About Lipscomb
Finance Concentration
Although the financial services field has faced significant challenges in recent years, consumers are once again regaining confidence in investment opportunities. Financial institutions are now hiring and expanding, but to avoid the costly mistakes of the past, employers want more than skills and experience. More than ever, jobs in finance require values and accountability.
To meet these demands, The Lipscomb MBA/PMBA with a financial services concentration combines sound business ethics with valuable training in an increasingly complex career field. To address this complexity, the finance curriculum at Lipscomb is continually evolving.
The hallmark of the Lipscomb finance courses is practicality. Every course focuses on real companies and real financial data. The courses minimize the discussion of theory and shift the focus to real techniques and skills you can use every day in your work. All finance courses include a textbook or professional manual as a reference, but students spend most of their time working with actual companies and their data, not with textbooks. The goal of the is to prepare you for a competitive marketplace and for tangible, bottom line success.
Did you know?
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the level of investment activity increases, overall employment of financial analysts is expected to increase by 20 % during the 2008–18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Lipscomb finance students at the graduate and undergraduate level are positioned among the best and brightest financial managers in the country as they compete annually in the TVA Investment Challenge. Over the last several years, Lipscomb’s TVA investment team has placed first or second in the country, competing with teams from Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and neighboring Belmont University.
“Growth in financial services will create new positions, but there are still far more people who would like to enter the occupation. For those aspiring to financial analyst jobs, a strong academic background, including courses such as finance, accounting, and economics, is essential. Certifications and graduate degrees, such as a CFA certification or a master’s degree in business or finance, significantly improve an applicant’s prospects.”
-Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011
Concentration Coursework
BU 6723 Investment Valuation
This course examines asset and company valuation using discounted cash flow and relative valuation techniques. The course focuses primarily on valuation of privately held companies for purposes of venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Other topics include investment banking, capital structure, and cost of capital.
This course examines asset and company valuation using discounted cash flow and relative valuation techniques. The course focuses primarily on valuation of privately held companies for purposes of venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Other topics include investment banking, capital structure, and cost of capital.
BU 6743 Investment Fund Management
Students enrolled in this course are responsible for managing a real portfolio of Tennessee Valley Authority funds. Students also compete in The TVA Investment Challenge against investment teams from other universities in the TVA region. Participating students are responsible for security selection, portfolio balancing, and other fund management decisions.
MAcc 6753 Financial Statement Analysis
Focuses on corporate financial statements and provides an appreciation for the issues faced by corporate managers as they design a financial reporting strategy. Skills developed in the course include analysis of business performance through financial statements; analysis of earnings quality and other accounting matters; and forecasting earnings and cash flows. The course also offers perspectives on the role of financial reporting and financial statement analysis in the capital markets, and an appreciation of the importance to business managers of their own financial reporting and disclosure policies.
Concentration coursework is offered on weeknights and/or weekends during the October, March and June terms.
For more information about the Lipscomb MBA/PMBA with a financial services concentration contact Jeff Jewell at jeff.jewell@lipscomb.edu or, visit the online catalog with the most current course and prerequisite information, and faculty profiles.