Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
A student pursuing a bachelor of science in business administration degree can choose to major in finance. Finance teaches students about the financial operations and financial management of firms. Students learn about the financial records of firms, the character and appraisal of corporate securities, and financial techniques used in all phases of the discipline. In addition, students may choose elective subjects which permit them to aim at a particular segment of finance, such as corporate finance, commercial and investment banking, and financial planning. Certain courses are offered each semester; others are cycled every other semester or every other year to provide the greatest diversification possible.
Finance majors are encouraged to join the Finance & Economics, and Rock Solid Investment Club. These student organizations sponsor a variety of professional and social activities such as informal gatherings among students, invited guest speakers, annual networking trips, tours, and travel
All majors are encouraged to do an internship in the summer semester between their junior and senior year. Students may seek placements in their individual area of interest. Internships are available in the areas of banking, insurance, financial advising, financial services, manufacturing and government. In today’s market, employers often offer internships to attract qualified students to their firms.
Finance majors are particularly well suited for positions in the private or public sector that require knowledge of financial institutions and financial operations such as commercial banks, investment services companies, insurance companies, and real estate firms.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Communication (UO1): Students graduating with a degree in business administration will demonstrate competency in oral and written communication skills. Students will:
- Prepare in proper format and style the following documents: business report (one to two pages), business memo, research report and presentation.
- Deliver an effective oral presentation on a business and/or professional topic.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (UO2): Students graduating with a degree in business administration will demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students will:
- Apply critical thinking skills to analyze and interpret financial statements to judge business performance.
- Apply critical thinking skills using quantitative techniques for problem solving and strategic decision making.
-
Degree Program Writing Competency (UO5): Students will create written business and professional documents in appropriate style and format.
- Ethics (UO8): Students graduating with a degree in business administration will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to meet professional competencies as business professionals and global citizens. Students will demonstrate:
- An understanding of the history and vocabulary unique to business disciplines.
- Knowledge of procedures, concepts, and technical business skills through practical application (forecasting, budgeting, financial statement analyses, business plans, strategic planning).
- The ability to read and interpret financial statements in the decision-making process.
- Effective team work and collaborative skills in a simulated business environment.
-
Information Technology (UO10): Students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers and software to manage information with statistical analysis, spreadsheet, database and other appropriate applications.
- Professional Proficiency (UO5): Students graduating with a degree in business administration will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to meet professional competencies as business professionals and global citizens. Students will demonstrate:
- An understanding of the history and vocabulary unique to finance disciplines.
- Knowledge of procedures, concepts, and technical finance skills through practical application (forecasting, budgeting, financial statement analyses, business plans, strategic planning).
- The ability to read and interpret financial statements in the decision-making process.
- Effective team work and collaborative skills in a simulated business environment.
RELATED LINKS
Curriculum Guide
GPA Requirement
Major GPA: 2.0 or higher
Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher
Core GPA: 2.0 or higher
Summary*
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Studies 2 Requirements | 42-43 | |
| Other Basic Requirements | 0-3 | |
| Major Requirements | 63 | |
| Electives | 14-15 | |
* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate.
Rock Studies 2 Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The Rock | ||
| SUBJ 139 | Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 104 | Critical Reading | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Introduction to Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice | ||
| Ethics and Civil Discourse | ||
| Civil Discourse and Democracy | ||
| Subtotal | 15-16 | |
| Integrated Inquiry | ||
| Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Humanities Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Social Science Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Inquiry | ||
| SCI 101 | Science of Life | 3 |
| Physical Sciences Inquiry | ||
| SCI 102 | Understanding the Physical World | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Thematic Thread | ||
| Select 12 Credits 2 | 12 | |
Required Thematic Thread Coursework: | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Total Hours | 42-43 | |
- 1
Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.
- 2
One course from each category; six credits must be 300-level or above; no more than 4 credits from one subject area; specific courses required in first major, regardless of prefix of course, cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements; any course with same prefix as first major cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements, even if it is not a course in the first major.
Basic Math Requirement
Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 0-3 | |
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR | ||
| Beginning Algebra | ||
| Total Hours | 0-3 | |
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT
Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation. Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career.
Major Requirements
- 30 major credits must be taken at SRU or PASSHE
- 30 major credits must be taken at the 300 level or above
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration Core Requirements | ||
| ACCT 209 | Financial Accounting 1 | 3 |
| ACCT 322 | Business Analysis and Decision Making 1 | 3 |
| ACCT 340 | Legal Environment of Business 1 | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Macroeconomics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 219 | Business Analytics I 1 | 3 |
| or MGMT 219 | Business Analytics I | |
| ECON 319 | Business Analytics II 1 | 3 |
| or MGMT 319 | Business Analytics II | |
| FIN 303 | Issues in Global Business 1 | 3 |
| or MGMT 303 | Issues in Global Business | |
| or MRKT 303 | Issues in Global Business | |
| FIN 320 | Managerial Finance 1 | 3 |
| MGMT 320 | Operations Management 1 | 3 |
| MGMT 351 | Organizational Behavior 1 | 3 |
| MGMT 458 | Business Capstone 1 | 3 |
| MIS 265 | Management Information Systems 1 | 3 |
| MRKT 230 | Principles of Marketing 1 | 3 |
| Subtotal | 39 | |
| Required Computer Science Course | ||
| CPSC 210 | Productivity Software 1 | 3 |
| or MIS 210 | Productivity Software | |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Required Finance Courses 2 | ||
| FIN 200 | Personal Financial Planning 2 | 3 |
| FIN 321 | Investments 2 | 3 |
| FIN 323 | Financial Markets and Institutions 2 | 3 |
| FIN 326 | Intermediate Corporate Finance 2 | 3 |
| FIN 427 | International Financial Management 2 | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Required Electives 2 | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 6 | |
2 Courses in FIN 3XX/4XX | Finance 300/400-Level Electives 2 | |
OR | ||
1 Course in Finance 300/400-Level Electives PLUS one of the following: 2 | ||
| Macroeconomic Analysis 2 | ||
| Microeconomic Analysis 2 | ||
| Money and Banking 2 | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics 2 | ||
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
- 1
Course counts for 50% of Major and not for Major GPA
- 2
Course counts for 50% of Major and Major GPA
- *
Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.
Co-curricular and Experiential Learning
Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. These opportunities can deepen and enhance the learning in accounting, economics and finance. In addition, there is a strong correlation between long-term student success and engagement in these opportunities:
- Internships
- Participation in student organizations
- International study programs (short-term, semester, and year-long)
- High-Impact Practice (HIP) designated classes
- Student-faculty research
- Student leadership development
- Service-learning classes
- Career education and development
Important Curriculum Guide Notes
This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.
PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions
FINANCE - BSBA (2342)
This program is effective as of Summer 2024
Revised 07.01.2024
UCC 03.19.2024
RECOMMENDED FOUR-YEAR PLAN
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Writing | 3 |
| ESAP 101 | FYRST Seminar * | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Introduction to Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| SUBJ 139 | Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 | 3 |
| CPSC 210 or MIS 210 |
Productivity Software or Productivity Software |
3 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 104 | Critical Reading | 3 |
| SCI 101 or SCI 102 |
Science of Life or Understanding the Physical World |
3 |
| Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry | 3 | |
| Humanities Inquiry | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON 219 or MGMT 219 |
Business Analytics I or Business Analytics I |
3 |
| ACCT 209 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| MIS 265 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| MRKT 230 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| SCI 101 or SCI 102 |
Science of Life or Understanding the Physical World |
3 |
| Declare a Thematic Thread 2 | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 319 or MGMT 319 |
Business Analytics II or Business Analytics II |
3 |
| FIN 200 | Personal Financial Planning | 3 |
| MGMT 320 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice | ||
| Ethics and Civil Discourse | ||
| Civil Discourse and Democracy | ||
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FIN 303 or MRKT 303 |
Issues in Global Business or Issues in Global Business |
3 |
| FIN 320 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| ACCT 322 | Business Analysis and Decision Making | 3 |
| MGMT 351 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| ECON 302 | Microeconomic Analysis (Recommended Electives) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FIN 321 | Investments | 3 |
| FIN 323 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 3 |
| ACCT 340 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| ECON 301 | Macroeconomic Analysis (Recommended Elective) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FIN 326 | Intermediate Corporate Finance | 3 |
| Finance Elective | 3 | |
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FIN 427 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 458 | Business Capstone | 3 |
| Finance Elective | 3 | |
| Thematic Thread Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| ECON 318 | Introduction to Econometrics (Recommended Electives) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours** | 121-122 | |
- 1
Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.
- 2
Work with your Academic Adviser to declare a Thematic Thread by the end of your fall semester in your second year.
- 3
Students may consider using Free Electives for a second major or minor in Accounting or Economics.
- *
Students are encouraged to take ESAP 101 as a Free Elective.
- Note: By choosing the suggested options, students can finish with BSBA double majors in Finance and Economics, or a major in Finance with a minor in Economics.
** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Some planners may show more than 120 credits because faculty have created flexibility in choosing courses. However, only 120 credits are required to obtain a degree. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year.
Major Code: 2342
Revised: 05.30.2024