Corporate Finance Course

Corporate Finance

Corporate finance is a field which describes techniques, decisions, and activities that deal with many aspects of a company’s or organization’s finances. Broadly speaking, everything that a business does falls under the ambit of corporate finance.

Corporate Finance Course

A corporate finance course can be pursued at any level of higher education. Corporate finance courses cover various aspects of finance including methods and techniques used in professional spheres. From beginner level courses to training programs that target managers of corporations and industries, all sorts of corporate finance courses are available on campus and online.

Where to enroll in a corporate finance course?

Almost all community colleges across the US offer a variety of corporate finance courses. Four year college programs and universities also offer different types of corporate finance courses to students. Students who are interested in enrolling in any of the corporate finance courses in a community college or university should research the corporate finance course details before applying. Certain colleges and universities will not allow you to enroll in a particular corporate finance course without meeting the prerequisites. Business and law schools also offer corporate finance courses.

How much does a corporate finance course cost?

It varies. A corporate finance course from any regional community college or vocational institute will be relatively cheaper as compared to a course that is offered by business and law schools. Another factor that comes into play while calculating the cost of a corporate finance course is the objective and curriculum associated with that particular program. For example a corporate finance course that targets beginners will be cheaper as compared to a corporate finance course that targets top-tier management. Also the duration of the corporate finance course will play a part in calculating the cost.

What does a corporate finance course teach?

If the corporate finance course targets beginners then its objective would be to teach them the fundamentals associated with corporate finance. Whereas, courses that target mid-tier management would focus more on the financial principles and advanced tools and models that are in place. Advanced corporate finance courses would require students to understand the basics of finance and easily calculate different equations and algorithms.

Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance

The principle course in this degree program may be titled as “Corporate Finance”. The course may be open to those corporate finance majors only that have successfully cleared Principles of Finance.

Corporate finance may be taught as a 3-credit hour course concentrating on the analysis of capital investments in the context of rates of return, risks and goals and other quality/operational measures. The course may further review a study of debt financing and equity, dividend policy and multinational operations.

Master of Science in Finance – Corporate Finance

The degree may offer the following corporate finance courses:

• Short-Term Financial Management– The course may be offered only to those students who have successfully cleared Financial Management. The course covers traditional working capital topics like receivables and payables management, inventory, liquidity analysis and management. It may further focus on banking relationships, payment systems and core cash management, short-term borrowing and risk management, and cash forecasting.

• Creating Value: Merger/Acquisition- This course may be offered only to those students who understand Financial Management and Capital Budgeting & Financing. The course covers applied managerial decision making, advanced techniques in capital budgeting, quantitative risk assessment, firm (division) cost of capital, capital structure, and firm (division) valuation. The course is designed for those students seeking a thorough understanding of the economic analysis of mergers and acquisitions and the effect capital structure decisions have on a company’s value.

• Long-Term Financing & Capital Structure Theory -   The course may be offered only to those students that have successfully cleared Financial Management. This course teaches students how to make value-maximizing capital structure and financing decisions as a manager. The topics covered in the course may include theories of capital structure decision, the financing of mergers and acquisitions, sources of financing and financial markets, capital structure and cost of capital corporate strategy, and capital structure determinants.

Corporate finance courses are also offered by many law schools. The objective is to familiarize them with the principles of corporate finance. With stricter business regulations, the distinction between investment bankers and lawyers has blurred, if not diminished altogether. Today, corporate lawyers and investment bankers work together when negotiating a merger agreement, preparing for an appraisal hearing, taking a firm private via an LBO or public via IPO, etc. The course may be ideal for those interested in corporate law practice as well as those interested in family law, real estate or tax planning.

Topics covered in the course may include behavioral finance, the workings and efficiency of capital markets, the relation between risk and return, and the time value of money, etc.

What are the benefits of enrolling in a corporate finance course?

There are numerous benefits of enrolling in a corporate finance course. The main benefit however remains that the students appreciate the importance of corporate finance in today’s business. Secondly, corporate finance courses help lawyers under the world of business better.