Finance

B.S. in Finance Overview

If you’re looking for a focused business career in a field that offers many jobs with above-average income potential and is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate between now and 2022, Alvernia’s new major in finance is worth exploring. A degree in finance will give you the tools you need to access and utilize financial information and understand how financial markets operate. While many students who earn undergraduate degrees in finance choose to pursue graduate degrees, a B.S. in finance can qualify you for many entry-level positions.

People who work in finance-related fields tend to be outgoing and inquisitive, with an aptitude for mathematics. You should be able to work well with people, as you’ll be called upon to interact with clients or others within your organization as you work to advance their financial goals.

If you major in finance at Alvernia, you’ll develop an understanding of the functions and applications of financial markets, and learn how to access and utilize the financial information you’ll need. You’ll also experience “real-life learning” that enables you to link your classroom experiences to the larger community and, indeed, the world.

Faculty members at Alvernia teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally because it develops supervisory and managerial skills that are necessary to advance in your career.

All of Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Finance – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Careers in Finance

A finance degree from Alvernia can prepare you for a career in an area such as financial analysis, banking, insurance or investments. You might work as a financial planner or wealth management advisor, or pursue a job as a commercial real estate agent. You could consider becoming a risk or financial project manager; a credit officer; underwriter; or a broker of stocks, bonds, and commodities. You may pursue a job in the corporate world, or at a federal agency such as the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department or Internal Revenue Service.

For more information about the field of finance and to get an idea of some jobs currently available, visit the website of the American Finance Association at www.afajof.org. You also can research available finance-related positions and read job descriptions to get a better idea of the skills and personal qualities employers desire.

A sampling of employers of Alvernia finance graduates:

• Kellogg’s
• Johnson & Johnson
• Prudential
• First Union
• Vanguard
• Ernst & Young
• Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General

Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Finance majors must complete 61 credits.  View all business course descriptions here.

Required Courses for Finance Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting or BUS 250 Accounting Principles
• BUS 206 Management Principles*
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
• BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
• BUS 426 Strategic Management
• BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
• MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

• ECON 248 Macroeconomics
• ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

• BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
• BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
• BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

• UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

Finance Courses (18 credits)

• BUS 205 Fraud Examination
• BUS 225 Insurance and Risk Management
• BUS 227 Financial Services
• BUS 312 International Business I
• BUS 406 Investment and Portfolio Management
• BUS 412 International Business II

Recommended Courses (Optional)

• BUS 442 Cooperative Education in Business II

 

Business Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in business by earning 21 credits. Required courses for a business minor are:

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting
• BUS 206 Management Principles
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• ECON 248 Macroeconomics OR ECON 249 Microeconomics

Experiential Learning 

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

• The Camden Riversharks
• Citizens Bank
• Cott Beverage
• Ernst & Young
• Four Seasons Produce
• Haines & Kibblehouse
• InRoads
• Morgan Stanley
• The Philadelphia Eagles
• The Reading Royals
• Service And Access Management (SAM)
• Superior Oxygen
• U.S. Department of Finance
• U.S. Department of Treasury
• Walt Disney World
• Webb Insurance

Your advisor, other faculty members and staff of Alvernia’s Career Development Center can help you decide if an internship is right for you. Meanwhile, you can find out more about real-world learning here.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Reading CollegeTowne featuring Enhanced Business Programs

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art metropolitan complex at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s business programs take experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

A new trading floor/business lab will be used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of classrooms. It will be incorporated into upper level seminar classes such as Marketing Research Seminar, Marketing Management, Investment Fund Management, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Analysis and Corporate Finance. The lab will support simulations, research and a wide-variety of other business applications. It will also support the granting of Microsoft Certification for Excel.

The expanded curriculum will fully utilize the new facilities as well as enhanced engagement via the O’Pake Center’s business incubator. The student-run incubator provides hands-on learning for students of all disciplines, allowing students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community. In addition, industry and community partners provide resources, internships and professional mentoring to students. It’s a win-win for both students and businesses in the region.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Finance program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278