By studying finance, you'll learn to make prudent financial decisions for individuals and organizations. You'll analyze financial data, manage investments and give data-driven advice.
Why Study Finance?
By studying finance, you will develop skills in managing money and investments. You will learn how to interpret financial data, manage investments and follow financial markets. Your expertise will help you create financial plans to improve future outcomes for your clients or company. You might formulate a corporation's budget or help a person create a retirement plan.
Graduates who study finance receive among the highest average starting salaries of business graduates. With a degree in finance, you will be prepared for a wide range of careers in business or government.
Why Study Finance at CSUN?
Choose Your Focus
CSUN offers three finance options for your Business Administration degree:
- The financial analysis option provides a general education in financial theory and practice.
- The financial planning option prepares you for a career as a personal financial planner.
- The risk management and insurance option prepares you for a career in these fields.
Each option has unique benefits and career opportunities, and you can choose the one that interests you most.
BSBA Advantage
The three finance options are part of the ten Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree options at Nazarian College. BSBA programs differs from other business degrees by emphasizing math and analytical skills. The BSBA option prepares you to address complex business problems, giving you an advantage in any competitive job market.
AACSB Accredited
The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the highest standard in business and management education. Only 25 percent of business schools nationwide and 5 percent of business schools worldwide receive this distinction.
Bigger and Better
We are one of the largest business schools in the country, with 7,000 students and an alumni network of more than 50,000. You will have access to more resources, world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities.
What You'll Learn
All Finance students start with a common business core curriculum to learn the fundamentals of the business world. You will also complete a senior capstone project that is the culmination of your degree.
In your finance core classes, you will learn about investment management and select a communication course.
Learn about how to analyze trends and solve financial problems in corporate settings. Learn computer software to perform quantitative analysis of corporate finance and investments. You will also be able to choose from a variety of finance electives to round out your education.
Prepare for a career as a financial planner. Your core classes will cover the principles of insurance, retirement planning, and financial theory. You'll learn about:
- The different types of insurance
- Public and private benefit and retirement plans
- Retirement planning for individuals
- Financial planning theory and practice
- Income tax and estate planning
You will also be able to choose from a variety of finance electives to round out your education.
Be prepared to work in the field of insurance. Your core classes will prepare you for your future career by teaching you the about principles of insurance, corporate finance and risk management. You'll learn about:
- The economics of insurance
- Corporate financial policies
- Mitigating risks in firms and self-insurance mechanisms
- Life and health insurance
You will also be able to choose from a variety of finance electives to round out your education.
Careers & Outcomes
Our Finance option graduates go on to work in a variety of businesses or government departments.
Employers of recent alumni include:
- Goldman Sachs
- The Walt Disney Company
- Merrill Lynch
- Farmers Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- UBS
- Northwestern Mutual
- Ares Management
Common career paths for Finance graduates include:
- Investment banking and management
- Private equity
- Corporate finance
- Certified financial planner
- Wealth manager
- Claims representative (adjuster)
- Risk manager
- Sales (agency/brokerage)
Find risk mitigation career support.
The Center for Risk Management and Insurance is a one-stop shop for students who want to enter the insurance field. It provides scholarships and will connect you with internship and job opportunities.
Admission to the Pre-Finance Major
The finance options are impacted programs, which means that admission is restricted. You may initially declare an option in Pre-Finance while working to satisfy supplemental criteria. Please refer to the catalog for more information.
Business Honors Program
High-achieving Finance majors may be eligible for the Business Honors Program (BHP). BHP students have access to scholarship opportunities, selective courses, mentorships, priority registration and much more. Find out about the requirements.
Student Community
Find peer support and professional development opportunities with our student-run organizations. The CSUN Student Finance Association offers skills workshops, case competitions and career guidance. The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting hosts networking events to showcase career opportunities.