COMM 4202

This course is an introduction to derivatives and the main applications of derivatives for both investment purposes and corporate finance use. As an introductory or first course in derivatives, the goal is to cover the central concepts and issues that will permit the student to start using the products and understanding the main advantages, as well as the issues with derivative transactions. The course covers both quantitative pricing issues, as well as the many practical qualitative issues involved with the use of derivatives. Students should be comfortable with basic statistics and algebra. Knowledge of calculus is not required for this course. Students should also be comfortable with Excel spreadsheets and basic Excel mathematical and financial functions.