Finance Bachelors Degree Online
Is a Finance Degree for You?
If you excel in math and enjoy working with numbers, you may want to consider studying finance. Finance is an evolving field of business that requires a great deal of critical thinking and problem solving. Finance majors will learn how to help businesses and organizations make money by budgeting, investing wisely, raising funds and making other important financial decisions. Finance students will study financial management, financial markets and institutions, business law, financial statement analysis, corporate finance and other key subjects. Finance programs also focus on strengthening communication and leadership skills, which play an important role in the relationship and success of your client. Finance majors closely study the economy and stock market, in order to stay abreast of the latest trends and practice making investment decisions. Depending on the program, students may have the option of choosing a specialization within the field of finance, including investment analysis, corporate finance, real estate and international finance. Finance programs will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge needed for various careers in business finance, banking, financial planning, trading, retail brokerage, mergers and acquisitions and several other industries.
Advice for Earning Your Finance Degree Online
More than ever, students are returning to school to earn their finance degree and take advantage of the recovering market that desperately needs skilled accountants, financial analysts, investors and commercial bankers. Earning a finance degree is smart, but doing it online is an even better idea, especially for students who have to balance school with work and family demands. Online finance degrees are credible alternatives to traditional campus degrees because they are virtually the same. Students receive the same quality education as traditional students and the programs are held to the same standards. Online finance majors will benefit from completing an internship or summer job in an area of finance that interests them. Not only will this give them hands-on experience and valuable training, but it may the ticket to securing a job after graduation. On the same note, online finance degrees have become more widely accepted and respected by employers in field, as long as the degree comes from an accredited college. Before enrolling in any online program, students need to make sure that their college is accredited. Accredited schools have been reviewed by an accrediting agency that's backed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have any doubt or questions about a school's accreditation, be sure to check with the institution.
Required Courses
Most finance programs require students to take a range of math, economics and communications classes before taking any finance and concentration courses. Students typically begin their finance classes during their sophomore or junior year, in which they'll be required to take accounting, financial management, business law, marketing, statistics, investments, financial statements analysis and much more. These courses promote leadership, critical thinking and problem solving skills that will come in handy in any number of finance careers.
Common Career Paths
Finance graduates are eligible to work in a wide variety of careers in several different fields. Some common careers for finance graduates include financial planner, financial consultant, investment analyst, stockbroker, budget officer and bank examiner. Another popular career path for finance majors is to become financial analysts because it's a lucrative job and incorporates a great deal of what they learned in their undergraduate education to work. Financial analysts often work for banks, insurance companies, securities firms, mutual and pension funds and other businesses that need help making investment decisions.
Starting Salary: $38,927 to $51,225
Mid-Career Salary: $51,954 to $73,311
Learn More About a Career in Finance
