Details about this Major
The requirements displayed in this document are from the 2024-2025 WSU Catalog.
Finance majors focus their studies in one of five specialty areas:
- Financial management — Prepares you to manage a corporation’s investment decisions or raise money through borrowing or issuing equity in financial markets
- Investment analysis — Gives you the knowledge you need to invest funds on others’ behalf. You’ll learn how to choose a stock portfolio that meets clients’ needs and stays within their risk tolerances
- Financial institutions management — Readies you to work within a financial institution, helping individuals and firms raise capital and invest funds
- Financial services — Prepares you to interact with individual clients in a retail setting to address their investment, real estate, and insurance needs
- Risk management and insurance — Qualifies you to help individuals and corporations identify and learn to manage financial risks
- Financial Management:
- Investment Analyst:
- Financial Institutions Management:
- Financial Services:
- Risk Management & Insurance:
Possible Careers
Financial & Investment Analyst
Personal Finance Advisor
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Svc Sales Agent
Financial Manager
Operations Manager
Supply Chain Manager
Employers
Get Involved
Carson College Peer Financial Wellness Program & Internship
Students interested in working in client-facing financial roles are encouraged to apply for this hands-on learning opportunity. Students selected to serve as Peer Coaches provide financial education resources, presentations, and participate in events and financial coaching. The program strives to serve a diverse student population by providing financial education and assisting in the development of personal finance skills. Peer coaches serve 5-10 hours a week during the semester, which can be used toward the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®) AFC® Accredited Financial Counselor certification.
Cougs on Wall Street
Cougs on Wall Street is an annual faculty-led trip for students to travel to New York City and learn from finance industry leaders about the state of global financial markets. Students visit select companies involved in the world of finance, and network with WSU Alumni in the New York area. A competitive application and interview process is used to select students based on application responses and faculty recommendations. Applicants must be Finance majors with a minimum 3.25 GPA. Preference given to Juniors and Seniors.
D.A. Davidson Student Management Investment Program
Be part of the WSU investment team competing against other Pacific Northwest universities. Led by outstanding finance professors, members of this team are coached on stock evaluation, and investment strategies. Students gain hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with D.A. Davidson’s wealth management research team.
Finance Industry Night
Every Fall semester, Finance Industry Night brings together a panel of industry leaders to share their experiences in the world of finance. Open to all business students, panelists share their insight and perspective on career opportunities and how students can best position themselves for success in the industry. This panel is followed by networking opportunity for students to talk directly to industry leaders.
Insurance Industry Night
Typically held in the fall semester, Insurance Industry Night hosts a panel of risk management and insurance industry experts to speak about career opportunities in the industry. Insurance Industry Night concludes with a networking reception for students and industry leaders.
Walton Lecture
The Walton Lecture brings in a leading expert from the risk management and insurance industry to share their insights on the industry. Open to all business majors, this lecture is especially relevant to those interested in careers in finance, risk management, and insurance.
Fund your Education through Scholarships
The Carson College of Business awards more than $1,000,000 in scholarships each year. Scholarships are available for both new and continuing WSU students. Applications are collected through the WSU General Scholarship Application.
For Future Cougs
Lisa Desmarais
Business Admissions Counselor
