Finance Concentration (BSc.)Never has there been a more appropriate time to study finance. Alfaisal University, College of Business offers a concentration in Finance which aims to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the fundamental principles of finance. It introduces students to evaluation models that are used by finance practitioners to evaluate assets and investments. Students will start with the basic principles of time value of money. This will lead to valuing bonds and shares and understanding the role they play both in the firm and in the market place.Students will learn how a financial manager evaluates a project taking into consideration the cost of funding the project and the risk associated with the project. Students will also develop an understanding of the nature of the firm, its objectives and the ethical implications of these objectives. The concentration covers six core units: Principles of Finance, Managerial Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Investments, and Islamic Banking and Finance.
Course Descriptions
FIN 201: Principles of Finance
FIN 201 is a core second year course for all students in the College of Business. The course introduces students to the role of financial markets and institutions in facilitating the flow of funds between the deficit and surplus sectors in an economy. Basic principles of the allocation of financial resources and time value of money are explained, together with risk and return fundamentals and the valuation techniques of debt and equity securities.
Prerequisite: ECO 102: Macroeconomics
FIN 308: Managerial Finance
This is a third year course for all students concentrating in Finance. The unit is concerned with the duties of the financial manager in the business firm. These duties involve the financial tasks of planning, extending credit to customers, evaluating large expenditures, and raising money to fund the firm's expenditures.
Prerequisite: FIN 201 Principles of Finance
FIN 310: Financial Modelling
This is a third year core unit for the Finance concentration students. This course uses spreadsheets for financial analysis, risk analysis, valuations, investment management, credit analysis, scenario analysis, budgeting, sales forecast, financial projections, project evaluation, etc. The use of Excel as a tool for modeling, basics skills in recording, writing and using Macros in Excel is also covered. Prior basic accounting knowledge of debits/credits, account classifications, and the accounting cycle for businesses in service and merchandising, industries is required.
Prerequisite: FIN308 Managerial Finance
FIN 322: Corporate Finance
Corporate finance involves the financial management and value of business entities. In this unit we investigate how managers make investment, financing, and dividend decisions. Investment decisions are based on discounted cash flow techniques and their extensions. These extensions enable us to study a wide range of problems including: new investments, investments with unequal terms, optimal replacement, and project abandonment.
Prerequisite: FIN308 Managerial Finance
FIN 423: Contemporary Financial Issues
This course examines current financial issues that are shaping the global financial environment. This course discusses and debates the relevance of traditional financial models in contemporary financial events. The unit further includes the analysis of business cycles from a finance perspective i.e. the stock markets and their systemic impact.
Prerequisite: FIN 201 Principles of Finance
FIN410: Investments
This is a final year support class for students majoring in Finance. The course examines the theory and practice of portfolio management and security analysis through the implementation of advanced regression and Excel tools for empirical research and quantitative problem solving. Students are required to develop an automated trading model in MS Excel as well as actively manage a diversified portfolio of financial assets using a range of local and international trading platforms.
Prerequisite: FIN201 Principles of Finance
FIN 432 : Financial Markets and Institutions
This course is a final year core class for students concentrating in Finance. The course explores the structure and activities of various financial institutions in the global financial system. The course examines the growing importance of Central Banking actions and policies on achieving macroeconomic objectives. The changing regulatory environment facing commercial banks since the global financial crisis of 2008 as well as the Saudi Mortgage Law are also covered in detail.
Prerequisite: FIN201 Principles of Finance
FIN 461: International Finance
This course examines international financial markets, and the opportunities they present for achieving risk management and asset allocation objectives. The principle focus will be on assets traded in liquid markets: currencies, equities, bonds, swaps, and other derivatives. Analytical tools for risk and return measurement, portfolio management, hedging, and implementing dynamic investment strategies in an international context will be examined.
Prerequisite: FIN308 Managerial Finance
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