Bachelor in Finance Rider University

Rider University’s Norm Brodsky College of Business offers state-of-the-art programs in Finance that are designed to meet the needs of students who have a variety of career goals. The Finance major combines a solid analytical foundation, broad coverage on how the financial system operates, and real-world financial tools.

We are proud to provide undergraduate and graduate programs that are accredited by AACSB -- the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. In addition to rigorous academic coursework “engaged learning” is also a requirement. Each of our programs emphasizes at least one internship or co-operative experience prior to graduation with support from the College Career Development and Success Center.

Our programs also provide an academic background that would enable a student to enter a high-quality graduate business program. On the graduate level, students can pursue an MBA with a concentration in Finance and/or a Master of Science (MS) in Corporate Finance.

Highly-Engaged Faculty

All full-time faculty have Ph.D. degrees and represent multiple specialties within Finance including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Our professors continually publish leading-edge research to stay current with developments in the Finance industry. A core group of part-time professors is credentialed with graduate degrees in Finance and/or CPA certification – all experts in the field.

Finance Major Requirements

Major Requirements

For entry into the Finance major, students need at least a “C-” in FIN 220 Introduction to Finance. A Finance degree consists of six courses (18 credits). To graduate, students must receive at least a “C-” in each of the major courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major. All Finance majors must take the following three courses:

• FIN 307 Financial Markets & Institutions
• FIN 309 Intermediate Corporate Finance
• FIN 312 Investments

In addition, three upper-level Finance electives (300-400 level) are required excluding FIN 491 Finance Internship and FIN 399 Finance Co-op. Available Finance concentrations have stricter requirements for graduation. Qualified Finance majors are required to complete at least one of three concentrations. Most eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Concentration in Private Wealth Management in their sophomore year. Students desiring a career path in Corporate Finance can switch their program to the Concentration in Financial Management. Eligible juniors/seniors are encouraged to add the Concentration in Investment Analysis. Students who desire the greatest flexibility with no specialization may opt for the standard Finance degree consisting of three required courses and any three Finance electives. Students who desire a more generalist degree can opt-out of participating in a concentration with the permission of the Department Chair.

Finance Major Requirements

(18 credits)

Students must achieve a grade of “C-” or better in FIN 220 Introduction to Finance to be entered into the Finance major program.

Students must achieve a grade of at least “C-” in each of the major courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major. Finance concentrations have stricter requirements that are designed to assist you in identifying the correct path within the discipline.

Internships and Co-operatives

“Engaged Learning” is an important part of Rider’s education requirement that can be achieved through the internship or co-op experience. Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one internship or co-op prior to graduation. Preparation for experiential learning should begin in the freshman year by meeting with Career Development and Success Center representatives located in the Norm Brodsky College of Business. They will assist you in building a resume, networking, interview skills and more. Most students will complete either an internship or co-op by the summer preceding their senior year. Eligible students may opt to complete such an experience in the summer following their sophomore year. Co-ops are typically full-time semesters plus summer-long experiences.

Students may earn course credit for completing an internship (3 credits) or co-op (6 credits). The following is a sample of firms that have hired Rider Finance majors for summer internships in the past: Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, BlackRock, Dow Jones, J.P. Morgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson,Vanguard, FDIC.