Master of Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (MSAPM) Course Descriptions

MSA 722 Fixed Income and Derivatives I (3 credits) A study of fixed income investments, including basic characteristics of bonds in alternative sectors, valuation tools, and factors that influence bond yields. Also includes a study of derivative investments, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps.

MSA 724 Quantitative Analysis (3 credits) A study of elementary statistics, data collection and analysis, regression and correlation analysis, probability theory and distributions, hypothesis testing, and the time value of money. Also covers regression and correlation analysis and time series analysis as they are used in portfolio management.

MSA 726 International Trade, Alternative Investments and Portfolio Management (3 credits - Elective) A study of alternative investments, including mutual funds, exchange traded funds, real estate, venture capital, hedge funds, closely held companies, distressed securities, and commodities and commodity derivatives. A study of international trade, including foreign exchange and parity conditions. Also a study of the elements of the portfolio management process, including the investment setting, investment policy, and asset allocation.

MSA 728 Corporate Finance (3 credits - Elective) A study of capital budgeting concepts and analysis, capital structure issues, cost of capital, dividend policy considerations, and the market for corporate control. Discusses how corporate finance concepts, such as cash flow, liquidity, leverage, cost of capital, and dividends, are used in the valuation process.

MSA 730 Financial Statement Analysis I (3 credits) A study of financial accounting procedures and the rules that govern disclosure. Emphasis is placed on basic financial statements and how alternative accounting methods affect those statements, the analysis of financial statement relationships, and the implications of alternative accounting methods for financial analysis and valuation.

MSA 732 Capital Markets (3 credits) A study of macroeconomic and microeconomic principles, including the key components of economic activity, macroeconomic theory and policy. Also a study of equity investments, including securities markets, effcient market theory, the analysis of equity risk and return (for industries and companies), and technical analysis.

MSA 734 Equity Analysis (3 credits) A study of the concepts and techniques that are basic to the valuation of equity securities.

MSA 736 Fixed Income and Derivatives II (3 credits) A study of methods to estimate risk and returns for fixed income instruments, analyze fixed income instruments with unique features, and value fixed income instruments with embedded options. Discusses the valuation of futures, forwards, options, and swaps. MSA 722 is a prerequisite for this course.

MSA 738 Financial Statement Analysis II (3 credits) Presents the analysis and use financial statements and accompanying disclosures in the investment valuation process. Also discusses the differences among U.S. and international accounting standards as they relate to financial and valuation analyses.

MSA 740 Portfolio Management (3 credits) A study of methods used to estimate the return and determine the risk of various securities and a study of the basic principles of the portfolio management process to specic scenarios.

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