What Finance Majors Study
The B.S.B.A. in Finance builds the qualitative and quantitative skills to measure, analyze and evaluate financial assets across stocks, bonds, real estate and derivatives. Students apply them in wealth management, corporate finance and investment research.
Courses move from a macro view of financial activity to specific, practical decision-making.
Degree Requirements
The B.S.B.A. in Finance totals 128 credits:
- 74 credits in the major
- 36 to 44 credits in the university core
- 10 to 18 credits of electives
A finance minor and a 4+1 MBA are also available.
Through the CFA Institute University Recognition Program, students can cover at least 70 percent of the Level I CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge in their coursework.
Key Finance Courses
- FIN 3010 Financial Management: financing the corporation, financial statement analysis and cash-flow valuation
- FIN 3015 Corporate Finance: capital budgeting, capital structure and corporate financial decisions
- FIN 3020 Investment Analysis: valuing stocks, bonds and derivatives, with the option to earn Bloomberg certification
- FIN 3025 Fixed Income Analysis: fixed income markets and how bonds are valued
- FIN 3030 Real Estate Investment Analysis: valuing and financing real estate investments
- FIN 3035 Financial Derivatives: options, futures, forwards and swaps for managing risk
- FIN 4030 Financial Modeling: building valuation and forecasting models
- FIN 3001 Financial Certification, SIE Review: preparation for the Securities Industry Essentials exam
- FIN 3002 Financial Certifications, Series 65: preparation for the Series 65 exam
The W. Allen Tilley Trading Room
The Tilley Trading Room is a Wall Street-inspired trading facility that doubles as a classroom and finance lab. It runs S&P Global and Bloomberg software alongside other research and data sources.
Faculty come from the profession and mentor students individually.
“Different business and finance classes gave me a great knowledge base and prepared me to be able to talk to people in my industry.”
Thomas Connolly, finance graduate at Fidelity Investments
Floyd T. Craven Investment Club
Students manage a real-money portfolio of more than $300,000 through the Floyd T. Craven Investment Club, running market studies and stock pitches out of the Tilley Trading Room.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Finance students work the High Point International Home Furnishings Market, take global business courses abroad and connect with the High Point business community.
How the Finance Major Builds Market-Ready Skills
Finance students earn industry credentials alongside their coursework. Bloomberg certification is built into FIN 3020. The SIE exam is covered through FIN 3001, and Series 65 preparation runs through FIN 3002. Students also train on Envestnet. Corporate Finance covers capital budgeting and capital structure, and course selection can cover at least 70% of the Level I CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge. The Investment Club puts that work into practice in the Tilley Trading Room.
Graduates use those skills right away. Keaton Geist joined JPMorgan Chase in middle market banking. Isaiah Tyler works as a credit risk analyst at JPMorgan Chase. Christian Sawina joined JPMorgan Chase as a rotational analyst. Course descriptions are in the HPU undergraduate bulletin, and students who want a graduate degree can continue into the HPU MBA. Some also add a second major in accounting. See the BLS outlook for financial analysts for national pay and job data.
Faculty include Dr. Steven Lifland, director of finance programs, along with Jim Wehrley and Kenneth McEwan, who took students to the American Bankers Association Convention in Charlotte.
Hear From Finance Graduates
Graduates share how HPU prepared them for careers at JPMorgan Chase.
Keaton Geist
Finance major · Middle Market Banking Analyst, JPMorgan Chase
“All of the finance professors were extremely helpful and impactful in assisting my career development and teaching me the necessary skills to enter the banking world.”
Isaiah Tyler
Finance major · Credit Risk Analyst, JPMorgan Chase
“My most impactful mentor at HPU was Dr. Jim Wehrley, Associate Professor of Finance. His service and relationship with me went far beyond the call of duty of a university professor.”
Christian Sawina
Finance major · Rotational Analyst, JPMorgan Chase
“Everyone needs the life skills for continued success, and that’s as simple as a good handshake, or as complicated as a two-minute drill.”
Explore Finance at High Point University
The finance curriculum at High Point University pairs certification prep with real portfolio work.
Accreditation & Awards Careers & Student Organizations
Questions about the program? Email Dr. Steven Lifland at [email protected].