FIN 605 at University of Maryland Global Campus is a 3-credit graduate course that examines financial decision making, core finance principles and the objectives of financial management.
The description lists no prerequisite. It combines traditional tools such as statements, costing and budgeting with new technologies reshaping financial services.
It is demanding because you work across two modes: quantitative analysis such as cost-volume-profit, and technology evaluation, where you must judge opportunities and risks of tools like AI and blockchain without hype.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | FIN 605 |
| Level and credits | Graduate, 3 credits |
| Prerequisite | None listed in the course description |
| Subject area | Financial decision making and fintech |
| Typical work | Financial analysis, costing and budgeting exercises, fintech evaluation |
What FIN 605 Covers
| Topic from the description | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| Core finance principles and objectives | What financial managers aim to achieve |
| Financial reporting systems | Balance sheets, profit and loss and cash flow statements |
| Costing and budgeting | Estimating costs and planning spending |
| Cost-volume-profit analysis | How volume, price and cost affect profit |
| New technologies | AI, deep learning, blockchain technology and open APIs |
| Financial sectors | Opportunities in payments, credit and risk management |
Key Concepts Explained
Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
CVP shows how profit changes with sales volume. Break-even is where total contribution equals fixed costs.
Example: A product sells for $50 and has variable cost of $30, so contribution is $20 per unit. With fixed costs of $40,000, break-even is 40,000 / 20 = 2,000 units. To earn $10,000 profit, sell (40,000 + 10,000) / 20 = 2,500 units.
Reading the Three Statements
The balance sheet shows position at a date; the income statement shows performance over a period; the cash flow statement explains cash movement. A decision analysis draws on all three.
Evaluating a Technology
For each technology, ask what problem it addresses, how it changes cost or risk, what data or controls it needs and what could go wrong.
Example: A lender considers an AI model to score small loan applicants. Opportunity: faster decisions and wider data. Risks: biased outcomes, poor explainability, and regulatory expectations. The analysis should weigh both and say what controls would be needed before adoption.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial analysis | Reading statements | Select relevant ratios and explain them |
| CVP or budgeting exercise | Quantitative technique | State assumptions and show formulas |
| Fintech assessment | Evaluating technology | Opportunity, risk, controls, recommendation |
| Discussion | Applying ideas | Use a real firm or product as an example |
Assessing a Fintech Idea
| Question | Evidence to use |
|---|---|
| Which problem does it solve? | Cost, speed or access gaps in the sector |
| What changes for the firm? | Costing and revenue effects |
| What are the risks? | Security, bias, regulation |
| What would it take? | Investment, skills, controls |
| What is the decision? | Adopt, pilot or wait, with reasons |
A Topic-by-Topic Study Approach
| Topic | Practice | Output to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Financial reporting | Summarize one firm's three statements in a page | One-page summary |
| Costing and budgeting | Build a simple monthly budget with variances | Budget template |
| CVP | Break-even and target profit for two products | Calculation sheet |
| AI and deep learning | List use cases and risks in credit and risk management | Use case table |
| Blockchain | Describe one payments or settlement use | Short explainer |
| Open APIs | Explain how data sharing enables new services | Diagram |
Worked example (budget variance): A team budgets $20,000 for a month and spends $23,000. The $3,000 overspend splits into price (suppliers charged more) and volume (the team did more work). A fintech tool that tracks spending in real time could surface the variance earlier. The analysis should estimate the benefit and the cost of the tool and state what evidence supports the estimate.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Technology hype. Support claims with sources and note limits.
- Confusing the statements. Know what each shows.
- CVP assumptions. Keep prices and unit costs constant within the range.
- Numbers without decisions. End with a recommendation.
Study Tips for FIN 605
- Practice CVP until the contribution margin step is automatic.
- Keep a short glossary for each technology named in the description.
- Choose one sector, such as payments or credit, and track it throughout.
- Cite recent, reliable sources for technology claims.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The course description lists none.
AI, deep learning, blockchain technology and open APIs.
Yes, the description lists it.
The description names payments, credit and risk management.
The description does not mention programming. Check your module.
Yes, with explanation and feedback. You complete and submit your own work.