The principal areas of study in finance are financial management in small and large businesses, investments, financial institutions, and international finance. The study of finance is intended to provide an understanding of fundamental theory and practice pertaining to finance, to make sound financial decisions. Students are taught to think logically about financial problems, so that they can formulate and implement value maximizing decisions and policies for the business. For this purpose, it is necessary to understand the importance of finance in the economy and the functions and purposes of monetary systems, credit, prices, money markets and financial institutions. Emphasis is placed on financial policy, management, control, analysis, and decision making.

The finance emphasis provides the students with the skills to succeed in all areas of finance. Numerous job opportunities exist in the field of business finance and with financial institutions, mutual funds, securities firms, personal wealth management firms, and financial planning firms including positions involving an understanding and sale of securities.

 

For this area of emphasis, students are required to take the following complement of courses, in addition to the undergraduate business core :

 
 
 
 *
 
Upper division business electives (12 semester hours)

Total: 27 semester hours
 

Risk Management and Insurance Concentration

The risk management and insurance (RMI) concentration in the finance area of emphasis provides students with the fundamental knowledge needed to accurately measure and manage risk.

Recent crisis situations suggest that understanding risk and how to manage it, and ultimately, how risk management can be used to increase firm value, is essential in the current business environment. The RMI specialty will provide an overall perspective on risk, with a specific focus on insurance products and their use in mitigating risk in business and personal situations. The insurance industry recognizes many high-level certifications as a sign of expertise, and the RMI course work will provide the knowledge base so that students can proceed to acquire certification in their specific choice of insurance specialty. 

Potential job opportunities include positions in the insurance industry and those that require a thorough understanding of risk, such as corporate risk officer or risk manager.  In addition, students who choose to work in the insurance industry can make a seamless transition into underwriting, ratemaking, and policy approval. The program will be supported by unique internship and special project opportunities in the insurance industry, and is the first program of its kind in the region.

 

The following course work will be required, in addition to the undergraduate business core :

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International elective (3 semester hours)

Total: 27 semester hours

 

NOTES:

FNCE 3949 will be a specialized offering in lieu of FNCE 3939. The internship or individualized study will be with specific providers of risk management services (including insurance companies), and will be monitored for content and performance. 

Students should note that all FNCE courses are not offered every semester. Students should take ACCT 2200, ACCT 2220 and FNCE 3000 courses as early as possible to avoid future problems in their schedules.

For 2010-11, the RMI concentration, comprising of five new courses will be offered with a fixed tuition of $900 per course (in-state) and $2,400 per course (nonresident). The courses will not be eligible for COF.