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THE
MAJOR
The Finance major is a department within the College of Business. For more information about Business majors at JMU, view the COB's new promotional video.
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSFIN.shtml
Description of Major
Finance is offered as a major at JMU through the Department of Finance and Business Law. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Finance offers a strong foundation in the principles of valuation, financial statement analysis, and the concepts behind sound financial decision making. The finance major is designed to prepare students for careers in the financial management of industrial and commercial enterprises; commercial savings and mortgage banking; investment analysis and portfolio management; real estate; insurance; finance positions in federal, state and local governments; and graduate study. The required major courses provide all finance majors with an emphasis in financial management, investments, and markets. Electives permit the student to specialize in areas such as international, portfolio management, financial institutions, financial analysis, and real estate.
Students must successfully complete lower‑level business requirements and apply for admission in to the College of Business in order to pursue the Finance major. Students interested in pursuing a business major are encouraged to begin taking lower‑division business courses as early as possible.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
The study of finance prepares students for a variety of career opportunities. Financial management studies individual, corporate, or governmental financial planning, asset and liability management, and corporate budgeting. Students interested in investment management learn analysis of financial investments and the economic interaction between the financial institutions and the financial markets in which they operate. Some students interested in the international aspect of finance study asset and liability management, capital budgeting, fund-raising, and exchange transactions for multinational corporations. They also study international financial markets, financial institutions, and risks involved in foreign transactions. Students study asset and liability management of institutions with special consideration given to the legal and regulatory environment to prepare for careers in commercial banking, savings and loans, credit unions, and regulatory agencies.
Tell
me more about specializations in this field.
Finance involves the study of how money is stored, protected, received, distributed, and generally managed. It is a broad area that tends to overlap into a number of specialized fields such as planning, real estate, and insurance. Areas of specialization are: savings and loans, checking, customer service, accounting, credit cards, computer systems, research, budget expenditures and cost analysis, supervision and administration, trust services and security.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
Finance majors will often combine their study with economics or accounting. Some other possible combinations include Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Management, Public Administration, or Technical and Scientific Communication.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Successful students in finance have a strong aptitude for solving problems, working with figures, as well as analyzing, comparing, and interpreting facts and data. Strong written and oral communications skills are also important. Knowledge of and familiarity with computers is becoming increasingly essential. Internships and / or other experiential learning are helpful in gaining permanent employment in finance.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. For example, many students major in finance as preparation for law school.
Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study, further training, or some form of certification. Possible career paths include the following:
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