Principles of Finance (Finance 3013)

Description:  This course offers the business student an introduction to the basics of financial management.  The course takes a survey approach in the presentation of fundamental financial concepts used in the operation of a large or small business enterprise.  Selected topics include the role of the corporation in the modern global business environment, financial statement analysis, time value of money, risk and return characteristics of stocks and bonds, capital budgeting, leverage/capital structure, financial forecasting, and international financial management.
 

Investments (Finance 4043)

Description:  "Investments" is defined as the current commitment of funds for a period of time in order to derive a future flow of funds that will compensate the investor for 1) the opportunity cost of foregoing current consumption, 2) the expected rate of inflation over the holding period, and 3) the risks associated with the future flow of funds.  The purpose of this course is to provide detailed knowledge regarding this general definition.  Specifically we cover seven broad areas of the investment task: 1) the nature and characteristics of financial instruments; 2) how these instruments are traded in efficient financial markets; 2) bond analysis; 3) equity (stock) analysis; 4) mutual funds; 5) derivative securities (options and futures), and, 6) portfolio management and attribution analysis.  This course is intended to connect the student with the real-world aspects of practical investment decisionmaking.  Use of the internet is emphasized.  Students construct and manage and a portfolio of their choosing over the semester.
 

Intermediate Financial Management (Finance 3033)

Description:  This course extends basic Principles of Finance material (Finance 3013) to include a more in-dept and rigorous treatment of the mainstream topics associated with corporate financial management.  Emphasis is given to financial decisionmaking as it pertains to the maximization of stockholder wealth. Topics covered include financial statement analysis, risk, rates of return, time value of money, bond/stock/firm valuation, capital budgeting, capital structure, leverage, dividend policy, working capital management, financial planning, and mergers/acquisitions. The use of speadsheets and spreadsheet analysis is emphasized.
 
 

Seminar in Corporate Finance (Finance 4033)

Description: This capstone case course applies previously-learned financial concepts in dealing with unstructured real-world financial decisionmaking situations.   A "case" is a collection of facts, evidence, detail, and commentary describing a problem or problems faced by the firm and requiring a financial management decision(s).  Most cases are drawn from real world experience, a fact which more effectively involves the student in genuine financial decisionmaking scenarios.  The course is student- rather than instructor-driven.  Accordingly, student teams analyze, prepare, and present solutions to selected financial and business situations.  The case presentation format is also used to hone students' oral and written skills.
 

Personal Financial Management (Finance 1013)

Description:  Finance 1013 is concerned with decision making that involves setting personal financial goals, listing financial alternatives, measuring performance, and evaluating financial achievement so as to maximize one's net worth over the long run.  Some of the specific topic areas covered are financial planning and cash budgeting, preparing and using personal financial statements, learning about the financial products and markets available to you, banking, insurance, investment strategies, income tax preparation, the auto/house purchasing decision, retirement/estate planning, and the financial aspects of divorce.  The course aims to provide students with ideas and concepts that are immediately useable as well as having relevancy for the management of personal wealth.  Finance 1013 can be an invaluable learning experience for incoming-freshman and seniors alike and can serve as an elective for all majors at Tarleton.  I believe this class can easily qualify as the most important course you will take in college. This course will qualify as a three hour elective in any degree plan.
 
 

Graduate Corporate Finance (Finance 5073)

Description:  Finance 5073 is the required graduate financial management course in the COBA's MBA curriculum.  As such, the course forms the foundation for most courses in the MBA curriculum by presenting fundamental financial management concepts and techniques at the graduate level.  The course should be viewed as a pre-requisite for the cap-stone graduate seminar (MGMT 5853 ).  Students are expected to have a working knowledge of Principles of Finance.  However, review of basic concepts is carried out when necessary.  The concepts and techniques presented are real-world in nature and simulate the types of business situations encountered in the workplace.  Some spreadsheet analysis is used throughout the course.
 
 

Graduate Seminar in Corporate Finance (Finance 5053)

Description:  Usually this course runs concurrently with Finance 4033 described above.  Graduate students must complete all normal course requirements in addition to preparing and presenting a term paper assigned by the instructor.  Finance 5053 can provide graduate students an extraordinary opportunity to add to their knowledge of business finance and for those wishing to emphasize finance in their overall MBA program.