Objectives for the Undergraduate
Major in Finance

The undergraduate finance curriculum at Seattle University strives to form students into mature professionals with strong ethical, analytical, and problem solving skills with a highly developed ability to think critically and function successfully in a dynamic business environment. Our program enables students to view business challenges holistically, and be cognizant of the relationship of finance to other disciplines. We want to foster an environment wherein students recognize their potential as responsible leaders who can think clearly, judge wisely and humanely, communicate effectively and act with integrity at all times.

Program Objectives

Knowledge

A graduate of the finance program at Seattle University should be able to:

• understand and describe to the non-finance person, the concept of time value of money

• understand and be able to demonstrate how asset values are determined in a corporate or investment setting

• interpret and analyze basic financial statements in order to perform financial analysis

• implement various modeling techniques such as the CAPM, APT, and OPM in order to recognize and measure risk

• apply basic mathematical and statistical tools for financial modeling and be able to interpret the results

• understand basic portfolio dynamics

• appropriately apply capital budgeting and working capital management strategies

• recognize the theoretical underpinnings (e.g.: M&M) as well as the practical implications of capital structure and dividend policy

• recognize the global implications of domestic and foreign influences on financial markets (e.g.: Federal Reserve Policy; F/X rates)

Skills

A graduate of the finance program at Seattle University should be able to:

• demonstrate strong analytical and problem solving skills within an ethical framework

• utilize critical thinking skills and their natural curiosity in a quest for life long learning

• make formal presentations using software applications such as power point

• use spreadsheets and web based information technology

• convey their ideas in a variety of written forms

• present themselves in a professional manner in all situations

• work together successfully in teams with a well developed work ethic

For more information on our Finance Degree Programs, click here