Finance

Overview

The BBA with a concentration in Finance provides undergraduate students with the analytical tools and conceptual framework needed to evaluate financial transactions and firms and make financial decisions. The academic program allows students to understand finance from three interrelated perspectives: 1) financial management related to capital budgeting, financial structure, financial analysis, working capital management, and dividend policy; 2) investment and portfolio management related to the valuation of stocks, bonds, and derivative contracts and the construction of efficient portfolios; and 3) the money and capital market related to the issuance and investment in financial instruments by banking organizations with emphasis on the consequence of interest rates and interest rate structure on valuation and risk.

Career Options in Finance

Upon successful completion of the GWSB field of concentration in Finance, students can apply for professional positions such as a credit analyst, equity analyst, or financial analyst with governmental agencies, for-profit corporations, and investment banks. Finance also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in business, economics, public policy, and law.

Program of Study

All students are expected to complete a range of prerequisite classes during their first two years at GW. Some of these courses have a direct impact on later studies in finance. During the freshman year, students take Microeconomics (ECON 11) and Macroeconomics (ECON 12), which present basic economic principles, fundamental to the study of finance. The mathematics sequence (MATH 31/32 or 51/52) builds important competencies in the quantitative skills required for financial analysis. In the sophomore year, Financial Accounting (ACCY 51), Managerial Accounting (ACCY 52), and Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics (STAT 51/53) provide a critical background for understanding the “numbers” on which financial decision making rests. When all these courses have been successfully completed and the knowledge in these courses is “owned”, the student is prepared to take the business core course in finance, Financial Management and Markets (BADM 115).

In their junior year, after completing the core course, Financial Management and Markets (BADM 115), students take the Field Tools Elective: Financial Statement Analysis (ACCY 110), and the Analytical Tools Elective: Regression Analysis (STAT 118). These courses must be taken no later than concurrently with Advanced Financial Management (FINA 124) and one of the following courses: Real Estate Investment (FINA 132), Money and Capital Markets (FINA 135) or Finance Special Topics (FINA 190). After these courses are completed, generally in their senior year students will take the remaining finance courses; Intermediate Finance (FINA 127) and Investment and Portfolio Management (FINA 126).

Course Guidelines

Core Course:

BADM 115* - Financial Management and Markets (Prerequisite: ECON 11, 12, ACCY 51, 52, MATH 31/51, 32/52, and STAT 51/53)

Analytical Tools Elective (Choose One):

STAT 118* - Regression Analysis (Prerequisite: Stat 51/53)

Field Tools Elective (Choose One):

ACCY 110* - Financial Statement Analysis (Prerequisite: ACCY 51 and 52)

Field Courses (Choose Four):

FINA 124* Advanced Financial Management (Prerequisite: BADM 115)
FINA 126* Investment and Portfolio Management (Prerequisite: BADM 115, FINA 132/135/190, STAT 118 and ACCY 110)
FINA 127* Intermediate Finance (Prerequisite: BADM 115, FINA 132/135/190, STAT 118 and ACCY 110) F
INA 132 Real Estate Investment (Prerequisite: BADM 115)
FINA 135 Money and Capital Markets (Prerequisite: BADM 115)
FINA 190 Special FINA Topics (VARIED)

Field Related Elective (Choose One):

ACCY 121 Intermediate Accounting (Prerequisite: ACCY 51)
ACCY 161 Federal Income Taxation (Prerequisite: ACCY 51)
ECON 121 Money and Banking (Prerequisite: ECON 11 & 12)
IBUS 171 International Business Finance (Prerequisite: BADM 115)
IBUS 173 International Banking (Prerequisite: IBUS 171)
TSTD 144 Financial Management in the Tourism Industry (Prerequisite: BADM 115)
Or another course with permission of the field advisor

* Required