Finance Major

Does this sound like you?

You’re analytical, not afraid of numbers or complex spreadsheets.  You find the stock market intriguing and are curious about how and why companies like Facebook go public.

Reading about the complexities behind financial decisions made by senior corporate executives in banking, insurance, and securities fascinates you.

If these topics grab your attention…consider a Linfield finance major!

You’ll emerge well-grounded to apply for positions many alumni land after graduation: financial analyst, securities analyst, or credit analyst, to name a few job titles. But, you need a solid foundation first.

After you’ve completed BUSN 341 Financial Management in our business core, you’ll build on your knowledge from that class about how firms make financial decisions to maximize firm value.  Move forward in your finance major with these three required classes to gain a detailed understanding of corporate finance, investments, and the structure of financial institutions.

Listen to Finance major alumni
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA7hcBDGUUk

BUSN 444 Financial Theory

• You’ll expand your understanding in this class as it focuses on firm-level investment decisions (which projects to pursue), financing decisions (how investment decisions are funded), and how to determine the value of debt and equity securities in the capital markets.
• BUSN 447 Investments
  In this course you will learn what strategies and tools individual and institutional investors use to balance return and risk in the management of investment portfolios.
• BUSN 441 Financial Institutions
  From banks to insurance companies, a variety of  financial institutions provide their clients—corporate to individual—with financial services that enable transferring funds from those with excess funds to those who need to borrow funds. Learn how this works.

Other optional but suggested finance courses include:

• BUSN 482 Topics in Finance
   Open only to advanced students, this class number/title is used when we offer different classes for small groups surrounding a unique topic.  In the past the following have been listed under this class designation (you may take multiple classes when the topic is different)
• Topic: Securities Markets
  – Offered annually only during January term, this is a special course designed and taught on-site in Portland, Seattle and New York City.  Students must interview with the professor and be ready to meet with financial professionals in all three cities.
• Topic: Corporate Finance Case Studies
  - An advanced course, you’ll focus on six topical areas: tenets of finance, financial analysis, operational control, capital budgeting, enterprise valuation, and ethics.  Integrated into all these topics is case analysis using extensive Excel modeling.

Considering a minor or double major?

It is common for our finance majors to either double major in Finance and Economics or Math.  Others choose to earn a minor in Economics or Math. Here’s why: Economics provides the theory behind the application of finance.  Additionally, many financial topics are rooted in mathematics. So, if you’re serious about fully leveraging your finance major, consider a stronger foundation in economics and/or math.

Questions about our Finance major?

Contact our Admission Office to connect you with one of our finance professors to learn more.  Both have extensive, real-world experience in finance and backgrounds in economics.