& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Master Degree Programs 115
MBA641
Forensic Accounting (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course is focused on detection, analysis and documentation of
fraud as found in accounting systems and information. Asset
misappropriation, corruption, and fraud in financial statements through
the use of statistics are covered. Topics include skimming, cash larceny,
tampering, billing schemes, bribery, conflicts of interest, and fraud in
financial statements.
MBA642
International Finance (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course builds on the basic concepts and finance theory studied in
Managerial Finance. It explores international finance theory, exchange
rate behavior, and political risk with particular application to the financial
management of a multinational firm. Topics include: balance of payments
and national goals, analysis of direct foreign investments, the hedging of
exchange rate risk, the international cost of capital, multinational capital
budgeting, and transfer payments.
MBA643
Corporate Finance* (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course examines the principles of corporate finance and the tools
and practices used in financial decision-making. It examines the treasury
function of an organization and the decisions made by the treasurer.
Topics include long term financing, capital budgeting decisions, beta,
debt-equity options, dividend policy, project analysis, and IPOs.
MBA644
Financial Markets and Instruments (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course explains the operation, mechanics and structure of the
financial system that comprises the monetary infrastructure supporting
business.The scope of the course includes all financial institutions,
markets, and instruments in the public, private and global arena. Topics
include fundamentals of financial markets, the role of money in price
changes, the determination and structure of interest rates, the
fundamentals of financial instruments, U.S.monetary policy formulation
and economic impact, and the structure, function, and operation of
financial institutions.
MBA645
Financial Engineering: Risk and Derivatives (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course focuses on corporate financial risk management. The tools
and techniques used by a firm to engineer the level of risk acceptable to
the company are covered. Topics include identification, measurement,
and management of corporate financial risk, including dynamic hedging,
derivatives, portfolio replication, ethics in finance, and the management
of exchange and interest rate risk, credit risk, and operation risk.
MBA646
Due Diligence and Valuation (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course focuses on the analysis of business risk associated with
acquisition and the strategic implications of acquisition. The legal,
financial, ethical, operating, and managerial aspects of acquisition
activity are covered. Topics include valuation methodologies, method of
payment considerations, defensive strategies, roll-ups and consolidation
strategies, risk management strategies, pricing tactics and negotiation,
regulatory issues, and corporate governance regimes.
MBA647
Portfolio Management (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course focuses on asset allocation and overall management of risk
and return of a portfolio. Portfolio theory is applied within a global context
in this course. Assets cover physical and liquid assets. Topics include
portfolio construction, and protection, asset allocation, efficient
diversification, portfolio theory and construction, investment policy, and
performance evaluation.
MBA648
Security Analysis (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course focuses on valuation of a firm’s securities for the purposes of
investing. The tools and techniques used to evaluate equity prices are
covered. Topics include valuation methods including discounted cash
flow, accounting valuation, and comparative valuation, analyst reports on
industry and competitive strategy analysis, and ethical issues in security
analysis.
MBA649
Entrepreneur Finance (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600
This course focuses on how private equity funds are raised and
structured, how investments are sourced, selected and negotiated, and
the role of the value-added investor . The course provides the
opportunity to apply the tools of finance to the problem of venture capital
financing for relatively risky new business ventures. Topics include
sources of venture capital funds, capital optimization, securitization,
ownership structures, legal aspects of venture capital, pricing a private
enterprise, and exit strategies.
MBA650
Project Finance (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA 600
This course focuses on non-recourse and limited recourse financing
structures where debt, equity, and credit enhancements are combined for
the construction and operation of or refinancing of a particular capital
intensive asset. The financial techniques that bring together development,
construction, operation, finance, and investment to develop a global project
in a particular country are covered. Topics include project finance
structures, technical/political/economic feasibility, credit enhancement,
debt/equity/collateral issues, ownership structures, documentation, and
dispute resolution.
MBA651
Strategic Financial Management (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MBA600, and 17 credits in the area of Specialization
including the required courses.
This course is the track capstone for Specialization Track students in
Finance. It is focused on global financial strategic planning. Students
integrate knowledge from previous courses to analyze and evaluate
financial contingency plans used by various firms to protect against or
neutralize risk. Topics include competitive advantage through finance,
longevity, measurement and strategic planning.