Finance
Information on the Finance Program
The finance field is broad-based, offering career opportunities in four distinct areas:
Investments
Analysis and management of investments or the sale of securities to individuals for investing purposes. The two distinct career tracks are financial analysis, which is mathematical in nature, and sales, which is highly people-oriented.
Banking and Financial Services
Includes all traditional banking functions such as loan analysis, loan underwriting, and bank management, as well as other financial services such as insurance and employee benefits analysis.
Corporate Finance
Finance in a corporation setting. Involves analysis of long-term projects and cash flows, or shorter-term cash, inventory and payables management. Many functions are related to accounting.
Personal Financial Planning
Comprehensive financial needs-based analysis for individual clients. Involves working with individuals one-on-one to analyze insurance needs, income tax and estate planning, investment portfolio formation, and general retirement planning. Most employment tends to be sales-oriented.
The curriculum at UCM provides education in each of these areas. Elective courses can be structured to focus on one of the four areas.
Many students completing the investments focus have taken the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) examinations. The CFA designation, which requires candidates to pass three rigorous exams, is the gold standard of designations in the finance field, and is considered necessary for individuals pursuing careers in investment management and analysis. Students interested in sale of securities are required by the Securities Exchange Commission to pass a series of license examinations offered by the National Association of Securities Dealers. Typically, the firm of employment will sponsor the candidate to take these exams.
4-Year PLAN
BSBA Finance
