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Description
Finance majors study financial management and emerging trends in the finance field. Students are exposed to the theory and practice in corporate finance, financial institutions, investments, international finance, speculative markets, insurance, real estate and other related areas. The finance major introduces students to the important concepts necessary to gain the managerial skills and analytical tools necessary for managing portfolios, analyzing security investments, providing funds for a business, and controlling and planning the flow of funds within an enterprise.
Careers
Whether you want to go into corporate finance, banking, insurance, or real estate, well help you reach your career goals.
Our Boston campus is just steps away from the financial district, but our connection runs much deeper. We have an extensive network of finance alumni and strong partnerships with leading corporations in the area.
Many of our graduates go on to earn the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designationa mark of distinction that prepares them for highly competitive jobs.
Detailed Course Facts
Application deadline February 15, 2015 Tuition fee- USD 16265 Semester (National)
Full-time: 12-17 credits per semester $16,265
Start date 2016 Credits 21 credit hoursThe BSBA in Finance requires completion of a minimum of 21 credit hours in finance.
Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test- English
Course Content
The BSBA in Finance requires completion of a minimum of 21 credit hours in finance. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in the finance major and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall must be maintained to graduate. Students may choose to specialize in one of four concentration areas; Investments, Corporate Finance, Financial Institutions, or Financial Planning.
Choosing a concentration is optional.
Finance Major Required Courses, 4 Courses, 12 Credits
- FIN-311 Intermediate Finance
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Intermediate Finance expands on basic financial concepts and introduces more advanced topics. Material emphasizes solutions to problems of capital structure, investment and financing. Other major topics include distribution policy, working capital management, derivative corporate securities, and corporate restructuring.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-315 Principles of Investments
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the investment of funds by individuals and institutions. Focuses on analysis of investments and security markets, and the mechanics of trading and investing. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, futures, and options.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-417 Multinational Financial Management
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the financing, investment and working capital management process of multinational corporations, considering such variables as exchange risk, political risk, accounting regulations and tax laws.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-419 Problems of Managerial Finance
Prerequisites:
FIN 311; Two FIN major required or elective courses; Senior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an in-depth study of current finance theory and methodology applicable to the firm through case analyses, computer work and recent publications. It is a capstone course where students learn how to integrate financial theories and principles to reach optimal financial decisions in practice.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Elective Courses, 3 Courses, 9 Credits
Select three from the following:
- FIN-313 General Insurance
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course includes the theory, practice and problems of risk bearing in business and personal pursuits including life, property and casualty insurance and dealing with contract analysis and investments as well as corporate risk management.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-317 Real Estate
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course focuses primarily on real estate investment and many different approaches are discussed. The course examines related areas of law, finance, insurance, taxation, appraisal and brokerage.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-319 Money & Capital Markets
Prerequisites:
EC 101; EC 102; Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers characteristics, structure and function of money and capital markets with a focus on the recent events relating to financial markets and their impact on the corporate financing behavior and the interrelationship among the various financial markets. Also, each type of financial institution and its internationalization are discussed.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-401 Practical Financial Planning
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310), Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is designed to expose the student to the wide range of financial planning tools and techniques available today to the professional financial planner as well as to the individual. By the end of the course the student should be able to construct a sensible and workable financial plan for a client.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-409 Securities Analysis
Prerequisites:
FIN 315
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is focused on the security analysis of stocks with the goal of managing the Suffolk University student-run portfolio. The material is pertinent to the security analyst - particularly the equity analyst who must issue a buy, hold or sell recommendations on stocks. By the end of the course, the student should feel competent in writing a thorough, credible equity research report or investment analysis that meets the highest standards of professionalism.
- FIN-410 Analysis of Financial Statements
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310), Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the analysis and interpretation of financial statements. It is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. It also covers comparative financial statements and trend and ratio analysis.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-411 Futures & Options
Prerequisites:
FIN 315; Junior standing;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an in-depth analysis of derivatives: futures, options, and swaps. The course explains why these securities exist, where and how they are traded, how to employ them in managing risk, and how to accurately price them. It also covers the use of these derivatives in the context hedging or speculation.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-413 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
Prerequisites:
FIN 315, Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an advanced course in investment analysis stressing efficient frontier and diversification. Also studies portfolio construction and management, and the tradeoff of risk versus return.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-415 Capital Budgeting
Prerequisites:
FIN 311 or permission of instructor, Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course develops the practical techniques and decision rules in the evaluation and selection of long-term investment projects. Teaching is oriented towards discussion of readings and case studies. Readings should provide students with understanding of capital budgeting techniques, and case studies should allow them to apply the techniques to real-world problems with the help of the computer.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-422 Estate Planning
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course provides an introduction to estate planning, including a discussion of wills, intestacy, and tax consequences of estate planning techniques. The course will prepare students to discuss the necessity, objectives and techniques of estate planning with clients. It will introduce students to the consequences of intestacy and the uses of wills. Additionally, students will learn the basic concepts of the federal estate, gift and income tax rules that apply to certain estate plans and how to use them for the benefit of clients.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-423 Retirement Planning
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course examines financial planning for retirement and presents a comprehensive process for doing such a planning. Among the main topics covered are setting financial objectives for retirement, planning for adequate retirement income, social security and other governmental benefits, understanding qualified and non- qualified plans, pre- and post-retirement investment planning, planning for long-term care, and planning for incapacity.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-432 Financial Institutions
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310); FIN 319
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course analyzes the role of financial institutions, such as commercial banks, savings and loans, and mutual savings banks in the economy. Topics covered also include dynamic changes in functions of financial institutions and increasing influence of alternative institutions like hedge fund, private equity fund, and venture capitalist.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-H435 Honors the Global Financial Crisis: Causes, Economics, and Solutions
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310); Junior standing; 3.3 GPA
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course analyzes the origins and consequences of the current financial situation from a variety of different economic and political perspectives. It offers students the opportunity to explore the chain of events that preceded the global financial crisis, monitor markets on a real-time basis (using Bloomberg) and provides a forum to discuss solutions and independently generate ideas. Among the main topics covered are asset pricing, derivative securities, financial engineering, risk management and the role of financial institutions, central banks and government agencies in global markets.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-H445 Honors Quantitative Analysis and Trading Of Financial Instruments
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310); Junior standing; 3.3 GPA
Credits:
3.00
Description:
The course covers fundamental valuation techniques for a host of financial instruments. Topics include: cash flow discount techniques, pricing, price volatility, duration and duration management with futures. The course also covers fundamentals of spread theory and spread volatility as well as the use of DTS for beta management in fixed income portfolios. The course concludes with an overview of risk fundamentals, tracking error management for indexing purposes, theory of hedging and risk models. Examples drawn from ongoing economic and financial issues are used to illustrate topics and concepts throughout the course.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-450 Mutual Funds
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310);
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the mutual fund industry and its evolution into the brokerage business. The course focuses on developing this foundation knowledge through classroom discussions and case analysis with guest experts in the various aspects of mutual funds.
- FIN-510 Independent Study in Finance
Prerequisites:
instructor's (full time), chair's, dean's approval
Credits:
1.00- 6.00
Description:
Independent study allows students to expand their classroom experience by completing research in an area of interest not already covered by Suffolk courses. The student designs a unique project and finds a full-time faculty member with expertise in that topic who agrees to sponsor it and provide feedback as the proposal is refined. A well designed and executed research project broadens and/or deepens learning in a major or minor area of study and may also enhance a student's marketability to potential future employers. Students cannot register for an Independent Study until a full proposal is approved by the faculty sponsor, department chair, and academic dean. Many Independent study proposals require revisions before approval is granted; even with revisions independent study approval is NOT guaranteed. Students are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal in enough time to register for a different course if the proposal is not accepted. For complete instructions, see the SBS Independent/Directed Study Agreement and Proposal form available online.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-550 Spec Topics Finance
Prerequisites:
FIN-315; see department for course topic
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an in-depth analysis of timely special issues in finance. Specific topics are announced when the course is scheduled. Additional prerequisites are based upon the individual topic.
Required Experiential Component, 1 Course, 0 Credit
Finance majors must complete 150 hours of preprofessional finance experience prior to graduating. Experience may be acquired through an internship, part- or full-time employment, or cooperative education. Students must register for FIN 560, Finance Practicum, during or immediately before the semester in which they complete the required 150 hours. The experiential component carries no academic credit, nor requires any tuition, and will be graded pass/fail. Approval of this experience must be obtained from the Finance Department.
- FIN-560 Finance Practicum
Prerequisites:
Must obtain approval from FIN dept
Credits:
0.00
Description:
Required of all Finance majors. Majors will have an approved 150 hours of finance experience. Experience may be acquired through internship, part- or full-time employment or cooperative education. Zero Credit
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Finance Concentrations
Finance majors may choose to specialize in one of four areas. All majors complete the 4 required core courses ( FIN 311, FIN 315, FIN 417 and FIN 419) as well as the required Finance Practicum, FIN 560. In addition to these requirements, finance majors who choose to specialize follow the instructions for their area of interest.
1. Investments
Required courses:
- FIN-411 Futures & Options
Prerequisites:
FIN 315; Junior standing;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an in-depth analysis of derivatives: futures, options, and swaps. The course explains why these securities exist, where and how they are traded, how to employ them in managing risk, and how to accurately price them. It also covers the use of these derivatives in the context hedging or speculation.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-413 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
Prerequisites:
FIN 315, Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an advanced course in investment analysis stressing efficient frontier and diversification. Also studies portfolio construction and management, and the tradeoff of risk versus return.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
Choose ONE
- FIN-317 Real Estate
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course focuses primarily on real estate investment and many different approaches are discussed. The course examines related areas of law, finance, insurance, taxation, appraisal and brokerage.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-410 Analysis of Financial Statements
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310), Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the analysis and interpretation of financial statements. It is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. It also covers comparative financial statements and trend and ratio analysis.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-450 Mutual Funds
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310);
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the mutual fund industry and its evolution into the brokerage business. The course focuses on developing this foundation knowledge through classroom discussions and case analysis with guest experts in the various aspects of mutual funds.
2. Corporate Finance
Required courses:
- FIN-415 Capital Budgeting
Prerequisites:
FIN 311 or permission of instructor, Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course develops the practical techniques and decision rules in the evaluation and selection of long-term investment projects. Teaching is oriented towards discussion of readings and case studies. Readings should provide students with understanding of capital budgeting techniques, and case studies should allow them to apply the techniques to real-world problems with the help of the computer.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-410 Analysis of Financial Statements
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310), Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the analysis and interpretation of financial statements. It is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. It also covers comparative financial statements and trend and ratio analysis.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
Choose ONE
- FIN-317 Real Estate
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course focuses primarily on real estate investment and many different approaches are discussed. The course examines related areas of law, finance, insurance, taxation, appraisal and brokerage.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-411 Futures & Options
Prerequisites:
FIN 315; Junior standing;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is an in-depth analysis of derivatives: futures, options, and swaps. The course explains why these securities exist, where and how they are traded, how to employ them in managing risk, and how to accurately price them. It also covers the use of these derivatives in the context hedging or speculation.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
3. Financial Institutions
Required courses:
- FIN-432 Financial Institutions
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310); FIN 319
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course analyzes the role of financial institutions, such as commercial banks, savings and loans, and mutual savings banks in the economy. Topics covered also include dynamic changes in functions of financial institutions and increasing influence of alternative institutions like hedge fund, private equity fund, and venture capitalist.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-319 Money & Capital Markets
Prerequisites:
EC 101; EC 102; Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers characteristics, structure and function of money and capital markets with a focus on the recent events relating to financial markets and their impact on the corporate financing behavior and the interrelationship among the various financial markets. Also, each type of financial institution and its internationalization are discussed.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Choose ONE:
- FIN-313 General Insurance
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course includes the theory, practice and problems of risk bearing in business and personal pursuits including life, property and casualty insurance and dealing with contract analysis and investments as well as corporate risk management.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-450 Mutual Funds
Prerequisites:
FIN 200(formerly FIN 310);
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the mutual fund industry and its evolution into the brokerage business. The course focuses on developing this foundation knowledge through classroom discussions and case analysis with guest experts in the various aspects of mutual funds.
4. Financial Planning
Financial Planning (FP) offers a valuable opportunity for students to pursue a career in financial planning. Financial planners analyze and provide advice on all areas of a persons financial life: investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, income tax management and insurance. In most cases, planners analyses and recommendations are provided to clients in a written financial plan. The planner may then coordinate the implementation of the plan and periodically review it to account for changes in the clients life and current economic conditions.
Finance majors who choose to specialize in Financial Planning complete all of the following requirements:
- ACCT-320 Federal Taxation I
Prerequisites:
ACCT 202
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This first course in taxation concentrates on the federal income taxation of individuals with some discussion of business taxation. The objective of the course is to explore the basic structure of individual income taxation, including the individual tax formula, income, deductions and credits and an introduction to property transactions. A major emphasis is placed on how tax laws affect everyday personal and business decisions.
- FIN-200 Business Finance
Prerequisites:
MATH 128 or higher; ACCT 201; STATS 240 or STATS 250 (can take concurrently with FIN 200); Sophomore standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is a study of the functions of business finance and focuses on basic financial principles such as time value of money, risk and return tradeoffs, and asset valuation. Formally FIN 310.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-313 General Insurance
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course includes the theory, practice and problems of risk bearing in business and personal pursuits including life, property and casualty insurance and dealing with contract analysis and investments as well as corporate risk management.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-315 Principles of Investments
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers the investment of funds by individuals and institutions. Focuses on analysis of investments and security markets, and the mechanics of trading and investing. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, futures, and options.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
- FIN-401 Practical Financial Planning
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310), Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is designed to expose the student to the wide range of financial planning tools and techniques available today to the professional financial planner as well as to the individual. By the end of the course the student should be able to construct a sensible and workable financial plan for a client.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
- FIN-422 Estate Planning
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course provides an introduction to estate planning, including a discussion of wills, intestacy, and tax consequences of estate planning techniques. The course will prepare students to discuss the necessity, objectives and techniques of estate planning with clients. It will introduce students to the consequences of intestacy and the uses of wills. Additionally, students will learn the basic concepts of the federal estate, gift and income tax rules that apply to certain estate plans and how to use them for the benefit of clients.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
- FIN-423 Retirement Planning
Prerequisites:
FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course examines financial planning for retirement and presents a comprehensive process for doing such a planning. Among the main topics covered are setting financial objectives for retirement, planning for adequate retirement income, social security and other governmental benefits, understanding qualified and non- qualified plans, pre- and post-retirement investment planning, planning for long-term care, and planning for incapacity.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
The program was approved by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board. Upon completion of the program, students are entitled to take the CFP exam administered by the CFP Board, which is an integral part of the prestigious CFP certification process.
Requirements
We do not use specific minimums for scores or grades in the decision process, but weigh all factors together to gain a whole view of you and your potential for success as a Suffolk University student:
- Level and range of high school courses selected
- Grades achieved (official high school transcript with senior year grades)
- SAT or ACT scores (our code is 3771)
- Recommendations (two required; one from a guidance counselor, one from a teacher)
- The essay
- Other required forms
- Admission interview (optional)
- Transfer students should view the transfer requirements page for more details.
Work Experience
No work experience is required.
Related Scholarships*
- Academic Excellence Scholarship
"The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."
- Alumni Study Travel Fund
Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.
- Amsterdam Merit Scholarships
The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.
* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Suffolk University.
