Bachelor's in finance
From Wall Street to the neighborhood bank, finance offers diverse and exciting career options in commercial banking, investment banking, corporate finance, financial planning and other areas.
Finance is at the heart of every business enterprise, and financial knowledge is highly empowering and enriching for both individuals and corporations. In the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business, finance students learn about the management of money and other assets, such as stocks and bonds, for organizations and individuals. Take classes during the day or in the evening, on campus in Detroit or online. Courses provide a solid background in many subjects, including:
- Financial markets and intermediaries
- Measuring the risk and return of investments
- Financial management in international money and capital markets
- Functional areas of bank management and related financial institutions
- Recent developments in futures and options
AGRADE program
Highly qualified finance majors are eligible to participate in the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program. AGRADE students can cut substantial time and as much as one-third off the total cost of a WSU graduate business degree program by applying up to 12 credits toward both their undergraduate finance degree and master of science in finance, M.B.A. or other graduate business degree.
Departmental honors
Current Mike Ilitch School of Business students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher may enroll in courses with an honors component assignment option and complete the 15 required credits to qualify for an honors distinction on their transcript and diploma at graduation. Review departmental honors eligibility and requirements.
Finance careers
Students graduating with a major in finance continue to be in demand as job opportunities are expected to grow at a rate faster than average for all occupations. This will be due, in part, to a growing range of financial products, an aging population seeking financial planning advice and new regulations that will likely require more examiners.
Finance majors at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, especially those with internship experience, often receive career offers upon graduation in a variety of corporate and public finance settings. Graduates can choose to pursue careers ranging from investment management, commercial lending and corporate financial analysis to venture capital fund management, forecasting and budgeting. Opportunities will present themselves at the local, national and international levels as the global economy continues to develop.
Additional finance career information from the U.S. Department of Labor:
Study abroad
Study abroad programs organized by the Mike Ilitch School of Business are offered in Italy and Central Europe. These opportunities are led by faculty and involve visits with the foreign operations of Detroit-area companies and various cultural sites. Students majoring in global supply chain management, marketing, management and technology, information systems and analytics (TISA), as well as graduate students, are strongly encouraged to fulfill some of their program requirements via an Ilitch School study abroad program. For undergraduate majors in accounting or finance, a study abroad course could be applied toward Free Elective credit hours. Please check with your academic advisor for guidance before pursuing the study abroad option.
