Program Emphasis/Objective

The objective of the major in Finance is to provide students with a background of knowledge and a set of skills to enable them to perform successfully in finance-related fields. These fields reflect both global and domestic dimensions and they include corporate or business finance, financial management in government and not-for-profit organizations, financial planning, investments, banking, insurance, real estate, and public accounting. Advanced work in the Finance major features a problem-solving and decision-making orientation. Case problems and investment games are used and current developments in the economy and in financial markets and institutions are emphasized to help students appreciate the complexities of financial management. A student may choose the Finance major because of its universality, even if the student is meeting all or most of the requirements in real estate or insurance. Finance majors have acknowledged the quality and benefits of the major, making it one of the most popular majors in the School of Business.

Career Opportunities

The field of finance offers a broad and varied range of employment opportunities for the qualified individual. Many graduates are hired by financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies as financial analysts or management trainees, while others venture into potentially more lucrative occupations in the securities markets and real estate. There are also relatively stable jobs in corporate finance such as forecasting, cash management, and controlling. The Finance major can also provide excellent background for graduate work in law or an MBA program. Recent starting salaries for undergraduates in this field generally range upward from the thirty thousand-dollar levels. However, potential is unlimited and some relatively recent graduates have made six-figure incomes.

Academic Program/Courses

Specific criteria pertaining to admission to the School of Business, details regarding graduation and degree requirements, course requirements, and course descriptions can be found in the University’s Undergraduate Catalog.