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Course Catalog

Finance

The finance curriculum is designed to give students a solid foundation in financial theory while developing skills and techniques necessary to manage today’s dynamic business environment. The globalization of both product and financial markets, rapid development in information technology, and recent advances in the field of finance have created a growing need for well-qualified graduates. Challenging career opportunities exist in the securities and financial services industry, information systems, and corporate financial management.


Finance Concentration: 15 credits

BFIN 322 Intermediate Finance 3 credits
ACCT 367 Financial Reporting 3 credits
BFIN 422 Investment Analysis 3 credits
BFIN 423 Financial Management Cases 3 credits
Electives chosen from the following:
3 credits
         BFIN 324 Financial Modeling  
BFIN 325 Financial Institutions
BFIN 327 International Finance
BFIN 424 Real Estate Principles
BFIN 426 Mergers and Acquisitions
BFIN 429A Portfolio Management I
BFIN 429B Portfolio Management II
BFIN 429C Portfolio Management III
Lower Division
Upper Division
BFIN 320 Principles of Finance
3.00 credits
Financial analysis and management, including time value of money, risk and return models, valuation, the cost of capital, capital budgeting techniques, and capital structure theory. Fall and Spring.
Equivalent:
MBUS 520 - OK if taken since Fall 2003
BFIN 322 Intermediate Finance
3.00 credits
A continuation of BFIN 320; new topics include working capital policy and management, advanced capital budgeting techniques, options, and futures.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C
BFIN 324 Financial Modeling
3.00 credits
This course applies financial concepts to build analytic frameworks and financial models that can be used to value corporate initiatives including capital investment or mergers and acquisitions. This course will help develop financial and strategic intuition when tackling business problems as a finance professional.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C
BFIN 325 Financial Institutions
3.00 credits
Allocation of financial flows through the markets. Topics covered include the various financial institutions, fund flows, structure of markets, and management of financial institutions. On sufficient demand.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C-
BFIN 327 International Finance
3.00 credits
A study of financial considerations inherent in international business operations. Topics include: foreign currency markets and exchange rate forecasting; international risk exposure analysis and hedging strategies; international project evaluation and capital budgeting; and international trade financing methods.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C-
BFIN 422 Investment Analysis
3.00 credits
Basic principles and fundamentals of securities markets. Introduction to alternative investment choices and portfolio management theory.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 322 Minimum Grade: C
BFIN 423 Financial Management Cases
3.00 credits
Case problems in corporate financial management. Topics include working capital, raising long-term capital, capital budgeting, cost of capital, and asset structure.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 322 Minimum Grade: C
BFIN 424 Real Estate Principles
3.00 credits
A study in the principles and practices of real estate marketing and financing. On sufficient demand.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C-
BFIN 426 Mergers and Acquisitions
3.00 credits
Merger types and characteristics, theoretical motivations for mergers, and principles of valuation are covered within the corporate finance framework.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C-
BFIN 429A Portfolio Mgmt I
1.00 credit
This is the first segment of a course that runs for three consecutive semesters beginning in the Spring semester of the student's junior year. Registration by instructor permission.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: C-
Equivalent:
BFIN 429 - Successful completion
BFIN 429B Portfolio Mgmt II
1.00 credit
This is the second segment of a course that runs for three consecutive semesters beginning in the Spring semester of the student's junior year.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 429A Minimum Grade: C-
BFIN 429C Portfolio Mgmt III
1.00 credit
This is the third segment of a course that runs for three consecutive semesters beginning in the Spring semester of the student's junior year.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 429B Minimum Grade: D
BFIN 489 Special Topic Seminar
.00- 3.00 credits
Credit by arrangement. On sufficient demand.
Prerequisite:
BFIN 320 Minimum Grade: D
BFIN 491 Directed Study
1.00- 3.00 credits
An individually designed course appropriate to the student's concentration. Available Summer only.
 

In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.

The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.

Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?

  • The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).  
  • Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
  • Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
  • Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
  • Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.

Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?

  • Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
  • Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses) .

Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?

  • Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?” 

  • Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).

The Broadening Courses

  • Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
  • Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.

  • Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum

All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.