Dec 26, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Specialization in Finance, BSBA

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Purpose

Finance is a discipline dealing with the allocation of funds within an organization and the acquisition of funds to meet its current and future needs. The finance specialization is designed for students who are interested in financial management as it relates to both financial and non-financial firms. Areas of emphasis included within the finance specialization are business financial analysis and management, investment analysis and management, financial markets and institutions management, risk analysis and management, and personal financial planning. Career opportunities associated with the finance specialization include, but are not restricted to, the following: cash management, credit management, financial analysis, capital budgeting, investment analysis, securities analysis, portfolio management, securities brokering, commercial lending and loan management, retail bank management, risk management, insurance company operations and management, and personal financial planning and management.

Concentration in Financial Planning

The Concentration in Financial Planning within the Finance Specialization is designed to provide students with an academic and professional level of education in the field of financial planning and to prepare them to advise individuals on issues of insurance, investments, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The Financial Planning Concentration requires students to complete the following eight courses (24 credit hours): FIN 3400 , FIN 3500 , FIN 4130 , FIN 4140 , FIN 4210 , FIN 4350 ; ACCT 3410 , & ACCT 4440 .

As the Financial Planning Concentration Program is officially registered with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board of Standards, upon successful completion of the concentration, students will meet the educational requirements of the CFP® Board of Standards and be eligible to sit for the CFP® certification examination. Successful completion of the CFP® exam, along with meeting other CFP® Board of Standards requirements, is necessary to receive the CFP® designation.

Concentration in Financial Analyst

The Concentration in Financial Analyst is designed for business students to prepare them to become successful financial management/investment professionals with CFA professional designation. The program offers the academic and professional levels of education covering a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). The Financial Analyst Concentration requires students to complete ECON 3030 as part of BSBA Business Core and the following seven finance courses (21 credit hours): FIN 3400 , FIN 3500 , FIN 4350 , FIN 4130 , FIN 4360 , FIN 4450  & FIN 4550  beyond the general degree requirements for a BSBA degree.

Upon completion of program requirements, students can sit for Level I Exam of the CFA Institute, the first step to become a CFA holder. BGSU’s Finance Specialization Program is recognized as CFA Institute’s University Affiliation Program (UAP). Based on students’ progress toward the completion of program requirements, students may apply for UAP Student Scholarships which will partially subsidize fees for initial registration and CFA Level I Exam (Reference: Student Guide to UAP Student Scholarships: http://cfainst.is/StudentGuide).

Learning Outcomes

Student completing the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration will demonstrate their ability to:

  1. Apply business knowledge to solve practical problems and make informed business decisions.
  2. Analyze business problems to evaluate different perspectives, propose effective solutions, and justify choices using critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making.
  3. Develop persuasive business presentations and reports that effectively convey information and ideas to diverse audiences.
  4. Evaluate ethical dilemmas in business situations, considering multiple perspectives, and justify choices based on ethical principles and professional standards.

BG Perspective (BGP) Requirements

Must complete at least 1 course in each of the following:

   English Composition and Oral Communication
   _____________________________    ________

   Quantitative Literacy
   _____________________________    ________

Must Complete at least 2 courses in each of the following:

   Humanities and the Arts
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________    

   Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                      

   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                        

Complete total required BGP credit hours by selecting courses from any of the above categories:

   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                    

University Requirements

Designated courses in Humanities and the Arts and the Social and Behavioral Sciences domains may be used to fulfill both the BGP requirement and one of the following university requirements:

Cultural Diversity in the US    ____________
International Perspective       ____________

Composition Requirement:
WRIT 1120                              

Total BGP Credits: Must be at least 36                      

First Year Experience

(3 credit hours)

Calculus Requirement

(3 credit hours)

Business Core

(56 credit hours)

*can also apply towards BGP requirements

**BA 4500  is only open to seniors who have achieved BSBA admission and have credit for BA 3500 , FIN 3000 , MGMT 3000 , MGMT 3600 , MKT 2010  and BA 3800 . Prerequisite or concurrent with MGMT 4060 .

***BA 2120  requires BIZX 2200  be taken concurrently

Finance Specialization

(21 credit hours)

*Elective Choices:

Any four of the following with at least two courses being finance courses:

Specialization Notes:

  • Students pursuing the Financial Planning Concentration within the Finance Specialization are required to take the following five finance electives: , FIN 4140 , FIN 4210 ; ACCT 3410  and ACCT 4440  in addition to FIN 3400 , FIN 3500  and FIN 4350  (a total of 24 credit hours).
  • Students pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Concentration within the Finance Specialization are required to complete ECON 3030  as part of Business Core and the following four finance electives FIN 4130 , FIN 4360 , FIN 4450  & FIN 4550  in addition to FIN 3400 , FIN 3500  & FIN 4350  (a total of 21 credit hours)
  • All 4000 level Finance courses require a grade of “C” or better in the prerequisite Finance course.

Electives

Additional hours may be needed to reach university minimum and/or optional additional specialization or minor.

BSBA Admission Requirements

Direct admittance to the BSBA program requires an 18 ACT and 18 ACT Math or SAT Total 970 and 500 Math, or test optional 3.0 GPA and C or better in all classes (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II - or equivalent); International students 3.5 GPA or above.

BGSU students planning on transferring to the BSBA program must apply for College entrance upon completion of 12 BGSU hours toward the degree with minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrate readiness to complete the calculus requirement or, in the case that 45 or more hours are transferred from another institution, with a GPA of 2.5 or greater and calculus ready.

University Hours Not Toward BSBA Degree:

Credit for the following courses count only toward total hours earned and class standing.

Notes:

  • The checksheet should be used in conjunction with the degree audit and advising to track progress toward degree completion.
  • The calculus requirement, all required business courses, and courses required for the specialization must be taken for a letter grade.

Elective Courses:

  • Electives are courses that count toward the BSBA degree from any University area to fill the elective requirement.
  • See above for a list of courses that do NOT count toward the BSBA.
  • ECON 2000  cannot be used to satisfy specialization or elective requirements.
  • BIZX 4000 must be completed at BGSU.

Internships are highly encouraged as they do not only provide a way to bridge the classroom material to the practice, they lead to potential future employment with the company.
Study abroad and a second specialization or minor are highly encouraged.

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