Finance
If you're interested in finance, it's not out of reach. Our Finance department provides you with experiential learning opportunities so you're ready for a life in banking, insurance, financial planning, and more, after graduation.
Can you manage money like it’s your job? Learn the skills to turn it into one. Whether it’s personal, corporate, or public, our finance program teaches you how to evaluate and control risk for positions in the real-world after graduation.
Finance is the study of the creation and management of wealth. Our program prepares students for positions in the financial and non-financial enterprises. The curriculum is modeled on the interrelationships among the functional areas of business as they occur in the real world. Finance majors find job opportunities with a variety of companies, both domestic and abroad.
A finance major learns how to evaluate and control risk. The finance program prepares students for a variety of positions in financial and non-financial enterprises. Career opportunities exist in commercial banking and financial institutions and in the regulatory agencies that oversee them. Additional opportunities exist in corporate finance including positions in financial analysis, cash management, and credit management. Investment-oriented students can explore opportunities in brokerage, bank trust and institution portfolio management. People with degrees in finance have careers as commercial bankers, investment bankers, loan officers, financial analysts, insurance underwriters, stockbrokers, institutional portfolio managers, credit managers, insurance and risk managers, and financial planners.
Areas of Emphasis
Banking Area of Emphasis
The Banking Area of Emphasis prepares finance majors for successful careers in the banking industry. Graduates will be familiar with the composition of this sector, its regulatory environment, and factors influencing commercial bank performance.
Energy Finance Area of Emphasis
Corporate Finance and Valuation Area of Emphasis
The Corporate Finance/Valuation Area of Emphasis prepares finance majors for successful careers in financial management for private and public corporations, valuation, and entrepreneurial enterprises. Graduates also meet the professional standards required for the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) certification.
Risk Management and Insurance Area of Emphasis
The Risk Management and Insurance area of emphasis prepares students for practices and procedures in the business of corporate risk management and insurance industry operations.
Investment Area of Emphasis
Wealth Management Area of Emphasis
The Wealth Management Area of Emphasis provides students with a strong foundation for becoming a practicing financial planner. The curriculum meets the educational requirements for the Certified Financial Planning designation (CFP).
General Finance Area of Emphasis
Finance (FIN) Coursework: 12 hoursStudent Managed Investment Fund
The Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) was created in Spring of 2017 as an actively managed student investment portfolio of $250K to help bridge the gap between the academic and professional spheres. With an overall goal of $1 million, the fund hopes to continue to grow and give back to students through scholarship opportunities. The effort to initiate the Student Managed Investment Fund was spearheaded by Fred Tattersall, a 1970 WVU finance graduate. Mr. Tattersall, along with the help of nine other Founders Club members, were able to establish the fund.
Donate to the Student Managed Investment Fund
On the giving page, select "Department of Finance" from the Designation drop down menu and mention that you'd like your donation to go toward the Student Managed Investment Fund in the Comments section.
Roll Capital Markets Center
REYNOLDS HALL 3201The Roll Capital Markets Center is a cutting-edge financial trading lab equipped with Bloomberg terminals and a stock ticker, providing students with real-time data used by industry professionals.
The lab's layout mirrors that of major Wall Street banks, ensuring a seamless transition for students entering the industry. Its focus lies in capital markets learning and research, covering stocks, bonds, commodities, foreign exchange and derivatives markets. Bloomberg Terminals, available on many computer stations, serve as the primary tool, offering simplified access to crucial financial information and research. The lab also serves as the meeting place for the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), a hands-on program where students manage a real money portfolio exceeding $500,000.
Learn to Invest like the pros
Embark on an extraordinary journey into the world of investing!
Details
Our three-course series offers an unparalleled learning experience, starting with FIN 293A: Introduction to Investing.
The $100,000 Opportunity: Reach the pinnacle of your learning journey in the third course, where you and your team will have the opportunity to manage a $100,000 real money portfolio. Apply your knowledge, develop strategies, and experience the thrill of real-world investing!
Courses
New 3-Course Investing Sequence starting in Spring 2024 - 1 credit hours
each
- Introduction to Investing I (FIN 293A) – no pre-requisite, open to all majors
- Introduction to Investing II (FIN 293B) – pre-req.: FIN 293A or FIN 310 (starting spring 2024)
- Experiential Investing (Manage a $100,000 real money portfolio): FIN 293B or FIN 310 (Fall 2024)
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Admissions
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