior standing or 42 credit hours and a declared major in one of the following: corporate finance, or personal financial planning, or actuarial science.

FIN 325 - Investment Analysis (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. EL
Principles of investment analysis. Introduction to security valuation using fundamental analysis with associated trading rules. Introduction to technical analysis/charting with trading rules. Functions and descriptions of securities markets and trading. Prerequisite: FIN 322, Q M 262 or MTH 325

FIN 327 - Derivative Securities (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Overview of options, futures, swaps, and related financial securities. Examination of exchanges, pricing issues, arbitrage, and trading strategies. Applications emphasize the use of derivative securities for managing financial risk. Prerequisite: FIN 322; MTH 115 or higher

FIN 328 - Financial Institutions and Markets (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Operation of financial institutions and interrelationships between their operations and economic activity; credit flow and money movements, in the context of financial institutions' operations. Structure and organization of the financial system; emphasis on markets and intermediaries. Prerequisite: ECO 100 or 221; ECO 222; junior standing.

FIN 329 - Commercial Bank Management (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
The role of commercial banks in the capital markets; introduction and application of financial management concepts, tools, and techniques to the fundamental financial decisions that managers of commercial banks make. Focus is on the dynamic banking environment, regulations, nature of risks, asset and liability management, investment and credit decisions, and financing decision of commercial banks. Prerequisite: FIN 322, FIN 328.

FIN 330 - Financial Services Marketing (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Examination of the increasing use of marketing techniques in the financial services industry and the changing environment of financial services. Course is structured around the core marketing principles of buyer behavior, segmentation, product development, distribution, pricing and promotion, as well as topics such as relationship marketing, customer loyalty, and technological developments. Designed for students with an interest in banking, insurance, securities, and other financial services industries. Cross listed with MTG 330. Prerequisite: FIN 322, MTG 315.

FIN 331 - Personal Investing (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Principles of investing by and for individual investors. Coverage includes fundamental concepts, theories, principles and strategies of investment planning. Examines various aspects of investment planning strategies emphasizing applicable knowledge and techniques with which a financial service professional provides client service. Prerequisite: FIN 322

FIN 421 - Liquidity Management (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Managing firms' liquidity position; emphasis on use of positive and normative models dealing with short term assets and liabilities; ensuring liquidity while enhancing firm value. Prerequisite: FIN 322, QM 263.

FIN 422 - Financial Analysis (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. WI
Interpretation and analysis of corporate financial statements. Current annual and interim reports as a source of data for management, stockholders, and creditors. Prerequisite: FIN 322, QM 263.

FIN 425 - Portfolio Theory and Management (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to portfolio theory. Diversification concepts. Market-oriented capital asset pricing model, options pricing model, and arbitage pricing theory. Market efficiency. Relationship of portfolio theory to fundamental and technical analyses. Portfolio management and evaluation techniques. Prerequisite: FIN 325; QM 263 or MTH 326

FIN 426 - Financial Research & Modeling (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Modeling financial processes, cash flows, security prices, etc., for decision making. Econometric, distribution-based, Markov and Stochastic Process concepts are employed. Treats risk/uncertainty identification, measurement and management. Prerequisite: Q M 263 or MTH 326; FIN 325

FIN 429 - Topics in Finance (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic and prerequisite stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated under different topics for a maximum of nine hours credit.

FIN 494 - Financial Strategy (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Contemporary review of theory and practice of financial risk management. Principles for managing financial risk are applied to interest rates, exchange rates, and commodity prices. Financial engineering is incorporated into unified ethical and sustainable managerial problem solving and policy decisions designed to achieve successful operations. Supporting financial elements areas are integrated to understand and appreciate their interdependencies and benefits as a culminating academic experience. Prerequisite: 12 hours of finance at 300 or 400 level.

FIN 495 - Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Development of comprehensive personal financial plans. Investment planning strategies will be applied to the work of the financial service professional with a client service orientation. Integration of analytical skills will be developed through mini and comprehensive cases that will be presented in wriiten and oral formats. Prerequisite: FIN 330 or MTG 330, and FIN 331.

FIN 498 - Independent Study in Finance (1-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Studies undertaken by academically qualified students under guidance of a faculty member. Open to Finance and Quantitative Methods Department majors only. May be repeated under different topics for a maximum of six hours credit. Prerequisite: junior/senior standing; 2.5 cumulative grade point average; consent of Department Chair.

FIN 522 - Introduction to Finance (2 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Principles of financial management; financial systems and flow of funds; time value of money and its application; raising and allocation of funds; financial analysis, planning, and forecasting. Cannot be used to satisfy MBA elective or concentration requirements.

FIN 622 - Financial Management (4 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Review of essential concepts necessary for foundational support of graduate topics. Areas of study include the financial framework and analysis of business; Management of the flow of funds through a company; capital and cash budgeting; valuation problems; risk analysis; evaluation of alternative methods of financing under changing conditions. Prerequisite: Foster College of Business Graduate Student or Consent of Associate Dean.

FIN 658 - Topics in Finance (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Topics of special interest which may vary each time the course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes.

Q M 262 - Quantitative Analysis I (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics with an emphasis on business applications. Topics covered include computation and application of descriptive measures, probability distributions, sampling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, and simple linear regression. Prerequisite: MTH 114 or higher.

Q M 263 - Quantitative Analysis II (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Continuation of Q M 262. Topics covered include tests of hypotheses, correlation, time series, and multiple regression analysis with specific application to problems in business and economics. Computer software will be used extensively in regression analysis. Prerequisite: Q M 262

Q M 369 - Topics in Quantitative Methods (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated under different topics for a maximum of six hours. Prerequisite: junior/senior standing.

Q M 426 - Business Forecasting (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to forecasting, forecasting methods, features and differences using theoretical and practical knowledge gained about forecasting methods. Topics covered include regression analysis, time series analysis, understanding moving averages, exponential smoothing, autoregression and trend curves and to be able to use these modelling techniques to obtain forecasts. Cross-listed with Q M 526. Prerequisite: Q M 263 and junior/senior standing.

Q M 464 - Decision Support Systems (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to managerial statistical tools in descriptive and predictive analytics with an emphasis on statistical learning. Topics covered include regression analysis, simulation, decision analysis, and data mining. Extensive use of computer software for model building and analysis for making better business decisions. Cross-listed with Q M 564. Prerequisite: Q M 263

Q M 498 - Independent Study in Quantitative Methods (1-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Studies undertaken by academically qualified students under guidance of a faculty member. Open to Finance and Quantitative Methods Department majors only. May be repeated under different topics for a maximum of six hours. Prerequisite: junior/senior standing; 2.5 cumulative grade point average; consent of Department Chair.

Q M 526 - Business Forecasting (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to forecasting, forecasting methods, features and differences using theoretical and practical knowledge gained about forecasting methods. Topics covered include regression analysis, time series analysis, understanding moving averages, exponential smoothing, autoregression and trend curves and to be able to use these modelling techniques to obtain forecasts. Cross-listed with Q M 426. The graduate level course will have additional requirements beyond those of the undergraduate course. Prerequisite: IME 511 or consent of Department Chair.

Q M 564 - Decision Support Systems (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Introduction to managerial statistical tools in descriptive and predictive analytics with an emphasis on statistical learning. Topics covered include regression analysis, simulation, decision analysis, and data mining. Extensive use of computer software for model building and analysis for making better business decisions. Cross-listed with Q M 426. The graduate level course will have additional requirements beyond those of the undergraduate course. Prerequisite: IME 511 or consent of Department Chair.

Q M 658 - Topics in Quantitative Methods (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Topics of special interest which may vary each time the course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes.

Q M 660 - Readings in Quantitive Methods (1-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Individual readings for qualified students, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Repeatable to a maximum of 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and director of graduate programs.

The Bradley Core Curriculum exposes all students to the requisite range of knowledge, skills and perspectives that prepares them for further learning and guides them on the path of continued growth to facilitate their success and fulfillment in a changing, complex world. In essence, the Bradley Core Curriculum lays the foundation for a lifetime of intellectual development.

More specifically, the Bradley Core Curriculum advances Lydia Moss Bradley’s intent that the university “furnish its students with the means of living an independent, industrious and useful life,” by equipping them with a common set of attributes, understandings and tools to:

Make connections between thoughts, ideas and people through more emphasis on collaboration, critical thinking, decision-making and inquiry across disciplines and cultures;
Become better communicators with the integrative, reflective and multidisciplinary mindset necessary in today’s global society; and
Embrace the flexibility of a customizable Bradley Experience by pursing the subject areas that best support or complement their individual interests, abilities and future plans.

Core Learning Outcomes

The Bradley Core Curriculum was designed to help students achieve specific Core Learning Outcomes that span all aspects of the program.

Critical and creative thinking. Bradley graduates will think critically, independently and creatively, and will employ evidence-based decision-making to solve problems and build new knowledge.
Effective communication. Bradley graduates will be effective oral, written and non-verbal communicators as well as active readers and listeners.
Multidisciplinary integration. Bradley graduates will approach learning in an integrated manner, connecting knowledge and skills across multiple disciplines.
Practical application. Bradley graduates will apply knowledge and skills from the classroom in real-world situations.
Social awareness. Bradley graduates will understand and act ethically upon their connections to larger communities.

Core Values

The Bradley Core Curriculum is grounded in a set of fundamental perspectives, Core Values, that lie at the heart of the university's scholarly enterprise.