Within the finance major, students can choose to pursue specialty programs and tracks to better prepare them for specific careers after graduation. Program summaries are below, but students seeking the quantitative track or careers in wealth management, corporate financial planning and analysis, or risk management should contact their advisor (preferably) or the finance chair for directives on the sequence of courses.
Offering these programs at the undergraduate level provides Providence College students with a clear competitive advantage, increasing their value to a wide range of employers, including those involved with securities analysis, investment banking, treasury management, asset-liability management, and corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A).
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Finance Quant Track (FINq)
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Finance Quant Track (FINq)
The Department of Finance offers an advisory quantitative track option (FINq) for selected first-year students. This option provides the opportunity to complete the required finance courses with a greater focus on quantitative aspects of finance and an increased application of computer software/programs that may include Python, Excel, and/or other relevant tools. The goal of FINq is to better prepare students for the increasingly quantitative positions in commercial banking/credit risk analysis, investment/wealth management, and corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A).
Risk Management Track
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Risk Management Track
Industries that utilize risk managers include commercial banking, insurance, investment banking, commercial real estate, financial services consulting, and the list is only growing. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is expected to be 19% through 2026. To assist students interested in these fields, the finance department is proud to be one of the few programs that offers a risk management track at the undergraduate level. This advisory track includes preparing students to sit for the Certified Credit Essentials examination.
The risk management track is offered in partnership with the Risk Management Association (RMA) of the USA. This partnership opens unique opportunities to PC students interested in this field, such as resources to find risk management internships and information on scholarships. The track is guided and supported by the Risk Management Track Task Force, which is comprised of senior executives from Boston’s leading financial firms.
Risk Management Track Courses
Students in the risk management track FOUR of the following courses:
- FIN 417 – Fixed Income Securities
- FIN 440 – Options and Futures
- FIN 470 – Special Topics in Enterprise Risk Management
- FIN 422 – Commercial Credit Risk Analysis
* FIN 422 prepares students to sit for the Certified Credit Essentials examination
Other optional courses related to risk management:
- FIN 311 – Management Science
- FIN 320 – Insurance and Risk Management
- FIN 445 – Portfolio Management
Freeman Award for Excellence in Risk Management
In 2021, the Providence College School of Business established the Freeman Award for Excellence in Risk Management. Sponsored by the School of Business Dean’s Office, this award recognizes up to two undergraduate seniors who have demonstrated both academic excellence and active engagement in the field of risk management. Any questions regarding this award or the nomination process can be directed to the PCSB Dean’s Office.
Partnership with Saint John’s University (NY)
The PC School of Business also has a partnership with Saint John’s University’s (NY) Master of Science programs in Risk Management and Risk Analytics, Actuarial Science, and Enterprise Risk Management. This partnership provides priority consideration and a tuition discount to PC Risk Management Track graduates.
For more information about the Risk Management Track, contact Dr. Vivian Okere, Professor Kevin McMahon, or Professor Arati Kale.
Investment Management Track
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Investment Management Track
Students interested in a career in wealth management can enroll in the courses in the Investment Management Track and augment their education with co-curricular activities. Students should also consider sitting for the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I exam.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I
The Providence College Bachelor of Science degree in Finance has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This status is granted to institutions whose degree programs embed a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, into their curriculum. It positions PCSB finance students well to sit for the CFA Level I examination. The Charted Financial Analyst designation (earned after successful completion of CFA Levels I, II, and III exams and required work experience) has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. A number of faculty in the finance department are a CFA designation and can provide useful guidance should you choose to pursue this designation.
Courses for the Investment Management Track
- ACC 310 – Intermediate Accounting I
- ACC 311 – Intermediate Accounting II
- FIN 440 – Options and Futures
- FIN 445 – Portfolio Management
- FIN 417 – Fixed Income Securities
- Students may also enroll in the two-semester course: FIN 495 – Student Managed Investment Fund I and FIN 496 -Student Managed Investment Fund II
For more information about the Investment Management Track, including the availability of CFA scholarships, contact Dr. Vivian Okere.
Financial Management and Management Accounting Track
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Financial Management and Management Accounting Track
This track is offered jointly by the Department of Finance and the Department of Accountancy. Students who wish to pursue a career in financial management, such as carers in corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A), treasury management, or management accounting can enroll in the courses listed for the track and augment their education by participating in co-curricular activities.
Courses for the Financial Management and Management Accounting Track
Students in the Financial Management and Management Accounting track are advised to enroll in:
- ACC 301§ – Cost Accounting
- FIN 308* – Managerial Finance II
- ACC 350§ – Accounting Information Systems
Students should also consider taking one or more of the following courses:
- FIN 420 – Corporate Treasury Management
- FIN 419* – International Finance
- FIN 422 – Commercial Credit Risk Analysis
- FIN 317* – Investments
- ACC 310§ – Intermediate Accounting I
*Required course for FIN majors
§Required course for ACC major and minor
Students interested in a career in financial management or management accounting are encouraged to pursue the Certified Management Accountant, or CMA®, a designation that is granted by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). The IMA requires CMA candidates to pass two exams and offers a limited number of scholarships to Providence College students who wish to take the exams. For more information about the CMA or the CMA scholarship program, please contact Professor Brenda Canning, Dr. Michael Shafer, or Dr. Stephen Perreault.
