Overview
FINC402 is a capstone course in applied finance requiring students to integrate theoretical knowledge, analytical methods, and professional practice in addressing a realistic organizational, investment, or market problem. Working independently or in teams, students undertake client or stakeholder discovery, define a finance problem, design and conduct research, collect and validate data, and select appropriate financial models.
Projects may address valuation, capital budgeting, financial planning, portfolio construction, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, working capital, financing strategy, financial restructuring, or another approved finance challenge. Students document assumptions, evaluate scenarios and sensitivities, assess model and data limitations, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
The course emphasizes ethical and professional conduct, industry and company analysis, financial statements, market data, forecasting, valuation, spreadsheet and analytical software proficiency, project management, collaboration, and communication with non-specialist audiences. Deliverables include a project proposal, annotated sources, documented financial model, interim briefing, final report, executive summary, and oral presentation.
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate concepts from advanced finance courses to frame and investigate an applied organizational, investment, or market problem.
- Evaluate client requirements, stakeholder perspectives, ethical considerations, and project constraints when defining a finance engagement.
- Design and execute a defensible research process using appropriate financial, industry, company, and market data.
- Construct, document, and validate financial models using spreadsheets or relevant analytical software.
- Assess assumptions, data quality, model limitations, scenarios, sensitivities, and financial risks.
- Synthesize analytical findings into feasible and actionable recommendations supported by transparent evidence.
- Manage project scope, milestones, resources, and collaborative responsibilities in accordance with professional standards.
- Defend methodological choices and communicate financial conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 2 hours | Weekly | First term |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Practicum | 2 hours | Weekly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Project proposal and research design | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Annotated sources and data validation record | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Documented financial model and assumptions register | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Interim client briefing | 10.00% |
| Capstone | Final report and executive summary | 35.00% |
| Test | Individual analytical and methodological defence | 10.00% |
| Exam | Oral presentation and client response | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
- FINC301 Investments and Portfolio Management
- Requirement Completion of at least 90 points in finance and related business courses at 200-level or above.
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.