Investment Management Concentration

The field of investment management involves the analysis of various types of financial securities and the management of investment portfolios. Students graduating with this background commonly start their careers as financial analysts for investment funds, investment bankers, or other financial institutions. In these positions they are responsible for analyzing complex financial instruments including common stocks, fixed-income securities, futures, options, and different forms of derivative securities. As investment bankers, they may become involved in the trading of financial instruments, in the analysis of mergers and acquisition decisions, and in helping corporations with their equity and debt financing. This concentration is supported by an academic center in the Department, the AIM Investment Center http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/AIMCenter/

The MBA Investment Fund, L.L.C. is a student-managed, private investment company created to enable MBA students at the University of Texas to obtain a real-world experience in the construction and on-going management of an investment portfolio. Students in the Finance Concentration are selected to participate in a course of study that includes the management of the Fund as part of its curriculum. The student portfolio managers are assigned to separate asset-class portfolios within the Fund and manage their positions under the guidance of a professional investment counselor. The students also report to an Advisory Committee made up of faculty from the Department of Finance and leading professionals from the investment industry. The Fund has its research home in the EDS Financial Trading and Technology Center http://www.edscenter.utexas.edu/.

The Fund is a registered limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Texas. The assets of the Fund consist of money invested in the Fund by alumni and business supporters who are recognized as accredited investors under the securities laws.

The student portfolio managers of the Fund are selected by the Finance faculty from the applications of MBA students enrolled in the Finance Program. Student managers are selected during the first semester in the MBA program. Part way through the second semester, they are then responsible for portfolio management and for making specific purchase and sale recommendations. More information about the Fund as well as applications for student manager positions can be obtained from the MBA Fund website: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/AIMCenter/AppInvMan/index.asp

Curriculum Requirements

FIN 286 Valuation (flexible core)
FIN 394.1 Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
FIN 397.1 Investment Theory & Practice
It is advised that students take FIN 394.1 and FIN 397.1 during the spring semester of their first year in the MBA program.

Finance Block

Choose at least three courses from the following:
FIN 390.1 Financial Markets and Institutions
FIN 394.2 Financial Strategies
FIN 394.3 Global Finance
FIN 397.2 Portfolio Management and Security Analysis
FIN 397.4 Financial Risk Management
FIN 397.5 Fixed Income Analysis
FIN 397.6 Special Topics in Investments

Accounting Block

One course from the following:
ACC 380D Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
ACC 380K.7 Financial Statement Analysis

Total required hours: 20