Finance, Bachelor of Science

Purpose

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Finance is designed to prepare students for careers in: finance, both at the corporate and small business level; financial planning; stock brokerage firms; and financial institutions. The program focuses on providing the student with both practical and theoretical training in the field of finance.

Program of Study

Course offerings focus on skills and competencies that enhance students’ knowledge of finance. The program provides a balanced array of course work in finance at the junior and senior levels. Students also have opportunities to pursue internships in various areas of finance. In addition, the general education requirements provide a well-rounded academic foundation.

Wilmington University students benefit from the training and experience of finance professionals who serve as faculty. The classroom atmosphere is conducive to information sharing, creative thinking, and the exploration of areas of personal interest.

Cooperative Learning Experiences

Cooperative learning experiences (co-ops) are available in the Finance program for FIN 302: Financial Planning and FIN 308: Financial Economics and Instruments. Depending on the co-op experience available and the student’s course completion schedule, other courses such as BBM 301: Organizational Behavior may also be completed as co-ops. Elective courses may also be structured as co-ops. Each co-op experience is expected to last for two consecutive semesters and earn the student six credits toward their 120-credit degree.

To be eligible for the co-op the student must have completed 60 credits and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. The student must inform the Director of the Co-op program and the Finance Program Chair one semester before they would like to begin a co-op assignment.

Program Competencies

In addition to achieving the Wilmington University undergraduate graduation competencies given in the Academic Information section of this catalog, this program will provide students a comprehensive curriculum in financial studies (both domestic and international) that includes the theories, principles, and applications of modern financial management.

Graduating students will:

  1. Demonstrate effective information literacy and communication with valid and reliable research.
  2. Apply ethical standards as required by finance professionals.
  3. Integrate financial terms, concepts and theories affecting corporations, brokerage firms, insurance companies and financial institutions (banks, credit unions, pension funds, etc.).
  4. Exercise critical thinking skills in the analysis and evaluation of financial information in order to formulate appropriate decisions and recommendations.

Minimum Grade Policy

Students pursuing a degree in Finance are required by College of Business policy to attain a minimum grade of “C” for all program core courses. For the purpose of this policy, program core courses are all finance courses. These courses are designated by the prefix “FIN.”

Curriculum

General Education Requirements (27 credits)

CTA 226Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

3

ECO 101Economics I

3

ENG 121English Composition I

3

ENG 122English Composition II

3

ENG 131Public Speaking

3

HUM 360Human World Views: 3500 BCE–1650 AD

3

HUM 361Human World Views: 1650 AD–Present

3

MAT 121College Math I

3

PHI 100Introduction to Critical Thinking

3

Humanities Elective (3 credits)

Natural Science Elective (3 credits)

Social Science Electives (6 credits)

Select two courses from the following:

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

3

SOC 101Introduction to Sociology

3

History/Political Science Elective

3

Business Core (33 credits)

BAC 101Accounting I

3

BAC 102Accounting II

3

BBM 201Principles of Management

3

BBM 301Organizational Behavior

3

BBM 320Business Communications

3

BBM 402Strategic Management

3

BMK 305Marketing

3

FIN 305Financial Management

3

MAT 122College Math II

3

MAT 312Business Statistics

3

BBM 301: available as a co-op

FIN 305: Upper Level finance (FIN) courses are not offered every semester. Students should plan ahead by completing all pre-requisites as soon as possible in order to take the junior and senior level finance courses when they are offered.

Choose one of the following:

BBM 411Operations and Systems Management

3

HRM 311Human Resource Management

3

Finance Program Core (30 credits)

BBM 319Business Ethics

3

BLA 305Business Law for Accounting and Finance Majors

3

ECO 102Economics II

3

FIN 301Personal Finance

3

FIN 302Financial Planning

3

FIN 306Corporate Finance

3

FIN 410Financial Reporting and Analysis

3

MIS 320Management Information Systems

3

FIN 302: available as a co-op

FIN 301, FIN 302, FIN 410: Upper Level finance (FIN) courses are not offered every semester. Students should plan ahead by completing all pre-requisites as soon as possible in order to take the junior and senior level finance courses when they are offered.

FIN 306: FIN 305 is the Prerequisite to FIN 306, with the exception of the Organizational Management program, which has the Prerequisite of FIN 300.

Select one of the following:

FIN 411Investments and Security Analysis

3

FIN 412Financial Institution Management

3

FIN 411, FIN 412: Upper Level finance (FIN) courses are not offered every semester. Students should plan ahead by completing all pre-requisites as soon as possible in order to take the junior and senior level finance courses when they are offered.

Business Electives (6 credits)

Suggested:

BAC 201Intermediate Accounting I

3

BAC 301Cost Accounting I

3

Certain courses may be available as a co-op

Free Electives (12 credits)

Suggested Program Sequence

Freshman

1st Semester

CTA 226Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

3

ENG 121English Composition I

3

FYE 101First Year Experience Seminar

3

MAT 121College Math I

3

PHI 100Introduction to Critical Thinking

3

2nd Semester

BBM 201Principles of Management

3

ENG 122English Composition II

3

MAT 122College Math II

3

SCI Natural Science Elective

3 or 4 credits

Social Science Elective

Sophomore

1st Semester

BAC 101Accounting I

3

ECO 101Economics I

3

ENG 131Public Speaking

3

FIN 301Personal Finance

3

MAT 312Business Statistics

3

2nd Semester

BAC 102Accounting II

3

BMK 305Marketing

3

ECO 102Economics II

3

Business Elective

Business Elective

Junior

1st Semester

BBM 320Business Communications

3

FIN 305Financial Management

3

MIS 320Management Information Systems

3

FIN 302Financial Planning

3

HUM 360Human World Views: 3500 BCE–1650 AD

3

FIN 302: available as a co-op

2nd Semester

BLA 305Business Law for Accounting and Finance Majors

3

HUM 361Human World Views: 1650 AD–Present

3

FIN 306Corporate Finance

3

FIN 308Financial Economics and Instruments

3

FIN 309Introduction to Global Derivatives

3

Humanities Elective

3

FIN 308: available as a co-op

Senior

1st Semester

BBM 301Organizational Behavior

3

 

BBM 411Operations and Systems Management

3

OR

HRM 311Human Resource Management

3

 

FIN 410Financial Reporting and Analysis

3

Free Elective

3

Free Elective

3

BBM 301: available as a co-op

2nd Semester

BBM 319Business Ethics

3

BBM 402Strategic Management

3

 

FIN 411Investments and Security Analysis

3

OR

FIN 412Financial Institution Management

3

 

Free Elective

3

Free Elective

3

Finance with a Concentration in Nonprofit Management

The nonprofit industry is one of the fastest growing employers. The industry is seeking out marketers, HR professionals, and managers with an interest in strategic planning within the nonprofit industry. This nonprofit concentration will focus on the following content areas: Introduction to nonprofits, fiscal management, advocacy and public policy, and one specific identified nonprofit course in the student’s program. There are four core courses in the concentration and one specific program course or an internship. Two of the courses are shared between the College of Behavioral Science and the College of Business. This is a concentration for bachelor’s degrees in Business Management, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Sports Management.

Core requirements (12 credits)

NFP 301Intro to Nonprofit Agencies

3

NFP 302Management of the Nonprofit Organization

3

NFP 303Foundations of Fiscal Management for Nonprofit

3

NFP 304Advocacy and Public Policy

3

Program specific requirements (3 credits)

Students can choose ONE of the following 5 courses:

BMK 339Marketing for Nonprofits

3

FIN 331Finance for Nonprofit

3

HRM 361HRM in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

3

NFP 307Fundraising for Nonprofits

3

SPM 309Sports and Athletics Fundraising

3

Students may substitute any program specific course for an alternate NFP course of their choosing or an internship.

Total concentration courses are five courses equaling 15 credits.

Finance Completion Degree

What is a Completion Degree

A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility. 

Curriculum

Transfer students who hold an associate degree from a partner institution are required to take the following Finance courses.

Finance Core

BBM 319Business Ethics

3

BBM 320Business Communications

3

BBM 402Strategic Management

3

BBM 411Operations and Systems Management

3

OR

HRM 311Human Resource Management

3

BLA 305Business Law for Accounting and Finance Majors

3

BMK 305Marketing

3

FIN 301Personal Finance

3

FIN 302Financial Planning

3

FIN 305Financial Management

3

FIN 306Corporate Finance

3

FIN 308Financial Economics and Instruments

3

FIN 410Financial Reporting and Analysis

3

FIN 411Investments and Security Analysis

3

OR

FIN 412Financial Institution Management

3

MAT 312Business Statistics

3

MIS 320Management Information Systems

3