Finance

At USF, finance majors develop a clear understanding on how a firm obtains financial resources and obtains assets used to produce revenue and financial rewards for its owners and employees. Upon completion of the program, students can obtain jobs as a banking and credit analyst, entrepreneurial and small business financier, a financial planner and a general financial manager.

You will learn:

  • To apply fundamental and advanced financial concepts in the decision making process weighing benefits and costs.
  • To design financial spreadsheet models to assist in problem solving exercises dealing with real world examples pertaining to financial management.
  • To advance the study of finance and its impact both locally and globally in making the world a better place for all.

 

Concentrations include: Banking & Credit Analyst, Entrepreneurial & Small Business Finance, Financial Planning, General Financial Management

Projects designed by USF students include:

Investments
Students developed multilayer spreadsheets calculating projected retirement income requirements for fictional investors. This encompassed a large number of scenarios advancing a strategy for attaining specific retirement income goals.

Capital Budgeting
Students worked with various cases relating importance of developing financial strategies to maximize the value of a firm by acquiring the proper mix of capital. Spreadsheet modeling was used to set up scenario analysis and solver criteria to deal with various financial factors.

Principles of Finance
Students worked in teams to develop interest rate forecasting models, stock pricing models and bond valuation models using Excel spreadsheets constructed from scratch.

Advanced Corporate Finance
Students formed three panels to discuss and compete in a “Jeopardy” gaming exercise reviewing key concepts connected with understanding capital structure theories and applications. This contest allows students to accumulate points in a game setting while allowing them to verbally explain concepts.

 

What can I do with my finance degree?

  • Commercial Credit Analyst
  • Financial Corporate Analyst
  • Corporate Treasury Analyst
  • Account Receivables Analyst
  • Commercial Lending Officer
  • Budget Analyst
  • Investor Relations
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Commercial Banking Credit Manager
  • Personal Financial Planner
  • Insurance Agent
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Investment Banker
  • Commodities Broker
  • Foreign Exchange Risk/Operations Manager
  • Financial Controller

In the real world

Students intern experiences and opportunities:

  • Harris Bank – Credit Analyst
  • Merchandise Mart, Chicago – Receivables Analyst
  • Hewitt and Associates – Data Analyst
  • First Community Bank – Account Analyst
  • CNA Insurance – Underwriter Trainee
  • First Midwest Bank – Credit Analyst
  • W.W. Grainger – Budget Specialist
  • Merrill Lynch – Financial Assistant
  • Kraft Foods – Treasury Assistant

Learn more about the profession