Finance

Mission

The mission of the baccalaureate program in finance is to prepare students for finance and related careers by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional success.

Entry-level finance positions may lead to immediate leadership opportunities within an organization. Some students may also choose to take a minor in finance because they recognize that having a background within the area will increase their flexibility in career options.

The Thomas More University Bachelor of Science in Finance will guide and prepare you for advanced positions within the finance sector or finance-related business. With expertise in corporate finance, investments, and financial markets and institutions, you’ll be ready for careers in financial analysis, banking, insurance, risk management , portfolio management and financial services.

To earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, students in the Robert W. Plaster College of Business must fulfill University Studies requirements, the College pre-major and major requirements, as well as completing the College core studies. This degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours.

The finance major consists of a core set of courses that provides students with the fundamental skills and the strategic mindset required for all career paths in finance. Following successful completion of this core students can then choose a concentration: either “Investments” or “Corporate Finance”. Experiential courses, co-op opportunities, mentoring and networking round out the study of finance at Thomas More University.

There is significant growth in this field with great opportunity for a successful career path for graduates, and you will be learning from professionals who have “been there and done that”. Our professors have significant experience in the corporate finance world and our class sizes are small – giving you the opportunity to work closely with our faculty for maximum opportunity to hone your skills. If you are serious about a career in finance you need to come to Thomas More.

Each full-time faculty member is either a Ph.D./CPA or MBA/CPA.  Each faculty member brings a unique set of talents and perspectives to Thomas More providing a blend of academic and practical experience in the classroom.  Experience and accomplishments of current faculty members include:

  • Extensive academic research in the areas of auditing and finance for non-profit organizations
  • Long-term management of a CPA firm providing accounting, tax and financial planning services to businesses and individual clients
  • Experience as an audit manager in a Big-4 accounting firm and in financial reporting and cost management projects in a manufacturing company
  • Co-author of a textbook

Graduates work in both Big 4 and regional CPA firms, large corporations and small businesses.

There are many opportunities for those with a finance degree with Big 4 and local public accounting firms, multi-national and local corporations, governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations.

Occupational possibilities include: internal or external auditor, bank examiner, IRS agent, FBI agent, financial planner, tax accountant, business teacher, controller, tax accountant, financial analyst, cost accountant, payroll manager, or information systems consultant.

Many finance students participate in co-op programs where they are paid for their work while earning academic credit, which can also count toward fulfilling the 150 hour requirement for CPA preparation. Students generally work while going to school full time.

For more than 30 years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) has allowed students to gain valuable tax experience by preparing tax returns for low-income families and the elderly.

Several business partners fund scholarships for and several endowed scholarships are available to Thomas More finance students.

Traditional College of Business students majoring in Business Administration, Accountancy, Finance, or Management Information Systems can earn graduate credit for six MBA courses taken in their senior year of college. Completing the six graduate courses enables the students to earn their bachelor’s degree in four years and their Master of Business Administration degree in the fifth year.

LEARN MORE

Percentage of Students in Co-op positions and Internships
2017-182018-192019-202020-212021-22
NA30%33%25%45%
Career Outcome Ratio
Percentage of students with employment or graduate school within 6 months post-graduation
2017-182018-192019-202020-212021-22
100%92%100%88%100%

Interested
in pursuing your finance degree?