Finance is the study of the purchase and sale of assets by individuals and institutions. Understanding the markets and the terms of financial transactions in a global context is integral to the study of finance. Finance majors develop analytical skills through required courses that emphasize the financial environment of business, the decision-making process of corporations, key principles underlying the investment and valuation process, and the expanding international context of financial analysis, portfolio construction and trading.
Finance majors use real-time data in the Trading Room, housed in the Hughey Center for Financial Services, where students apply theory and information technology to financial analysis, asset valuation and risk management. The broad range of electives offered allows for specialization through concentrations in Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Capital Markets and Sustainable Investing. Students are encouraged to participate in internships (paid or unpaid) as part of the Finance major, and often have their pick from a variety of career choices in commercial banking, corporate finance, financial planning, insurance, money management and more. The Finance degree provides sound preparation for career opportunities in management training programs of major corporations, financial services firms, insurance and financial planning and also for graduate education in business, finance, law and other disciplines.
In addition to the specific major requirements described below, students must also complete all designated requirements in Foundations for Success, Contexts & Perspectives in the Arts & Sciences, Business Dynamics, Communication Intensive coursework, and the additional degree requirements for business majors. Details can be found in the Degree Requirements section of the catalogue, including the Overview and the Business Majors tabs.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Program Requirements | ||
EC 112 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
FI 305 | Principles of Accounting and Finance | 3 |
FI 306 | Financial Markets and Investment | 3 |
FI 307 | Advanced Managerial Finance | 3 |
FI 347 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
FI 351 | International Finance | 3 |
Select a concentration | 9 | |
Total Credits | 27 |
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
FI 335 | Derivatives | 3 |
Choose two of the following: | 6 | |
Quantitative Portfolio Management | ||
Equity Research | ||
Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact (SRI) Investing | ||
Mutual Fund Operations and Management | ||
Operations of Financial Institutions | ||
Fixed Income Securities | ||
Advanced Financial Modeling | ||
Internship in Finance | ||
Introduction to FinTech | ||
Blockchain Applications and Decentralized Finance | ||
Investment Applications of Natural Language Processing | ||
Subject to department permission, any other relevant elective. | ||
Total Credits | 9 |
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FI 345 | Applied Corporate Finance | 3 |
Choose two of the following: | 6 | |
Equity Research | ||
Fixed Income Securities | ||
Advanced Financial Modeling | ||
International Project Finance | ||
Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
Internship in Finance | ||
Introduction to FinTech | ||
Blockchain Applications and Decentralized Finance | ||
Investment Applications of Natural Language Processing | ||
Subject to department permission, any other relevant elective. | ||
Total Credits | 9 |
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
Any three Finance (FI) or Finance and Technology (FT) courses not otherwise required. | ||
Total Credits | 9 |
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
FI 360 | Introduction to Personal Financial Planning | 3 |
FI 361 | Comprehensive Financial Plan Development | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Quantitative Portfolio Management | ||
Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact (SRI) Investing | ||
Mutual Fund Operations and Management | ||
Insurance and Risk Management, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning | ||
Internship in Finance | ||
Introduction to FinTech | ||
Blockchain Applications and Decentralized Finance | ||
Investment Applications of Natural Language Processing | ||
Subject to department permission, any other relevant elective. | ||
Total Credits | 9 | |
Students enrolled in the above Personal Financial Planning Concentration have the option to also satisfy the requirements for successful completion of the undergraduate CFP Board Registered “Financial Planning Concentration”1 by specifically completing the following four courses in addition to the required FI360 and FI361 (Capstone) courses (a total of 18 credits): | ||
Financial Markets and Investment | ||
or FI 623 | Investments | |
Advanced Managerial Finance | ||
or FI 627 | Corporate Finance: Applications and Advanced Topics | |
Insurance and Risk Management, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning | ||
Financial Modeling | ||
or FI 631 | Financial Modeling | |
1 Students completing this CFP Board Registered Program at Bentley will have met the Education requirement for CFP® Certification Examination administered by CFP Board. |
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
FI 316 | Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact (SRI) Investing | 3 |
Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
Quantitative Portfolio Management | ||
Equity Research | ||
Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
Energy Alternatives | ||
Science of Sustainability | ||
Global Climate Change | ||
Science of Environmental Policy | ||
Subject to department permission, any other relevant elective. | ||
Total Credits | 9 |