DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Major in Banking and Financial Institutions | Minor in Banking | Major in Finance | Minor in Finance | Major in General Business Administration | Minor in General Business Administration | Minor in Entrepreneurship | Minor in Business Education

CHAIR: Joe F. James (936) 294-1278

FACULTY: Ashorn, Bexley, Brown, Chisholm, H. Griffin, M. Griffin, Hart, Hill, Hurry, Hynes, Jenkins, Leavell, Maniam, Stretcher, Stowe, Tucker-Findley

The mission of the Department of General Business and Finance is to assist in fulfilling the mission of the University and the College of Business Administration by providing students at the undergraduate and master’s levels with an academic foundation to become productive citizens, to develop successful careers, and to provide interested students with the background to pursue graduate or professional studies. The academic foundation leading to a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Banking and Financial Institutions, Finance, or General Business Administration is designed to arouse intellectual curiosity, develop analytical reason, and provide historical and current information relative to the global environment.

The Banking and Financial Institutions (BFI) degree program is designed to prepare students for officer-level positions in banks and other financial institutions. The Finance (FIN) degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge of the problems and opportunities that confront entities in the specific field of finance. The General Business Administration (GBA) degree program provides an opportunity to customize student-selected electives for a broad base in business, to specialize within an industry, or to develop a minor either inside or outside the College of Business Administration.

Both the Finance and General Business Administration degree programs are designed to prepare students for careers in business, government, or not-for-profit entities; to include the core business courses required for admission to master’s or other professional program; or to be combined with a sequence of professional education courses and other requirements by the College of Education to earn a certificate to teach in secondary schools.

Curriculum: Major In Banking and Financial Institutions¹

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

CURRICULUM: MINOR IN BANKING

Minor in Banking: A minor in Banking (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs in the College of Business Administration. The minor in Banking requires FIN 334, 468, 432, 472; 6 additional semester hours selected from FIN 499 - Bank Internship (no more than 3 semester hours per semester with a maximum of 6 hours), FIN 465, FIN 471, or FIN 486. The minor in Banking is also available to Ag Business majors. In addition to the courses listed here for COBA majors, the following additional courses will be required for Ag Business majors to obtain the banking minor: ACC 231, ACC 232, and FIN 367.

Curriculum: Major In Finance¹

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

CURRICULUM: MINOR IN FINANCE

Minor in Finance: A minor in Finance (24 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Finance requires ACC 231, 232; FIN 334, 367, 486; 6 additional advanced hours in FIN courses; and 3 additional hours of FIN courses at any level.

Curriculum: Major In General Business Administration¹

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

CURRICULUM: MINOR IN GENERAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

A minor in General Business Administration (21 hours) is available to all non-business bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in General Business Administration requires ACC 231, 232; ECO 230 or 233 or 234; MKT 371; MGT 380; FIN 334 or 367; and 3 additional hours of business electives at any level.

CURRICULUM: MINOR IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Minor in Entrepreneurship: A minor in Entrepreneurship (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Entrepreneurship requires: FIN 334; GBA 362, 366, and 464; and two courses from FIN 465, MGT 334, or MKT 371.

CURRICULUM: MINOR IN BUSINESS EDUCATION

The required minor for someone wishing to use business as a second teaching field in Texas high schools requires ACC 231, 232; ECO 233, 234; GBA 260, 362, and 389; FIN 171; and MGT 380.

¹ Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.

² Two four-hour laboratory science courses must be taken fromany of the following: Biology (including ESC 147), Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography course that satisfies a laboratory science requirement is GEO 131/111), or Physics.

³ Select from AGR 299*, ART 160, 161, 163, 260, DNC 131, 176, MUS 161, 264, 265, THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see pages 52-53 of this catalog).

⁴ Select from BSL 236, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266, HIS 265, 266, or SOC 168. Satisfies the Cultural Studies requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see pages 52-53 of this catalog).

⁵ FIN 439, 471, and 472 are typically offered only in the fall semester and FIN 377, 465, and 487 are typically offered only in the spring semester.

⁶ GBA 363 is typically offered only in the fall semester and GBA 466 is typically offered only in the spring semester.

MINIMUM GRADES IN FINANCE COURSES

A minimum grade of “C” in finance courses taken (prefix FIN) is required for students to graduate with a BBA in Finance.

FINANCE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FIN 171 PERSONAL FINANCE. [BUSI 1307] A study of the problems of personal financial management. Topics include savings, risks, investment considerations, insurance, taxation, governmental programs in financial planning, etc. Also recommended for non-business majors. Not open to students who have credit for FIN 367. Credit 3.

FIN 334 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS. This course will explore the structure of the financial system with emphasis on the role, operations, and regulations of financial institutions and markets, including international. The nature, participants, instruments, and relationships of the money and capital markets will be examined. Credit 3.

FIN 367 BUSINESS FINANCE. A study is made of financial principles as applied to management of funds, capital budgeting, sources of funds, techniques of financial analysis, cost of capital, financial leverage, capital structure, forecasting financial needs, management of working capital, financial policies, analysis and regulation of security issues, and international finance. Prerequisites: ACC 232 and MTH 199 or equivalent. Credit 3.

FIN 430 PROBLEMS IN FINANCE. The student may pursue special studies for which a special course is not organized. Prerequisites: 30 hours of Business Administration and consent of department chair. Credit 1, 2, or 3.

FIN 432 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND CREDIT ANALYSIS. A study of theoretical issues and various applications relevant to the analysis of financial statements using finance and accounting principles Readings and case studies are utilized to provide a contemporary perspective. Prerequisite: FIN 367. Credit 3.

FIN 439 SEMINAR IN FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES. A study of options, futures, and other financial derivative Contracts. The course includes the markets, valuation, and specification of these derivative contracts, and their use in corporate financial risk management. Prerequisite: FIN 367. Credit 3. Typically offered only during the fall semester.

FIN 465 ENTREPRENEURIAL AND SMALL FIRM FINANCE. A study of the development, implementation, and control of financial plans, strategies, and policies by owner-managers of small firms. Financing alternatives for small firms are explored. Prerequisite: Junior Standing. Credit 3. Typically offered only during the spring semester.

FIN 468 COMMERCIAL BANKING. This course includes operation of commercial banks, trust companies, Federal Reserve Banks, and other credit institutions. Federal Reserve Board and its function, rediscounting, open market operations, types of notes issued, and their relation to the Federal Reserve System are stressed. Special attention is given to recent bank legislation. Prerequisites: FIN 334 and FIN 367. Credit 3.

FIN 469 MANAGERIAL FINANCE. This course includes an in depth study of some of the tools used in financial management. Problems in the valuation of securities, capital costs, capital budgeting, risk analysis, capital structure, financial statement analysis, and dividend policy are stressed. Prerequisite: FIN 367 with a minimum grade of C. Credit 3.

FIN 471 INTERNATIONAL FINANCE. This course provides the student with a background in international finance by examining financial circumstances/problems unique to the multi-national firm. Some areas of study are international market forces that affect interest rates and currency values, hedging currency positions, and financing capital budgeting for the multi-national firms. Prerequisite: FIN 367. Credit 3. Typically offered only during the fall semester.

FIN 472 COMMERCIAL BANK LENDING. A study of theoretical issues and various applications relevant to the commercial lending activities of a bank using finance principles. Readings and case studies are utilized to provide a contemporary perspective. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Credit 3. (Note: Currently offered only in the fall semester).

FIN 486 INVESTMENTS. A careful study is made of principles, types and forms of investments; modern investments; supply and demand for funds; characteristics of securities; federal, state, and municipal bonds; analysis of securities; and the movement of security prices. Prerequisite: FIN 367. Credit 3.

FIN 487 SECURITY ANALYSIS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT. This course is an advanced analysis and study of the techniques for selecting and combining securities into a portfolio. Content includes setting investment goals, diversification and risk reduction, capital market theory, and portfolio selection models. Prerequisite: FIN 486. Credit 3. Typically offered only during spring semesters.

FIN 499 UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP IN FINANCE. A course designed to provide the student with an opportunity to apply academic skills in a practical work environment. (See Finance Internship Coordinator prior to enrolling. A minimum of 150 work hours in a pre approved finance organization. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit granted for internship.)