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Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Greenstein, D. Phil., approved a bachelor’s degree in finance for East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on Monday, August 5. This new offering elevates the existing concentration in finance to a full undergraduate degree program.

A Bachelor of Science in finance will provide students with opportunities for careers in the largest domestic and international corporations. At ESU, the B.S. Finance is a 48-credit program, requiring 30 credits of business core classes, 15 credits of finance classes, and three credits of a business elective in addition to the general education credits necessary for graduation.
“The B.S. Finance program will provide students with essential knowledge in corporate finance, investment analysis, international financial management, derivatives such as equity and currency options, commodity and financial futures, currency and interest rate swaps, fixed-income securities, and ethical and managerial decision-making skills,” said Sylvester Williams, J.D., dean of the College of Business and Management. “There will also be an emphasis on data analysis using the Bloomberg platform – in ESU’s Bloomberg Finance Lab – portfolio management, and security trading software.”

Completion of the program will enable students to sit for the Series 63 and Series 7 exams, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which are required by many corporations and financial institutions for entry-level positions in finance. Students will also be prepared for board certification examinations in Chartered Financial Analysis (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Financial Technician (CFT) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) – relating to specific fields of expertise and desirable for career advancement and professional success.

“ESU’s program provides flexibility for faculty to focus on best practices in response to the evolving needs of students and employers,” said Dr. Williams.

The B.S. Finance program lends itself to a dual degree/joint admission opportunity for transfer students from community colleges, including students at Northampton CC and Lehigh-Carbon CC.

For more information about ESU’s Bachelor of Science in finance, contact Williams at 570-422-3589 or email swilliams@esu.edu.