2006-07 Catalog Archive (Archived July 31, 2006)

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Course Descriptions

FIN150
Principles of Banking
Students enrolled in this course are provided an overview of banking from colonial times to the present day, with emphasis on current issues and trends. Bank organizational structure, line/staff functions and employee responsibilities are reviewed. The regulatory environment of banking is studied including the involvement of the Federal Reserve and monetary policy. Bank deposit services are examined, focusing on types and requirements of deposit accounts, negotiable instruments, payment flows, and the check collection process. The credit function is also studied, reviewing sound underwriting guidelines for consumer, mortgage and commercial loans. Specialized products such as trust services, cash management, international banking, and brokerage services are reviewed as is the importance of marketing in today's competitive environment. Lastly, students will learn ways in which to measure and analyze the performance of financial institutions. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Spring Only.

FIN250
Banking Practicum
This course is specifically designed as a capstone experience for students in the Associate Degree in Banking program. It will allow students to gain practical experience in integrating and applying the concepts studied in the program. It is intended to be completed as one of the student's final courses prior to graduation. Students will be required to develop and complete a project in a functional banking area of their choosing such as lending, investments, accounting, trust, information systems, human resources, branch administration, or operations. They will identify and describe a problem, concern, or an area/process in need of improvement in a selected banking institution. The student, working in concert with the bank's appropriate functional manager and the course instructor, will develop a plan to address the problem, concern or process, present it to senior bank management for approval, and then implement it and monitor the results. This course will provide the practical experience that students need to fully synthesize and integrate the earlier coursework. 3 Credits ( .50 Lecture - 12.50 Lab) As needed.

FIN305
Fundamentals of Financial Planning
This course serves as a guide to personal finance for achieving financial objectives and making effective financial decisions. The course is a study in fundamentals of personal financial planning. Topics include: personal financial statements, budgeting taxes, major purchases, use of credit and bank loans, insurance, investing, retirement planning, and estate planning. (Formerly FIN 230) 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): ACC113.

FIN320
Investments
This course introduces students to the world of investments, including various types of investment vehicles, techniques and strategies. Students will study the investment environment, role and scope of investments, measuring risk and return and types of investment markets and transactions. Traditional short- and long-term investment instruments will be analyzed, such as: common and preferred stocks, bonds, government issues, convertible investments and mutual funds. Higher-risk, more complex investments, e.g., options, futures, real estate, precious metals, artwork, will also be reviewed. Tax implications of the various investments will be studied. Lastly, portfolio management will be analyzed, including techniques and strategies. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): FIN220 or FIN305. Spring Only.

FIN350
Finance
To examine and evaluate investments, financial institutions, and financial management. This course assumes the student is the financial manager of an enterprise. Areas of study include corporate financial theory, financial analysis and planning, security markets, stock and bond valuation, capital structure theory, capital budgeting, and international finance. (Formerly FIN220) 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): ACC113 and MTH160.

FIN370
Money and Banking
Will allow students to gain an in-depth understanding of the role and function of money, the Federal Reserve System and the United States banking system. Specific subjects covered include: monetary standards, financial instruments, monetary theory, capital and money markets, rationale for interest rates, fiscal and monetary policy, inflation, sources and uses of credit and the role of financial institutions. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): ECO111. Fall Only.

FIN420
Estate Planning
This course emphasizes the process of planning the accumulation, conservation, and distribution of an estate to accomplish personal tax and nontax objectives. Topics include: federal estate and gift taxes, wills, intestacy, the probate process, the use of trusts, property ownership forms, life insurance, lifetime gifting, the unified credit, charitable deductions, intrafamily and business transfers, valuation planning, and postmortem planning techniques. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): FIN305 or FIN350. As needed.

FIN430
Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
This course emphasizes personal tax-deferred retirement programs and the framework for calculating annual savings needed to reach income goals. A focus is placed on qualified plan design, with an emphasis on the advantages and disadvantages of specific types of qualified plans for the owners of small to medium sized businesses. Topics include qualified plan design; retirement planning; deferred compensation; group life and health insurance; and other employee benefits. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): FIN305 or FIN350. As needed.

FIN450
International Finance
Traditional concepts of international financial management are presented such as the international financial environment, international funds flows, foreign exchange markets, exchange rate behavior and risk management. The student will study the governmental influence on exchange rates and the philosophical systems, e.g. fixed exchange, freely floating exchange, managed-float exchange and pegged exchange systems. Multinational capital budgeting is presented with consideration given to exchange rate fluctuations, remittance provisions, inflation and blocked funds. Risk analysis techniques are used to determine country risk. Macro and micro assessments of country risk are compared. Discussion will center on sources and instruments of international export and import financing, balance of payments, governmental regulations and policies, as well as accounting for international transactions. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): FIN220 and MGT216 and MGT355 or MGT116 and MGT220 and MGT355 or FIN220 and MGT116 and MGT355 or FIN350 and MGT216 and MGT355. Fall Only.