Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required Courses:
ACT 151 Financial Accounting

Basic concepts of accounting including: accounting for business transactions, preparation and use of financial statements, and measurement of owners' equity. Restricted to Accounting, Actuarial Science, & Analytical Finance majors. 3 credits.

ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics

The course examines how individuals and firms make choices within the institution of free-market capitalism. Individuals decide how much of their time to spend working and what to buy with the earnings of their labor. Firms decide how much to produce and in some cases what price to charge for their goods. Together these choices determine what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced in our economic system. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

ECN 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variables of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

FIN 283 Financial Instruments

This course provides an introduction to many modern financial instruments such as bonds and other fixed income products, stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and securitization products. We will discuss how these instruments are used to create portfolios that balance the risk and return needs of particular investors. Throughout the course, we will use Excel to create computational models for the topics being considered. Prerequisite: MAS 112 or MAS 162. 3 credits.

FIN 381 Corporate Finance

The course covers the core concepts of corporate finance including: financial instruments, sources of capital and their costs, dividend policy, capital structure, capital budgeting, financial performance assessment, stock valuation, portfolio theory, behavioral finance, and arbitrage. FIN 381 combined with ASC 386 covers the material on SOA exam IFM - Investments and Financial Markets. Prerequisite: ASC or FIN 385, or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

FIN 382 Financial Modeling

Students will study a variety of financial models including underlying theory and computer implementation. Topics include stationary, autoregressive, moving average, mixed, and ARIMA models. Additional topics such as statistical model testing, volatility models, or portfolio optimization may be included based on time constraints and student interest. Prerequisite: ASC 385, MAS 371; and FIN 283 or ASC 386. 3 credits.

FIN 385 Mathematics of Finance

This course is an introduction to interest theory (including applications) and fundamental financial instruments. Interest theory topics covered include time value of money, annuities, loans, bonds, project appraisal, portfolios, duration, immunization, swaps, and the term structure of interest rates. These ideas are then applied to study various financing and budgeting methods for corporations. ASC 385 covers the material on SOA exam FM - Financial Mathematics and is designed to meet the SOA standards for Validation through Educational Experience (VEE) in the area of corporate finance. Prerequisite: MAS 112 or MAS 162. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with ASC 385)

FIN 386 Financial Derivatives and Pricing

In this class, we study financial models and their applications to risk management. The financial instruments section of the class focuses on the properties and uses of derivative products including calls, puts, forwards, and futures. Topics we address include parity, binomial pricing, the Black-Scholes model, hedging, exchange rates, and exotic options. The last part of the course looks at topics related to insurance and rate-making. ASC 386 combined with FIN 381 covers the material on SOA exam IFM - Investments and Financial Markets. Prerequisite: ASC 385 or FIN 385. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with ASC 386)

MAS 111 Analysis I

A calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 102 at LVC, or satisfactory score on the math readiness test. This test is administered during New Student Advising Days for incoming students or can be taken by arrangement with the math department (717-867-6080) Co-requisite: MAS 113. 4 credits.

MAS 112 Analysis II

Second semester of a calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 111; Corequisite: MAS 114. 4 credits.

MAS 113 Introduction to Mathematical Thinking I

An introduction to college mathematics for potential mathematical science majors. Corequisite: MAS 111. 1 credit.

MAS 114 Introduction to Mathematical Thinking II

Second semester. Introduction to college mathematics for potential mathematical science majors. Corequisite: MAS 112. 1 credit.

MAS 202 Foundations of Mathematics

Introduction to logic, set theory and proof techniques. Prerequisites: MAS 222, ASC 281, or FIN 283. 3 credits.

MAS 261 Calculus III

Multivariate calculus including partial differentiation, multiple integration, vector fields and vector functions. Prerequisites: MAS 112 or MAS 162. 3 credits.

MAS 371 Statistical Inference

An introduction to the mathematical foundations of probability and statistics, with a focus on estimation, sampling distributions, and hypothesis testing. This course is designed to meet the Society of Actuaries (SOA) standards for Validation through Educational Experience (VEE) in the area of mathematical statistics. Prerequisites: MAS 202; and ASC 281, FIN 283 or MAS 270. 3 credits.

MAS 372 Statistical Modeling

Study of various modeling techniques including regression, decision trees, unsupervised learning, and time series methods with implementation in the computer language R. The course also provides an introduction to generalized linear models and generalized additive models. MAS 372 covers the material on SOA exam SRM - Statistics for Risk Modeling. Prerequisite: MAS 371. 3 credits.

One of the following:
CDS 120 Introduction to Programming with Python

This course introduces the fundamentals of computer programming using the Python programming language. Topics include: variables, types, and assignment; iteration and conditional execution; functions, modules, and structured design; complex types and data structures. 3 credits.

CDS 220 Actuarial Software Structures

This course will explore technologies commonly used in the actuarial profession, including Excel, VBA, database design, and programming. Students will also study probability topics using these tools. Prerequisite: ASC-281 or MAS-371. 3 credits.

One of the following:
ACT 231 Managerial Accounting

Cost-volume-profit relationships, cost analysis, business segment contribution, profit planning and budgeting as a basis for managerial decision-making. Prerequisite: ACT 131 or ACT 151, with a minimum grade of C- or better. 3 credits.

ACT 263 Cost Accounting I

This is the first of a two-course sequence examining the role of financial information inside the business. These courses will emphasize the role accounting plays as a business partner in the managerial decisions of the company. This course will focus on the creation and analysis of financial reports. Topics will include cost objects, cost behaviors, costing methods, and cost/volume/profit analysis. Prerequisite: ACT 151 with a C- or better. 3 credits.