2023-2024 Academic Year

Fall 2023

INBM 300 Investments
This course is a basic course in investment analysis and portfolio management. We will cover the core concepts of finance theory - namely, the capital asset pricing model, risk-return trade-offs, analysis of bond pricing, and equity valuation. In addition, we will look at the organization and functioning of capital markets, asset allocation strategies, some basic principles of options and futures markets and finally global portfolio management. This course will use problem-solving and Excel spreadsheet analysis to apply the theoretical concepts.

Spring 2024

INBM 250 Finance
Knowledge of finance will allow students to adopt the perspective of financial officers in both for-profit as well as not-for-profit organizations. This knowledge is needed to evaluate the health of an organization using key performance indicators and making ethical decisions that involve both short-run and long-run planning horizons. In the short run, this knowledge helps to effectively carry out business functions such as managing cash flow, borrowing money for short periods of time, and keeping control over inventory. In the long run, it helps to choose among competing investment projects and alternative, efficient methods of raising capital. Also, as individuals, knowledge of basic finance will help students to make better-informed decisions concerning their personal financial situations. Apart from covering the fundamentals of financial markets, instruments and institutions, this course will emphasize critical thinking based on quantitative reasoning and decision-making skills. This will include the use of elementary statistical and algebraic methods to investigate fundamental principles of theoretical finance such as the relationship between risk and reward and the pricing of capital assets. Apart from basic theory, knowledge of the hands-on aspects of financial modeling will be imparted via use of spreadsheet software packages such as Microsoft EXCEL; whereby students will be encouraged to create and analyze computational models to test and demonstrate some of the theoretical concepts taught. Prerequisites: ECON 111 and INBM 110.

INBM 300 Corporate Finance
This course aims to provide knowledge of the major challenges affecting the financial policy of a corporation with an emphasis on both firm management's and venture capitalist's perspectives. The goal is to prepare participants for a modern business environment characterized by information asymmetry and uncertainty. We will first review seminal theoretical and analytical concepts related to security pricing, project valuation, and capital structure. Then, we focus on issues faced by financial managers (such as investment, financing, and payout policy decisions), and by venture capitalists (such as timing, amount, valuation, and exit decisions). Upon completing the course, participants will have developed a deep understanding of quantitative skills and logical thought processes necessary to appropriately identify, formulate, and implement business decisions as entrepreneurs, managements, and venture capitalists.

INBM 500 Independent Study