University of Tampa

Bachelor of Science in Finance

What Will You Learn?

UT finance majors learn how to analyze and manage financial resources and investments. The program offers instruction in all areas of business through courses in accounting, managerial statistics, management information systems, economics, marketing, and management. This is combined with contemporary studies in managerial finance, investments, financial institutions, international finance, entrepreneurial finance, and more.

Topics of study include:

• Application of accounting principles and techniques to financial analysis
• Purpose of financial markets and their role in the managerial finance function
• Valuation of firms and securities
• How to formulate appropriate portfolio strategies for individual and institutional investors
• Ethical decision-making in finance
• Factors that affect a company’s cost of capital
• How to evaluate the working capital policy of an organization

International business and finance majors enjoy the benefit of in-depth study in finance coupled with an interdisciplinary global perspective, including language proficiency, cultural awareness, and education abroad experience.

Internationally Recognized Program

The Sykes College of Business is accredited at the undergraduate and graduate levels by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), an honor held by only six percent of business schools worldwide. It is rated a top-85 graduate business school in the U.S. by Bloomberg Businessweek, and since 2007 has been named among the best business schools in the world by The Princeton Review.

Practical Experience

Applied projects bring the real world into the classroom by encouraging student interactions in the management of investment portfolios and corporate financial decisions.

The Bailey Student Investment Fund is one example of experiential education opportunities in the finance curriculum. The fund is managed by a class of undergraduate students who analyze specific securities and make all investment decisions. The fund began with $100,000 about 10 years ago and was recently valued at $180,000.

Internships and other hands-on projects take advantage of Tampa’s status as a regional center for business and finance, granting students access to financial institutions such as Citi, PwC, T. Rowe Price, and Raymond James Financial Services which have significant local operations.

Students also interact with the business community through in-class consulting projects, professional guest speakers, field trips, and international programs.

Training with Technology

Finance students not only have direct access to knowledgeable professors with practical expertise, but they also learn to use the most current technology — including SAP’s Compustat database, Oracle’s Crystal Ball simulation software, and Bloomberg’s Professional data terminal. UT’s high-tech trading room offers students hands-on experience in investment management. Training with technology gives students a competitive edge over other job applicants in the industry.

What Can You Do With This Major?

The financial industry offers challenging, diverse, and lucrative career opportunities for self-motivated, diligent candidates.

Change is constant in the field of finance, requiring continued education in technology, government regulations, and the globalization of the marketplace.

The rising importance of financial management and the growing complexity of investments and financial services has led to greater demand for corporate finance professionals. Finance students are prepared for careers in such areas as commercial banking, brokerage, individual and institutional investments, insurance, financial analysis and planning, portfolio management, and more.

Sample job titles include:

• Financial Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Adviser
• Commercial Banker
• Retail Banker
• Budget Analyst
• Financial Services Associate

Many finance graduates continue their education through UT’s graduate programs, earning the M.S. in Finance or the MBA (which offers a concentration in finance) in order to develop greater expertise in areas such as corporate finance, investment portfolio management, financial markets, and international finance. Others enroll in universities across the country including the University of Florida, Georgetown University, Colorado School of Mines, Southern New Hampshire University, and Brooklyn College.

UT’s finance degree is good preparation for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. The CFA designation is the most respected investment credential in the world, recognized by employers as the definitive standard by which to measure the competence, integrity, and dedication of investment professionals. Some graduates successfully pursue the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning.