Finance

Earning a Finance degree from Butler’s Lacy School of Business opens doors to countless opportunities in the world of finance. From exciting entry-level positions to stimulating and challenging careers, finance jobs are in-demand for everyone. Some include but are not limited to:

• Financial Planner
• Financial Analyst
• Investment Banker
• Management Consultant
• Accountant
• Auditor
• Financial Software Developer
• Venture Capitalist

A Finance degree from Butler offers a management-level understanding of financial tools and philosophies implemented and utilized in firms and institutions worldwide. By learning about money principles, globalization, portfolio theory, asset allocation, and more, students are well prepared for financial decision-making and investment decisions commonly practiced in every business.

No, Finance is not a STEM major. Although Finance teaches ideas and theories derived from science, technology, and math, it does not fall under the range of STEM programs and majors.

A degree in Finance is ideal for students who want to specialize in the financial aspects of business or personal financial planning. If you’re interested in business but majoring in Finance isn’t for you, consider a degree in Economics, Accounting, International Business, or Butler’s Business Exploratory Program.

There is a high demand for financially-savvy professionals, and a Finance degree can provide you with the hands-on experience you need to stand out from the competition. Butler’s Finance program is designed to prepare graduates with dynamic careers in investments, corporate finance, bank management, insurance, and related fields. Going to college for Finance also has other benefits, such as opportunities to build your resume through internships, network with peers and professors, and study abroad to gain global perspectives.

A career in finance is more future-oriented, with a focus on strategy, planning, and advising. Finance graduates learn how to make smart investments and guide businesses or clients into optimal business decisions.

Alternatively, a career in accounting focuses on financial decisions that have already been made, and analyzing and reporting on those actions. Accounting graduates learn to perform audits, prepare and evaluate financial documents, and record expenses.

Both degrees can lead to rewarding careers depending on the approach that best aligns with your interests. If you have a specific career goal in mind, explore whether the coursework for a finance or accounting degree will set you up for success.

Today’s finance professionals have access to calculation tools and machine learning algorithms, so you don’t necessarily have to be a math whiz to pursue finance. However, confidence with math and numbers is always ideal since you’ll be working with money and financial statistics. At Butler, courses like Business Calculus and Analytic Geometry help students apply mathematical concepts to the world of business.