Department of Finance
Bloomsburg University's Department of Finance offers undergraduate programs in the areas of investments, corporate financial management, financial planning, financial institutions and banking, and real estate finance, leading to a B.S.B.A in finance. The program blends its diverse strengths by offering state of the art programs. It seeks to provide a high-quality education which will inspire its students who major in finance to continue life-long learning, and intrigue those students who seek minors in business finance.
Although it's widely expected that most of its graduates will initially seek employment in finance fields, it's understood many will eventually seek post-graduate education and others will enter public administration, government and other professions as well, seeking further certifications in finance and investment (e.g., CFP, CFA). The department is focused on supporting these outcomes.
Our students are taught by professionals who are active in their academic and professional fields, integrating their scholarly activities and industry expertise with the classroom teaching and positioning themselves as mentors capable of giving guidance and recommendations to our students entering the increasingly competitive global market of the 21st century. Evidence of our success is how widely known and respected the program is as demonstrated by the success of our graduates who venture forth from Bloomsburg into the outside world.
BU's finance program in the Zeigler College of Business provides an overview of the five major areas of finance: investments, corporate finance, personal financial planning, financial institutions and banking, and real estate finance. The investments area covers the securities markets and portfolio selection/management techniques. The corporate finance area is about financial functions in large and small companies in the private section.
The personal financial planning is about the personal finance decisions and planning — retirement, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. The financial institutions area is about the management of commercial banking and other financial institutions. The real estate finance is about the financing and investing in real estate properties. Coursework also includes an international finance course.
Finance Department
Department Chairperson
Jonathan Ohn | john@bloomu.edu
Sutliff Hall 366
570-389-4250
Department Secretary
Brooke Faus | bfaus@bloomu.edu
Sutliff Hall 355
570-389-5322
Finance Major and Minor
Bloomsburg University’s finance program in the Zeigler College of Business provides an overview of the five major areas of finance: investments, corporate finance, personal financial planning, financial institutions and banking, and real estate finance. The investments area covers the securities markets and portfolio selection/management techniques. The corporate finance area is about financial functions in large and small companies in the private sector. The personal financial planning area is about personal finance decisions and planning – retirement, personal investment, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. The financial institutions area is about the management of commercial banking and other financial institutions. The real estate finance area is about financing and investing in real estate properties. Coursework also includes an international finance course.
Two major programs we offer include:
- BSBA in General Finance: Investments, corporate finance, and financial institutions and banking
- BSBA in Finance with Specialization in Personal Financial Planning: Retirement planning, estate planning, and risk management, personal investment, taxes
The minors we offer are:
- Minor in Finance - Non-finance majors
- Minor in Personal Financial Planning
- Minor in Real Estate Finance
- Minor in Risk Management and Insurance (In progress)
BU's finance program is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the most prestigious accreditation globally.
Experiential Learning Activities
In addition to the quality programs in finance, there are strong opportunity for experiential learning through extra curricula activities such as finance student clubs, internship, corporate executive speech series, industry field trips (Wall Street, D.C., …)
Finance Student Clubs
- Bloomsburg Investment Group (BIG) — actively manages the BIG Fund, a student-managed equity investment portfolio. Research and analysis of the economy, industry, and equity, and portfolio management
- Financial Management Association (FMA) — coordinates industry speakers, workshops, field trips. BU FMA achieved the Superior Chapter Award (less than 10% of FMA members get this award)
- Financial Planning Association (FPA) — coordinates industry speakers, workshops, field trips in the areas of personal financial planning.
Financial Internship
Excellent opportunity of experiential learning and preparation of students’ professional development.
Corporate Executive Speech Series
Five to six corporate executives to BU Finance program each year, who then share their experience, expertise, and professional advice with students.
Industry Field Trips
Another excellent opportunity of experiential learning and preparation of students’ professional development through such trips to Wall Street and Washington, D.C.
ZIPD Annual Business Conference
Excellent opportunity of experiential learning from the industry experts (alumni), students’ professional development, and networking.
Finance exchange leaves lasting impression
"BU's finance program was very beneficial, because it provides realistic and practical knowledge about finance. The recurrent use of tools like Excel or Stocktrack pushed me, as a foreigner, to get interested about American companies and the U.S. financial setting — and at the same time — apply all the theoretical knowledge taught in class to real-life situations. When I look back I can’t believe how much I learned in such a short time span."
- — Anis Sbihi, finance student from Morocco
"The program really prepares you for a job in the financial sector, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn how to apply for financial jobs and chances to meet practitioners and alumni."
- — Nils Neumann, of Germany
Finance major on extended business trip to Europe
Two of Lilla Feher’s biggest college goals were to go to Europe and position herself for success in business. With the help of PASSHE’s Study Abroad Award program the junior Bloomsburg University finance major is accomplishing both this fall.
“I chose Aarhus, because the credits would transfer back to Bloomsburg and its business school is in the top 100 universities in the world,” explained Feher, also an information and technology management major. “The education was the most important part to me. Also, I had been hearing fantastic things about Denmark.”
As far as career goals, Feher says she wants to become a personal financial advisor. “I would love to keep ties with Denmark and potentially even work here,” Feher said. “So we will see where life takes me after this journey.”