Bachelor’s in finance

Why choose finance at the Ilitch School?

Finance is a dynamic field, offering a multitude of exciting career prospects that span from Wall Street to your local neighborhood bank. In our bachelor’s in business administration finance degree program at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, you experience the versatility in career opportunities, learning that finance is not just a career path — it's a key component for businesses and an essential knowledge base for personal financial success.

At the Ilitch School, our finance program equips you with the skills and expertise to navigate the intricate world of money management, investments and financial decision-making through faculty mentorship, internships and student-centered experiences.

You can customize your learning experience by choosing from our bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) pathways and a variety of finance class times and formats, including daytime and evening classes, on-campus sessions in the vibrant city of Detroit or online courses. This makes the program accessible and flexible to accommodate your unique schedule and needs.

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Explore the program

The finance bachelor’s degree curriculum encompasses foundation, core and hands-on learning courses that cover a variety of financial topics, including:
- Financial markets and intermediaries
- Evaluation of investment risk and return
- Financial management within international money and capital markets
- Operational aspects of bank management and associated financial institutions
- Current developments in futures and options
View finance program requirements and courses

Sample 4-year finance completion plan
Finance majors at the Ilitch School can choose to earn either a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) business administration finance degree. Both degree types cover the same finance curriculum; the B.A. includes foreign language coursework. Contact an academic advisor with any questions about our degree types.

The AGRADE program allows finance majors to earn a dual degree by applying up to 12 credits to both their undergraduate finance degree and an Ilitch School business graduate degree of their choice. By participating, AGRADE students save a substantial amount of time and as much as one-third of the total cost of a WSU graduate business degree.

Ilitch School finance majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater have the option to enroll in classes that offer an honors component. Students complete 15 credits in honors courses, leading to an honors distinction on their transcript and diploma upon graduation. Learn more about departmental honors eligibility and requirements.

Student services and opportunities

See how the Ilitch School supports you as an finance major.

I felt extremely comfortable going up to my professors and having a conversation afterwards. A lot of them work in the industry that I wanted to work in…Not only are they a professor, but they know what’s going on in the day-to-day…When I got here, my environment really propelled me into future success and that’s not something I think I would have gotten at other universities.

Zeeshan Tariq

B.S. '22

A big part of my development at Wayne State was studying abroad for a year. Through contributions to the study abroad program, students have the opportunity to experience the world and gain perspectives that can profoundly change their worldview.

Quincy Allen

Meet the faculty

Our Ilitch School of Business professors are ready to take you to the next level. As accomplished researchers and seasoned business leaders, they know how to enrich your learning and sharpen your skills. See how their expertise can help shape your future.

See all finance faculty

Julie Hollinshead

Part-Time Faculty in Finance

View Julie Hollinshead's profile

dc2857@wayne.edu

Francesca Toscano

Associate Professor of Finance

Research Interests:

Corporate Finance
Corporate Governance
Monetary Economics
Financial Economics

Teaching Interests:

International Finance
Business Finance
Corporate Financial Management
Empirical Corporate Finance

View Francesca Toscano's profile

toscanof@wayne.edu

Bryan Kieler

Part-Time Faculty in Finance

Teaching

Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Management, and Finance

View Bryan Kieler's profile

bryan.kieler@wayne.edu

Basma Bekdache

Associate Professor of Teaching in Finance

Business finance
International finance
Business economics
Monetary economics

View Basma Bekdache's profile

b.bekdache@wayne.edu

Tom Shohfi

Associate Professor of Finance

View Tom Shohfi's profile

tshohfi@wayne.edu

Ranjan D'Mello

Professor of Finance

Corporate Finance

View Ranjan D'Mello's profile

rdmello@wayne.edu

Careers and outcomes

Browse career outcomes, job titles and planning resources as a finance major at the Ilitch School.

Graduates with a finance major remain highly sought after, given the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projected growth of 8% in finance job opportunities over the next nine years, outpacing the average for all occupations. In particular, finance majors at the Ilitch School, particularly those with internship experience, receive notable job offers with high salaries upon graduation. These graduates have the flexibility to embark on finance careers in areas like:
- Budgeting
- Capital Fund Management
- Commercial Lending
- Corporate Financial Analysis
- Forecasting
- Investment Management
Earning a finance graduate degree opens the door to advanced roles in the industry, leading to promotions, pay raises and leadership opportunities. Master’s degree-seekers are also eligible to complete the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam. Learn more about Ilitch School's master of science in finance (M.S.F.) degree program.
Whether you are looking for an internship or preparing for a job after graduation, take the first step toward career planning by using our résumé and cover letter services, career advising resources and more.

Get started with career services

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.