Course Descriptions

ACCT451-0 - 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.

ECON401-0 - Mathematical Methods of Economic Theory
Linear algebra and multivariate calculus, emphasizing results used in graduate-level economic theory courses.

EC0N415-1, 2, 3 - Advanced Microeconomics Parts 1, 2, 3
Current topics in micro-economic theory; emphasis on mathematical formulations and techniques. Modern theory of consumer behavior and of the firm; 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.

ECON416-1, 2, 3 - Advanced Macroeconomics Parts 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 topics in monetary economics including interrelationships among money supply, interest rates, capital markets, and level of prices and outputs. Development of monetary institutions; controversies in the development of central banking and monetary policy. Issues of international monetary organization and policy.

ECON480-0  - Introduction to Research Methods
This course covers research project planning, selection of research methods and strategy; and the utilization of instrumentation and measurement.

ECON481-1, 2 - Econometrics Parts 1, 2
Advanced topics in statistical inference and estimation in economics; asymptotic theory, instrumental variables, nonlinear regression, time and duration models, censored and limited dependent variable. Theory and applications of linear regression and extensions. Introduction to simultaneous equation estimation, 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.

FINC451-0 - 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.

FINC461-0 - Investment Banking
Investment banking business as an intermediary in the capital and merger markets and how both its issuing clients and investing customers focus on several services it provides, how client relationships are established and maintained, and how problems are solved.

FINC463-0 - Security Analysis
Techniques of financial statement analysis 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).

FINC464-0 - Fixed Income Securities
How to characterize interest rates and use models to value interest rate dependent financial securities. Tools for evaluating, hedging, and speculating on risk are emphasized.

FINC461-0 - 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.

FINC460-0 - Economics and Financial Issues in Transportation and Logistics
Special problems in financial management for the transportation sector. Models of capital formation and financing, capital maintenance and utilization policies, specialized debt instruments, bankruptcy and restructuring, and joint public-private ventures.

FINC467-0 - Derivative Markets 11
This course studies the foundations of derivatives pricing and modern risk management practice. Topics include delta-hedging, 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: FINC465 or permission of instructor

FINC470-0 - 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.

FINC472-0 - 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.

FINC485-0 - 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. If time permits, 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.

FINC486-0 - 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 FINC485.

FINC487-0 - 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.

FINC488-0 - Econometrics of Financial Markets
Participants will develop a research proposal, defend the proposal to implement the proposal on a pilot-basis, analyze the resulting data, and draw appropriate conclusions. This seminar will involve extensive practical field application.

FINC490 - 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.

FINC499 - 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 the needs and interests of students.

FINC520-0 - 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.

FINC520-1, 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.

FINC590 – Dissertation Write-up
Students finalizing dissertations in finance may register under this heading.

MKTG415-1 - 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 development of a critical perspective to research in marketing.

MKTG416-1 - Topics in Marketing Strategy
This seminar will trace the development of research around marketing strategy and help participants develop a critical and analytical approach of the marketing strategy research. Participants will be invited to identify gaps in the literature; analyze such opportunities and structure research around them.

MKTG416-2 - 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.

MKTG452-0 - Culture, Consumption and Marketing
Complex systems of communication in marketing. Role of culture and its effects on product discrimination. Social class, personality, symbolism, and persuasion from the point of view of the marketing manager.

MKTG454-0 - Advertising Strategy
Advertising objectives and budget, media strategy, client-agency relationships, and measuring advertising effectiveness.

MKTG456-0 - 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.

MKTG459-0 - Services Marketing and Management
Classic marketing topics, such as pricing distribution, with an eye toward the distinct needs of services (for example, managing demand fluctuations and franchising). New issues such as empowerment of employees in the customer service arena and relationship management in professional and business services.

MKTG462-0 - Sales Promotion and Retailer Behavior
Issues of pricing, profitability, consumer response, and the nature of specific kinds of promotions. Reactions of retailers are studied, as are key customers of consumer products companies and the role of database marketing.

MKTG463-0 - Sales Force Management
Strategic and tactical aspects or sales force management, appropriate for those interested in sales management or jobs with companies whose revenues and profits depend on a productive sales force.

MKTG465-0 - 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 marketing strategy, and introduction of the product or service.

MKTG467-0 - International Marketing
Examination of international marketing policies, strategies, and objectives when entering and operating in foreign markets. Foreign market selection, product adaptation, and finding distribution channels are also discussed.

MKTG490 - 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.

MKTG590 - Dissertation Write-up
Students finalizing dissertations in marketing may register under this heading.