Readings, lectures, and/or discussions in specific topics not normally covered by other courses in the program.
Winter 2025 - Online
Designed for the nonfinance major who wants to improve the management of personal finances. Aspects of finance that individuals are likely to face will be discussed. Specific topics include credit buying and borrowing, insurance, home ownership, stock and bond investment, mutual funds, income taxes, and estate planning. Offered fall and winter semesters.
Introduction to financial concepts and practices for non-business majors. Major topics include financial statement analysis, time value of money, characteristics of securities, sources and uses of cash, capital budgeting, and risk and return. BBA degree-seeking students may not take this class for credit. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: ACC 212 (or both ACC 201 and ACC 202), and one of MTH 108 and MTH 109 (or MTH 110), MTH 122, MTH 123, MTH 124, MTH 125, or MTH 201.
Winter 2025 - Hybrid Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
This course presents the financial policies and practices that lead to the maximization of the value of the firm. Major topics include financial statement analysis, time value of money, asset valuation, sources and costs of financing, capital budgeting analysis, and risk and return. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: ACC 212, and either CIS 221 or CIS 231, and one of MTH 108 and MTH 109 (or MTH 110), MTH 122, MTH 123, MTH 124, MTH 125, or MTH 201, and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
Winter 2025 - Online Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
This course presents fundamental principles of investment and introduces students to characteristics of various financial assets. Major topics include bond valuation, interest rates, term structure, stock valuation, equity market and efficiency, analysis of risk and return, derivative securities, asset allocation and diversification, and behavioral finance. Offered each semester. Prerequisites: FIN 320, STA 215, and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit. Not to be taken concurrently with FIN 320.
Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
An Excel-based course in financial management required for all finance majors, building on concepts introduced in Managerial Finance. Coverage includes financial statement analysis, working capital management, financial forecasting, cost of capital, tactical financing decisions, capital budgeting, and risk analysis. An integrated Excel lab reinforces the application of concepts. Offered each semester. Prerequisites: FIN 320, ACC 213, STA 215, and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
A discussion of ethical literature relating to business problems. Emphasis will be placed on the practical introduction to normative and behavioral ethics. This course relates ethical principles to issues faced by financial professionals in fields such as investment analysis, investment sales, corporate finance, and financial institutions. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: FIN 320 and be admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
Risk analysis and insurance. Planning personal and business insurance. Business insurance as it relates to business risks and decision-making. Emphasis on business exposures, coverages, and problems of the risk manager. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Junior standing and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
An introduction to the basic principles of real estate administration. The legal and economic characteristics of real estate, real estate markets, appraising methods, government and political trends, and regional and local economic influences. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: FIN 320, junior standing, and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
Financial management of commercial banks and other financial intermediaries. Examination of banking structure and current regulatory environment. Specific techniques of evaluating risks, liability management, and determining asset composition. Concepts of capital adequacy and liquidity management. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: FIN 320 and be admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
A case-based course in financial management required for all finance majors which focuses on the estimation and maximization of corporate value. Coverage includes corporate and stock valuation, mergers and corporate control, dividend and share repurchase policies, capital structure, capital acquisition, bankruptcy, reorganization, and liquidation. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: FIN 322 and be admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
This course focuses on the practical aspects of portfolio management by applying traditional investment/financial management topics to the management of an active portfolio provided by Grand Valley State University foundation. Topics include investment policy statements and fiduciary standards, financial statement analysis, economic and industry analyses, and security valuation. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: FIN 321 and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
This course emphasizes understanding cyclical macroeconomic trends in asset allocation and stock selection. Global aspects of investing using vehicles such as American Depository Receipts are included along with U.S. stocks in portfolio creation. This course emphasizes report writing, oral presentations, and working in and leading small teams. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: FIN 428.
Course content varies. Refer to schedule of classes to determine course description and prerequisites. Students may repeat this course under different topics. Offered on demand. Prerequisite: Admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
This course will be used to grant finance credit to students who complete internships in the finance field. Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Junior standing, minimum 2.5 GPA, and admitted to Seidman College of Business or by permit.
Students propose an independent study culminating in a written and oral report. The proposal must include learning outcomes and a readings list. Proposals involving primary research should include a detailed description of objectives and methodology. Students must find an interested faculty member to help them prepare the proposal and to supervise the independent research. Offered each semester. Prerequisites: Admitted to Seidman College of Business and written permission of the instructor required.
Independent research in the student's area of interest, supervised by a member of the Seidman faculty, and culminating in a written and oral report. Written permission of supervising faculty required.
