Department CatalogDegree Requirements
The Department of Finance, Real Estate and Insurance, in conjunction with the other departments in the College of Business and Economics, offers curricula leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with options in Real Estate, or Financial Services.
The study of Finance consists of three interrelated areas: (1) capital markets, which deals with securities markets and financial intermediaries; (2) investments, which concerns the decisions of individual and business investors; and (3) financial management, which focuses on the actual management of firms. The major in Finance emphasizes both theoretical and practical approaches to these areas. As part of the curriculum, the Department offers elective courses in futures and options, real estate, insurance, risk management, international finance, and an honors section of FIN 437, The Student Portfolio Management Class, where a small number of students manage a stock portfolio for the University Corporation.
The Real Estate option provides an introductory survey of the field of real estate and offers specialized courses in real estate law, real estate appraisal, and real estate finance. Instructional emphasis is placed on both theoretical and practical aspects of the field and prepares students for a variety of real estate careers. Courses in finance offered by the Department supplement the four Real Estate major courses. A double major in Finance and Real Estate may also be taken.
The Financial Services option is specifically designed to prepare students for careers in the financial services industry: securities, banking, insurance, and personal financial planning. Although the financial services option is based on many of the same analytical skills and theoretical foundations as the finance major, the emphasis is somewhat more applied in nature. As part of the program, students are required to take FIN 442, Theory and Practice of Financial Planning, FIN 432, Investment Analysis and Management, two insurance courses, and a senior level course in business law. Students who select the Financial Services option may not also select other options or degree programs within the College of Business and Economics.