Finance
The finance major introduces you to issues important to careers that focus on gaining and using financial resources.
Preparing You For Success
Finance courses strengthen your analytical skills as you learn how financial systems utilize money and resources. You explore business, investments and markets. You also learn the tools professionals use to make sound short and long-term business decisions. You finish the degree with a capstone project for a local business. The major gives you flexibility to specialize in corporate finance, securities, markets and institutions. This foundation is valuable if you pursue a career that requires a certification or qualification exam.
By the time you graduate, your experiences may include:
- Networking and professional development through the Financial Management Association
- Opportunities to spend a semester in a financial hub such as New York City or London
- Mentoring relationships with faculty who are financial professionals and active researchers
Making Your Mark
A Finance major is valuable for careers in investments, markets, insurance, securities, corporate finance, and personal financial planning. In recent years, many students successfully passed certification exams such as: Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Financial Planner, and Commissioned Bank Examiner. As a result, 96% of recent graduates found jobs or entered graduate school within six months of graduation. They are working for companies such as Capital One, TD Ameritrade, Caterpillar, the Federal Reserve Bank, RLI Corp., British Petroleum and Ernst and Young.
Major Requirements
Required Courses - 15 hrs.
- FIN 322: Business Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 325: Investment Analysis - 3 hrs.
- FIN 328: Financial Institutions and Markets - 3 hrs.
- FIN 494: Financial Strategy - 3 hrs.
- FIN 4XX: senior level finance course - 3 hrs.
Elective Courses (choose one) - 3 hrs.
- FIN 220: Personal Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 323: International Financial Management - 3 hrs.
- FIN 327: Derivative Securities - 3 hrs.
- FIN 329: Commercial Bank Management - 3 hrs.
- FIN 330: Financial Institutions and Markets - 3 hrs.
- FIN 384: Entrepreneurial Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 421: Liquidity Management - 3 hrs.
- FIN 422: Financial Analysis, Core Curr. WI - 3 hrs.
- FIN 423: Advanced Business Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 424: Capital Budgeting - 3 hrs.
- FIN 425: Portfolio Theory and Management - 3 hrs.
- FIN 426: Financial Research and Modeling - 3 hrs.
- FIN 429: Topics in Finance- 3 hrs.
Elective Tools Courses (choose one) - 3 hrs.
- Q M 326: Business Forecasting - 3 hrs.
- Q M 364: Decision Support Systems - 3 hrs.
- ECO 319: Introduction to Econometrics - 3 hrs.
- ECO 418: Mathematical Economics - 3 hrs.
Elective Functional Area International Courses (choose one) - 3 hrs.
- *FIN 323: International Financial Management - 3 hrs.
- ECO 390: International Monetary Economics - 3 hrs.
- ECO 391: International Trade - 3 hrs.
*FIN 323 also counts as part of the required 24 hours in finance.
Courses Beyond ATG 157 and ATG 158 (choose one) - 3 hrs.
- ATG 301: Intermediate Accounting - 3 hrs.
- ATG 314: Cost Accounting - 3 hrs.
Math Course - 4 hrs.
- MTH 115 - Brief Calculus With Applications I - 4 hrs.
Students must also complete Foster College's business core.
Course Sequence
Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.
| First Year - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| MTH 115 | Brief Calculus With Applications I | 4 hours |
| ATG 157 | Accounting Principles-Financial | 3 hours |
| COM 103 | The Oral Communication Process | 3 hours |
| BUS 100 | Contemporary Business | 3 hours |
| Core Electives (FA, HUM or NS) | 6 hours | |
| EHS 120 | University Experience | 1 hour |
| Total | 17 hours | |
| First Year - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 158 | Accounting Principles-Managerial | 3 hours |
| MIS 173 | Business Computer | 3 hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition | 3 hours |
| Core Electives (FA, HUM or NS) | 6 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Sophomore - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ECO 221 | Microeconomics | 3 hours |
| Q M 262 | Quantitative Analysis I | 3 hours |
| Elective | 9 hours | |
| ATG 201 (pre-req for ATG 301 or 314) | Accounting Principles-Accounting Techniques | 1 hour |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Sophomore - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIN 322 | Business Finance | 3 hours |
| QM 263 | Quantitative Analysis II | 3 hours |
| ECO 222 | Macroeconomics | 3 hours |
| M L 350 | Managing for Results in Organizations | 3 hours |
| ATG 301 or 314 | Intermediate Accounting I or Cost Accounting | 3 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Junior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIN Tools Course | 3 hours | |
| FIN 325 | Investment Analysis | 3 hours |
| MTG 315 | Principles of Marketing | 3 hours |
| ENG 306 | Business Communication | 3 hours |
| FIN Elective | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Junior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIN | International Course | 3 hours |
| FIN 328 | Financial Institutions and Markets | 3 hours |
| BLW 342 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 hours |
| FCB | Elective | 3 hours |
| WI Writing Intensive | Core Curriculum | 3 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Senior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIN 4XX | Senior Fiance Elective | 3 hours |
| FCB | Elective | 2 hours |
| M L 452 | Strategic Management in Organizations | 2 hours |
| BUS 400 | Client Consulting Project | 2 hours |
| Elective | 6 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Senior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIN 494 | Financial Strategy | 3 hours |
| FIN | Elective | 3 hours |
| Electives | 9 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |