Finance for Business I
This course explores the field of finance, focusing on corporate finance rather than personal finance. While a basic understanding of personal finance—such as budgeting, saving, and investing—is beneficial, this course does not cover personal finance in detail. Instead, this course equips students with the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions within a business context. Corporate finance specifically deals with the financial activities of companies, aiming to maximize shareholder value through strategic financial planning and decision-making, including investments, budgeting, and capital management. Students analyze critical financial decisions by understanding and applying principles of financial valuation to hypothetical and real-world business situations. Emphasis is placed on integrating interdisciplinary learning and practical experience through collaboration with concurrent courses.
Core Topics
- Introduction to Finance and Financial Statements
- Risk and Return
- Capital Budgeting I
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Capital Structure
- Dividend Policy
- Financial Planning and Forecasting
- International Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions
- Behavioral Finance and Corporate Governance
- Review and Final Assessment
Learning Outcomes and Career Relevance
- Describe and analyze fundamental finance theories, including risk and return, market efficiency, and portfolio theory, and relate them to business decision-making.
- Explain and calculate key financial metrics relevant to business decisions, such as time-value of money, net present value, internal rate of return, and cost of capital, through practical examples.
- Develop financial analysis and modeling proficiency using Excel and other relevant financial tools.
