Current Undergraduate Students

Finance Major

The Finance Major

The programs of study leading to a degree, with a major in finance, are based on the conviction that successful administration in business demands an understanding of the operation of the individual firm and the environment in which it must function, as well as a command of the analytical tools essential to decision making. Thus, students selecting a major in the department are required to become knowledgeable in four distinct, but interrelated areas of study:

  • analytical tools, including computers, spread sheet software, statistics, and economics
  • functional area knowledge of the business firm, including Accounting, Finance, Management and Marketing
  • environmental issues, including an examination of both the legal and economic frameworks that condition business decisions and actions
  • technical skills in the specific functional area chosen as a concentration in Finance

Learning Objectives

Problem Solving

Competence to analyze and evaluate business problems. Students will recognize business problems, gather and measure relevant evidence and reach and articulate informed solutions.

Appreciation of the multi-functional nature of business and the corresponding need for inter-disciplinary study. Students will integrate, from multiple disciplines, the key concepts that influence business decisions.

Mastery of Fundamentals

Expertise within an academic major. Students will command the concepts, analytical tools, and technical skills that are essential to decision making within a concentration.

Collaboration

Professional and interpersonal communication and collaborative skills. Students will communicate effectively and will work collaboratively in teams, task forces and committees.

Respond to Uncertainty and Ambiguity

Ability to identify and respond to change. Students will recognize and respond to the impact of economic, social, and ecological change on people, organizations, technology and the environment within both domestic and global contexts.

Implementation

Competence to analyze and evaluate business problems. Students will manage projects from concept to successful outcomes.

Ethics

Ability to integrate ethics into decision making. Students will apply ethical frameworks to business problems.

Business Communication

Professional and interpersonal communication and collaborative skills. Students will communicate effectively and will work collaboratively in teams, task forces and committees.

Global/International

Ability to identify and respond to change. Students will recognize and respond to the impact of economic, social, and ecological change on people, organizations, technology and the environment within both domestic and global contexts.

Strategic Thinking

Familiarity with strategy theories and an ability to evaluate and formulate business strategies.

Technology Management

Proficiency to use information technology. Students will utilize current information/communication technology and appreciate the importance of emerging technology.

Departmental Grading Guidelines

The Department of Finance honors an undergraduate grading policy. The grade point average for all sophomore level (20xxx) and junior level (30xxx) courses should fall in the established range of 3.00 to 3.20. The grade point average for all senior level (40xxx) courses should fall in the established range of 3.00 to 3.40.