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B.B.A. in Finance

Our Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced world of finance. With experienced faculty, real-world learning opportunities and access to industry-standard software and databases, you'll be well-equipped for a variety of finance careers. Enroll now and start your journey towards financial success.

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rodgrigo guerro

“Changing my major to finance was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I chose finance because I firmly believe a good financial education is key to both a successful professional life and personal life. As a finance major at Kent State, I’ve learned so much more than just working with numbers and financial statements, I’ve had the opportunity to network with great professionals and put everything I’ve learned here into practice.” - Rodrigo Guerrero, Finance

 

Overview

  • Students learn the specifics of finance in management, systems, investments and international business and are prepared for professional positions across the financial career spectrum.
  • The finance program is aligned with the CFA Institute. 
  • Kent State finance students invest and manage $1 million in University assets through the Golden Flash Asset Management Group.
  • Students can customize their major with elective courses based on areas of interest including investments, bank management, risk and insurance and accounting.
  •  Students gain valuable work experience with an internship. Many companies use the internship as an extended job interview.
 

 

Interested in pairing a B.B.A. in Finance with an M.A. in Economics or an M.B.A? 

Kent State is proud to offer incoming, high-achieving undergraduate students, direct admission into a business master's program. With direct admission, students can comfortably complete their bachelor’s degree and master's degree within five years. 

Learn More | Combined Degrees

 

 

Program Information for B.B.A. in Finance

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance provides students with an academic background appropriate for entry into a financial career, including financial management, investments, banking/financial institutions, risk/insurance and related areas. The courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between business finance and the economic system in the context of managerial analysis and decision making.

Finance students may apply early to the M.B.A. degree or to the Master of Arts in Economics degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information. The combined program with the Master of Arts in Economics degree requires a minimum 3.200 overall Kent State GPA.

Admissions for B.B.A. in Finance

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Transfer Student: A minimum 2.000 overall GPA is required for admission into the major. Students who have previously attended Kent State must also have a minimum 2.000 GPA in their former Kent State coursework and a minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011, FIN 36053 and MATH 11010.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad fundamental knowledge of the theory and practice of investments, international business finance, business and corporate finance and financial markets and institutions.
  2. Demonstrate the critical thinking skills needed to apply financial theory to specific business situations.
  3. Demonstrate the skills needed to work effectively as a finance professional in a group or task force environment.
  4. Demonstrate the computer skills needed to successfully employ commonly used software packages (specifically, spreadsheet, word processing and presentation software) in the performance of their duties as finance professionals.

Students earning a B.B.A. degree in Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship are expected to have the following:

  1. Core Business Knowledge - Recall the strategic frameworks that are used to make business decisions.
  2. Analytical Skills - Use analytical methodologies and critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve business problems. Articulate and deliberate their ideas in writing.
  3. Digital Technology – Demonstrate the technological skills necessary to analyze business problems and develop solutions.
  4. Written Communication - Write effective business communications.
  5. Oral Communication - Make effective business presentations, using appropriate technologies.
  6. Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose.
  7. Business Ethics – Recognize ethical business dilemmas and use ethical decision making to resolve the dilemma.
  8. Global - Analyze the key global factors when making business decisions.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
FIN 26086PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL MODELING (min C grade)3
FIN 36051THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM (min C grade)3
FIN 36054INTERMEDIATE CORPORATE FINANCE (min C grade)3
FIN 36059INTERMEDIATE INVESTMENTS (min C grade)3
FIN 36086ADVANCED FINANCIAL MODELING (min C grade)3
FIN 46059APPLIED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES (ELR) (WIC) (min C grade)3
FIN 46064INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FINANCE (min C grade)3
Accounting or Finance Electives, choose from the following: 19
ACCT 33001
INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING I
ACCT 33010
COST ACCOUNTING
ACCT 33012
INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING II
FIN 36061
PRINCIPLES OF REAL ESTATE
FIN 36072
LAW OF COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS
FIN 36081
PRINCIPLES OF INSURANCE
FIN 46054
FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
FIN 46055
ADVANCED DERIVATIVE SECURITIES
FIN 46056
ADVANCED FIXED INCOME MANAGEMENT
FIN 46061
REAL ESTATE FINANCE
FIN 46067
ADVANCED PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS
FIN 46068
COMMERCIAL BANK MANAGEMENT
FIN 46070
ADVANCED COMMERCIAL BANK MANAGEMENT
FIN 46072
BUSINESS FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND BANKRUPTCY
FIN 46089
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
FIN 46096
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN FINANCE
FIN 46192
INTERNSHIP IN FINANCE (ELR)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ACCT 23021INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 33
BA 34060OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
BUS 10123EXPLORING BUSINESS 23
BUS 30062ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
CIS 24053INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (min C grade)3
ECON 22060PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
ECON 22061PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
FIN 26074LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS (min C grade)3
FIN 36053BUSINESS FINANCE (min C grade)3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) (min C grade)3
MATH 11012INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR) 3-5
or MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
MGMT 24163PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
MGMT 44285STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
UC 10162INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Composition 46
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 513
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Maximum 6 credit hours of accounting (ACCT) courses can be applied toward the electives. Students may not receive major elective credit for more than 3 credit hours from the following four courses: FIN 46089, FIN 46096, FIN 46192 and FIN 46295. Any excess credit hours can be used for general electives, if needed. Students should meet with the chair of the Department of Finance or an academic advisor for a listing of courses that will provide the best possible preparation for the following career tracks: corporate finance,  banking, investments (CFA or CFP), real estate or law.

2

A student changing to a program in the college, transferring or incoming students with college credits, may be waived out of BUS 10123 if:

  • 30 or more credit hours have been earned and any two classes (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053) have successfully been completed.
  • 60 or more credit hours have been earned and the student has successfully completed one course from (ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074,MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053)
  • At the discretion of the dean's office, the student has sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in a business field (as demonstrated by a CLEP exam or Credit by Exam) but does not meet the requirements listed above.
3

Students who have taken MATH 10041 for another program may use it as a substitute for BA 24056.

4

Minimum C grade is required in ENG 21011 or HONR 20197.

5

Students may take or use any course at any level as long as the minimum 39-credit hours requirement for upper-division courses is satisfied for graduation with a B.B.A. Exceptions: Maximum 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses. A minor (business or non-business) is encouraged. Any other exceptions must be approved by the assistant dean. FIN 36280 is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits for students in the major, the credits may only count towards general electives. FIN 46280 is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credit hours for students in the major; credits will automatically count towards general electives when taken both times. Students who want to use the credits earned the second time taken towards the accounting or finance elective major requirement will need to request an override from an academic advisor to have the credits applied to the major requirement.

Progression Requirements
  • Minimum 2.000 overall GPA
  • Minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011, MATH 11010 (or placement out of MATH 11010), FIN 26086 and FIN 36053 and all required finance (FIN) major courses.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum C grade in required finance (FIN) major courses.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of business credit hours (required for the business degree) in-residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of their major credit hours in residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete two measures of outcomes assessment as specified by the college for complete satisfaction of the B.B.A. degree.
Roadmap

Roadmap

 

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BUS 10123 EXPLORING BUSINESS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
CIS 24053 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MATH 11012
or MATH 12002
 INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR)
or ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
3-5
UC 10162 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
!ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
!ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
FIN 26074 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
ACCT 23021 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056 BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 3
BUS 30062 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
FIN 26086 PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL MODELING 3
FIN 36051 THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Required for progression in the major: Minimum 2.000 overall GPA, minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011, MATH 11010, FIN 26086 and FIN 36053 and all required Finance major courses  
BA 34060 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
!FIN 36053 BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Required: minimum overall 2.000 GPA  
!FIN 36054 INTERMEDIATE CORPORATE FINANCE 3
FIN 36059 INTERMEDIATE INVESTMENTS 3
FIN 36086 ADVANCED FINANCIAL MODELING 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Required: minimum 2.000 overall GPA  
FIN 46064 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FINANCE 3
Accounting or Finance Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Required: minimum overall 2.000 GPA. Note: completion of the Assurance of Learning Assessment given in MGMT 44285  
FIN 46059 APPLIED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES (ELR) (WIC) 3
MGMT 44285 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
Accounting or Finance Electives 6
General Elective 1
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for B.B.A. in Finance

Accreditation

AACSB, International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for B.B.A. in Finance

Chief executives

-10.0%

decline

287,900

number of jobs

$185,950

potential earnings

Personal financial advisors

4.4%

about as fast as the average

263,000

number of jobs

$89,330

potential earnings

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

3.7%

about as fast as the average

464,200

number of jobs

$64,770

potential earnings

Financial and investment analysts, financial risk specialists, and financial specialists, all other

5.5%

faster than the average

487,800

number of jobs

$83,660

potential earnings

Loan officers

3.2%

about as fast as the average

316,900

number of jobs

$63,960

potential earnings

Real estate brokers

2.6%

slower than the average

100,700

number of jobs

$60,370

potential earnings

Credit analysts

-4.8%

decline

74,900

number of jobs

$74,970

potential earnings

Financial managers

15.5%

much faster than the average

697,900

number of jobs

$134,180

potential earnings

Financial examiners

7.3%

faster than the average

66,900

number of jobs

$81,430

potential earnings

Property appraisers and assessors

2.9%

slower than the average

75,100

number of jobs

$58,650

potential earnings

Real estate sales agents

2.3%

slower than the average

376,500

number of jobs

$49,040

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Chief financial officers
  • Treasury executives
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
$48,000-$58,000
Average Annual Starting Salary*
$18/Hour
Average Internship Wage

*Information based on the class of 2022. Salary range represents 25th-75th percentile.

Where can I get a job?

Charles Schwab Corporation  • Citizens Bank • Eaton Corporation EY • Farmers Group Inc. • FirstEnergy Corp. • JPMorgan Chase & Co. • Key Bank • Merrill Lynch • National Interstate Insurance  Nestlé • Northwestern Mutual • PNC • Progressive Corporation Sherwin-Williams Company • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company • The J.M. Smucker Company • Union Home  Mortgage Company •  and more! 

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