BSBA Major in Finance and Financial Technologies

Prerequisite(s): ECON 103

This is an introductory course in financial accounting which incorporates International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)/GAAP and emphasizes the use of accounting information in an ethical manner. Topics covered include: Basic accounting concepts and processes with particular emphasis on double entries; the accounting cycle; transaction analysis; accounting for assets, liabilities, owner’s equity, expenses and revenues recognition, preparation of financial statements and ethical decision-making.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 204

This is the first course in cost/managerial accounting. It discusses a range of introductory managerial accounting topics such as cost measurement and terminology, costs systems; analyzing cost-volume-profit relationships, job order and process costing, operating budgets, standard costing, introduction to capital budgeting and ethical managerial accounting-related decision-making.

This course is an introductory survey course in business analytics and is geared towards providing a broad coverage of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics techniques and applications within a business context. The course aims to introduce students to foundational concepts, methodologies, and tools required to understand the emerging role of business analytics in organizations, with a focus on decision making for efficiency, profitability, and sustainability. Through hands-on practice tutorials and assignments, students will also be introduced to computer-based modeling approaches to facilitate formulation, resolution, and interpretation of the results, and the process of transforming data into actions.

This course Introduces fundamentals of business models, and writing as a learning tool. The interrelationships between accounting, finance, information systems, marketing, and operations are the subject of several "learning by writing" deliverables. The course teaches business students effective methods for communicating business-related issues to clients, management and fellow employees.

This course provides essential underpinning support for research elements of higher level business courses. It allows candidates to make informed decisions and appropriate choices pertaining to research methodology. A range of business research tools, approaches and analytical techniques are discussed, and guidance is given on optimal structuring of research work in the business field, and the generation of research proposals.

This course is designed to help students apply functional knowledge gained from earlier courses and integrate these with more practical information and real-life experiences. The course takes the general management point of view, emphasizing the creation, implementation and evaluation of strategy in organizations. Students adopt the viewpoint of upper management, strategize and make essential "Big Picture" decisions, using standard strategic analysis frameworks. Students develop expertise in the analysis of complex business situations and in clearly presenting strategic findings both orally and in writing.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of macroeconomics in the context of current problems and its application to business decision making and economic policy. Students will be introduced to the economic way of thinking and how key concepts, theories and methods of modern economic analysis can be applied to everyday economic issues and problems. Key areas covered include demand and supply analysis and government policies; consumers, producers and the efficiency of markets; international trade; the national economy; business cycles; inflation; economic growth and stability; unemployment; and monetary and fiscal policy. Particular emphasis is placed on reviewing contemporary economic issues and how economics permeates almost every aspect of business, highlighting economics as the fundamental discipline underpinning the study of most business specializations.

This course teaches students the fundamental principles of finance. It covers the financial decisions that financial managers should make to maximize shareholders' wealth or a firm's value. These financial decisions include investment decisions, financing decisions, dividend decisions and working capital decisions. Students are taught how to apply financial theories to real life financial situations, financial ratio analysis, time value of money, stock valuation, bond valuation, capital budgeting and risk and return. It also discusses the difference between profit maximization and shareholders' wealth maximization. There is a general saying in finance that "If you can't measure it, you can't control it". Therefore, the course entails calculations and arriving at conclusions that help financial managers make financial decisions and measure financial performance.

This course presents essential management and organizational behavior theories and concepts. It examines the nature of managerial work under a range of business models and under rapidly changing business conditions. Managerial functions and activities such as planning, strategizing, organizing, controlling, and directing are examined in depth, and in the context of current organizational practice and scenarios.

Course Description:
This course introduces fundamentals of computer hardware, software, networking, Internet and its technology components. The discussions are centered on the role of technology in contemporary business, and include basic relational storage concepts, with hands-on experience in building business database applications and web sites. The course also features a mini-project.

This course examines marketing principles, concepts, strategies, tactics, and analytical tools used by profit and nonprofit organizations to market ideas, products, or services to selected target groups. The course emphasizes how to promote, distribute, and price a firm's offering in dynamic economic, social, political, and international environments.

The Internship is designed for candidates on the undergraduate finance major programs. It lasts for eight weeks (240 hours), and provides exposure to business practices and issues, in appropriate settings. Candidates will typically opt to carry out internship with local UAE-based companies. The internship program is viewed as a "steppingstone" for a career in the field of the student's major. Students will receive orientation, induction, and relevant on-the-job training during their internship. The initial induction and orientation take place at the beginning of the internship and will serve to introduce the student to real-world business practices, culture and management, and provide them with a knowledge base to draw upon throughout the remainder of the internship.

The finance project-based internship course will provide students an experience of a self-employed work environment. The course will imbibe problem- solving skills and creative thinking among students. These life-long learning skills will enhance the employability skills of the students and their ability to become independent learners. The students will integrate the tools and concepts from the finance specialization courses to develop strategies to solve problems. Through a coaching and mentoring process, the students would produce a project report, which will allow them to showcase their learning acquired during their four-year study.

The course discusses basic objectives of financial institutions, with particular reference to industry structure and regulatory environment. It discusses decision variables that management should concentrate on to achieve objectives. It also reviews the role of financial institutions in allocation of funds in financial markets.

Dimensions and specialties involved in public control and private development, sale, finance, and management of real estate. Topics include, land planning, land-use control, appraisal, finance, brokerage, property management and investment. Course includes lectures, discussion, and computerassisted research.

This course introduces students to the technological foundations reshaping financial services within the digital economy. It examines how developments such as cloud and edge computing, telecommunications infrastructure, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data have altered the way financial systems are designed, delivered, and governed. Attention is given to key fintech domains including digital payments, lending platforms, trading systems, digital currencies, and technology-enabled banking models.

This course examines blockchain as a foundational technology for decentralized systems, with particular emphasis on its role in digital currencies and modern financial infrastructures. It introduces the technical principles behind distributed ledgers, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, and cryptographic security, while also explaining how these elements support applications such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and decentralized finance platforms.

This course examines the regulatory and governance challenges arising from the rapid adoption of financial technologies. It focuses on how regulators, policymakers, and financial institutions respond to innovations such as digital payments, blockchain-based systems, digital currencies, algorithmic lending, and artificial intelligence in finance. Students are introduced to key regulatory objectives, including financial stability, consumer protection, data privacy, market integrity, and anti–money laundering and know-your-customer requirements.

This course introduces students to the principles and concepts of risk management and insurance. The course also discusses the theory and application of risk and insurance to real world financial decisions. Different disciplines define risk differently. However, in finance, risk is generally defined as the possibility or chances of not achieving the set objective of maximizing shareholder wealth or firm value. Students will study how financial managers identify, measure, control and monitor risk in order to eliminate, reduce, transfer or avoid it in their operational and strategic financial decision-making.

The course analyzes financial decision-making in firms. It emphasizes the conceptual structure of financial problems and the use of advanced analytical techniques. The topics covered include investment decisions, financing decisions, dividend decisions, working capital management, current asset management, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate planning models. The course requires students to use Excel software when working on a number of exercises and assignments.

The course analyzes modern techniques for portfolio management including evaluating standards for selecting individual securities to include or remove from portfolios. The course also discusses riskreturn analysis for portfolios, and portfolio performance measures.

The organization of capital markets, their role in the allocation of funds to various market segments, and interaction between markets. Topics include aggregate flow of funds analysis; and money, government, corporate, and mortgage markets.