Finance and Technology Major (B.S.B.)

Majors in Finance: BFIN, BFIT, BFWM, and BMAF

From individuals to organizations, finance touches all aspects of decision-making. The Department of Finance, through its innovative curriculum integrating concepts with practice, delivered by award-winning faculty, uniquely prepares you for all these aspects. The Department’s official recognition by the Chartered Financial Analysts Association -- recognition that only 10% of finance departments nationwide have attained -- and by the Certified Financial Planning Board, the most prestigious of all professional finance designations, is testimony to its distinctiveness.

You may select only one from among these three majors: Finance (BFIN), Finance and Technology – “FinTech” (BFIT), and Mathematical Finance (BMAF).  The Wealth Management (BFWM) major may be taken as a complement to any of the other three finance-related majors. Each major is anchored in two fundamental concepts that are integral to sound decision-making: time and risk. They are the nerve center for responses to four basic issues: which assets to target; how much to invest; where to obtain funding; and the length of time involved.

Major in Finance and Technology 

The Finance and Technology (FinTech) major uniquely blends state-of-the-art thinking and practice in Finance with the ever-changing dynamics of Information Technology. Anchored in the mission to transform concepts into business practice, the FinTech major is delivered hands-on in innovative modes by forward-thinking Ph.D. faculty who combine over a half-century of Wall Street and international experience centered in a Chartered Financial Analyst setting. This one-of-a-kind program is designed to propel graduates into a wide spectrum of high-demand careers worldwide both in the for-profit and not-for-profit arenas.

Major in Mathematical Finance 

The Mathematical Finance major equips students with the quantitative and analytical tools necessary to navigate today’s complex financial landscape. This interdisciplinary program blends advanced mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to develop a deep understanding of how financial markets operate. Students will gain expertise in measuring risk, modeling financial instruments, and applying mathematical techniques to solve real-world problems in investment, banking, and risk management. Core areas of study include calculus, linear algebra, probability, stochastic processes, and computational methods, along with courses in financial economics and quantitative analysis. The Mathematical Finance major is ideal for students who are passionate about numbers, problem-solving, and understanding the quantitative drivers behind financial decision-making.

Major in Wealth Management

The Major in Wealth Management (BFWM) is designed to prepare students for dynamic careers in financial planning and advisory services.  Building on the success of the existing minor, this major will offer a comprehensive curriculum aligned with Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board educational requirements, integrating core financial principles, behavioral finance, and cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving needs of the wealth management profession.  

Financial Planning Association (FPA-NJ)

The department promotes student activities through this organization, which is a chapter under the Financial Planning Association. It welcomes students of all majors to participate in its interactive meetings, which are designed to introduce students to career paths in finance through alumni panel discussions, guest presentations, and corporate field trips. The club’s collaboration with the Finance Advisory Board, a Seton Hall alumni association, connects students with mentors who work for financial and non-financial firms. The club also offers tutoring for finance courses in the Center for Securities Trading and Business Analytics.

Hall Street Fund (Investment Club)

The Investment Club is organized as a mock brokerage corporation complete with an investment fund branded as the “Hall Street Fund.” The primary objective of the Hall Street Fund, as managed by the Investment Club, is to provide students with real-life investment banking business experience and encourage students from disciplines other than finance to assume roles of responsibility, including asset allocation, security analysis, portfolio management, operational risks, compliance reporting, marketing campaigns, public relations, expense budgeting, organizational management, and legal reviews. Because students will be making investment decisions as part of broadening their educational experience, it cannot be presumed that the fund’s performance will outperform the market. The money has been generously donated by outside benefactors for the purpose of providing working capital. Involvement in this club is a requirement to enroll in BFIN 1004 Student Portfolio Management I (SMIF)/BFIN 1005 Student Portfolio Mgmt II (Student Managed Investment Fund).

Finance Honor Society

The Stillman School’s Finance Honor Society formally recognizes students who consistently achieve academic excellence and who contribute to community development through their active involvement in finance-related campus activities. The criteria for induction are:

1. GPA Requirement:
   1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.70 during the entire period of undergraduate study at Seton Hall University.
   2. Achieve a GPA of at least 3.70 in all finance courses (prefix BFIN) completed during the period of undergraduate study at Seton Hall University.
   3. Complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in Finance courses with a grade no lower than a B+ during the period of undergraduate study at Seton Hall University.
2. Significant Contribution to Our Department Community (Any of the following):
   1. Demonstrate active participation and engagement in Finance-related clubs through attendance, leadership roles, and involvement in club activities.
   2. Proactively contribute to the department community by organizing and/or actively participating in events promoting Finance programs and courses.
   3. Proactively mentor other students interested in learning Finance.
3. Graduation within the school year.  The candidate:
   1. Should have graduated in the Spring, Summer, or Fall of the previous calendar year or will graduate in the current Spring semester.
   2. Must not have been previously inducted into the Finance Honor Society.

Finance and Technology Major (BFIT) Requirements

Students must earn at least a “B” in BFIN 2201 Business Finance, BITM 2701 Management Information Systems and BQUA 2811 Business Statistics. Students must earn at least a “C” in all other individual major courses and earn a 2.5 average across all major courses. A single major course can be taken at most twice.