Degree Overview: Associate of Finance
Majors Overview May 31, 2013Finance professionals may consult clients, balance budgets, make crucial decisions, or work in management positions upon completion of an associate degree program in finance. The two-year degree program will lead to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree; students will study financial sectors such as commercial banking, investment banking, loans, mortgage, and real estate.
Associate Degree Program in Finance
Graduates can seek jobs in both private and public sector. With an in-depth understanding of personal and corporate finance acquired from the associate degree program, students can seek entry level jobs as well as management trainee positions. Alternatively, they can choose to continue their education by matriculating into in a four-year bachelor degree program. It typically takes two years of full-time study to complete an associate degree program in finance, including the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Science (A.S.). Admission criteria usually require applicants to hold a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma. Colleges and universities rarely offer associate of finance degrees.
Program Coursework
To earn an A.A.S. or A.S. degree, students are required to take liberal arts core courses including history and English. Most schools offer these classes in a traditional classroom environment as well as online. Classes that create a foundation of financial knowledge may include the following:
•Business ethics and law
•Financial management
•Corporate finance
•Microeconomics
•Investment principles
•Credit analysis
•Financial accounting
Career Options
Between 2008 and 2018, the financial industry is projected to grow rapidly, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS – www.bls.gov). Students who have earned their associate degree in financing will be able to obtain the following career titles:
•Insurance analyst
•Credit analyst
•Financial planner
•Loan processor
Continuing Education Information
Financial professionals usually pursue higher levels of education since there is massive competition within this industry. Individuals can earn a doctoral, master, or bachelor degree in finance. Other advanced graduate and undergraduate finance programs will be available as concentration options through broader business administration programs, or as programs that strictly focus on finance. Finance professionals who do not progress beyond the associate level can pursue specific coursework that allow them to specialize in a particular area of finance.
