Finance plays a pivotal role in business decisions across all functions. A strong foundation in finance is highly valued by employers and provides excellent career options and flexibility upon graduation. St. Thomas finance courses and the degree program prepare students for careers in all areas of finance. Students gain in-depth knowledge and develop important analytical skills in the areas of corporate finance, investments and portfolio management, financial institutions and banking, and global finance. The finance degree program requires students to acquire training in the interrelated areas of accounting, economics and information technology as well.
Finance graduates find career opportunities in the interrelated areas of corporate finance, accounting, investments, security analysis, asset management, financial planning, commercial and investment banking, private equity and venture capital, real estate, insurance and risk management. Typical job titles of finance graduates include financial analyst, security analyst, equity analyst, research analyst, budget analyst, financial advisor, financial planner, financial consultant, loan officer, account specialist, treasury assistant, portfolio assistant and financial manager, among others.
All undergraduate business students are required to take core courses, concentration courses related to their major, and allied courses, which take place outside of the Opus College of Business.
ACCT 100 Principles of Accounting I
BUSN 100 Business for the Common Good
ENTR 100 Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Allied courses in economics, math, and statistics
ACCT 200 Principles of Accounting II
BETH 300 Ethical Principles in Business
BLAW 300 Law for Business Leaders
BUSN 200 Business Learning Through Service
CISC 200 Introductory Computer Technology and Business Applications
FINC 310 Core Financial Management
FINC 311 Advanced Financial Management
MGMT 200 Working Skillfully in Organizations
MKTG 200 Introduction to Marketing
OPMT 300 Operations and Supply Chain Management
At the end of your sophomore year, you’ll declare a business major. As a junior and senior, you’ll take courses specific to your chosen concentration as well as business electives. And, if you choose to study abroad, you’ll likely do so sometime during year 3 or 4.
In addition to your major courses, you’ll also take courses in the St. Thomas Core Curriculum throughout your four years.
All undergraduate business students are required to take core courses, concentration courses related to their major, and allied courses, which take place outside of the Opus College of Business.
ACCT 100 Principles of Accounting I
BUSN 100 Business for the Common Good
ENTR 100 Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Allied courses in economics, math, and statistics
ACCT 200 Principles of Accounting II
BETH 300 Ethical Principles in Business
BLAW 300 Law for Business Leaders
BUSN 200 Business Learning Through Service
CISC 200 Introductory Computer Technology and Business Applications
FINC 310 Core Financial Management
FINC 311 Advanced Financial Management
MGMT 200 Working Skillfully in Organizations
MKTG 200 Introduction to Marketing
OPMT 300 Operations and Supply Chain Management
At the end of your sophomore year, you’ll declare a business major. As a junior and senior, you’ll take courses specific to your chosen concentration as well as business electives. And, if you choose to study abroad, you’ll likely do so sometime during year 3 or 4.
In addition to your major courses, you’ll also take courses in the St. Thomas Core Curriculum throughout your four years.
Students studying financial management select upper-level elective coursework relevant to their interests. The finance department offers a variety of courses that provide experiential learning opportunities within the field.
Peder remembers his relationship with professors and involvement in extra-curriculars at St. Thomas fondly. Not only did Peder's professors teach him the fundamentals of finance, but they connected him with networking opportunities that led to an internship at Merrill Lynch - where he was offered a full-time role in their Financial Advisor Rotational Program after graduation. Peter was also active in the Investments Club, which exposed him to professionals in the industry who gave valuable career insight and advice.
Typical jobs in financial management include:
Scholarships
Scholarships
Mary Daugherty is the founding faculty member of the Aristotle Fund, a $6 million student managed investment fund at the University of St. Thomas.
Jim Shovein has almost 20 years of industry experience, including his position of Vice President of Finance at Best Buy and Vice President of Finance at Ecolab.
Mufaddal Baxamusa is widely published in leading academic journals and has been invited for presentations at universities, and prestigious national conferences, including the annual meeting of the American Finance Association.
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.