Finance

• Chair: Donald Bleich
• Juniper Hall (JH) 3125
• (818) 677-2459
• www.csun.edu/finance

Faculty

• Donald Bleich
• Patricia Born
• Chao Chen
• James Chong
• Vicentiu Covrig
• James P. Dow Jr.
• M. Monica (Her) Hussein
• William P. Jennings
• Yanbo Jin
• Daniel McConaughy
• G. Michael Phillips
• David T. Russell
• Zhong-Guo Zhou

Emeritus Faculty

• Jay S. Berger
• Sol S. Buchalter
• Joseph B. Buchwald
• David D. Cary
• Michael F. Dunn
• Joseph J. Launie
• Mary Jean Scheuer
• Arthur Taitt
• James J. Williams

Degree Programs

• B.S., Finance

The Major

The Department of Finance, Real Estate and Insurance, in conjunction with the other departments in the College of Business and Economics, offers curricula leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with options in Real Estate or Financial Services.

The study of Finance consists of three interrelated areas: (1) capital markets, which deals with securities markets and financial intermediaries; (2) investments, which concerns the decisions of individual and business investors; and (3) financial management, which focuses on the actual management of firms. The major in Finance emphasizes both theoretical and practical approaches to these areas. As part of the curriculum, the Department offers elective courses in futures and options, real estate, insurance, risk management, international finance, and an honors section of FIN 437, The Student Portfolio Management Class, where a small number of students manage a stock portfolio for the University Corporation.

Careers

The major in Finance helps prepare our graduates for a wide range of career opportunities in all industries and sectors of the economy. Among the finance career fields are consulting, financial management analysis, financial budget analysis, and investments. The students graduating with a major in Finance receive among the highest average starting salaries of business graduates.

Academic Advisement

All department faculty will be available during their scheduled office hours to advise students requiring advisement during the semester. Designated faculty will be available during registration to help students.

Special Grade Requirements

Transfer students should be aware that no grade lower than a C will be accepted on transfer from another institution to satisfy Department or College of Business and Economics requirements.

Business Majors

A Business Major is any student majoring in Accountancy; Finance; Information Systems; Management; Marketing; or Business Administration with an option in either Business Law, Financial Services, Global Supply Chain Management, Real Estate, or Systems and Operations Management.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Finance

Check course descriptions for prerequisite courses. Prerequisites must be completed prior to enrolling in the course.

1. Common Lower Division Business Core (27 Units)

• COMP 100 Computers: Their Impact and Use (3)
• ENGL 205 Business Communication in its Rhetorical Contexts (3)
• ECON 160 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
• ECON 161 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
• MATH 103¹ Mathematical Methods for Business (3)
• SOM 120² Basic Business Statistics (3)
• ACCT 220 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3)
• ACCT 230 Introduction to Managerial Accounting (3)
• BLAW 280 Business Law I (3)

¹MATH 103 or a higher level mathematics course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

²The 4-unit MATH 140 course also satisfies this requirement.

2. Common Upper Division Business Core (19 Units)

• BUS 302 Gateway Experience (3)
• BUS 302L Gateway Experience Laboratory(1)
• FIN 303 Financial Management (3)
• MGT 360 Management and Organizational Behavior (3)
• MKT 304 Marketing Management (3)
• SOM 306 Operations Management (3)
• BUS 497 Capstone (3)

3. Required Upper Division Courses Finance (6 Units)

• BLAW 308 Business Law II (3)

Communication Course, select 3 units from the following:

• ENGL 305 Intermediate Expository Writing (3)
• ENGL 306 Report Writing (3)
• ENGL 407 Composition and the Professions(3)
• PHIL 305 Business Ethics and Public Policy (3)
• COMS 323 Group Communication (3)
• COMS 443 Rhetoric in Business (3)

In addition to the courses shown above, the student must complete an additional 18 units of required option specific courses.

4. Upper Division Required Courses (18 Units)

• FIN 432 Investment Analysis and Management (3)
• FIN 435 Problems in Corporate Financial Policy (3)
• FIN 437 Advanced Topics in Finance (3)

Finance Electives: Select 6 units of Finance courses

• (Does not include FIN 302)

Breadth and Perspective Course Requirements: Select 3 units from the following:

• ECON 310 Price Theory and Applications (3)
• IS 312 Information Systems for Business (3)
• BLAW 481 Real Estate Law (3)
• FIN 436³ Futures and Options: Theory and Strategy (3)
• ACCT 440 Taxation of Business Entities (3)

³Note: If FIN 436 is used to satisfy the breadth/perspective requirement, the course does not also count as a finance elective.

General Education: Three units of the mathematics requirement satisfy the Basic Skills, Mathematics requirement. BLAW 280 satisfies 3 units of the Lifelong Learning requirements. ECON 160 and 161 satisfy 6 units of the Social Sciences requirement. COMP 100 satisfies one additional unit.

• Total Units in the Major : 70
• General Education Units : 29
• Additional Units : 15
• Total Units Required for the Degree 120

Course List

FIN 302. Personal Finance (3)

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement.Not open to business or economics majors. Examination of the concepts necessary for the rational allocation of personal resources. Emphasis is on the significant financial decisions facing each household during its life cycle. The role of financial institutions and governmental economic policy is evaluated in the context of their potential impact on personal financial planning. (Available for General Education, Lifelong Learning)

FIN 303. Financial Management (3)

Prerequisites: ACCT 220, ECON 160, SOM 120; SOM 120 may be taken concurrently. BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are co/prerequisites for Business majors.Analysis of the financial decision making process of a firm from both internal and external points of view. Topics include valuation, working capital management, capital budgeting, financial forecasting, capital structure, and sources of capital and dividend policy in both a domestic and international context.

FIN 336. Principles of Insurance (3)

BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Insurance as an economic and business institution. Survey of fire, marine, casualty, and life insurance for those interested as potential customers, salesperson, or brokers.

FIN 338. Real Estate Principles (3)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Introductory survey of the field of real estate.Areas covered include real estate law, appraisal, brokerage, finance, and investment.

FIN 430. International Financial Management (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 303. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Analysis of the international complexities of corporate financial management and investment strategies. Emphasis is placed on the nature of the close link between corporate financial management and developments in international financial institutions and international financial markets.

FIN 431. Risk Management (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 303. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Analysis of the methods and procedures of dealing with risk in the business Firm, including the theoretical basis of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms. Consideration of the commercial insurance industry, its structure and regulation.

FIN 432. Investment Analysis and Management (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 303. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Survey of investments including corporate and government securities, real property and financial intermediaries. Survey of investment theory emphasizing security analysis, valuation and portfolio management.

FIN 433. Real Estate Finance (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 338. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Analysis of the instruments, institutions, agencies, and operations involved in the financing of real estate.

FIN 434. Advanced Topics in Risk and Insurance (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 336 or 431. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Selected issues in risk and insurance are analyzed by means of case studies, readings, research, and class discussion.

FIN 435. Problems in Corporate Financial Policy (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 303. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors.Advanced readings and case studies in current problems and trends in corporate financial policy formulation. Students will be required to analyze selected problems orally and in writing.

FIN 436. Futures and Options: Theory and Strategy (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 432. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Study of the structure of futures and options. The analysis will emphasize the theoretical framework of options and futures pricing models, practical financial implications, and the mechanics of, and economic rational for, futures and options markets.

FIN 437. Advanced Topics in Finance (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 432; Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Selected issues in financial policy and investment strategy are analyzed by means of case studies, readings and class discussion.

FIN 438. Management of Financial Institutions (3)

Prerequisite: FIN 303. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Examination of the principles, practices, and procedures applicable to the operation and management of financial institutions. Includes analysis of the sources and uses of funds in the system, and the federal and state regulatory structure.

FIN 439. Real Estate Valuation (3)

Co/Prerequisites: FIN 338; Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Analysis of the various determinants of real estate value and the methods used in practice to estimate such value. Economic factors affecting real estate value are emphasized, and traditional valuation techniques are critically examined.

FIN 442. Theory and Practice of Financial planning (3)

Prerequisites: FIN 432. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Financial theory and planning process includes data gathering, cash flow and debt considerations, goal setting and objectives (including retirement and education funding), integration, plan formulation, tax consideration and implementation. Planning considerations also include ethical and legal issues.

FIN 496A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses Finance (3)

Prerequisite: Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Course content to be determined. (See subtitles in appropriate schedule of classes)

FIN 498. Field Assignments and Reports - Finance (1-6)

Prerequisites: Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. Individual study pertaining to present or future career. Student must obtain approved employment. Consultation with employer and instructor determines program. A maximum of 12 units may be earned by combining Field Assignments and Reports (FIN 498), and Independent Study (FIN 499). Academic Internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)

FIN 499. Independent Study (1-3)

Prerequisites: Consent of department chair and consent of an instructor to act as sponsor. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE). BUS 302 and BUS 302/L are prerequisites for Business majors. In order to do an Independent Study assignment in the College of Business and Economics, a student must have at least a 3.0 overall grade point average, a 2.0 grade point average in all major courses, and a 2.0 grade point average in his option courses. A student who does not meet these grade point requirements will not receive credit for any FIN 499 that he/she may take.

Admission is based on evidence of ability to pursue Independent Study in depth and on approval of a project submitted at the time of registration. Regular progress meetings and reports are required throughout the semester. Completion of the project is required before credit may be received. Enrollment in Independent Study is not allowed for the purpose of substitution for an existing course. A maximum of six units of Independent Study (FIN 499) may be earned in the College of Business and Economics. Further, a maximum of 12 units may be earned by combining Field Assignments and Reports (FIN 498), and Independent Study (FIN 499).

Graduate Courses

Graduate courses are open only to selected classified and conditionally classified graduate students who have attained an acceptable score on the GMAT. To determine their eligibility for enrollment, students majoring in areas other than business must consult with the Director of Graduate Programs of the College of Business and Economics.

FIN 634. Seminar in Financial Institutions (3)

Prerequisite: GBUS 502. Seminar analyzing financial institutions with an emphasis upon the determination of prices and yields of financial assets and the economic effects of financial intermediation.

FIN 635. Seminar in Financial Theory and Policy (3)

Prerequisite: GBUS 502. Examination of the theory of Finance and its application to financial management of business enterprise.

FIN 636. Seminar in Investment Analysis (3)

Prerequisite: GBUS 502.Seminar in the fundamental and technical analysis of securities and capital markets. Applied financial analysis of firms and their securities; study of institutional forces in the security markets.

FIN 637. Seminar in Corporate Real Estate (3)

Prerequisite: GBUS 502. Seminar analyzing the role of real estate in corporate decision-making. Topics include real estate, finance, site selection, real estate evaluation, and the effect of real estate decisions on shareholder wealth.

FIN 639. Seminar in Financial Problems (3)

Prerequisite: FIN636. Selected topics in corporate finance are examined in the context of the managerial decision process. Emphasis is placed on the application of the theory of Finance to problems facing entrepreneurs, investors, and managers.

FIN 699. Independent Study Finance (3)

Prerequisite: Permission of graduate advisor and department chair. No more than six units of Independent Study may be taken in any 1 department, and no more than six units may be taken in the College of Business without prior approval of the Dean. Only those graduate students who have a current grade point average of 3.0 may register in a 600-level Independent Study course.Note: See Graduate Business Interdepartmental Courses for GBUS 694B, GBUS 695B, and GBUS 696B.