Finance and Economics Course Descriptions

Transcription

1 Finance and Economics Course Descriptions Finance Course Descriptions FIN 250 Financial Management This course addresses the theory and practice of financial management and the role of the Financial Manager. This introductory course provides the basic concepts of finance, including the time value of money and conceptual framework of risk and return in financial markets. Students learn how to apply these concepts in project and security valuation. Extensions include the topics of Capital structure, the cost of capital, and corporate financing policy. The course covers the techniques of financial planning and analysis and working capital management. Prerequisites: ACCT 210, ECON 101, Econ 102 FIN 310 Intermediate Financial Management Focuses on the theory and practice of capital investments and financing decisions using a combination of lecture and case format. The theory of risk and return and modern portfolio theory and its relevance for capital investment decision making under uncertainty are discussed. Financing decisions are examined through capital structure theory, cost of capital, and dividends policy. Valuation of securities integrates the impact of both investment and financing decisions. Advances in alternate valuation techniques particularly in real options are covered. Other topics covered in the course include instruments of long-term financing; leasing; mergers and acquisitions; corporate restructuring and reorganizations, risk management, corporate governance, agency theory, and international issues. FIN 320 Investments Provides an overview of security markets, choice of investment securities, sources of investment information, and factors influencing security prices. Major topics include selection and management of financial assets; valuation techniques for stocks and bonds; fundamental and technical analysis; theory of efficient financial markets; risk-return analysis; portfolio theory; introduction to financial futures and options.

2 FIN 351 Cooperative Work Prerequisite: Senior Level FIN 410 International Financial Management Analysis of the key financial decisions made by multinational corporations (MNCs). The course provides an international perspective to financial problems faced by multinationals. Topics examined in the course include the international financial environment; international money and capital markets; analysis of foreign exchange risk exposure and risk management; capital budgeting and working capital management for multinationals; foreign direct investment decisions, political risk assessment, international banking and taxation. The course will be centered around discussions, some based on lectures and some on business cases. FIN 415 Management of Financial Institutions Presents both theoretical and practical aspects of decision making in financial institutions including commercial banks, insurance companies, pensions funds and asset management firms. Major topics include interest rate risk management, asset/liability and capital management under current Basel regimes; credit evaluation, lending policies and practices, liquidity management; performance evaluation; investment banking; investment portfolio management; international banking. Cases are used to simulate decisions made by bank managers. FIN 421 Security Analysis and Portfolio Management Application of investment theory in selection and analysis of securities and management of portfolios. The primary focus of the course is on selection and management of security portfolios, applying tools and techniques developed within the modern portfolio theory framework. Other topics include management of fixed income security portfolios, duration analysis, asset pricing model; investment in options and futures and their role in hedging and speculation; portfolio performance evaluation and monitoring; examination of institutional investment policies. Prerequisite: FIN 320

3 FIN 425 Financial Modeling Develops and implements practical financial modeling skills for purposes of financial planning and decision making. The course is intended to enhance student skills in the development of various types of spreadsheet -based financial models. Course features quantitative modeling applications in financial analysis and planning; valuation techniques including derivative security valuation; capital budgeting; leasing; statistical analysis; risk analysis; optimization techniques; investment analysis and portfolio management. Prerequisite: FIN 310, FIN 320, FIN 430 Risk Management, conventional and Islamic Insurance Focuses on principles and practices of insurance and risk management including identification, measurement, and dealing with insurable risk in personal and business situations. Topics include theory of risk; insurance principles and terminology; implementation of risk management strategies through insurance coverage, risk retention, and risk reduction devices; financial aspects of insurance companies and markets; types of insurance coverage; basic features of selected insurance contracts. FIN 435 Real Estate Investment and Finance Overview of real estate markets; analysis of residential and commercial real estate development, mortgage financing and investment decisions. Fundamentals of property valuation, economic factors influencing property values, property management, and appraising principles for residential and income property, leverage, and methods of financing. FIN 440 Islamic Finance Introduction to the theory and practice of Islamic Financial instruments and institutions. Topics include the theory of Islamic banking, structure and management of Islamic banks, financial statements of Islamic banks. The governance in Islamic financial institutions. Theory of Islamic contracts, Islamic bond instruments (sukuk), Islamic insurance instruments (takaful), risk and liquidity management in Islamic financial institutions. Other topics include cost of capital determination, project evaluation techniques, and accounting practices in the Islamic financial system., FIN 320

4 FIN 450 Financial Policy Capstone case course examining practical problems in all areas of finance. The course emphasizes the application of financial theories and analytical techniques to solve business problems in both domestic and international settings. Topics covered in the course include financial analysis and planning; working capital management; capital budgeting and cash flow analysis; lease financing; long term financing and capital structure decisions; corporate restructuring, mergers & acquisitions, investment analysis, international finance. The course will be centered around business case analysis. Prerequisite: FIN 310,FIN 320, FIN 425 FIN 460 Derivatives Introduction to derivative securities and the markets in which they trade. Explores the regulatory framework for financial derivatives and the operations of derivatives exchanges. A detailed look at the characteristics of futures and option contracts and their associated trading strategies to achieve risk return objectives. No arbitrage principles and pricing of derivative securities. Prerequisite: FIN 320 FIN 470 Financial Engineering An introduction to pricing, valuation, and hedging of derivative securities which include equity and index, foreign currency, commodity, fixed-income and interest-rate derivatives. The course will also cover risk measurement models, risk management and control models, and hedging techniques using derivatives. Prerequisite: FIN 320 FIN 480 Special Topics in Finance Focuses on advanced, contemporary, and specialized areas in Finance not covered extensively in other courses. Prerequisite: FIN 310

5 Economics Course Descriptions ECON 101 Principles of Economics I (Microeconomics) This introductory course teaches the fundamentals of microeconomics. It introduces the roles of the market price system in managing the use of society s resources and in rationing available supplies. The efficiency of resource management is examined in the light of a variety of more or less competitive market environments. Topics include consumer behavior, consumer and market demand, concepts of elasticity, cost, production and factor pricing in perfect and imperfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, regulation and economic policy, economic efficiency and productivity, social costs and benefits, and public goods and externalities. ECON 102 Principles of Economics II (Macroeconomics) This course discusses the basic principles of macroeconomics from a market economics perspective with a focus on current macroeconomic policy issues and data. We start with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of macroeconomics, and then we discuss the main macroeconomic issues such as national income accounts, business cycles, unemployment and inflation, money and banking, fiscal and monetary policies, government debt and policies, economic growth and development, and international trade. ECON 206 Economy of Saudi Arabia Provides a comprehensive analysis of economic structures, policies and performance of the Saudi Arabian economy, in its evolutionary phases and current challenges. Topics covered include national income accounting; aggregate demand and its component parts. The labor market and the issue of Saudization are analyzed as well as key sectors of the economy including crude oil, agriculture, manufacturing, and services, with particular reference to the evolving capital and financial markets. Other topics include international trade, public finance, fiscal and monetary policies, the role of economic planning in Saudi development, the SME sector and privatization. The impact of globalization, WTO accession, FDI and GCC regional economic integration are also covered.

6 ECON 301 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory Microeconomics is the study of the efficiency of choices made by individuals, including consumers, workers, firms owners, and social planners, who have limited resources, and the relationship between their individual interests. Topics covered include theory of consumer behavior; demand and supply analysis; theory of cost and production; pricing theory in factor markets; different market structures such as perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly; general equilibrium analysis; elements of game theory; microeconomic policy; social costs and benefits, and regulation. Prerequisite: ECON 101, ECON 102, ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory Macroeconomics is the study of aggregate economic performance, including both long run growth and short-run fluctuations. It examines various measures of national output in closed and open economies. Topics include aggregate demand and aggregate supply analysis; Keynesian general equilibrium analysis; consumption function, investment function, government expenditure, aggregate production function; economic stabilization, monetary and fiscal policy analysis; alternative macro economic paradigms Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, Neo- Classical, Neo-Keynesian, and Real Business Cycle; international trade, exchange rate, and balance of payments analysis; income and employment determination, unemployment and inflation, introduction to international financial and development organizations. Prerequisite: ECON 101, ECON 102 ECON 305 Money and Banking The history of money and its roles is explained and the role of money in macroeconomic policies. Examines monetary policy and the role of money in the determination of output, prices, and interest rates. Topics include theories of supply of and demand for money; overview of the banking system; role of the central bank in the financial system and as executor of monetary policy; monetary policy tools and practices; analysis of inflation and unemployment; international monetary system. Throughout, special emphasis and explanations of the Saudi Arabian financial and monetary system will be discussed as comparative analysis. ECON 330 Labor Economics An introductory course which presents basic concepts, theories, and analytical techniques in labor economics. Topics covered in this course include an overview of the labor market in general and the

7 Saudi labor market in particular; labor demand and its elasticities; Saudi supply of labor, foreign supply of labor in the Saudi labor market; compensating wage differentials; investment in human capital (education & training); worker mobility migration & labor turnover; wage determination; inequality in earnings; types of unemployment; inflation; and policy implications. ECON 401 Managerial Economics Application of economic theory and decision science methods to solve managerial problems. Topics include demand analysis; demand estimation; cost and production analysis; optimization methods, linear programming applied to managerial decision making problems; market structures and managerial decisions, pricing practices, business investment decisions; present value and cost-benefit methods; risk and uncertainty; capital budgeting process, and the role of government in the market economy. Prerequisites: ECON 101,ECON 102 ECON 410 International Economics The major focus of this course is to help enhance students' understanding of international economic issues and policies based on international trade and monetary theories. Special references will be made to the Saudi Arabian economy. The course covers the classical theories of international trade; Heckscher-Ohlin and modern theories; tests of trade models; tariffs and protection; economic integration; current international economic issues; introduction to international finance and balance of payments; theories of balance of payments and exchange rates; international monetary systems; foreign exchange market; international parity conditions; managing foreign exchange risk; optimum currency areas. ECON 415 Public Finance Designed to develop theoretical understanding useful in the analysis of taxation and government expenditure policies. Topics include public budgeting; different types of market imperfections and failures; role of the public sector; cost-benefit analysis; principles of public expenditure analysis and evaluation; social security and income transfer programs.

8 ECON 420 Islamic Economics A broad understanding of the economic principles in Islam has become essential in the modern world. The course will be focused on the importance of Islamic Economics, its ideological and philosophical foundations, the approach to economic problems and solutions from the Islamic perspectives as compared to other schools of thought. Property and distribution, taxation in terms of equity and efficiency, general principles about interest, money and its nature, functions and the verdict in Islam, modern money and financial system from an Islamic viewpoint, a proposal for reform and monetary policy. Prerequisites: ECON 305 ECON 425 Economic Development Economic development theory as applied to the unique problems facing developing economies of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Understanding the different types of growth and developmental theories, compare and contrast between different economies, identify the role of population growth, education, health care, and other parameters in the development process. The course also introduces various mathematical and graphical tools used in the measurement and analysis of development. Advanced topics of political economy, international trade, and fiscal policies for development are also addressed. Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102 ECON 450 Introduction to Energy Economics This course deals with (i) an analysis of energy resources (such as petroleum, coal, gas, and electricity, renewable resources) (ii) an analysis of demand for and supply of energy sources ( oil in particular, under the assumption of the theory of cartels, such as, a dominant firm and OPEC ) (iii) an analysis of short- and long-run costs of investments in resources under uncertainty (iv) energy, environment and climate change issues (v) energy futures and options markets for managing risks (vi) energy and its derivatives (vii) economics of energy security. The course includes a case study on the energy sector of the Saudi Economy. Prerequisite: ECON 101, ECON 102, ECON 206