Course Descriptions

ACCT-451-0   Financial Reporting and Analysis
This course provides a study of current practices in corporate financial reporting and fundamental issues relating to asset valuation and income determination. The emphasis is on financial statement analysis and interpretation of existing financial disclosures. The course stresses critical analysis of financial reporting numbers as a basis for improved risk assessment and cash flow forecasting. Cases are used extensively to enhance relevance.

ECON-401-0   Mathematical Methods of Economic Theory
Linear algebra and multivariate calculus, emphasizing results used in graduate-level economic theory courses.

ECON-415-1, 2, 3   Advanced Microeconomics Part 1, 2, 3
Current topics in microeconomic theory, emphasizing mathematical formulations and techniques. Modern theory of consumer behavior and of the firm, covering determination of prices of consumer goods, productive services, and capital goods. Asymmetric information in markets and organizations: specialized topics include search, signaling, bidding, rational expectations, moral hazard, principal-agent problems, and contract-mechanism design.

ECON-416-1, 2, 3   Advanced Macroeconomics Part 1, 2, 3
Recent contributions to macroeconomics: determinants of aggregate demand and supply, models of economic growth; neoclassical, putty-clay, multi-sector, and planning models. Also includes topics in monetary economics including interrelationships among money supply, interest rates, capital markets, and level of prices and outputs. Development of monetary institutions, covering controversies in the development of central banking and monetary policy
and issues of international monetary organization and policy.

ECON-480-0   Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
This course covers research project planning; selection of research design, method and strategy, and the utilization of instrumentation and measurement.

ECON-481-1, 2   Econometrics Part 1, 2
Advanced topics in statistical inference and estimation in economics, including asymptotic theory, instrumental variables, nonlinear regression, time and duration models, censored and
limited dependent variable. Theory and applications of linear regression and extensions, including introduction to simultaneous equation estimation and illustrative economics problems.
(Required sequence). Topics include univariate ARIMA modeling, vector auto-regressions, auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity, generalized method of moments, and non-stationary time series. Methods used to analyze large cross-section and panel data sets with emphasis on
applications. Analysis of covariance, fixed effects and random effects models, simultaneous equations and qualitative variables, and duration models.

FINC-451-0   Money Markets and the Fed
An overview of major players, institutions, and instruments of the money market, theories and techniques useful in the money market and in the fixed income securities market, including pricing money market securities, analyzing yield curves and forward rates, analyzing various investment and borrowing strategies, modeling interest rates and spreads, pricing repurchase agreements and futures contracts, undertaking simple arbitrage and speculation, and understanding and interpreting the behavior of the Federal Reserve.

FINC-461-0   Investment Banking
Investment banking business as an intermediary in the capital and merger markets and how it serves both its issuing clients and investing customers focuses on several services it provides,
how client relationships are established and maintained, and how problems are solved.

FINC-463-0   Security Analysis
Techniques of financial statement analysis are studied, with a focus on the use of financial information to value securities and make investment decisions. Topics include both
firm-level analysis (review of basis discounted cash-flow valuation concepts, forecasting, comparables analysis) and macro-analysis (evidence of inefficiencies, ways to detect
inefficiencies and develop profitable trading rules, and predicting events such as takeovers and bankruptcies).

FINC-464-0   Fixed Income Securities
How to characterize interest rates and use models to value interest rate dependent financial securities, including tools for evaluating, hedging, and speculating on risk are emphasized.

FINC-465-0   Derivative Markets I
This course covers the use and pricing of forwards and futures, swaps and options. Specific topics include strategies for speculation and risk management, no-arbitrage pricing for forward contracts, the binomial and Black-Scholes option pricing models and applications of pricing
models in other contexts.

FINC-466-0   Economics and Financial Issues in Transportation and Logistics
Special problems in financial management for the transportation sector, with models of capital formation and financing, capital maintenance and utilization policies, specialized debt
instruments, bankruptcy and restructuring, and joint public-private ventures.

FINC-467-0   Derivative Markets II
This course studies the foundations of derivatives pricing and modern risk management
practice. Topics include deltahedging, the lognormal distribution, Monte Carlo valuation, the Black-Scholes equation, exotic options, fixed income derivatives and risk assessment.
Extensive use is made of spreadsheet-based valuation models. This course presumes that students already understand binomial pricing and the Black-Scholes formula. Prerequisite:
FINC-465 or permission of instructor.

FINC-470-0   International Finance
Topics include management of foreign exchange risk, spot and forward exchange rates, returns to foreign investment in external currency and in bond and stock markets, international capital flow, and exchange rate fluctuations.

FINC-472-0   International Financial Decisions
A case approach to analyzing a variety of decisions in the international financial environment: Topics include multinational capital budgeting, including determination of the cost of capital and
project evaluation in an international environment; performance evaluation and control of a foreign subsidiary; the international debt crisis; debt-equity swaps, capital flight, and debt-forgiveness; international portfolio management; new instruments of international finance; political risk management; and managing in a hyperinflationary country.

FINC-485-0   Introduction to Financial Theory
This course is an introduction to asset pricing theory and portfolio choice. The first part of the course introduces arbitrage theory, including state prices, equivalent martingale measures, beta pricing and the associated mean-variance analysis. The second part deals with optimal consumption/portfolio choice of agents and competitive equilibrium in the context of general preferences. The third part considers more detailed preference structures, including the theories of fund separation and Gorman aggregation, and expected utility theory. Time permitting, the course concludes with an introduction to rational expectations models with asymmetric information. Although the course is self-contained, it is best appreciated by students with some knowledge of microeconomics. Proficiency in elementary linear algebra
and probability theory is required, as is some knowledge of basic nonlinear optimization theory.

FINC-486-0   Corporate Finance
This advanced seminar focuses primarily on the theory of corporate finance. Topics include the Modigliani-Miller invariance theorems; the role of taxes, incentives, asymmetric information and product market competition in the choice of capital structure; optimal security design; and
financial intermediation. Students should be familiar with material from FINC-485.

FINC-487-0   Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory
This course covers the basic arbitrage and equilibrium models of asset pricing in dynamic settings. Topics include the implications of no arbitrage for derivative security pricing and term-structure models, optimal portfolio selection, equilibrium models of asset pricing and the representative agent. The necessary mathematical tools are introduced, including the Ito
calculus and stochastic control.

FINC-488-0   Econometrics of Financial Market
This course introduces students to the commonly used econometric methods used in empirical finance. Topics include the predictability of asset returns and testing the Capital Asset Pricing Model, intertemporal equilibrium models, present value relationships, derivative pricing and term structure models.

FINC-490   Research Study in Finance
Participants will develop a research proposal, defend the proposal to their seminar
group, implement the proposal on a pilot-basis, analyze the resulting data, and draw appropriate conclusions. This seminar will involve extensive practical field application.

FINC-499   Independent Study in Finance
Working closely with a faculty supervisor, each participant will develop a specific research topic, conduct an in-depth review of the literature, critically evaluate research gaps and identify specific research opportunities. The content of this seminar will be tailored to student interest needs.

FINC-520-0   General Seminar for Ph.D. Candidates
Current research in topics such as international finance, empirical finance, capital structure and financial markets are analyzed. The seminar usually requires in-class presentations by students,
as well as individual research projects.

FINC-520-1, 2   Seminar in Finance
Current research in topics such as international finance, empirical finance, capital structure, and financial markets is analyzed. The seminar usually requires in-class presentations by students,
as well as individual research projects.

FINC-590   Write-up Dissertation
Students finalizing dissertations in finance may register under this heading.

MKTG-415-1   Classics in Marketing Literature
In this seminar participants will review the classic articles that have driven the development of academic research in marketing. This seminar will provide participants with an understanding of
the key issues in research in marketing, a strong grounding in the literature, and develop
a critical perspective to research in marketing.

MKTG-416-1   Topics in Marketing Strategy
This seminar will trace the development of research around marketing strategy and help participants develop a critical and analytical approach to marketing strategy research. Participants will be invited to identify gaps in the literature; analyze such opportunities and structure research around them.

MKTG-416-2   Advanced Marketing Topics
The specific topics covered in this seminar will be developed in conjunction with the research interests of seminar participants. This seminar will analyze research at the leading edge of the
marketing field. Presentations and discussions are designed to stimulate thinking on important areas of research and the development of new theoretical viewpoints.

MKTG-452-0   Culture, Consumption and Marketing
Complex systems of communication in marketing, including the role of culture and its effects on product discrimination and social class, personality, symbolism, and persuasion from the point
of view of the marketing manager.

MKTG-454-0   Advertising Strategy
Advertising objectives and budget, media strategy, client-agency relationships, and measuring advertising effectiveness.

MKTG-456-0   International Marketing Channels
Analysis of marketing channels from economic, social, and political viewpoints. Topics include formation of channel systems and methods of channel coordination, power and conflict
among channel members, organization patterns in channel systems, and management of specific channel system forms. Outside speakers provide insight on penetrating foreign
markets, legal constraints facing companies seeking overseas distribution, and managing ongoing channel relationships in a transnational context.

MKTG-459-0   Services Marketing and Management
Covers classics marketing topics, such as pricing distribution, with an eye toward distinct needs of services (for example, managing demand fluctuations and franchising). New issues also arise, such as empowerment of employees in the customer service arena and relationship management in professional and business services.

MKTG-462-0   Sales Promotion and Retailer Behavior
Issues of pricing, profitability, consumer response, and the nature of specific kinds of promotions, including reactions of retailers, key customers of consumer product companies
and the role of database marketing.

MKTG-463-0   Sales Force Management
Strategic and tactical aspects of sales force management. Appropriate for those interested in sales management or jobs with companies whose revenues and profits depend on a productive sales force.

MKTG-465-0   Introduction of New Products and Services
Identification of market opportunities, design of a new product or service and its corresponding marketing mix, testing the product and forming a marketing strategy, and introduction of the product or service.

MKTG-467-0   International Marketing
Examines international marketing policies, strategies, and objectives when entering and operating in foreign markets, and foreign market selection, product adaptation, and distribution channels are also discussed.

MKTG-468-0   Technology Marketing
Focuses on strategic marketing decisions in technology firms: students develop spreadsheet-based forecasting models, and play a strategy simulation called DigiStrat-Photo Wars developed for the course.

MKTG-481-1   Applied Qualitative Methods
This seminar will provide students with the opportunity to apply the techniques covered in Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (ECON-480-0) in developing and executing a qualitative marketing research field project.

MKTG-490   Research Study in Marketing
Participants will develop a research proposal, defend the proposal to their seminar group, implement the proposal on a pilot-basis, analyze the resulting data, and draw appropriate conclusions. This seminar will involve extensive practical field application.

MKTG-499   Independent Study in Marketing
Working closely with a faculty supervisor, each participant will develop a specific research topic, conduct an in-depth review of the literature, critically evaluate research gaps and identify specific research opportunities. The content of this seminar will be tailored to student interest needs.

MKTG-520-0   General Seminar for Ph.D. Candidates
Current research in marketing topics will be analyzed. The seminar usually requires in-class presentations by students, as well as individual research projects.

MKTG-520-1   Pro-Seminar Overview of Marketing Research
This seminar provides an overview of the Marketing Research field, its problems, opportunities, and significant areas for intellectual research and development. Participants will be exposed to,
and critically analyze, cutting edge developments in the Market Research.

MKTG-520-2   Data Analysis: Experimentsand the Analysis of Variance
This seminar develops students’ understanding of experimental design and analysis of variance. In addition to reviewing the theoretical bases of experimental design, students will apply experimental design in a marketing context.

MKTG-520-3   Consumer Information Processing and Judgment
This seminar confronts students with significant problems, issues and theories at the leading edge of the marketing field. Presentations and discussions are designed to stimulate thinking on
important areas of research and the development of new theoretical viewpoints.

MKTG-520-4   Post-Modern Consumer Research
This seminar confronts students with significant problems, issues and theories at the leading edge of the marketing field. Presentations and discussions are designed to stimulate thinking on important areas of research and the development of new theoretical viewpoints.

MKTG-520-5   Quantitative Models in Marketing 1
This seminar reviews the theory and application of quantitative modeling techniques in marketing and develops participants’ understanding of the development and testing of such models.

MKTG-520-6   Applied Multivariate Statistics
This seminar confronts students with significant problems, issues and theories at the leading edge of the marketing field. Presentations and discussions are designed to stimulate
thinking on important areas of research and the development of new theoretical viewpoints.

MKTG-590-0   Write-up Dissertation
Students finalizing dissertations in marketing may register under this heading.