The finance major prepares students for entry into a wide variety of interesting, exciting and challenging careers. All students who major in finance take a core set of requirements covering financial management,financial systems, investments, and international business finance. Depending on their interests and career objectives, students also choose elective courses in the areas of investments, bank management, risk and insurance, real estate, and accounting.

For more information about the finance major, please contact either the Department of Finance 330-672-2426 or the College of Business Administration, Undergraduate Programs Office, 330-672-2872.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The finance field offers students a very wide range of opportunities. The following is only a partial list.

A career in financial management involves:

• Forecasting, Budgeting, Planning, Controlling

Financial analysts study and evaluate the financial performance of businesses for the benefit of managers and investors. They seek to estimate values of :

1. Stocks
2. Bonds
3. Mutual funds
4. Options
5. Futures Contracts

Portfolio managers supervise the investments of major institutions such as:

1. Pension funds
2. Mutual funds
3. Insurance companies
4. Banks
5. Nonprofit foundations

Investment bankers help companies raise funds from individual and institutional investors by helping them to sell new issues of stocks and bonds in the financial markets. They are also instrumental in trading securities on organized exchanges and over-the-counter markets.

Banks, savings institutions, credit unions and finance companies make up a very large group of employers of finance graduates. They offer many career possibilities, including positions in:

Bank management

1. Loan analysis
2. Branch management
3. Marketing financial products
4. Business services
5. Trust activities.

Insurance, risk management, and financial services are all growing areas of career opportunity. Insurance agents market life insurance and property and casualty insurance. Risk managers help businesses evaluate the need for various kinds of insurance coverage, as well as finding ways for companies to manage and reduce exposure to a wide variety of physical, personal and financial risks. Personal financial advisers help individuals and families to evaluate their financial situation and plan their insurance, investment, and retirement programs.

In the area of real estate, there are opportunities in:

1. Real estate brokerage
2. Marketing and leasing properties
3. Real estate appraisal
4. Real estate investment
5. Property management

RELATED EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

Internship opportunities in conjunction with the business community are available for top students. The department assists applicants in making connections.

To build connections and to develop organizational and leadership skills, students are encouraged to join the Financial Management Association (FMA). The FMA is a professional student organization which promotes extracurricular activities in the field of finance. Students have the chance to interact with faculty and finance practitioners in informal settings.

Another student organization that presents considerable appeal to any business major is Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity. In addition, there are over 100 other student organizations in which students may find opportunities to develop finance and general business skills. See student organizations for more details.

Students are also afforded a rare campus experience at KSU---a credit union! Kent is one of the few campuses in the country that offer this service.

RELATED ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Employers and educators recognize the importance of building a strong liberal arts background --- especially for business students. Students are encouraged to consider minors offered by the other colleges and schools at Kent. For example: a student would like to become the financial manager of a police department. Having a major in finance and a minor in criminal justice studies would be very helpful in achieving this goal. Another example is a finance major with a minor in fine arts to prepare the student for a financial manager's position with a theatre company.

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