Finance Major (B.S.B)

Majors in Finance: BFIN, BFIT 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 three majors: Finance (BFIN), Mathematical Finance (BMAF), and Finance and Technology – “FinTech” (BFIT). Each one 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.

In conjunction with the majors, the Department of Finance offers courses in financial planning and wealth management.

Major in Finance

The major may be your primary declared major or customized as the supporting second, or even third, major. Supported by the student-led Center for Securities Trading and Business Analytics, it offers a rich set of opportunities for careers in equity analysis, fixed-income management, portfolio analysis, corporate risk management, derivatives, and real estate, all within the radius of the financial capital of the world. With direct connections to Wall Street, to the headquarters of numerous Fortune 500 companies, to business start-ups, and to residential and commercial real estate, the department offers a vast and diverse set of opportunities for inquiring students.

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, and 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 / (Student Managed Investment Fund).

Finance Honor Society

The Stillman School’s Finance Honor Society formally recognizes BFIN, BMAF and BFIT 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 of at least 3.50
2. GPA of at least 3.50 in all finance courses (prefix BFIN) completed;
3. completion of at least 12 credit hours of BFIN courses with a grade of at least a B; and
4. active involvement in finance-related campus activities, such as the Investment Club, the Stillman Exchange, or the CFA Research Challenge.

Finance Major (BFIN) Requirements

You must earn at least a “C” in each individual BFIN major course, including the Stillman core course BFIN 2201 Business Finance, and earn a 2.5 average for all BFIN major courses. A single BFIN course of 3000 series or higher can be taken at most twice. 

• BFIN 3211 Financial Strategy  (3 credits)
• BFIN 4227 Investment Analysis (3 credits)
• BFIN 4228 -BFIN 4999 (9 credits)

Total: 15

Notes: You are encouraged to contact any of the finance department advisers for help in planning your academic career. You are advised to complete BFIN 3211 Financial Strategy  and BFIN 4227 Investment Analysis before taking upper-level finance electives. Internship courses count only as general education electives and are available as 1-credit and 3-credit courses throughout the year.