Program Description
The finance program at CMU will help you develop a solid background in all aspects of business. You will be well prepared for a career in finance, investments, banking and high-level management. You can even prepare to be a CEO: more chief executive officers have a background in finance than in any other business field.
Points of Pride
- Finance majors at CMU recently exceeded world averages in the Bloomberg Aptitude Test. Topics include financial statement analysis, investment banking, economics, global markets, math skills and analytical reasoning.
- As a finance major at CMU, you’ll have access to Wall Street data and analytics via 12 Bloomberg Terminals. You’ll also manage more than $1 million in assets in two portfolios: the Martha Seger Fund and the Tom Celani Student Investment Portfolio.
Put Your Degree to Work
Career paths include bank manager, budget analyst, chief financial officer, credit manager, financial analyst, financial manager and loan officer. Companies include Merrill Lynch, Royal Bank of Canada, Goldman Sachs, Fifth Third Bank, UBS, PNC Bank, General Motors, Chrysler, and Dow Chemical.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data
| Job | Median Pay | Job Growth through 2022 |
|---|
| Financial Manager | $109,740 per year | 9% (47,100 more jobs) |
| Financial Analyst | $76,950 per year | 16% (39,300 more jobs) |
| Loan Officer | $59,820 per year | 8% (22,900 more jobs) |
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
Finance Major
The Finance Major prepares students for careers in banking, corporate finance, and investments.
Total: 36 semester hours
Common Body of Knowledge Courses I
(6 hours)
BUS 100
Essential Business Skills
3
Introduces students to the concept of a business, its disciplines, and essential business skills including decision making, team work, and oral and written communication. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
MGT 499
Integrated Capstone-Strategic Management
3
An integrative capstone course applying and analyzing financial, marketing, supply chain and other business functions within a global strategic management perspective. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: 86 semester hours completed; BUS 300, 301; MGT/MKT 303; FIN 302; MKT 304; Tier 2 Admission to Professional Business Studies. Preference given to graduating seniors.
Common Body of Knowledge Courses II
(3 hours)
Select one of the following:
BUS 300QR
Applied Business Statistics
3
Applications of statistical analysis to support business decision making. Covers collection of business data, analysis of business datasets, and presentation of results. This course may be taught in an online format. Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 26 hours completed.
BUS 503
Business Process Improvement
3
This course applies principles and practices of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and other operations improvements that have been demonstrated to bring value to business. LSS builds on a business statistics foundation. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 56 semester hours completed.
Required Courses
(21 hours)
FIN 315
Principles of Investments
3
Provides students with basic knowledge about different investments and sources of information to enable them to make wiser investments and prepare to build portfolios. Prerequisites: 56 hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
FIN 425
Options and Futures
3
Survey of markets for futures and options on financial securities and commodities. Valuation of futures/options and application for hedging risk. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or FIN 332, FIN 315 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
FIN 442
Intermediate Financial Management
3
In-depth examination of financial management building on introductory level course. Application of current theory and practices are discussed including simulation, comprehensive cases, and term project. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or 332; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
FIN 448
Fundamental Financial Analysis
3
Methods of fundamental financial analysis necessary for evaluating and forecasting firm financial and operating performance. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or FIN 332; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
FIN 472
Money and Capital Markets
3
Survey of money and capital markets, strategies for growth, and timing of financial policy. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or FIN 332; ECO 201 or ECO 204, ECO 202 or ECO 203; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
FIN 499
Advanced Financial Management
3
The capstone course in finance. Broad integrative topics within financial management are examined through cases, exams, and a written project. Required of finance majors. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or 332, 442, 448; 86 semester hours completed; Tier 2 admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor. Recommended: FIN 472.
FIN 573
International Finance
3
Role of financial manager in international corporations. Environmental problems of foreign exchange. Techniques for making investment decisions, financing marketing operations, long-term capital structure and flow of funds. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or FIN 332; 56 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
Electives
(6 hours)
Select hours from the following:
Any 300 level or above FIN course with the exception of FIN 303, 320, 332.
ACC 301
Intermediate Accounting I
3
Study of financial accounting processes, theory and principles. Includes analysis of financial statements and financial reporting issues. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. Pre/Co-Requisites: ACC 202 or ACC 255.
ACC 302
Intermediate Accounting II
3
Continuation of ACC 301. Course includes in-depth study of special reporting issues related to financial accounting. Prerequisites: ACC 301; and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
ACC 311
Federal Income Taxation I
3
Basic concepts of federal income taxation, emphasizing individual taxpayers. Tax law covering taxable and excludable income, deductions, basis, tax-free exchanges, capital gains and losses, tax credits, deferral of tax, and depreciation. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor. Recommended: ACC 202 or 255.
ACC 321
Managerial Cost Accounting
3
Accumulation and use of cost accounting information for planning and controlling. Process, job order, and standard cost systems. Prerequisites: ACC 202 or 255; STA 282 or 382; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
