Undergraduate Finance Curriculum

MGT 3062 - Financial Management
The objective of this course is to introduce the students to the basic principles used in financial management and their applications in long-term investment and financing. The five fundamental principles of finance that are characterized in this course are: (a) time value of money, (b) relation between risk and return, (c) efficient markets, (d) Modigiani-Miller theorem and capital structure, and (e) no arbitrage and option pricing theory. Once the students get familiar with these principles, they will learn how to apply their knowledge to the valuation of stocks and bonds, financial planning, capital budgeting, long-term financing, capital structure, dividend policy, working capital management, and risk management. Upon completing this course, the students ought to be able to make basic decisions regarding which project to undertake and when; how to finance a project; and how much debt to carry. This course will be essential for students considering a career in corporate finance. This course also lays the foundation for more advanced investment and corporate finance topics to be taught in the finance elective courses. No credit is allowed for MGT 3076 and MGT 3078. Pre-req: ACCT 2101.

Not all electives are offered every semester. This list may shrink or grow as time progresses. For specific information about classes, pre-requisites, professors, days/times and classroom locations go to Oscar. Browse MGT elective course descriptions by concentration or certificate area:

MGT 3075 - Security Valuation
This course teaches students how to use financial and accounting information to value firms. By the end of this course, you will be able to implement the three major approaches to security valuation. These approaches are discounted cash flow valuation, relative valuation, and real options.

MGT 3076 - Investments
The course is divided into three sections. The first begins with an overview of the institutional setting, including an introduction to the process of investment planning for both short- and long-term needs. The second section is devoted in its entirety to an analysis of the major types of securities available to investors. The third section consist of a study of techniques designed to monitor the performance of a portfolio, an examination of mutual funds and the role they can play in an investment program, and finally an introduction to options, including rights, warrants, puts and calls.

MGT 3079 - Management of Financial Institutions
The objective of this course is to introduce the students to the role of bank and non-bank financial intermediaries and the management of their operations. The course will provide an introduction to the various kinds of financial institutions, discuss their operations and highlight their differences from other forms of corporations.

MGT 3082 - Fundamentals of Real Estate Development (Previously taught as MGT 4803 - Real Estate Development. Credit not allowed for both).
This course is designed to give students an overview of the history of development, the development process, real estate finance, market research, design, construction, marketing and sales, product types, and future trends. The emphasis on "future trends" will be to explore the role emerging technologies (especially developed on campus) will have on development in the future.

MGT 3084 - Derivative Securities
This course covers options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and swaps. These are the building blocks of more complicated derivatives. By the end of this course you will have a good knowledge of how these contracts work, how they are used, and how they are priced.

MGT 4066 - Corporate Restructuring
This interdisciplinary course examines the finance, economics, law, and business strategies that underlie major corporate restructuring This interdisciplinary course examines the finance, economics, law, and business strategies that underlie major corporate restructuring transactions. These transactions include: mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, spin-offs, equity carve-outs, liquidations and reorganizations.

MGT 4067 - Financial Markets: Trading and Structure
The course focuses on liquidity, market structure and trading. In equity markets around the world, investors are increasingly concerned with controlling transaction costs, and innovative trading technologies have been introduced. In this context, attention is given to the efficiency of trading systems and market centers, the impact of computer technology on markets and trading, the role of intermediaries, and regulatory actions on market structure issues. The course examines a number of alternative market structures in terms of their economic and operational underpinnings. Simulation software is used to provide hands-on experience in making tactical trading decisions in different market structures. Computer Simulations: Simulation software (TraderEx) will be used in the course for in-class demonstrations and homework assignments. When using the simulation, you will enter orders and / or quotes into a computer-driven market that generates order flow and that responds directly to your orders. You will see your results in real-time and analyze them after play. Auction, dealer, and hybrid markets are simulated. The simulation should deepen your awareness of what trading involves and sharpen your trading skills.

MGT 4068 - Fixed Income 
This course covers the most important securities traded in fixed income markets and the valuation models used to price them. The course emphasizes traditional bond and term structure concepts crucial to the functioning of fixed-income markets. Students will learn that basic tools that are useful for: (1) Valuing securities whose cash-flows depend on interest rates, (2) Managing the risk of portfolios of fixed income securities, and (3) Determining the optimal exercise policy for a variety of options that are embedded in fixed income securities (e.g. when should you refinance your mortgage?). At the end of the course, students will be introduced to credit risk derivatives and their role in the recent financial crisis. Modern fixed income analysis is characterized by a quantitative approach. The course (and the exams) will mirror this. A substantial portion of assignments and lectures will be conducted in Excel spreadsheets. Prior knowledge of Microsoft Excel is useful but not required.

MGT 4070 - International Finance
This course extends the principles of finance to an international setting. International finance differs from purely domestic finance in at least two important ways. First, firms and individuals operating in an integrated world economy face the risk of fluctuating exchange rates. Second, international capital markets are highly imperfect, reflecting various barriers to cross-border capital flows, such as excessive transaction costs, information asymmetry, and legal/institutional regulations of foreign exchange and capital markets.

MGT 4072 - Entrepreneurial Finance 

Interest in the field of entrepreneurship has expanded as students seek to understand the dynamics of being an entrepreneur and obtain the skills necessary to succeed.  While most of the entrepreneurial activity in the past has been focused on the for-profit sector, we are experiencing a growth in the application of these concepts to social issues.  

Entrepreneurial finance is the application and adaptation of financial tools and techniques to the planning, funding, operations, and valuation of an entrepreneurial venture.  Entrepreneurial finance focuses on the financial management of a venture as it moves through its life cycles, beginning with its development stage and continuing through to when the entrepreneur exits or harvests the venture.  Nearly every entrepreneurial firm will face major operating and financial problems during its early years, making entrepreneurial finance and the practice of sound financial management critical to the survival and success of the venture (Leach & Melicher). 

MGT 4073 - Financial Modeling

This course presents tools necessary to build advanced Excel spreadsheets for financial decision making. Programs such as SAS will also be used. The course will include topics such as firm valuation, financial statements, cost of capital, portfolio construction, option valuation, duration and immunization. Students will create spreadsheets using regression analysis, pivot tables, MACROS, Visual Basic Applications (VBA), solver, and goal seek. Active learning is a key component in this class. Each class will begin with a theoretical/conceptual explanation of the day’s task. During most class periods, a student will then build a spreadsheet with help from each other and the instructor.

MGT 4803 - Financial Aspects of Commercial Real Estate

This course will examine commercial real estate finance from two perspectives: (1) the unique nature of financing the various stages in the real estate development process from the inception of a development concept to project stabilization and (2) the role of real estate as an asset class.  

Commercial real estate finance involves a broad, often complex spectrum of both public and private capital markets sources, utilizing a wide variety of financing structures. These real estate capital markets are both domestic and global and range from significant sources of private financing provided by numerous types of high net worth investors and institutional investors to a wide variety of public debt and equity sources. In addition, governmental programs at the federal, state and local levels have become an increasingly significant source of financing tied to economic development, affordable housing, infrastructure financing and many other areas where effective public/private partnerships are critically important

The globalization of financial markets is influencing the financial services industry as well as corporate finance functions in a fundamental way, posing challenges for academics and practitioners alike. A fundamental understanding of these developments is necessary to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy.

The Scheller College of Business offers a Concentration in Finance for undergraduate business administration students at Georgia Tech. After completing MGT 3062 (Financial Management) students complete six advanced finance courses (four required courses and two elective courses). Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all courses for a concentration.

The globalization of financial markets is influencing the financial services industry as well as corporate finance functions in a fundamental way, posing challenges for academics and practitioners alike. A fundamental understanding of these developments is necessary to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy.

The Scheller College of Business offers a Certificate in Finance for undergraduate business administration and non-business administration students at Georgia Tech. A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in order for students to be eligible for the finance certificate.

The globalization of financial markets is influencing the financial services industry as well as corporate finance functions in a fundamental way, posing challenges for academics and practitioners alike. A fundamental understanding of these developments is necessary to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy.

The Scheller College of Business offers a Certificate in Finance for undergraduate business administration and non-business administration students at Georgia Tech. A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in order for students to be eligible for the finance certificate.

GROUP A:

One (1) courses is required:

MGT 3078 - Finance and Investments

GROUP B:

Choose three (3) or more courses:

Note: Many of these courses require pre-requisites. Please check OSCAR before you register. Pre-requisites will not be waived.

MGT 3075 - Security Valuation

MGT 3079 - Management of Financial Institutions

MGT 3082 - Fundamentals of Real Estate (previously taught as MGT 4803 - Real Estate Development Fundamentals. No credit allowed for both.)

MGT 3084 - Derivative Securities

MGT 4066 - Corporate Restructuring

MGT 4067 - Financial Markets: Trading and Structure (previously taught as MGT 4803 - Financial Markets: Trading and Structure. No credit allowed for both)

MGT 4068 - Fixed Income (previously taught as MGT 4803 - Fixed Income Securities. No credit allowed for both)

MGT 4070 - International Finance

MGT 4071 - Multinational Financial Management

MGT 4072 - Entrepreneurial Finance (previously taught as MGT 4803 - Entrepreneurial Finance. No credit allowed for both).

MGT 4073 - Financial Modeling (previously taught as MGT 4803 - Financial Modeling. No credit allowed for both.)