Ohio Wesleyan University

What you'll study

This programme blends foundational liberal-arts coursework with specialised finance and financial management training. You will cover core business and quantitative subjects alongside general education requirements to develop analytical, ethical and communication skills.

• Core finance topics: corporate finance, investments and portfolio management, financial markets and institutions, international finance, and risk management.
• Accounting and quantitative skills: financial and managerial accounting, financial statement analysis, spreadsheet modelling, statistics and econometrics for business decisions.
• Applied and professional subjects: financial modelling, business law and ethics, personal financial planning, and practicum or internship experiences.
• Capstone and integrative experiences: a senior seminar or capstone project that typically involves a research paper, case study or applied financial analysis. Many students complete internships or field placements to apply classroom learning in real-world finance settings.
• Electives and interdisciplinary options: electives may include entrepreneurship, data analytics, sustainability finance, international political economy and courses from related departments to broaden career and academic pathways.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requires a high school diploma or equivalent with a strong academic record. Admissions decisions take a holistic view of academic preparation, extracurricular involvement and personal qualities.

• Recommended secondary-school subjects: mathematics (algebra and preferably calculus), economics, and courses that develop quantitative and writing skills.
• Academic profile: competitive applicants usually present solid grades in college-preparatory coursework; honours or accelerated maths and quantitative courses are advantageous.
• Application materials: official transcripts, a personal statement, and at least one academic or character reference. Standardised test submission policies may vary; consult the university for current guidance.
• Transfer students: transfer applicants should submit college transcripts and details of completed finance, accounting or economics courses for credit evaluation.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a wide range of entry-level roles in the finance sector and for advanced study. The curriculum emphasises analytical skills, ethical decision-making and communication—attributes employers value across financial services.

• Common entry-level job titles include financial analyst, credit analyst, commercial or retail banking associate, financial planner, wealth management associate and investment operations specialist.
• Other pathways include roles in corporate finance, treasury, risk and compliance, asset management, insurance, and fintech start-ups.
• Many graduates pursue professional qualifications (for example, CFA, CFP or CPA where accounting coursework is completed) or continue to graduate study such as an MBA or specialised master’s in finance or economics.
• Internships completed during the degree frequently lead to full-time positions; alumni commonly work in regional financial centres and national firms, or start careers in smaller firms where broad skills are valued.

Why study at Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio Wesleyan offers a liberal-arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentorship, allowing finance students to combine technical training with strong communication and critical-thinking abilities. The university’s location provides access to internship opportunities in nearby urban and business centres.

• Faculty access and mentorship: smaller seminars and regular faculty interaction support personalised advising and research or independent-study projects in finance.
• Experiential learning: emphasis on internships, practicum experiences and capstone projects helps students build practical skills and a professional portfolio.
• Interdisciplinary strength: the liberal-arts setting encourages study across disciplines—economics, data analytics, environmental studies or international relations—to prepare graduates for diverse organisational contexts.
• Career services and alumni network: dedicated career support and an active alumni community help students find internships, networking opportunities and graduate-study guidance.