Fulltime MBA
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The University of Iowa The University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie School of Management
Tippie College of Business School of Management Fulltime MBA Curriculum


Finance

“The Henry Fund exposed me to hedge fund managers, Wall Street analysts, and portfolio managers from Fortune 100 companies. As a Henry Fund Analyst I immediately gained credibility and respect from alumni and prospective employers familiar with the class’s rigorous nature. In addition, the various skills that I have acquired by participating in this fund—from modeling techniques, to differentiating the key elements that drive value within an organization—have led to a more comprehensive understanding of finance, and skills that I will continue to use regardless of future career choices.”

Joel Zehr
MBA Candidate 2008

The finance concentrations provide you with the skills necessary to compete in a global economy where timely access to and the creative interpretation of financial information is central to success. It is designed for those pursuing careers in the functional area of finance in business organizations, investment banking, or financial services.

The finance faculty continuously updates the curriculum, ensuring that students learn both marketable skills and the theory behind those skills. A carefully constructed concentration with a balance of theory, application, and hands-on experience provides a smooth transition from classroom to workplace. Real-time data feeds, international information networks, and the latest trading technologies allow you to merge the fundamental principles of finance with actual trading experience. You learn tools and applications including the following:

The finance concentration stresses learning by doing. The Applied Securities Management course allows you to manage the Henry Fund, an investment portfolio that is part of the endowment funds of The University of Iowa Foundation. By using actual money and making real investment decisions, you are given greater responsibility than if you were to just use business cases or simulation as ways of replicating a “real world” environment.

Required courses: 06F:210, 06F:212, and 06F:215 plus two of: 06F:201, 06F:205 (contemporary topics course offered periodically), 06F:208, 06F:209, 06F:213, 06F:214, 06F:216, 06F:218, 06F:219, 06F:220, 06F:221, 06F:222, or 06F:223

06F:201 Directed Reading in Finance

Independent study of specialized topic in finance.
(3 credits)
06F:208 Structured Finance-Securitization

Securitized assets such as mortgages, asset-backed securities (e.g., credit cards, auto loans, trade receivables), collateralized debt obligations, institutional structures, credit risk, valuation, cost of capital, corporate finance, accounting; legal, tax, and regulatory issues associated with securitization; how to design, value, and implement structured-financed products that create value from stakeholders’ perspectives. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:210 Financial Information Technology

Applications of commonly used financial software and data systems reviewed by student teams.
(1 credit)
06F:212 Investment Management

Hands-on approach to investing in marketable securities in domestic and global markets; market efficiency, risk-return relationships, asset pricing models, security valuation, options and futures valuation, portfolio strategies and management. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:213 Futures and Options

Use of options, futures, and other derivative securities in financial management; types of derivative securities, markets, trading technology; applications of risk management and speculation; pricing relations with underlying securities. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:214 Real Estate Finance and Investments

Real estate finance and investments; mortgage markets and pricing, mortgage-backed securities, development process, real estate valuation, tax effects, securitized real estate, real estate cycles, application of derivative instruments, and strategic asset allocation. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:215 Corporate Finance

Structured problems and cases in corporate financial policy decisions; financial decision models, current and fixed asset administration, cost of capital, capital budgeting, dividends, cash flow projections, cash management, mergers and acquisitions. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:216 Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities and term structure of interest rates; asset pricing models, valuation of fixed income securities and contingent claims, and fixed income portfolio management. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:218 Advanced Corporate Finance

Applied management; financial instruments and innovations, IPOs, SEOs, mergers and acquisitions, leverage buyouts, capital structure, dividend policy, corporate restructuring, treasury operations, risk, real options, corporate control, executive compensation. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:219 Finance for Entrepreneurs

Builds an understanding of the process of capital acquisition and cash flow management. Studies techniques, applications, projections, valuations and measurements used in both, with specific application to new and growing ventures. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:220 Commercial and Investment Banking

Operations and management of commercial and investment banks; structure, regulation, evolution, and consolidations of industry, products, and services; debt and equity origination process, syndication, venture capital, M&A, IPO's, asset/liability management, liquidity planning, capital adequacy, lending, and global issues. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:221 Applied Securities Management I

(Also known as the Henry Fund course.) Hands-on approach to portfolio management; setting goals, trading securities, developing programs to evaluate fund performance. First of a two-semester sequence; must be followed by 06F:222. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)
06F:222 Applied Securities Management II

Continuation of 06F:221, which is prerequisite. Consent of instructor required.
(3 credits)
06F:223 International Finance

Impact of international financial markets on business and financial decisions in foreign environments; global finance, foreign ex-change, Eurocurrency markets, currency derivatives, risk hedging, international bond and equity markets, privatization, joint ventures. Prerequisite: 06N:225.
(3 credits)