A. Current Bulletin Listing
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Finance
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College (FNC)
The Finance major is a unique program that provides the student with a firm foundation in the
principles of finance and its major areas: financial management, investments, and financial
markets. The coursework is designed to lead to professional certification in financial analysis.
Students have job opportunities in a variety of positions with mutual funds, brokerage firms,
banks, and insurance companies, as well as positions in corporate finance.
The program provides students with the depth and breadth of knowledge necessary to prepare
them for Level I of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Exam. The rigorous curriculum,
including courses in finance, accounting, and economics, is based on the CFA Body of
Knowledge developed through surveys of professionals involved in the practice of investment
management. Students will be encouraged to take Level I of the CFA exam after graduation.
Entrance to Major Requirements:
Entry to the Finance major requires the completion of 5 entry-to-major courses: ACCTG 211(4);
ECON 102 GS(3); ENGL 015 GWS(3) or ENGL 030 GWS(3); MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH
140 GQ(4); STAT 200 GQ(4) or SCM 200(4), and a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade-point
average.
For the B.S. degree in Finance, 120 credits are required. Each student must earn at least a grade
of C in each 300- and 400-level course in the major field.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(15 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in this bulletin.)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ELECTIVES: 0-1 credit
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 89-92 credits
(This includes 15 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS
courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (43 credits)
ACCTG 211(4), ECON 102 GS(3), ECON 104 GS(3), ENGL 202D GWS(3) (Sem: 3-4)
FIN 301(3)[1], MGMT 301(3)[1], MIS 204(3)[1], MKTG 301(3)[1], SCM 301(3)[1] (Sem: 3-6)
ACCTG 426(3)[1], FIN 420(3)[1], FIN 451(3)[1], FIN 471(3)[1] (Sem: 5-6)
MGMT 471W(3)[1] (Sem: 7-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (19-22 credits)
MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH 140 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-2)
SCM 200 GQ(4) or STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 3-4)
B A 241(2) and B A 242(2) or B A 243(4) (Sem: 3-6)
ACCTG 305(4)[1] or ACCTG 371(4)[1] and ACCTG 472(3)[1] (Sem: 5-6)
Select 3 credits from: ECON 304(3)[1], ECON 351(3)[1], ECON 442(3)[1], ECON 481(3)[1], or
ECON 485(3)[1] (Sem: 7-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (27 credits)
Select 15 credits from one of the non-business supporting course areas (see school list of
approved courses). See the Admission section of the general information in the front of this
Bulletin for the placement policy for Penn State foreign language courses. (Sem: 1-8)
Select 6 credits from FIN or other business areas (see school list of approved courses). (Sem: 58)
Select 6 additional credits from 400-level FIN courses, excluding FIN 494 and FIN 495 (Sem: 58)
[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate
Policy 82-44.
Last Revised by the Department: Fall Semester 2010
Blue Sheet Item #: 39-01-056
Review Date: 08/24/2010
UCA Revision #1: 8/4/06
UCA Revision #2: 7/27/07
BD
B. Revised Bulletin Listing
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Finance
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College (FNC)
The Finance major is a unique program that provides the student with a firm foundation in the
principles of finance and its major areas: financial management, investments, and financial
markets. The coursework is designed to lead to professional certification in financial analysis.
Students have job opportunities in a variety of positions with mutual funds, brokerage firms,
banks, and insurance companies, as well as positions in corporate finance.
The program provides students with the depth and breadth of knowledge necessary to prepare
them for Level I of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Exam. The rigorous curriculum,
including courses in finance, accounting, and economics, is based on the CFA Body of
Knowledge developed through surveys of professionals involved in the practice of investment
management. Students will be encouraged to take Level I of the CFA exam after graduation.
Entrance to Major Requirements:
Entry to the Finance major requires the completion of 5 entry-to-major courses: ACCTG 211(4);
ECON 102 GS(3); ENGL 015 GWS(3) or ENGL 030 GWS(3); MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH
140 GQ(4); STAT 200 GQ(4) or SCM 200(4), and a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade-point
average.
For the B.S. degree in Finance, 120 credits are required. Each student must earn at least a grade
of C in each 300- and 400-level course in the major field.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(15 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in this bulletin.)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ELECTIVES: 0-1 credit
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 89-92 credits
(This includes 15 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS
courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (43 credits)
ACCTG 211(4), ECON 102 GS(3), ECON 104 GS(3), ENGL 202D GWS(3) (Sem: 3-4)
FIN 301(3)[1], MGMT 301(3)[1], MIS 204(3)[1], MKTG 301(3)[1], SCM 301(3)[1] (Sem: 3-6)
ACCTG 426(3)[1], FIN 420(3)[1], FIN 451(3)[1], FIN 471(3)[1] (Sem: 5-6)
MGMT 471W(3)[1] (Sem: 7-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (19-22 credits)
MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH 140 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-2)
SCM 200 GQ(4) or STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 3-4)
B A 241(2) and B A 242(2) or B A 243(4) (Sem: 3-6)
Students must take one of the three following sequences: ACCT 305(4)[1]; ACCT 371(4)[1] and
ACCT 472(3)[1]; ACCT 471(3)[1] and ACCT 472(3)[1] (Sem: 5-6)
Select 3 credits from: ECON 304(3)[1], ECON 351(3)[1], ECON 442(3)[1], ECON 481(3)[1], or
ECON 485(3)[1] (Sem: 7-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (27 credits)
Select 15 credits from one of the non-business supporting course areas (see school list of
approved courses). See the Admission section of the general information in the front of this
Bulletin for the placement policy for Penn State foreign language courses. (Sem: 1-8)
Select 6 credits[1] from FIN or other business areas (see school list of approved courses). (Sem:
5-8)
Select 6 additional credits[1] from 400-level FIN courses, excluding FIN 494 and FIN 495 (Sem:
5-8)
[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate
Policy 82-44.
Last Revised by the Department: Fall Semester 2010
Blue Sheet Item #: 39-01-056
Review Date: 08/24/2010
UCA Revision #1: 8/4/06
UCA Revision #2: 7/27/07
C. List of New Courses - none
D. Explanation of how the proposal meets the educational objectives and/or strengthens existing
programs of the college(s) and the University.
This change supports the University’s commitment to curricular integrity.
E. Justification
Adding this footnote indicates that a student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better,
as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
ACCTG 471 Intermediate Financial Accounting I and ACCTG 472 Intermediate Financial
Accounting II have been added to provide a third pathway by which students may complete a
sequence of intermediate accounting courses. This option will especially appeal to students pursuing
a double major in finance and accounting through the World Campus.
F. Expected enrollments and effects on existing programs
None
G. Consultation
A one-page prospectus was submitted by Dr. John Magenau to the Office of Undergraduate
Education and shared at the June 5, 2014, ACUE meeting. Approval is attached.
The proposal was sent out for consultation to the following individuals. Their responses, if any, are
indicated:
Name
Comments
Dr. David Christiansen
Associate Vice President for
Commonwealth Campuses
I support this revision. It provides
students with an additional pathway
to complete a program requirement
while not lowering standards in any
way.
Anthony O Gyapong
Associate Prof. Economics
Penn State Abington
Andrew Kleit
Professor ECEEM
Earth & Mineral Sciences
University Park
William Kracaw
Chairman, Dept. of Finance
Smeal College of Business
University Park
Did not respond.
Did not respond.
Did not respond.
Behrend Response
John a. Guiseppe
Business Program Coordinator
Penn State Berks
I have reviewed your proposal and
believe that it would be a strong
degree. I have no concerns or
suggestions.
Stephen P. Schappe
Associate Prof. Management
Penn State Harrisburg
Did not respond.
Oranee Tawatnuntachai
Assoc. Prof. Business Adm.
Penn State Harrisburg
I support the changes. They are
reasonable and provide more
options for finance students.
Andrew Vavreck
Penn State Altoona
Did not respond.
ACUE consultation took place during the period August 11 – 26, 2014. The following responses
were collected:
Name
Dr. David Christiansen
Associate Vice President for
the Commonwealth Campuses
and Senior Associate Dean for
Academic Programs
Comments
Dawn,
The University College
supports this proposal.
David
Behrend Response