Finance

The Finance major is comprised of courses in two tracks: Finance (Corporate Finance and Investments) and Financial Planning.

View the Finance Curriculum Guide

Finance: Corporate Finance and Investment

In Corporate Finance, students learn to analyze business opportunities to identify those that create value. Financial analysis boils down to sophisticated cost-benefit analysis for decision-making in all aspects of business, and students majoring in Finance successfully pursue careers with major corporations and other organizations.

In Investments, students learn to structure portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets that meet the objectives of institutional and individual investors. The curriculum helps prepare students who wish to sit for Level I of the CFA exam series, and many graduates in Finance successfully pursue careers in asset management and wealth advising.

Financial Planning 

Our CFP Board approved Financial Planning Track* offers students an exciting opportunity to prepare for a career in finance that is not only financially rewarding but also personally fulfilling. 

The Financial Planning Track has two goals designed just for you. First, you will gain the essential knowledge and skills to help make a real difference in people’s lives by guiding them as their financial planner. Second, because the curriculum is CFP Board approved, you will be ready to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) exam, the gold standard in wealth management.

Courses build on foundational business, accounting, and finance concepts and advance into hands-on personal financial planning. You’ll gain practical skills in areas like investment analysis, retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, risk management, and navigating the regulations of the financial industry.

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Experiential Learning

The Investment Strategy Institute (ISI) is dedicated to investment analysis with more than 20 Bloomberg terminals, which bring together real-time data on every financial market, breaking news, in-depth research, powerful analytics and communications tools in one fully integrated solution. They are very powerful tools that are used extensively in the profession and are a significant part of the curriculum. 

Finance students can participate in several Student Managed Investment Funds under the guidance of faculty and industry professionals. The total amount of funds available for students to manage is in excess of $1,000,000. The SMIF experience also provides opportunities for students to interact with investment professionals, many of whom work downtown just minutes from campus and who are Duquesne alumni.

 

Program Information

Students have the opportunity to analyze business opportunities to identify those that create value and to learn to structure portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets.

Program Type

Major, Minor

Degree

Bachelor's

School

Palumbo-Donahue School of Business

Academic Department

Economics and Finance

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

72

From Our Alumni

Reuben Nepo

“Joining the SMIF program at Duquesne's incredible Business School was the most impactful decision I made during my time as a student. It gave me the unique opportunity to actively manage a portfolio of $1.7mm in collaboration with like-minded students."

Reuben Nepo B'24, Sales and Trading Analyst, J.P. Morgan

Student Managed Investment Funds

The Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program at Duquesne provides you with a compelling experience in money management and contributes to your preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. You will learn to make evidence-based decisions investing in financial markets, which will enable you to leverage the experience in interviews for internship and career opportunities.

The SMIF Program comprises three fund initiatives:

Duquesne Values Fund (DVF)
The DVF is a long-only fund that invests primarily in large-cap stocks selected on the basis of fundamental analysis and Spiritan values. The benchmark for the DVF is the iShares KLD 400 Social ETF (Symbol: DSI). Fund value was approximately $1,400,000 in August 2024.

Duquesne Balanced Fund (DBF)
The DBF is an asset allocation fund that invests in ETFs for exposure across stocks, bonds and cash. The benchmark for DBF is a 70/30 allocation to stocks and bonds accomplished with the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (Symbol: IVV) and the iShares Core Aggregate Bond ETF (Symbol: AGG). Fund value was approximately $174,000 in September 2024.

Duquesne Microcap Fund (DMF)
The DMF is a long-only fund that invests primarily in micro-cap stocks selected on the basis of quantitative factors. The benchmark for the DMF is the iShares Microcap ETF (Symbol: IWC). Fund value was approximately $126,000 in August 2024.
Duquesne's Investment Strategy Institute

Contact Us!

For more information contact Jennifer Milcarek at (412) 396-5642.

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Curriculum: Finance

View the Course Descriptions
Students have the opportunity to analyze business opportunities to identify those that create value and to learn to structure portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets.
  • FINC 313 Business Finance (3 credits—Business Core)
  • ACCT 311 Intermediate Accounting I (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

  • ACCT 312 Intermediate Accounting II (3 credits)
  • ACCT 315 Financial Planning and Cost Management (3 credits)
  • ISYS 480 Intro to Python for Data Analytics (3 credits)

And:
  • FINC 333 Financial Management (3 credits)
  • FINC 334 Investments (3 credits)
  • FINC 433W Financial Markets and Institutions (3 credits)
  • FINC 450W Cases in Finance (3 credits)

Finance majors in the Corporate Finance and Investments track need 6 credits of electives.

(3 credits/ea.)

  • FINC 324 Fixed Income Securities 
  • FINC 336 Security Analysis
  • FINC 338 Derivatives
  • FINC 340 Real Estate Finance
  • FINC 400 Managing Investments II
  • FINC 432 Credit Management
  • FINC 437 International Financial Management
  • ECON 481W Econometrics
By earning your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), you will achieve five key Learning Outcomes: Business Functional Knowledge, Analytical & Critical Business Thinking, Cultural Intelligence, Ethical & Moral Compass, and Influence & Collaboration.

Curriculum: Financial Planning

View the Course Descriptions
  • FINC 333 Financial Management (3 credits)
  • FINC 334 Investments (3 credits)
  • FINC 361 Principles of Financial Planning (3 credits)
  • FINC 362 Risk Management and Insurance Planning (3 credits)
  • FINC 364 Retirement Savings and Income Planning (3 credits)
  • FINC 462 Estate Planning (3 credits)
  • FINC 465W Financial Planning Capstone (3 credits)
  • ACCT 412W Income Tax Accounting (3 credits)
By earning your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), you will achieve five key Learning Outcomes: Business Functional Knowledge, Analytical & Critical Business Thinking, Cultural Intelligence, Ethical & Moral Compass, and Influence & Collaboration.

Minor in Finance or Financial Planning

Minor in Finance (15 credit hours)
Students can earn a minor in Finance by completing FINC 313 (from the Business Core) plus FINC 333, 334, and two other Finance courses at 300 level or higher. 

Minor in Financial Planning (12 credit hours)
Students can earn a minor in Financial Planning by completing FINC 313 (from the Business Core) plus FINC 361, FINC 362, FINC 364, and FINC 462. The Financial Planning minor does not meet the educational requirements to sit for the CFP® exam.

Students are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Coach for more information.


Finance as a Double Major

Finance can be combined as a double major, and many students choose to combine it with Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems and Technology, Marketing and Supply Chain Management.