FINA 3120: Principles of Finance at UNC Charlotte
Finance 3120, Principles of Finance, is a foundational course offered at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) Belk College of Business. It serves as a cornerstone for students pursuing various business degrees, particularly those specializing in finance, accounting, economics, and related fields. The course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the core concepts and principles underlying financial decision-making in both personal and corporate contexts.
The course curriculum typically covers a wide array of topics essential for understanding the world of finance. Key areas of study include:
- Time Value of Money: This fundamental concept explores the relationship between money and time, teaching students how to calculate present and future values, and understand the impact of interest rates and compounding.
- Financial Statement Analysis: Students learn to interpret and analyze financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, to assess a company’s financial health and performance. Ratio analysis plays a crucial role in this segment.
- Risk and Return: The course delves into the inherent trade-off between risk and return in investments. Students are introduced to various risk measures, including standard deviation and beta, and learn how to evaluate investment opportunities based on their risk-adjusted returns.
- Valuation: A significant portion of the course focuses on valuation techniques for assets, including stocks and bonds. Students learn to apply discounted cash flow (DCF) models and other valuation methods to estimate the intrinsic value of securities.
- Capital Budgeting: The course covers the process of capital budgeting, which involves evaluating and selecting long-term investment projects. Techniques such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period are taught.
- Cost of Capital: Understanding the cost of capital is crucial for making sound investment decisions. Students learn how to calculate a company’s cost of debt, cost of equity, and weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
- Working Capital Management: This section explores the management of a company’s short-term assets and liabilities, including cash, accounts receivable, and inventory.
Assessment in FINA 3120 usually comprises a combination of exams, quizzes, homework assignments, and possibly a group project. The exams typically test students’ understanding of the concepts covered in lectures and readings. Homework assignments provide opportunities to apply these concepts to solve practical problems. Group projects, if assigned, often involve analyzing real-world companies or investment opportunities. Often spreadsheet software, such as Excel, is used extensively throughout the course to perform calculations and analyses.
Successful completion of FINA 3120 is a prerequisite for many advanced finance courses offered at UNC Charlotte. It provides students with a strong foundation for pursuing careers in various financial fields, including investment banking, corporate finance, financial analysis, and portfolio management. It also equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions in their personal lives.