The Undergraduate Finance Major

Information on the Finance Major and Finance Courses

1. FINC 314 INVESTMENTS is the new name for FINC 407 SECURITIES ANALYSIS. This is only a new name; the course is the same and is still required for Finance Majors. If you are a junior and have completed FINC 311, you can register for FINC 314. You do not not need to wait for senior status.

2. We'd like our Seniors to be able to take advantage of a change that adds extra flexibility, where practical.  In 06F, FINC 412 moved to elective status, and no . 

3. FINC 364-010 FINANCE IN PRACTICE is the 'internship' course.  For additional information, check out http://www.lerner.udel.edu/departments/finance/internships.

4. FINC313 is no longer a prerequisite for FINC314 or FINC415 and is no longer required for the Finance major.

5. Finance majors, try to take as many as you can of: FINC 311, FINC 312, FINC 313, and FINC 314 BEFORE you become a senior. Sophomores who have successfully completed ACCT207 with a minimum grade of C- are able to take FINC 311.  We highly recommend that you take FINC311 in the Spring Semester of your sophomore year!

7. For more information on our classes (including sample syllabi and scheduling), look below for the appropriate links.

Additional Finance Courses to be offered in Spring 2009:

1. FINC467-010/080/FINC667-010 Derivatives

3 credits,

Pre-req for FINC467-010/080: FINC314; Pre-req for FINC667-010: FINC850

Register for 467 if you are an undergraduate student, 667 if you are a grad student.

This course examines pricing and use of derivative securities.

Faculty: Jay Coughenour

2. FINC467-050/FINC667-050 Mutual Funds, 3 credits, Pre-req: FINC311

Register for 467 if you are an undergraduate student, 667 if you are a grad student.

Faculty: Nicolas Marsini, Executive VP, CFO, PFPC Worldwide, Inc.

Given the prominence of the mutual fund industry, it is important that students understand the industry’s practices, regulations, and key current issues.  This course provides such an in-depth review of the mutual fund industry through lectures, class discussion, case analysis, and a project.

3. FINC467-051/FINC667-051 CFA Preparatory Lab, 2 credits, P/F Only

Register for 467 if you are an undergraduate student, 667 if you are a grad student.

Faculty: Pat Tucci, DuPont Capital Management

This is a two-credit hour ‘coaching’ experience designed to help interested students prepare to take Level I of the Chartered Financial Analysis examination by exposing them to a preparatory structure which emphasizes a schedule of material study, note taking and continuous review, and sample exam taking.

4. FINC467-052 Real Estate Development & Investment, 3 credits, Pre-req: FINC417

Faculty:  David Wilk

This course will involve developing an investment strategy for a complex real estate project including financial modeling and market research activities leading to a decision on whether to invest.  The term project will be presented to an industry panel and will include debt and equity placement and analysis of appropriate return criteria for potential capital partners.

5.FINC467-053/FINC667-053 Anti-Money Laundering, 3 credits, Pre-req for FINC467-053: FINC311; Pre-req for FINC667-053: FINC850

Register for 467 if you are an undergraduate student, 667 if you are a grad student.

Faculty:  Michael Kelsey, Managing VP, Capital One Financial

Money laundering is an important issue facing US financial institutions. This course will review the evolution of anti-money laundering laws, bank compliance programs, and  whether the benefits of these programs outweigh their tremendous costs and customer privacy concerns.

6. FINC467-054 General Securities-Series 7, 3 credits,

Faculty: Richard Jakotowicz

This course, which will be held exclusively in the Exelon Trading Center, is a ‘coaching’ experience designed to help interested students prepare to take the Series 7 Exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

The Finance major focuses on learning how to make the best decisions about raising and using resources under risk.  Finance addresses many questions regarding value:  How much is a product worth?  Is a stock worth investing in?  Will expanding a business produce a sufficient return on investment?  Deciding what to do with the opportunities and resources you have or can obtain today, balanced with your business needs for tomorrow---that's what Finance is all about. 

The undergraduate program in finance prepares students to assume leadership positions at all levels of financial management for careersin business, industry, government, and public or private corporations.

The Lerner College provides an extensive computer lab located in our building and features IBM-compatible computers equipped with the latest software packages. Lerner College buildings have WI-FI wireless internet connectivity, as do many other UD locations.

Need more specific information? Click the appropriate link below to find out more.

• Courses offered in the Finance Department, with sample syllabi. This also contains some special notes on particular classes to help you with registration decisions.

• Registrar's page showing Finance Classes and Seat Availability for each semester. Enter "FINC" in the "Course Number" box, choose the calendar term of interest to you, then click "Search".

• Is the finance major for you? An introductory discussion.  For more detail, click here.

• New flexibilities for the finance major. Changes to the Finance Major were approved and went into effect Fall 2006, and will fully apply to the Class of 2010. If your are in an earlier class and hope to avail yourself of some of the flexibilities of the new program, please see your advisor, Professor Detwiler.

• Study Abroad Opportunity: The Finance Department offers study abroad opportunities during the winter semester. Contact fieldsalerner [dot] udel [dot] edu (Professor Fields)ordetwilerudel [dot] edu ( Mr.Detwiler )for information. Note:Professor Fields will be on sabbatical during the Winter 2010 semester and will not be teaching a study abroad course then.

• Another Study Abroad Opportunity:  We have a student exchange option with ISCTE, the largest business school in Portugal. Please see lauxudel [dot] edu (Professor Laux) to express your future interest. This is also available to majors in BUAD disciplines and perhaps ECON--check with Professor Laux.

• Dual Majors and Minors. Strong students majoring in Finance often pursue a second major (often Accounting) or a minor in international business, management information systems (MIS) or Economics.

• Business Organizations  The Blue Hen Investment Club and the the Student Financial Management Association are of special interest to finance majors.

You are also encouraged to finclerner [dot] udel [dot] edu (contact us) or drop by our office should you have any additional questions