Curriculum Overview
The Finance program at Maharishi Centre for Educational Excellence is meticulously structured to ensure students gain both theoretical depth and practical application. The curriculum spans eight semesters, with each semester comprising core courses, departmental electives, science electives, and lab-based learning experiences.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
| 1 | MATH101 | Calculus I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | ECON101 | Introduction to Economics | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | ACC101 | Financial Accounting Fundamentals | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BUS101 | Business Communication | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | LIT101 | English for Academic Purposes | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | LAB101 | Financial Computing Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 2 | MATH201 | Calculus II | 3-0-0-3 | MATH101 |
| 2 | ECON201 | Microeconomics | 3-0-0-3 | ECON101 |
| 2 | FIN101 | Principles of Finance | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 2 | BUS201 | Organizational Behavior | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 2 | STAT101 | Statistics for Finance | 3-0-0-3 | MATH101 |
| 2 | LAB201 | Financial Data Analysis Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 3 | MATH301 | Differential Equations | 3-0-0-3 | MATH201 |
| 3 | ECON301 | Macroeconomics | 3-0-0-3 | ECON201 |
| 3 | FIN201 | Corporate Finance | 3-0-0-3 | FIN101 |
| 3 | MATH302 | Linear Algebra | 3-0-0-3 | MATH101 |
| 3 | FIN301 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 3-0-0-3 | FIN101 |
| 3 | LAB301 | Financial Modeling Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 4 | FIN401 | Investment Analysis | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 4 | FIN501 | Risk Management | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 4 | FIN601 | Derivatives Pricing | 3-0-0-3 | MATH301 |
| 4 | STAT201 | Econometrics | 3-0-0-3 | STAT101 |
| 4 | LAB401 | Advanced Financial Simulation Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 5 | FIN701 | Behavioral Finance | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 5 | FIN801 | International Finance | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 5 | FIN901 | Fintech and Digital Finance | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 5 | MATH401 | Numerical Methods | 3-0-0-3 | MATH301 |
| 5 | LAB501 | Fintech Innovation Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 6 | FIN1001 | Sustainable Investing | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 6 | FIN1101 | Quantitative Risk Analytics | 3-0-0-3 | FIN501 |
| 6 | FIN1201 | Financial Strategy and Planning | 3-0-0-3 | FIN201 |
| 6 | LAB601 | Capstone Project Lab | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 7 | FIN1301 | Advanced Portfolio Theory | 3-0-0-3 | FIN401 |
| 7 | FIN1401 | Algorithmic Trading | 3-0-0-3 | FIN601 |
| 7 | LAB701 | Industry Collaboration Project | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 8 | FIN1501 | Financial Research Thesis | 0-0-6-6 | - |
| 8 | LAB801 | Thesis Presentation and Defense | 0-0-3-1 | - |
Advanced Departmental Electives
The department offers a range of advanced electives designed to deepen students' expertise in specialized areas. These courses are taught by leading faculty members who are active researchers and practitioners.
Quantitative Finance
This course focuses on mathematical modeling techniques used in modern finance. Students learn stochastic calculus, Monte Carlo methods, and numerical solutions for pricing financial derivatives. The course includes hands-on projects using Python and MATLAB for financial simulations.
Investment Banking & Capital Markets
Students study the functioning of capital markets, including equity issuance, debt financing, and M&A activities. The course covers valuation techniques, underwriting processes, and regulatory frameworks governing investment banking operations.
Risk Management & Financial Engineering
This course explores various types of financial risks, including credit risk, market risk, operational risk, and liquidity risk. Students gain experience in developing risk models, stress testing portfolios, and implementing hedging strategies using derivatives.
Corporate Finance & Financial Strategy
Students examine capital structure decisions, dividend policy, working capital management, and strategic financial planning. Case studies from Fortune 500 companies provide practical insights into corporate financial decision-making.
Fintech & Digital Finance
The course integrates blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, robo-advisors, and mobile payment systems into the broader financial landscape. Students explore innovations in financial services and develop solutions for digital transformation challenges.
Behavioral Finance
This elective investigates how psychological biases affect investment decisions and market dynamics. Students analyze behavioral anomalies, design experiments to test theories, and apply insights from psychology to financial modeling.
Sustainable & Impact Investing
Students learn about ESG criteria, green bonds, social impact funds, and sustainable development goals within investment frameworks. The course includes real-world case studies of successful impact investments and ethical financial practices.
International Finance & Global Markets
This course examines foreign exchange markets, international trade financing, cross-border investments, and global financial integration. Students gain insights into international risk management and currency hedging strategies.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department places significant emphasis on project-based learning to enhance students' analytical skills and real-world application capabilities. Mini-projects are assigned in the second and third years, while the final-year thesis is a comprehensive capstone experience.
Mini-projects typically involve analyzing financial datasets, building financial models, or conducting research on specific topics. Students select projects based on their interests and receive mentorship from faculty members. The evaluation criteria include project presentation quality, analytical rigor, innovation, and teamwork.
The final-year thesis requires students to conduct original research under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Projects often involve collaboration with industry partners, resulting in publications or patents. Students must defend their work in front of a panel of experts, demonstrating mastery of both theoretical knowledge and practical implementation.