Metropolitan Community College

COURSE OUTLINE FORM

COURSE TITLE ____INTRODUCTION to the FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY___
COURSE PREFIX AND NO. __FINA 1310_ LEC __4.5 LAB __0__ CREDIT HOURS __4.5
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental functions of financial institutions are covered in this course. Topics include
money, financial markets, financial institutions, the deposit and payment functions, the Federal
Reserve System, and other regulatory functions.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
None

RATIONALE:
The student will develop a basic understanding of the U.S. banking system. This overview is
essential for all bank employees and will give non-bankers a true prospective of the industry and
services offered. This course will develop better bankers and knowledgeable customers.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS and/or MATERIALS:
Title:

Financial Institutions Management: A Risk Management Approach

Editions:

Current Edition

Author:

Saunders, Cornett

Publisher:

McGraw-Hill

Attached course outline written by:

Date:

Reviewed/Revised by:

Date:

2010

Date:

10/2010

Effective quarter of course outline:

Dean

Daryl Hansen

Lori Lothringer
10/FA

Course Objectives, Topical Unit Outlines, and Unit Objectives must be attached to this form.

DISCLAIMER:
Your instructor in this class will be a teacher and facilitator. Your instructor will help you gain
knowledge in you quest to become an informed and possibly skilled investor. However your
instructor WILL NOT act as a financial or investment counselor or advisor. While numerous
investment techniques and philosophies will be discussed and analyzed in the course, your
instructor will not make specific investment suggestions or offer investment advice to students.
Nothing your instructor may say or do should be interpreted as making an investment
recommendation. Neither your instructor nor the College are or will be responsible for nay
investment decisions you may make during or after the completion of your attendance in the
course. You assume any and all risks regarding any investment decisions you may make.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the history of banking.
2. Discuss the basic structure of the U.S. banking system.
3. Explain the role of financial institutions in the U.S. economy.
4. Describe the regulatory structure of the U.S. banking system, including the role of the
Federal Reserve System.
5. Explain the principles of management of bank assets and liabilities.
6. Describe the functions of the various departments within a banking institution.
7. Differentiate among the features of the various nonbank depository and nondepository
financial institutions.
TOPICAL UNIT OUTLINE/UNIT OBJECTIVES:
Unit I
A.
B.

The Banking System

Describe the history of the U.S. banking system.
Discuss the structure of the U.S. banking system and compare it to foreign banking
systems.

Unit II
A.
B.
C.

Money and Capital Markets

Explain the functions of financial intermediation.
Distinguish between money markets and capital markets.
Describe the functions of money and the various monetary systems.

Unit III
A.
B.
C.

Bank Regulation
Describe the regulatory functions of the Federal Reserve System.
List the services offered by the Federal Reserve.
Discuss U.S. monetary policy and the purpose of deposit insurance.

Unit IV
A.
B.
C.
D.

Bank Management
List common bank assets and liabilities.
Determine the optimum balance between loans and investments.
Describe the principles of bank portfolio management.
Explain the function of various departments within a bank.

Unit V
A.
B.

Commercial Banking
Differentiate between commercial and noncommercial banks
Describe the role of commercial banks in providing payment services and other
banking services.

Unit VI
A.

Nonbank Financial Institutions

Describe the functions of the following:
1.
Savings and Loans
2.
Credit Unions
3.
Investment companies
4.
Pension Funds
5.
Insurance Companies
6.
Finance Companies

COURSE REQUIREMENTS / EVALUATION:

Upon completion of this course, the student will have acquired basic cognitive knowledge of
operations within a commercial bank.

OUTCOME MEASURES for FINA 1310

COURSE OBJECTIVES

ASSESSMENT MEASURES

1. Describe the history of banking.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

2. Discuss the basic structure of the U.S.

banking system.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

3. Explain the role of financial institution in

the U.S. economy.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

4. Describe the regulatory structure of the

U.S. banking system, including the role of
the Federal Reserve System.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

5. Explain the principles of management of

bank assets and liabilities.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

6. Describe the functions of the various

departments within a banking institution.

Objective exam, short essay exam.

7. Differentiate among the features of the

various nonbank depository and
nondepository financial institutions.
Objectives 1-7

Objective exam, short essay exam.

OPTIONAL: Oral and written reports, case

analysis, team projects.