Department of Accounting and Finance
Chair: Arline Savage, Ph.D
The Department of Accounting and Finance strives to provide a quality, practice-oriented educational experience to a diverse undergraduate and graduate student population. The faculty contributes to the understanding and application of knowledge through its teaching, research and service activities.
The Department is responsible for courses, concentrations, majors and minors in accounting and finance. Below is an overview of each major. Detailed degree requirements are located on the Majors Tab above.
Accounting Major
The accounting curriculum is designed to provide conceptual accounting and business knowledge as a foundation for professional careers in public accounting, private or industrial accounting, and governmental or not-for-profit accounting, or for pursuing study at the graduate level.
The various accounting career choices available to graduates of our program mandate options in emphasis, so our curriculum offers some flexibility in course choices. Students may further specialize by pursuing a CPA licensure or Information Systems track.
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program (ABM)
A successful graduate of the ABM will earn a bachelor's degree and Master of Accounting degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business in an accelerated time period compared to the independent completion of these two degrees. Students will graduate with a Bachelor degree upon completion of the Bachelor degree requirements, then graduate with a Masters' degree upon completing the requirements for the Master of Accounting.
Admissions
The Accelerated Bachelors/Master's Program is for exceptional students. The accepted student will have:
- an average GPA of 3.5 in all institutional courses
- a minimum of 60 credit hours (36 of these credit hours must have been taken at UAB)
Before applying, the student must meet with their graduate program coordinator and their undergraduate advisor to discuss program requirements; students should also meet with a financial aid/scholarship advisor to determine the impact of ABM on their scholarships and/or aid award. The student should also be advised that additional credit hours may be required for licensure as a CPA.
Upon acceptance, a detailed plan of study must be mapped out specific to each ABM student. This plan must be agreed upon by the student, their undergraduate academic advisor, and graduate program coordinator and strictly adhered to while in the ABM program to guarantee their continued participation in the ABM. Acceptance into the program takes place after a student has earned 60 credit hours of coursework. Admission is by a committee chaired by the graduate program director, consisting of the graduate program director and department program coordinator.
To maintain status in ABM, the student must:
- maintain an institutional GPA of 3.25 or higher
- receive a B (or higher) in all courses taken while still an undergraduate student
- maintain full time student status at UAB
- Accounting and Finance Department will waive the hour requirement for internship terms if the internship causes them to drop below the full time student hour requirement.
If any of these requirements is violated, the student will be withdrawn from the ABM program. If a student is withdrawn from the ABM program, they will retain credit for the courses already completed in the program.
Once the student has completed all undergraduate course requirements for graduation, their undergraduate degree will be awarded. Once the student graduates from a bachelor's degree program, they enter the Master of Accounting program and must maintain the requirements of that program. Tuition is then charged at the graduate rate.
To accelerate progress through the Master of Accounting degree, a limited number of courses (up to 12 credit hours) may be counted toward the completion of the bachelor's degree and toward the completion of the Master of Accounting degree. The selected Master of Accounting courses must be approved by the student's undergraduate academic advisor.
Graduate courses allowed for credit sharing are the following:
- AC 523 External Auditing
- AC 530 Financial Accounting III (prerequisite - AC 310)
- LS 557 Business Law for Accountants
- AC 573 Fraud Examination (prerequisite - AC 423/523)
- AC 580 Advanced Accounting (prerequisite - AC 430/530)
- AC 600 Accounting Research (prerequisite - AC 430/530)
Finance Major
The finance curriculum is designed to provide an understanding of financial operating and investment problems in both financial and non-financial businesses. Graduates enjoy careers in areas such as government, securities businesses, banking, insurance, real estate, savings and other financial intermediaries, and in the financial management of non-financial businesses. Students work with their advisors to select the courses to best prepare them for success in their chosen field.
Uniform CPA Exam
Eligibility requirements for sitting for the Uniform CPA examination vary among the states and territories. For detailed information about these requirements, please contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) at https://nasba.org/stateboards/. The state of Alabama, through its Accountancy Laws and the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy (ASBPA, www.asbpa.alabama.gov/), requires that applicants for the Uniform CPA Examination hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and possess a total of 120 semester hours of postsecondary education, including at least 24 semester hours of accounting in specified areas at the upper-division or graduate level and 24 semester hours in business-related courses. The UAB 120-hour undergraduate accounting program does not provide all of the classes needed for a 150 hour CPA licensure in Alabama.
Other Professional Accounting Certifications
Other examinations leading to professional certification (CMA, CIA, CFA, etc.) generally do not require academic coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students interested in other accounting certifications should contact an undergraduate Accounting advisor or a member of the accounting faculty for further information.
Major in Accounting
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Students must earn a minimum grade of B in AC 300. At least 15 hours of the major course requirements must be earned at UAB. | ||
| Core Curriculum | 41 | |
| Analytics and Technology | ||
| BUS 214 | Introduction to Business Statistics | 3 |
| BUS 204 | Business Analytics Applications | 3 |
| or BUS 215 | Foundations in Business Analytics | |
| BUS 201 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| or BUS 203 | Working with Data and Disruptive Technologies | |
| Business Acumen | ||
| BUS 202 | Know Your Accounting Numbers | 3 |
| BUS 302 | Business Foundations: Finance | 3 |
| BUS 303 | Introduction to Organizational Management and Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 246 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| or BUS 304 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | |
| Communication | ||
| BUS 350 | Professional Business Communications | 3 |
| or BUS 351 | Innovative Communication Strategies | |
| BUS 361 | Storytelling with Data | 3 |
| or BUS 360 | Business Communication Skills for Professional Presentations | |
| Professionalism | ||
| BUS 306 | Professional Development and Personal Branding | 3 |
| BUS 325 | Self Leadership and Team Dynamics: Building Professional Excellence | 3 |
| The Capstone Experience | ||
| BUS 450 | Strategic Management Capstone: Achieving Sustained Competitive Advantage 1 | 3 |
| or BUS 495 | Business Honors Seminar, I | |
| Experiential Learning 2 | ||
| Accounting Major Courses | ||
| AC 300 | Financial Accounting I 0 | 3 |
| AC 304 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| AC 401 | Cost Strategies and Decision-Making | 3 |
| AC 309 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| AC 310 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| AC 402 | Income Taxation I | 3 |
| AC 413 | Internal Audit Theory and Practice | 3 |
| or AC 423 | External Auditing | |
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting | ||
| Intermediate Accounting III | ||
| Income Taxation II | ||
| Accounting Major Elective | 3 | |
| Business Electives 3 | 9 | |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Business Honors students take BUS 495.
- 2
All business majors are required to participate in experiential education. This requirement may carry 0 - 3 credit hours. This requirement may be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following courses or other course/project approved by your academic advisor:
AC 364,AC 464,AC 474,BUS 496,DB 495,EC 460,ENT 445,ENT 426,FN 460, FN 358, FN 359,IB 495, IS 464, MG 445, MK 425, MK 445. Please see your advisor for specific requirements for your major.
- 3
Students take 9 hours in business courses not required in the major or concentration courses.
Major in Finance
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Finance majors must earn a minimum grade of C in all finance courses and have an overall 2.0 GPA in all major courses. At least 15 hours of the major must be taken at UAB. The university course forgiveness policy may be applied to any finance concentration. | ||
| Blazer Core Curriculum | 41 | |
| Analytics and Technology | ||
| BUS 214 | Introduction to Business Statistics | 3 |
| BUS 204 | Business Analytics Applications | 3 |
| or BUS 215 | Foundations in Business Analytics | |
| BUS 201 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| or BUS 203 | Working with Data and Disruptive Technologies | |
| Business Acumen | ||
| BUS 202 | Know Your Accounting Numbers | 3 |
| BUS 302 | Business Foundations: Finance | 3 |
| BUS 303 | Introduction to Organizational Management and Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 304 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| or BUS 246 | Legal Environment of Business | |
| Communication | ||
| BUS 350 | Professional Business Communications | 3 |
| or BUS 351 | Innovative Communication Strategies | |
| BUS 361 | Storytelling with Data | 3 |
| Professionalism | ||
| BUS 306 | Professional Development and Personal Branding | 3 |
| BUS 325 | Self Leadership and Team Dynamics: Building Professional Excellence | 3 |
| The Capstone Experience | ||
| BUS 450 | Strategic Management Capstone: Achieving Sustained Competitive Advantage 1 | 3 |
| or BUS 495 | Business Honors Seminar, I | |
| Experiential Learning 2 | ||
| Finance Major Courses | ||
| FN 310 | Fundamentals of Financial Management | 3 |
| FN 320 | Financial Research Methods | 3 |
| FN 350 | Investments | 3 |
| FN 410 | Advanced Financial Management | 3 |
| FN 412 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| FN 430 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FN 453 | Derivatives | 3 |
| Choose two 300/400 level FN courses | 6 | |
| Select from: | ||
| Bond Portfolio Management | ||
| Securities Analysis | ||
| Green and Gold Fund Financial Analyst | ||
| Green and Gold Fund Portfolio Management | ||
| Real Estate Finance | ||
| Principles of Real Estate | ||
| Real Estate Investment Analysis | ||
| Management of Financial Intermediaries | ||
| Advanced Topics in Finance | ||
| Financial Accounting I | ||
| Cost Strategies and Decision-Making | ||
| Introduction to Business Programming | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Entrepreneurial Accounting and Finance | ||
| Business Electives 3 | 9 | |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Business Honors students take BUS 495.
- 2
All business majors are required to participate in experiential education. This requirement may carry 0 - 3 credit hours. This requirement may be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following courses or other course/project approved by the department chair: AC 364,AC 464,AC 474,BUS 496,DB 495,EC 460,ENT 445,ENT 426,FN 460, FN 358, FN 359, IB 495, IS 464, MG 445, MK 425, MK 445 Please see your advisor for specific options for your major.
- 3
Take 9 hours in business class electives that are not applied toward major classes.
Proposed Program of Study for a Major in Accounting
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| EH 101 | 3 | EH 102 | 3 |
| BUS 101 | 3 | Blazer Core: Reasoning | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Quantitative Literacy1 | 3 | Blazer Core: Science and Lab | 4 |
| Blazer Core: History and Meaning | 3 | EC 210 | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Communication in the Modern World | 3 | BUS 202 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| EC 211 | 3 | Blazer Core: City as Classroom | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Science and Lab | 4 | BUS 215 | 3 |
| BUS 214 | 3 | BUS 246 | 3 |
| AC 300 | 3 | AC 309 | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Creative Arts | 3 | AC 304 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| BUS 203 | 3 | BUS 302 | 3 |
| BUS 303 | 3 | BUS 351 | 3 |
| BUS 306 | 3 | BUS 361 or BUS 360 | 3 |
| AC 310 | 3 | AC 430 | 3 |
| AC 402 | 3 | AC 401 | 3 |
| Elective2 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| BUS 325 | 3 | BUS 450 or 4952 | 3 |
| AC 413 or 423 | 3 | Accounting Elective | 3 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Elective3 | 3 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Elective3 | 3 |
| Elective3 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
- 1
Students select from MA 105, MA 106, MA 107, MA 110, MA 125 or MA 126.
- 2
Business Honors students take BUS 495.
- 3
Students must take 9 hours in Business Course electives.
Proposed Program of Study for a Major in Finance
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| EH 101 | 3 | EH 102 | 3 |
| BUS 101 | 3 | Blazer Core: Reasoning | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Quantitative Literacy1 | 3 | Blazer Core: Science and Lab | 4 |
| Blazer Core: History and Meaning | 3 | EC 210 | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Communication in the Modern World | 3 | BUS 202 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| EC 211 | 3 | Blazer Core: City as Classroom | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Science and Lab | 4 | BUS 215 | 3 |
| BUS 214 | 3 | FN 310 | 3 |
| Blazer Core: Creative Arts | 3 | BUS 203 | 3 |
| BUS 302 | 3 | BUS 246 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| FN 320 | 3 | FN 410 | 3 |
| FN 350 | 3 | FN 412 | 3 |
| BUS 351 | 3 | BUS 306 | 3 |
| BUS 361 or BUS 360 | 3 | Elective3 | 3 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Elective3 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| FN 430 | 3 | BUS 450 or 4952 | 3 |
| FN Elective | 3 | Elective3 | 3 |
| BUS 325 | 3 | Elective3 | 1 |
| Elective3 | 3 | FN 453 | 3 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Finance Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
AC-Accounting Courses
AC 200. Financial Accounting Foundations. 3 Hours.
Ever wondered how businesses keep track of their money, assets, and expenses? Dive into "Introductory Accounting" and unravel the mysteries behind the numbers. This beginner friendly course is your first step into the dynamic world of accounting, designed especially for those who are new to the subject.
Prerequisites: BUS 110 [Min Grade: C]
AC 201. Introduction to Decision-Driven Accounting. 3 Hours.
Ever wondered how businesses make big decisions, like setting prices, choosing suppliers, or evaluating employees? Managerial accounting decisions often have significant business and ethical implications on investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders. This course you will introduce you to techniques and tools for managing such decisions.
Prerequisites: AC 200 [Min Grade: C]
AC 264. Taxation and the Working Poor. 3 Hours.
Students will gain a basic understanding of how certain components of the U.S. federal tax system impact the working poor. The focus will be almost totally on the Earned Income Tax Credit that lifts millions of taxpayers over the poverty level each year. In addition, students will study common misperceptions of those living in poverty, some of the causes of poverty, and barriers to prosperity. The course will consist of readings and discussions and numerous guest speakers that deal with various pieces of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, education, and other topics in the central Alabama (or statewide) area. Students will complete training in basic income tax return preparation, pass a certification exam, and volunteer at a VITA site preparing tax returns for low-income taxpayers that are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The course is open to both business and non-business majors and assumes no prior knowledge of accounting or tax. This is a service-learning course. This course meets Blazer Core City as a Classroom requirement with flags in High Impact: Service Learning and Civic Engagement.
AC 265. Financial Oversight for Not-for-Profit Organizations. 3 Hours.
Students will explore the basics of financial oversight for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) with emphasis on the overall fiduciary duty of the Board of Directors to protect the assets of the NPO. Special emphasis will be placed on cash management. Students will consider the risks for fraud and embezzlement and the steps that can be taken to reduce those risks. Students will work as teams (mentored by a local financial professional) to assess the risk of loss due to weak policies and procedures. Students will identify those risks and make recommendations to mitigate them. This could have a significant impact on the organization, as many NPOs are the target for theft and/or fraud. This is a service-learning course and assumes no prior knowledge of NPOs or accounting/financial controls. It is open to both business and non-business majors.
AC 300. Financial Accounting I. 3 Hours.
Gain essential financial accounting skills to support strategic business decisions. This course introduces the accounting process, double-entry accounting systems, and the preparation of financial statements. Students will analyze key balance sheet accounts and learn how financial data drives informed decision-making.
Prerequisites: BUS 202 [Min Grade: C]
AC 304. Accounting Information Systems. 3 Hours.
Develop skills that allow you to contextualize and apply concepts to understand how various systems and technologies come together to support a successful organization. Apply current technology to accounting information systems, investigating complex organizational operations, implementing effective security measures, reporting meaningful information to users, and designing accounting systems.
Prerequisites: BUS 202 [Min Grade: C]
AC 305. Professional Development in Accountancy. 1 Hour.
This course will introduce students to the accounting profession, the recruitment process for internships and entry-level positions in accounting; the traditions, expectations and ethical demands of the profession; and the availability of diverse career options.
AC 309. Intermediate Accounting I. 3 Hours.
Gain a foundational understanding of accounting frameworks and revenue recognition principles. Learn to prepare and analyze detailed financial statements, including earnings, comprehensive income, and cash flows. Explore key concepts and standards governing complex business transactions involving cash, receivables, and inventory.
Prerequisites: AC 300 [Min Grade: B]
AC 310. Intermediate Accounting II. 3 Hours.
Examine the accounting and reporting standards for investments, long-term assets, liabilities, contingencies, and debt, including bonds and notes. Develop a deeper understanding of stockholders' equity and explore time value of money concepts in the context of financial accounting.
Prerequisites: AC 309 [Min Grade: C]
AC 364. Taxation and the Working Poor. 3 Hours.
Students will explore the objectives and consequences of the U.S. federal tax system in relation to the working poor. Topics covered will include the Earned Income Tax Credit, progressive and regressive taxes, and income redistribution as the result of tax provisions. In addition, students will study common mis-perceptions of those living in poverty. The course will consist of classroom instruction, tax preparation training, completion of a tax certification test, and volunteer tax preparation at a community-based site. This course is open to both business and non-business majors and assumes no prior knowledge of accounting or tax. The course is a service-learning course and will satisfy the experiential-learning requirement in the Collat School of Business.
AC 401. Cost Strategies and Decision-Making. 3 Hours.
Utilize financial data for cost analysis, allocation, and budget-based decision-making. Explore various quantitative techniques designed to enhance managerial decision-making.
Prerequisites: BUS 202 [Min Grade: C]
AC 402. Income Taxation I. 3 Hours.
Relying on U.S. tax codes, regulations and laws, learners will define the types of income, deductions, exclusions, and losses essential to the preparation of income tax returns. This course includes strategies for effective tax planning and compliance. Successful students will design a framework for incorporating tax considerations into personal and business decisions.
Prerequisites: AC 300 [Min Grade: C]
AC 407. Seminar in Financial Accounting. 3 Hours.
This course provides an integrated understanding of the financial accounting and reporting issues for companies, not-for-profit organizations, and governments, with a particular emphasis on identifying issues, analyzing facts, evaluating the accounting literature, and determining the appropriate response.
Prerequisites: AC 430 [Min Grade: C] or AC 510 [Min Grade: C]
AC 408. Advanced Topics in Taxation. 3 Hours.
This course provides an integrated understanding of the federal taxation of individuals, entities, and property transactions. A particular emphasis will be placed on identifying issues, analyzing facts, evaluating the accounting literature, and determining the appropriate response.
Prerequisites: AC 402 [Min Grade: C] or AC 502 [Min Grade: C]
AC 409. Professional Standards for CPAs. 3 Hours.
This course provides an integrated understanding of the audit, attestation, review, compilation, and other standards followed by CPA firms during professional engagements for companies, not-for-profit organizations, and governments, with a particular emphasis on identifying issues, analyzing facts, evaluating the professional literature, and determining the appropriate response.
Prerequisites: AC 423 [Min Grade: C] or AC 523 [Min Grade: C]
AC 413. Internal Audit Theory and Practice. 3 Hours.
Dive into the dynamic world of internal auditing, where you'll master the art of enhancing organizational operations, reporting and compliance through systematic evaluations. This course unveils the secrets of governance, risk management, and controls, while also exploring fraud risks and the diverse services offered by internal auditors.
Prerequisites: AC 304 [Min Grade: C]
AC 414. Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting. 3 Hours.
Learn the essential skills and unique aspects of accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments,colleges and universities, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations. Gain insights into budgetary and fund accounting, and external financial reporting crucial for managing public funds and ensuring transparency.
Prerequisites: AC 309 [Min Grade: C]
AC 423. External Auditing. 3 Hours.
Explore the step-by-step procedures auditors follow to examine financial records and ensure financial integrity. Learners will gain an understanding of all phases of external auditing including preliminary engagement procedures, planning the audit, evaluation of ICFR, substantive audit procedures, and reporting.
Prerequisites: AC 300 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
AC 430. Intermediate Accounting III. 3 Hours.
Examine advanced financial accounting topics, including long-term contracts, lease accounting, income taxes, and share-based compensation. Gain an overview of pension and post-retirement benefits accounting, and delve into the reporting requirements for earnings per share, accounting changes, and error corrections. Prepares students to navigate complex real-world financial reporting issues.
Prerequisites: AC 310 [Min Grade: C]
AC 452. Income Taxation II. 3 Hours.
Completion of fundamentals of taxation for individuals. Basic concepts and laws applicable to partnerships and corporations. Tax research techniques and tax planning concepts.
Prerequisites: (AC 402 [Min Grade: C])
AC 464. Accounting Internship. 3 Hours.
This course offers a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the dynamic field of accounting, while building a professional network with industry experts and peers, enhancing both their technical skills and professional development. Internship experience enables students to better integrate academic knowledge with practical applications.
Prerequisites: AC 300 [Min Grade: B] and AC 304 [Min Grade: C]
AC 472. Information Technology Auditing. 3 Hours.
Introduction to the practice of information technology auditing. An emphasis is placed on information technology auditing standards and methodology, as well as guidance on auditing general computer controls and application controls.
Prerequisites: AC 304 [Min Grade: C]
AC 473. Fraud Examination. 3 Hours.
Advanced forensic accounting concepts with a primary focus on occupational fraud and abuse--its origins, perpetration, prevention, and detection.
Prerequisites: AC 304 [Min Grade: C] and AC 300 [Min Grade: C]
AC 480. Corporate Financial Reporting and Analysis. 3 Hours.
Business combinations, consolidated financial statements, multinational accounting, and partnerships.
Prerequisites: AC 430 [Min Grade: C] or AC 530 [Min Grade: C]
AC 490. Advanced Topics in Accounting. 3 Hours.
Contemporary professional accounting issues. Preq: Permission of instructor.
AC 495. Data Analytics for Accounting. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on how data analytics is utilized across a variety of accounting disciplines. Students will learn the fundamentals of data analysis and interpretation of output. Students who complete this course will obtain an introductory framework regarding the various ways data analytics is utilized in the accounting profession.
Prerequisites: (AC 300 [Min Grade: C] and AC 304 [Min Grade: C]) and AC 310 [Min Grade: C] and AC 401 [Min Grade: C] and AC 402 [Min Grade: C] and AC 413 [Min Grade: C]
AC 499. Directed Readings. 1-3 Hour.
Readings and independent study in selected areas.
FN-Finance Courses
FN 101. Personal Finance. 3 Hours.
Selected aspects of finance encountered by an individual during his or her lifetime. Lower-level elective credit only. Not applicable to the finance major. Open to all UAB students.
FN 103. Money Management 101. 1 Hour.
Covers selected aspects of financial planning encountered by an individual during his or her lifetime. Cannot count as credit toward the finance major. Cannot be taken if FN 101 has been taken.
FN 104. Debt Management 101. 1 Hour.
Covers selected aspects of managing credit and insurance needs that an individual might encounter during his or her lifetime. Does not count toward the finance major. Cannot be taken if FN 101 has been taken.
FN 105. Saving and Investing 101. 1 Hour.
Covers selected aspects of managing investments that an individual might encounter during his or her lifetime. Does not count toward the finance major. Cannot be taken if FN 101 has been taken.
FN 201. Investigations into Financial Inclusion. 3 Hours.
This course applies a structured process of change to individual and societal issues of financial inclusion. Students co-investigate what constitutes financial stability personally and in relation to their broader community. Assessment, analysis, and planning for change are key components of the course. This course satisfies Blazer Core City as a Classroom requirement and Justice flag.
FN 310. Fundamentals of Financial Management. 3 Hours.
This course provides an introduction to the essential principles and practices of financial management. Students will explore the core concepts of finance, including financial analysis, planning, and control, capital budgeting and financial statement analysis.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 320. Financial Research Methods. 3 Hours.
This course is an eclectic mixture of financial economics, econometrics, computer programming, and information systems. Students learn through interactive practice with multiple commercial and publicly available databases and gain confidence in the core principles of evaluating a company’s financial health through balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow analysis.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 325. Financial Analysis & Forecasting. 3 Hours.
This course provides the student with a broad study of the basic concepts and tools of finance statement analysis from the point of view of the corporate financial manager. It is a decision-oriented course designed to present a working knowledge as well as a theoretical understanding of the essentials of financial statement analysis and forecasting.
Prerequisites: FN 310 [Min Grade: C]
FN 330. Financial Modeling. 3 Hours.
This course provides an an overview of the tools and skills required to build financial and valuation models. Students will develop a three-statement (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement) model, project a firm's future financial data, and use this information to then build valuation models, focusing on the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model.
Prerequisites: FN 310 [Min Grade: C]
FN 350. Investments. 3 Hours.
Discover strategies for building and managing a diversified investment portfolio and gain insights into how financial markets operate and how to analyze market trends. Emphasis is on equity and fixed-income securities.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 351. Bond Portfolio Management. 3 Hours.
Dive into the world of fixed income investing with this comprehensive course on Bond Portfolio Management. Students get to construct and manage a fixed income portfolio comprised of twenty corporate bonds. Course topics include valuation and portfolio strategies and derivatives of fixed income securities.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 357. Securities Analysis. 3 Hours.
Investment theory with emphasis on valuation of equity investment instruments. Students take a quantitative approach to security analysis, including the theory of financial statement analysis and valuation of the firm. The course also includes analysis of business and economic conditions, industry analysis, and ratio analysis.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 358. Green and Gold Fund Financial Analyst. 1 Hour.
The Green and Gold Fund is UAB's innovative, student-managed investment portfolio. Students gain real-world portfolio management and security analysis experience through the application of professional investment strategies and sound risk management principles. Students enrolled in FN 358 must hold the position of Analyst.
FN 359. Green and Gold Fund Portfolio Management. 1-3 Hour.
The Green and Gold Fund is UAB's innovative, student-managed investment portfolio. Students gain real-world portfolio management and security analysis experience through the application of professional investment strategies and sound risk management principles. Students enrolled in FN 359 must hold the position of CIO, Chief Economist or Portfolio Manager. Permission of the Green and Gold Fund faculty advisor required.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 370. Principles of Real Estate. 3 Hours.
This course offers a comprehensive overview of the real estate market, investment strategies, and the financial principles that drive this exciting field. Students learn how to analyze real estate markets, assess property values, and identify investment opportunities.
FN 410. Advanced Financial Management. 3 Hours.
Analysis of long-term corporate financial management; detailed stock and bond valuation, cost of capital, capital budgeting, cash-flow analysis, capital structure, and dividend policy.
Prerequisites: (FN 310 [Min Grade: C])
FN 412. International Financial Management. 3 Hours.
A comprehensive exploration of the international financial arena including foreign exchange theory and practice, interest rate risk management, international investment decisions, and import/export financing and funds management. Learners will convert currencies using spot, future, and cross rates, forecast exchange rates based on the congruence between inflation and interest rates, and identify opportunities for trade in a global economy.
Prerequisites: BUS 302 [Min Grade: C]
FN 429. Short-Term Financial Management. 3 Hours.
This course covers the principles of short-term financial management. Specific topics include liquidity, management of working capital, corporate cash management, and short term investing and borrowing.
FN 452. Management of Financial Intermediaries. 3 Hours.
Students discover the essential roles that banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and other financial intermediaries play in the global economy and get to explore how these institutions manage various types of risks, including credit, market, and operational risks. The interrelationships of these financial institutions is a key focus of this course.
Prerequisites: FN 310 [Min Grade: C]
FN 453. Derivatives. 3 Hours.
Domestic and international risk management issues. Tools to measure and manage interest rate; exchange rate and commodity price risks.
Prerequisites: (FN 350 [Min Grade: C] and FN 410 [Min Grade: C])
FN 460. Finance Internship. 1-3 Hour.
Work experience designed to enable students to better integrate academic knowledge with practical applications and to enhance students' educational experiences by making subsequent study more meaningful. Permission of the instructor required.
Prerequisites: FN 310 [Min Grade: C]
FN 470. Real Estate Finance. 3 Hours.
A study of the instruments, techniques and institutions of real estate finance and the use of financial analysis in real estate decisions.
Prerequisites: (FN 370 [Min Grade: C])
FN 475. Real Estate Investment Analysis. 3 Hours.
A study of investment analysis for real estate decisions, including taxation, risk, financial leverage, land use and market analysis will be covered in depth.
Prerequisites: FN 370 [Min Grade: C]
FN 490. Advanced Topics in Finance. 3 Hours.
Issues and problems in selected areas of finance.
FN 499. Directed Readings in Finance. 1-3 Hour.
Supervised study of specific areas of finance.
Faculty
| Ashour, Samar, Assistant Professor of Finance 2020, 2017, BA, MBA (Tanta University, Egypt), PhD (University of Texas at Arlington) |
| Athienitis, Maria, Instructor of Accounting, 2019, BA (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg), MAc (UAB) |
| Davis, Ryan, Associate Professor of Finance, 2016, BA, MS, PhD (University of Mississippi), MBA (UAB) |
| Edmonds, Christopher, Professor of Accounting, 2013, B.S. (Colorado State), M.B.A. (UAB), Ph.D. (Virginia Tech) |
| Edmonds, Jennifer, Associate Professor of Accounting, 2013, B.S. (Birmingham-Southern), M.Acc., Ph.D. (Virginia Tech) |
| Edmonds, Mark, Associate Professor of Accounting, 2016, BS, MA (UAB), PhD (Southern Illinois) |
| Firouz, Mohammad, Assistant Professor of Management, 2019, B.S. (Sharif University of Technology, Iran), M.S., Ph.D. (University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL) |
| Fu, Richard, Associate Professor of Finance, 2006, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology) |
| Hamrick, Jennifer, Assistant Professor of Accounting, 2019, BS (Birmingham-Southern College), MAc (Auburn), PhD (Kennesaw State University) |
| Houston, Caleb, Assistant Professor of Finance, 2020, BS, MBA (Mississippi College), PhD (Mississippi State University) |
| Jack, Ave, Instructor, 2011, BIE (Georgia Institute of Technology), MS (Boston University), MAEd (UAB) |
| Leece, Ryan, Associate Professor of Accounting, 2014, BS (University of Minnesota); MA (University of North Carolina), PhD (Virginia Tech) |
| Nabors, Eddie, Instructor of Accounting, and Internship Coordinator, 2011, B.S. (Alabama), M.Acc. (University of West Florida) |
| Savage, Arline, Professor of Accounting, 2012, Ph.D. (University of Port Elizabeth-South Africa), CA (SA) |
| Smith, Angel, Instructor of Accounting, 2008, B.S., MAc. (UAB) |
| Song, Chen, Senior Instructor of Accounting, 2013, BS (Beijing Information Technology Institute), MA (Virginia Tech) |
| Vermeer, Thomas, Professor of Accounting, 2022, BS (George Mason University), MS (University of North Texas), Ph.D. (University of North Texas) |
| Worrell, James L., Professor of Accounting, 2008, B.S., M.Ac., Ph.D. (Florida State University) |
| Yates, Stephanie, Professor of Finance, Chair, Department of Accounting and Finance, 2007, B.S., M.A., M.B.A. (Cincinnati), Ph.D. (LSU) |