HUHC 021 A-Z - Special Topics Seminar

Semester Hours: 1-4

HUHC 021A* H1 SHOW ME THE MONEY! FINANCE IN FILM AND (NON) FICTION

Professor Andrew Spieler, Finance

MW 11:20-12:45PM

CRN: 22768

SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE ONLY FORMAT

Truth is stranger than fiction. The stories behind many business and finance films and books are both entertaining and instructive. The headlines blare of fraud at Enron and WorldCom but do not discuss the important role of capital markets in improving individual and global welfare. Surprisingly, movies (and often originally a book) like “Moneyball” while entertaining, discusses the core concepts of valuation albeit in a baseball setting (and best actor nomination for Brad Pitt). These and other stories contribute to our collective understanding that finance is not about greed (but there is some!). Still, helping individuals, investors, and collectively nations improve their standard of living and quality of life. Students will understand that raising capital is necessary to fund new and critical technologies and start new ventures. Markets develop to more efficiently allocate capital and channel resources ultimately to its highest value use. This course provides an entertaining but important lens to view the important role of finance in modern times.

 (The Finance Department’s chair has indicated this course may be counted as a departmental elective toward the completion of the requirements for Finance majors or minors.)

^BOOKS

^{Freakonomics (Levitt and Dubner)}

^{Moneyball (Michael Lewis)}

^{Liar’s Poker (Michael Lewis)}

^{The Millionaire Next Door (Stanley and Danko)}

^{Fooled by Randomness (Nasim Taleb)}

^{The Savvy Investor’s Guide to Building Wealth Through Traditional Investments (Baker, Nofsinger, and Spieler)}

MOVIES

^Moneyball

^{The Big Short}

^{Barbarians at the Gate}

^{The Smartest Guys in the Room}

^{The Corporation}

^{Trading Places}

^{Wall Street}

^{The Producers (Broadway show)}

HUHC 021B* H1 TRACKING HUMAN BEHAVIOR: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Professor Anil Mathur, Marketing and International Business

MW 9:40 – 11:05AM                                                                            

CRN: 24126

Advanced Techniques in Behavioral Research: Human behavior is complex and multifaceted. Understanding human behavior is of importance to social scientists, public policymakers, and businesses. This course uses advanced research technologies to gain insights into multiple aspects of human behavior. Specifically, the course will focus on advanced tools such as eye-tracking, facial analysis, voice analysis, and text analysis. Theories underlying measurements using these advanced technologies will be discussed and their practical applications in various disciplines. The seminar will also have a lab component during which students will get hands-on experience using these technologies to understand human behavior better. Lab exercises will be conducted in the state-of-the-art Behavioral Research Laboratory in the School of Business. Students will design a research study, collect primary data, and write a report based on advanced technologies to understand some aspect of human behavior.

(The chair of the MARKETING DEPARTMENT has indicated this course may be counted as a departmental elective toward completing the requirements for Marketing majors or minors.)

Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Special Topic Seminars are open to Honors College students in good standing and, with the permission of the instructor and the HUHC Deans’ Office, to other students who meet HUHC entrance criteria. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Not for liberal arts credit.

• View Course Offering(s):
• January Semester 2025
• Spring Semester 2025