Department of Economics

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The Department of Economics and Finance offers majors in business economics and finance for students in the School of Business Administration. Finance majors also

have the ability to earn an (optional) emphasis in investment management. The department also offers majors in economics and applied mathematical economics for students in the College of Arts and Sciences (search these majors to view their requirements). Minors in economics, business economics, and finance are available to all students.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
AMS 300/301	American Cultures	3

Faculty

Trevor Collier, Chairperson
Professors: Caporale, Chen, Ruggiero
Associate Professors: Collier, Mohan, Poitras, Wang, Zhang
Assistant Professors: Chang, Haskell, Schutte, Williams
Lecturers: Douglas, John, Livesay, Shimmin
 

Business Economics

Economics teaches students to think analytically about problems that arise in business, politics, and everyday life. The business economics major offers students the strength of economic theory combined with a focus in an area of applied business and develops the student's quantitative skills by requiring course work in econometrics or forecasting. The major is excellent preparation for a wide range of employment opportunities in business, government, and education. It also prepares students for graduate study in law, public policy, and business. Students who wish to pursue graduate study in economics should supplement the major with additional mathematics courses or major in applied mathematical economics.

In addition to other requirements, a major in business economics requires: ECO 203-204 (with a grade of C or better), ECO 340 or 346, ECO 410 or 441, ECO 490, 6 additional semester hours of economics electives, and a breadth requirement, which is a total of 6 additional semester hours of courses in economics electives, or mathematics or business courses from the approved list. See the department office for the approved breadth requirement courses.

Faculty

Trevor Collier, Chairperson
Edmund B. O'Leary Professor of Economics: Ruggiero
Professors: Caporale, Ruggiero
Associate Professors: Collier, Poitras
Assistant Professors: Haskell, Williams
Lecturer: John
 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Economics (ECB) minimum 126 hours

Academic electives to bring total to at least 126 credits

Minor in Business Economics (ECB)

Finance

The finance major provides students with a working understanding of the financial decision-making process, how financial markets function, and the acquisition and management of capital. A student may choose a general finance curriculum or specialize in courses relating to investment analysis and portfolio management, financial institutions and services, or corporate financial management. Students will be prepared for a variety of careers in business and in the government sector with work in areas such as financial analysis, capital budgeting, banking, mergers and acquisitions, working capital management, real estate, and insurance. A major in finance is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in business administration or corporate and securities law.

In addition to other requirements, the major in finance consists of FIN 360 Investments, and FIN 401 Finance Capstone: Advanced Financial Analysis or FIN 460 Finance Capstone: Portfolio Management & Security Analysis; six semester hours of 400 level finance electives; and six additional semester hours of 300 or 400 level finance electives.  Finance majors must earn at least a C+ in FIN 301, Introduction to Financial Management.  One of the electives may come from:ACC 305 Intermediate Financial Accounting I Part I, ECO 415 Game Theory with Business Applications, or MTH 490 Readings in Mathematics.

Finance Major with Investment Management Emphasis

The objective of the Investment Management Emphasis is to provide better guidance on finance course selection to our students interested in a career in investment management. Investment management is the professional management of assets on behalf of a client. These assets can be publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, and derivatives), commodities, real estate or foreign currencies. An investment manager acts as a fiduciary agent and her main occupation is to help her clients' meet their specified investment goals. An investment manager can work for or on behalf of a financial institution (insurance companies, mutual funds, hedge funds, pension funds, corporations, brokerage firms, investment banks, and non-profits) or a private investor. Money managers, financial advisors, traders, and analysts are all part of the investment management industry. The services provided by financial managers include financial statement analysis, asset and portfolio selection, and evaluation of investment performance.

To earn the Investment Management Emphasis, the courses selected for the finance major should fulfill the following three requirements:

1. FIN 470 Fixed Income Securities (Fixed Income Securities) or FIN 480 Options & Futures Markets (Options and Futures Markets)
2. FIN 460 Finance Capstone: Portfolio Management & Security Analysis (Portfolio Management and Security Analysis)
3. One course from the following list (if not already taken):
4.    FIN 470 Fixed Income Securities (Fixed Income Securities)
5.    FIN 480 Options & Futures Markets (Options and Futures Markets)
6.    FIN 479 Seminar in Bond Portfolio Management (Seminar in Bond Portfolio Management)
7.    FIN 481 Introduction to Technical Trading (Fundamental and Technical Trading)
8.    FIN 482 Energy Markets (Energy Markets)
9.    FIN 484 Advanced Trading Techniques (Advanced Trading Techniques)
10.    FIN 493 Seminar in Investments (Seminar in Investments)

Faculty

Trevor Collier, Chairperson
William J. Hoben Professor of Finance: Chen
Professor: Chen
Associate Professors: Mohan, Wang, Zhang
Assistant Professors: Chang, Schutte
Lecturers: Douglas, Livesay, Shimmin
 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance (FIN) minimum 126 hours

Accounting

 Academic electives to bring total to at least 126 credits

Minor in Accounting (ACCT)