Factors to Consider When Selecting a School for Finance and Investment
Higher Education Articles May 14, 2014Students taking a bachelor’s degree program in finance will be prepared for careers in several industries, including fund management, investment services, and banking. Although many four-year colleges have finance programs, very few have options specific to investment. Those interested in an investment specialization should make sure that potential financial programs offer a sufficient amount of coursework in the field, in order to meet career training expectations.
Selecting a School for Finance and Investment
Students seeking a good school for enrollment in an undergraduate finance degree program must consider whether or not an investment minor, major, or concentration is offered at the school. Programs specific to investment are not offered at most schools; however, investment classes are incorporated into general finance coursework. Program catalogs should be read online by students in order to determine how many investment courses a prospective school offers. Students interested in the subject can also consider the use of elective credits to complete investment finance coursework. When you research schools, you would do well to consider the location of the school. Better internship affiliations are usually witnessed among schools located near highly-populated areas, such as in the vicinity of the city’s financial district.
Students can get real-world exposure to investment finance through participation in internships. Most internships mandate prerequisites to be satisfied, including accomplishment of a minimum GPA. Successful completion of a few financial courses is required at most schools before they allow incoming students to begin an internship program. It would also benefit potential students to know whether or not any social clubs that cater to finance majors are offered by the school. Extracurricular activities would contribute to greater skill diversity, making for more well-rounded candidates who find favor with potential employers.
Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance
Students enrolled in four-year finance bachelor’s degree programs are provided with the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills they would need in securing a career in investment finance. Coursework includes areas of study such as investing, risk management, financial planning, statistics, and accounting. Interdisciplinary perspective is offered through elective and general education courses devised to complement the finance field. Thus, students seeking occupations in a particular finance-related industry, such as merchandising or marketing, would be better armed to deal with every aspect of their career. Graduates employed in the field of investment are usually employed in brokerage firms as portfolio managers or security analysts.
Continuing Education Choices
Bachelor’s degree graduates who wish to pursue a graduate degree may seek continued education by earning a master’s degree in finance and investment. While candidates who don’t hold a baccalaureate degree in finance may find the program appropriate, graduates of a bachelor’s degree program in finance will enjoy the benefit of having fulfilled many course prerequisites prior to admission to the program, such as accounting, statistics, and calculus.
The design of many graduate-level programs is focused on satisfying the needs of working professionals. GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission. Instead, incoming students may need to submit letters of recommendation or a resume.
