Catalog 73 - National University

Course DescriptionsAn in-depth look at several of the advanced topicssurveyed in FIN 631, this course includes bond portfoliomanagement strategies, bond betas and theirportfolio impact, option valuation models and hedging,practical use of portfolio insurance and hedging,problems with model-dependent hedging, and theuse of futures contracts and their objectives. It coversproblems faced by corporate and professionalinvestment managers in their effort to hedge portfoliorisks and improve portfolio returns.FIN 650: Global Financing for TradeAn examination of the basic financial problems facingan internationally oriented company, this courseincludes the structure and operations of theinternational financial system, foreign exchangerates, foreign exchange risks and their management,international sources of funds, international cashmanagement, and basic instruments of internationalfinancial transactions (e.g., letters of credit, foreigncurrency contracts, foreign currency accounts, andbanking facilities). Note: Students specializing infinancial management may not take this course.FIN 651: Commercial Bank ManagementThis course is a detailed analysis of the functionalareas of banking including the management ofdeposits, cash, loans, and other asset accounts.Current problem areas in banking such as liquidity,capital adequacy, and problem loans are explored, aswell as bank investment accounts and their relationshipto profitability and liquidity.FIN 652: Real Estate Finance(Prerequisite: FIN609A)This course presents Real Estate Finance andInvestment issues from a portfolio perspective. Itprovides a complete analysis of real estate partnerships,secondary mortgage markets, adjustable ratemortgages. It also includes the applied topics of corporatereal estate, including lease versus own analysis,sale and leaseback decisions, and the role of realestate in corporate restructuring.FIN 653: Financial Engineering and DerivativesThis course provides an introduction to futures andoptions markets and outlines the different ways inwhich they can be used. It covers futures and forwardcontracts, pricing of forward and futures,hedging techniques, swaps, options markets, tradingstrategies, option pricing models, volatility smiles,and a detailed treatment of hedge parameters suchas delta, gamma, and vega. Also discussed is portfolioinsurance, value-at-risk measure, multi-step binomialtrees to value American options, interest rateoptions, and other exotic options.FIN 654: Cases in Financial StudiesReflecting the fact the Finance has gone through dramaticchanges in the last 20 years, this case studycourse will expose students to the revolutionarytransformation in markets and organization we haveseen the financial industry milieu.FIN 655: Finance Research Project (CapstoneCourse)(Prerequisites: completion of FIN 609A and at least 36quarter units of core courses)Students, under the guidance of their assigned facultyadvisor, clarify topics, identify sources fromwhich data will be gathered, and complete and presenttheir research in written form. Grading is H, S,or U only. Course is eligible for an In Progress (IP)grade.FIN 670: Finance and Accounting for ExecutivesThis course covers major topics in finance andaccounting, with emphasis on current theory andconcepts rather than on procedure. Topics includefinancial statement interpretation and analysis, internalcontrol structure, operating and capital budgeting,capital structure theory, and issues in financeand accounting for U.S. companies with foreignoperations.FIN 671: Credit Management(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course is an analysis of credit policy leading tothe development of strategic and higher level technicalskills appropriate for credit managers. Thecourse will also analyze specific topics like the roleof credit in the economy, credit management functions,retail credit, types of consumer credit, regulationof consumer credit, the consumer credit investigation,decision making in credit operation, responsibilitiesof the credit manager, international tradecredit and collection policies and practices.FIN 673: Valuation: Measuring and Managing theValue of a Corporation(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)Valuation is designed to explain the theories of valuinga corporation. Topics include: foundations ofvalue, core valuation techniques, how to createvalue, estimating continuing value, valuing multinationalcompanies, and cross-border and emergingmarkets valuation.FIN 674: Managing Financial Institutions andBanking(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course presents an overview of FinancialSystem, Financial Markets, and Commercial Bankingin the 1990s to the 21st century in the US and globalsetting. It covers asset and liability managementproblems for depository institutions including managementissues, and performance analysis of nondepositoryentities. In addition, emphasis is placedon interest rates and interest rate risk management.International Bond Markets and new IssueProcedures in the Bond Market, digital money, andalternative electronic payment systems will also bediscussed.FIN 675: The World Economy, Trade, and Finance(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course emphasizes microeconomic conceptsrelated to managerial decision-making. Students willlearn to analyze the global business environment ofindustrialized and developing countries, and tothink strategically, using micro and macroeconomicsprinciples. Markets, consumers, producers, trade,distribution, welfare, tariffs, non-tariffs barriers, andmonetary and macroeconomics issues of developmentand transitions will be discussed.FIN 676: International Banking(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course examines both the theory and the practiceof international banking. It covers the creation ofcredit and credit rationing; internationalization ofbanking, the risks and benefits from financial innovation,central banking, bank regulation, depositprotection, capital adequacy and free banking, andselective institutional aspects of international banking.It also reviews the principle of Islamic Banking.FIN 677: Financial Derivatives(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course presents and analyzes derivatives, suchas forwards, futures, swaps, and options. It comparesmajor types of derivatives, shows how theyare used to achieve various hedging and speculatingobjectives, introduces a framework for pricing derivatives,and studies several applications of derivative-pricingtechniques outside derivative markets.Topics also include traditional and exotic derivatives,market risk, credit issuer risk, stressed correlationmaterials, fat tails, and case studies in corporatefinance.FIN 690: Guided Study(Prerequisite: FIN 609A)This course is individual study under direction ofthe instructor. It requires prior approval of appropriateacademic department.FSC – Forensic SciencesFSC 620: Advanced CriminalisticsThis class surveys physical evidence with an introductionto the operation of a forensic science laboratoryand an overview of many of the analytical toolsused in the criminalistics laboratory. Principles ofchain of custody; and role of forensic scientist asexpert witness.FSC 621: Digital EvidenceThis course will provide broad perspective on theory,technique and practice of digital evidence investigation.Different types of digital related crime,including fraud, stalking, identity theft, and internetrelated crimes. Chain of custody and current legalissues on digital evidence.FSC 622: Law and Criminal ProcedureThis course is an examination of the foundation forunderstanding Constitutional laws. The course willcover various sections of the Constitution and howlaw enforcement officials may obtain evidence, andconduct a search and seizure.FSC 623: Fingerprint AnalysisIntroduction to basic principles and techniques offingerprints as applied to crime scenes, forensic evidence,identification, and court presentation.Methods of recognition, proper collection of knownand latent fingerprints, processing, classification andcomparison. Courtroom presentations will be discussed.FSC 630: Forensic Pathology IForensic terminology, anatomy, and physiology ofthe human body with emphasis on the understandingof the underlying pathology of sudden, unexpecteddeaths encountered in forensics, SuddenInfant Death Syndrome (SIDS), methods personalidentification and different types of injuries withtheir characteristic features and mechanisms ofdeath.FSC 631: Major Case InvestigationA study of investigative techniques that are utilizedin felony crimes of violence and crimes against property,including homicide, rape, arson, assault andbattery, robbery, burglary, and grand theft. Examinesthe completion of such cases from the initial crimescene through investigation and adjudication.FSC 632: Trace EvidenceThe principles and methods of the macroscopicexaminations and the microscopic, chemical, andinstrumental analysis of trace and patterned evidence.Hair, fibers, glass, soil, paint, GSR, arson,explosives, fingerprint, and other patterned evidencewill be covered in this class. The principles of chainof custody will be studied.FSC 633: Advanced Forensic ToxicologyA comprehensive study of general principles andfundamentals of forensic toxicology, poisons, action,toxicity, and samples required for toxicologicalanalysis with methods of collection, preservationand analysis. Details of the methods employed foranalysis, such as color test, microdiffusion,Chromatography, mass spectrometry, GC-MS,radioimmunoassay (RIA).CourseDescriptions383