Program Description
Finance is the study of facts, principles, and theories related to raising needed funds and the use of those funds. All individuals, businesses, and governments need to finance their current activities as well as plan for and fund future undertakings, which means that Finance plays a central and critical role in the functioning of the economy as a whole.
To prepare students to work and thrive in today’s dynamic global financial environment, our program emphasizes the linking of theory to practice in the following ways:
- in the classroom:
- develop core competencies in areas such as analytical skills, decision making frameworks, understanding risk, and how financial markets work
- master the use of financials tools including time value analysis, financial forecasting, capital budgeting, asset management, and risk evaluation
- choose at least one of three tracks in a curriculum uniquely designed with career paths in mind:
- Managerial Finance Track (MGF)
- Risk Management Track (RMT)
- Investment and Financial Analysis Track (IFA)
- by encouraging internships and co-ops:
- get more depth from classroom knowledge by experiencing it in the context of the real world
- discover new strengths and weaknesses or likes and dislikes that will help focus your future plans
- start building professional contacts and networks
- through our clubs:
- manage a real portfolio or attend investment conferences with the Investment Club
- join Gamma Iota Sigma (the risk management and insurance club) to hear industry speakers, attend professional breakfasts, or go to student conferences
- start building professional contacts and networks
The three tracks within the Finance major have been designed to better prepare students for the various career paths that have evolved within the finance industry in recent years:
- The Investment and Financial Analysis (IFA) track emphasizes security analysis and management and is designed with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in mind.
- The Risk Management (RMT) track recognizes the growing awareness across all businesses for the need to manage a variety of risks with financially sophisticated techniques and may help prepare students for the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.
- The Managerial Finance (MGF) track is the most general with an emphasis on corporate finance and is considered to be the traditional finance major.
