"Mini-Guide" to a Finance Degree Online

• "The finance major provides you with a general understanding of financial decision-making and an insight into the way financial markets perform. Emphasis is on the financial management function in firms and not-for-profit organizations, the valuation of financial securities, and the appropriate management of financial risk."

- College Board Book of Majors, 2nd edition

• "Required abilities and additional training differ depending on which finance discipline you choose. Regardless of which sub-field you choose, you'll need a keen understanding of numbers, of market forces, and of the market itself. The ability to work in teams will also serve you well, especially at the outset of your career."

- What Can You Do with a Major in Business? By Kate Shoup Welsh, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005

• "Financial institutions, such as commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and mortgage and finance companies, employ additional financial managers who oversee various functions, such as lending, trusts, mortgages, and investments, or programs, including sales, operations, or electronic financial services. These managers may be required to solicit business, authorize loans, and direct the investment of funds, always adhering to federal and state laws and regulations."

- America's 101 Fastest Growing Jobs, 8th edition

Think about a finance degree if:

• You are interested in financial markets and investing.
• You enjoy reading the kind of material that is covered by publications like The Economist, the Financial Times, or the Wall Street Journal.
• You have a good memory and like conducting research.
• You know the meanings of different phrases such as "to short a stock" and "puts & calls", and it's easier for you to refer to companies using their tickers rather than their names.
• You are strong with numbers and mathematics, as well as being skilled in reading graphs and charts.
• You have Google Finance and Bloomberg.com bookmarked in your Web browser.
• Leadership comes naturally to you and you like working with a team.
• The Hollywood movie Wall Street is one of your favorites.
• You are energized by investing, and enjoy learning more about different industries and sectors.

If a finance degree isn't quite right for you, consider these fields instead:

• Accounting:
  Expose yourself to a variety of business disciplines; focus on the collection, interpretation and communication of an organization's performance.
  Online Accounting Degrees | Online Accounting Certificates
• Business Administration:
  Strategically organize and lead effectively; learn how attitude, capital and resources connect and contribute to success and failure in the business environment.
  Online Business Administration Degrees |
  Online Business Administration Certificates
• Economics:
  Explore the theories and principles dedicated to the understanding of what drives a market and how policies, laws, and other factors affect it.
  Online Economics Degrees | Online Economics Courses
• Legal Studies:
  With a focus on the American legal system, understand the complexities of justice, politics, its impact on everyday human conflict..
  Online Law Degrees | Online Paralegal Degrees
• Marketing:
  Delve into a discipline that analyzes the anticipated the needs of consumers, how new business opportunities are discovered and product development.
  Online Marketing Degrees | Online Marketing Certificates

Many schools allow you to choose a specialization to "fine tune" your degree. There are a variety of concentrations that students can focus on with their finance degrees.

• Corporate Finance
  Corporate finance looks at corporate decision-making and the potential financial outcomes of those decisions (investment, financing, dividend).
• Commercial Banking
  Commercial banking is concerned with the banking transactions of companies and corporations (transactions such as bank loans and deposits). Commercial banking is separate from retail banking, which deals with the banking transactions of individuals.
• Financial Planning
  Financial planners work with individuals to discuss their financial goals and advise their clients about how to achieve those goals.
• Investment Banking
  Investment banking, unlike commercial and retail banking, has to do with the buying, selling, and trading of securities (such as stocks). The majority of their clients are corporations and governments.
• Money Management
  A money manager works with individuals and institutions (such as private colleges and universities), advising his/her clients regarding the buying, selling, and trading of securities.
• Real Estate Investment
  Property and real estate that is purchased for reasons other than living is used for investment and profit. Firms that specialize in real estate investment services typically work with individuals and corporations.

While the exact curriculum will vary from school to school, here are some of the courses you might take while earning a degree in finance degree student:

• Business Finance
• Capital Markets
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Management
• Insurance and Risk
• International Business Finance
• Introduction to Microeconomics
• Investment Banking
• Investing for Governments and Not-for-profit Organizations
• Portfolio Management
• Real Estate Finance
• Risk Management
• Security Trading
• Statistics
• Tax Analysis

When you have completed your finance degree, you will likely have gained many of the following skills and competencies:

• Ability to use current computer technology that is relevant to finance
• Be able to understand and appropriately use data and information to determine the financial stature of a corporation, organization, government, etc.
• Develop time management and prioritization skills
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in regards to business and the financial industry
• Comprehend of written reports and associated charts and graphs quickly and accurately
• Gain a strong knowledge of capital markets, including their history and how they are currently regulated
• Know how to measure and manage financial risk among a variety of financial investments and businesses
• Have strong critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze data and research
• Understand and effectively apply theory and nomenclature
• Value and uphold ethics and fair business practices

As a career-oriented major focusing on capital markets, investment, and financial analysis, finance majors are needed in a variety of industries, such as

• Appraisal Firms
• Brokerage Firms
• Commercial Banks
• Corporations
• Credit Unions
• Developers
• Federal Agencies Including: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury Department
• Foundations
• Hospitals
• Investment Banks
• Life Insurance Firms
• Mortgage Banks
• Not-for-profit Organizations
• Private Businesses
• Property and Casualty Insurance Firms
• Real Estate Investment Trusts
• Regulatory agencies including: Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, OTS, SEC
• Savings and Loan Associations
• Savings Banks
• Schools, Colleges, and Universities

Possible Job Titles for Associate's or Bachelor's Finance Degree Holders/Entry Level Job Titles

Here is a sampling of jobs you for which you may be qualified with a degree in finance. Use this for inspiration, remembering that this many represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers can consider.

• Account Manager
• Agency Manager
• Auditor
• Associate Trader
• Bookkeeper
• Budget Analyst
• I-Banker or i-Banker
• Insurance Broker
• Loan Officer
• Loan Processor
• Research Analyst
• Stock Broker
• Trade Support Specialist
• Underwriter

Possible Job Titles for Advanced Degree Holders/Additional Experience Often Required

• Branch Manager
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Financial Manager
• Investment Consultant
• Internal Revenue Agent
• Managing Director
• Portfolio Manager
• VP of Finance
• VP of Risk Management