Slippery Rock University

What you'll study

This programme combines core business foundations with specialised finance coursework and applied projects. Typical areas of study include financial accounting and managerial accounting, corporate finance, investments and portfolio management, financial markets and institutions, risk management and insurance, and personal financial planning.

• Core business foundations: principles of management, microeconomics and macroeconomics, business law and statistics for business.
• Finance core: financial statement analysis, corporate finance, capital budgeting, working capital management and financial modelling.
• Markets and investments: investment analysis, fixed income and equity securities, derivatives, portfolio theory and performance measurement.
• Financial management services: personal financial planning, wealth management, retirement planning, taxation principles and client relationship management.
• Quantitative and technical skills: spreadsheet modelling, econometrics or business analytics, and use of financial databases and simulation tools.
• Experiential learning: internships, practicum or cooperative education with regional employers, an elective capstone or research project, and participation in student investment or finance clubs.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a high-school diploma or equivalent with a college-preparatory curriculum. Successful candidates typically have completed algebra and precalculus (or equivalent), and benefit from prior coursework in economics and accounting. Admissions consider academic performance, recommendations and any relevant extracurricular experience; standardised test submission may be optional depending on institutional policy.

Transfer applicants with completed college credit or an associate degree are welcome; transfer admission decisions take into account college GPA and course equivalence. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements and provide equivalent secondary-school documentation.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a broad range of roles in the public and private sectors. Common entry-level positions include financial analyst, credit analyst, commercial or retail banking associate, wealth-management paraplanner, insurance underwriter or risk analyst and corporate treasury support roles.

With experience or additional credentials, alumni progress to roles such as investment manager, financial planner, corporate finance manager, portfolio manager, risk manager or senior banking officer. Many graduates also pursue professional certifications (for example CFA, CFP or other industry licences) or graduate study in finance, business administration or related disciplines.

Why study at Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock offers a student-centred environment with smaller class sizes, accessible faculty and a focus on applied learning. The programme emphasises hands-on experience through internships, practicum projects and student organisations that allow you to practise investment analysis and client-facing skills.

The university’s location provides access to regional businesses and financial institutions for internship and employer networking opportunities. Career services and faculty mentorship help students prepare résumés, interview skills and professional development plans tailored to finance careers. Extracurricular opportunities include finance and investment clubs and activities that support experiential learning and professional networking.