Academic Curriculum

The academic curriculum is a yearlong instructional program that includes courses in Security Analysis and Advanced Financial Topics and a series of workshops in the EDS Financial Technology and Trading Center.   During the course of the academic year, students are expected to master valuation theory and practice, acquire practical skills in financial analysis, and learn how to use complex financial software in the AIM trading room.  Over the course of their senior year, students in the Financial Analyst Program analyze current case studies in company performance and valuation as they seek to better integrate financial, accounting, and economic issues.  Heavy emphasis is placed on the enhancement of students’ writing and presentation abilities.  In the fall term, FAP students enroll in the course Security Analysis.  Major topics covered include: industry and strategy analysis, estimating the cost of capital, analysis of financial statements, interpretation of financial ratios, developing pro-forma forecasts, and stock valuation via the discounted cash flow model.  Other topics include options and convertible bond valuation.  In the spring term, FAP students enroll in the practicum course whereby they pursue group and independent study in advanced financial topics.  In the practicum, students enhance their financial skills by studying an area of interest in greater depth.  Topics selected in the spring may include credit evaluation, accounting regulation and effects, and mergers and acquisitions.  In the Financial Analyst Program, students acquire enhanced modeling and spreadsheet skills- integrating economic, financial and accounting data, and they become adept at using and interpreting financial data from programs such as Bloomberg, Bridge-Telerate, and Stock Val.