Finance
The Finance major is comprised of courses in two tracks: Finance (Corporate Finance and Investments) and Financial Planning.
View the Finance Curriculum Guide.
Finance: Corporate Finance and Investment
In Corporate Finance, students learn to analyze business opportunities to identify those that create value. Financial analysis boils down to sophisticated cost-benefit analysis for decision-making in all aspects of business, and students majoring in Finance successfully pursue careers with major corporations and other organizations.
In Investments, students learn to structure portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets that meet the objectives of institutional and individual investors. The curriculum helps prepare students who wish to sit for Level I of the CFA exam series, and many graduates in Finance successfully pursue careers in asset management and wealth advising.
Financial Planning
The Financial Planning Track has two goals designed just for you. First, you will gain the essential knowledge and skills to help make a real difference in people’s lives by guiding them as their financial planner. Second, you will be ready to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) exam, the gold standard in wealth management. Courses build on foundational business, accounting, and finance concepts and advance into hands-on personal financial planning. You’ll gain practical skills in areas like investment analysis, retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, risk management, and navigating the regulations of the financial industry.
Experiential Learning
The Investment Strategy Institute (ISI) is dedicated to investment analysis with more than 20 Bloomberg terminals, which bring together real-time data on every financial market, breaking news, in-depth research, powerful analytics and communications tools in one fully integrated solution. They are very powerful tools that are used extensively in the profession and are a significant part of the curriculum.
Finance students can participate in several Student Managed Investment Funds under the guidance of faculty and industry professionals. The total amount of funds available for students to manage is in excess of $1,000,000. The SMIF experience also provides opportunities for students to interact with investment professionals, many of whom work downtown just minutes from campus and who are Duquesne alumni.
Program Information
Students have the opportunity to analyze business opportunities to identify those that create value and to learn to structure portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets.
Program Type
Major, Minor
Degree
Bachelor's
Academic Department
Economics and Finance
Duration
4-year
Required Credit Hours
72
"Duquesne's Finance program provides students with a holistic approach to many
areas of study, anything from Investment to Financial management. The professors and
staff are always willing to help students with course materials and professional development
opportunities, such as career fairs and internship applications."
The Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program at Duquesne provides you with a compelling experience in money management and contributes
to your preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. You
will learn to make evidence-based decisions investing in financial markets, which
will enable you to leverage the experience in interviews for internship and career
opportunities. The SMIF Program comprises three fund initiatives:
For more information contact Jennifer Milcarek at (412) 396-5642.
One of the following courses: Finance majors in the Corporate Finance and Investments track need 6 credits of electives. Minor in Finance (15 credit hours)
Finance can be combined as a double major, and many students choose to
combine it with Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems and
Technology, Marketing and Supply Chain Management.
From Our Students
Student Managed Investment Funds
The DVF is a long-only fund that invests primarily in large-cap stocks selected on
the basis of fundamental analysis and Spiritan values. The benchmark for the DVF is
the iShares KLD 400 Social ETF (Symbol: DSI). Fund value was approximately $1,400,000
in March 2024.
The DBF is an asset allocation fund that invests in ETFs for exposure across stocks,
bonds and cash. The benchmark for DBF is a 70/30 allocation to stocks and bonds accomplished
with the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (Symbol: IVV) and the iShares Core Aggregate Bond
ETF (Symbol: AGG). Fund value was approximately $170,000 in March 2024.
The DMF is a long-only fund that invests primarily in micro-cap stocks selected on
the basis of quantitative factors. The benchmark for the DMF is the iShares Microcap
ETF (Symbol: IWC). Fund value was approximately $128,000 in March 2024.
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Curriculum: Finance
And:
(3 credits/ea.)
Curriculum: Financial Planning
Minor in Finance or Financial Planning
Students can earn a minor in Finance by completing FINC 313 (from the Business Core)
plus FINC 333, 334, and two other Finance courses at 300 level or higher.
Minor in Financial Planning (12 credit hours)
Students can earn a minor in Financial Planning by completing FINC 313 (from the Business
Core) plus FINC 361, FINC 362, FINC 364, and FINC 462. The Financial Planning minor does not meet the educational requirements to sit for
the CFP® exam.
Students are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Coach for more information.
Finance as a Double Major