Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Finance is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for careers in finance, banking, and related fields. The program is offered in partnership with the Penn State Behrend Black School of Business, which is AACSB accredited, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

Program Details

The program features a firm grounding in the principles of business, economics, and accounting, with an in-depth focus on issues and knowledge in finance and financial management. Students will study all components of the field of finance, including investments, corporate finance, and financial markets. The program also provides opportunities for students to develop essential skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.

Entrance-to-Major Requirements

To change their major to finance, students must earn at least 29.1 credits and a C or better in the following five entry-to-major courses:

• ACCTG 211
• ECON 102
• ENGL 15 or ENGL 30
• MATH 110 or MATH 140
• SCM 200 or STAT 200 or equivalent

Prescribed Courses

The program requires students to complete a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• 47 credits of prescribed courses, such as:
  • ACCTG 211: Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making
  • ACCTG 426: Financial Statement Analysis
  • CAS 100: Effective Speech
  • ECON 102: Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
  • ECON 104: Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
  • ENGL 202D: Effective Writing: Business Writing
  • FIN 301: Corporation Finance
  • FIN 420: Investment and Portfolio Analysis
  • FIN 451: Intermediate Financial Management
  • FIN 471: International Finance
  • MGMT 301: Basic Management Concepts
  • MGMT 471W: Strategic Management and Business Policy
  • MIS 204: Introduction to Management Information Systems
  • MKTG 301W: Principles of Marketing
  • SCM 301: Supply Chain Management
• 1 credit of electives
• 34-37 credits of additional courses, including:
  • 6 credits of 400-level FIN courses, excluding FIN 494 and FIN 495
  • 6 credits from FIN or other business areas
• 15 credits of supporting courses and related areas

General Education Requirements

Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses that meet the following requirements:

• Foundations: 15 credits
  • Writing/Speaking: 9 credits
  • Quantification: 6 credits
• Knowledge Domains: 15 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Integrative Studies: 6 credits
  • Inter-Domain course work: 6 credits
• Exploration: 9 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN) (may be Inter-Domain): 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-Domain courses: 6 credits

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of the finance program, students can pursue or advance a career in banking, financial analysis, security analysis, corporate finance, or personal financial planning. Potential job titles include:

• Budget Analyst
• Credit Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Controller
• Portfolio Manager

Faculty

The program is taught by experienced faculty members, including:

• Jeff Coy, Ph.D.
• Greg Filbeck, CFA, FRM, CAIA, CIPM, PRM
• Xuechen Gao, Ph.D.
• Tim Krause, Ph.D.
• Bob Patterson, MBA
• Eric Robbins, MBA
• Phil Stuczynski, MBA
• Xin (Jessica) Zhao, Ph.D.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which students register and the number of total credits they have accrued at or transferred to Penn State. The 2025-26 academic year rates are:

• $638 per credit for students with 59 or fewer credits
• $685 per credit for students with 60 or more credits
• $7,755 per semester for students with 12-19 credits and 59 or fewer credits
• $8,371 per semester for students with 12-19 credits and 60 or more credits

Application Instructions

To apply for the program, students must:

1. Review the admission requirements
2. Gather required materials, including high school transcripts or GED transcript, official college or university transcripts, and English proficiency test scores (if applicable)
3. Create a Penn State login account
4. Complete the application, including the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
5. Submit the application and required materials by the deadline

Deadlines and Important Dates

• Summer deadline: March 15
• Fall deadline: June 30
• Spring deadline: October 31, 2026

Additional Information

The program is offered in a convenient online format, allowing students to study at their own pace. The Black School of Business has also been accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which recognizes the program's incorporation of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) into its curriculum. Students who complete the required course work will be better prepared to sit for the CFA exams.