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Finance

Overview

Finance programs prepare people to manage money for people and institutions.

Programs in finance prepare people to manage the financial performance of businesses. Students learn about accounting, debt management, and financial analysis.

Students in finance learn to:

Concentrations

At the graduate level students may be able to specialize in one or more areas such as:

Schools

Most colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in finance. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study. A bachelor's degree is good preparation for entry-level jobs.

Colleges and universities also offer graduate degrees in finance. It is possible to focus on finance in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Graduate Admissions

Admission to MBA programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. If your undergraduate major is not business-related, you should complete courses in accounting, economics, statistics, business law, and management information systems. If you want to get a master's in business administration (MBA), prior business course work may not be as important, although work experience in the business world is very helpful.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Things to Know

Business courses in high school can be useful preparation for a career in finance. Your high school transcript needs to show that you are preparing for a demanding college-level program. In particular, take academic math courses.

Good skills in writing, speaking, and critical thinking are needed for advancement in the business world.

Schools

East Side Area

Central Washington University

Walla Walla University

Washington State University - Pullman

King-Snohomish Area

City University of Seattle

Edmonds Community College

Northeastern University - Seattle

Northwest University

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle University

University of Washington - Bothell

University of Washington - Bothell (Eastside Leadership Center)

University of Washington - Seattle

Spokane Area

Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University (Spokane Campus)

Gonzaga University

Whitworth University

Tacoma Area

Pacific Lutheran University

University of Washington - Tacoma

Vancouver Area

Washington State University - Vancouver

West Side Area

Saint Martin's University

Western Washington University

Whatcom Community College

Yakima Area

Heritage University