Overview
The Finance associate degree provides students with knowledge and skills needed to succeed in entry-level and management training positions in financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and corporate finance departments, as well as financial departments of non-profit organizations.
The finance field is broad and many opportunities are available to program graduates. In addition, the Finance program has established articulation agreements with universities for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
The Finance program can be completed through online learning, and has been recognized by Forbes Education as a best online associate degree for 2024.
Students seeking the Finance associate degree also are encouraged to seek industry certifications and licensure to enhance their career growth and salary.
- The Finance program is a Registered Education Program of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) and provides a pathway for students who wish to take the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) exam. The AFC certification demonstrates knowledge and experience needed to help individuals and families build a strong financial foundation, realize their goals, and achieve lasting financial well-being.
- To be eligible to take the AFC exam, students must complete two courses: Personal Finance (FIN 100) and Interviewing and Counseling (HSV 115). Both courses are offered in online format. Verification of financial counseling experience also is required to attain the AFC designation.
- For more information about the AFC certification, contact the Finance Program Chair or visit the AFCPE website at https://www.afcpe.org/certification.
Related Programs
Banking and Financial Services Certificate (BFSC)Entrepreneurship Certificate (ETRPC)Financial Counselor Certificate (FCC)Real Estate Certificate (REC)Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Advisor
Business Division Course Advising
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Use technology to research, analyze, and report on financial topics
- Perform managerial functions in financial environments
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Banking
- • Bank/Trust Manager
- • Personal Banker
- • Credit Analyst
- • Loan Officer
- • Property Appraiser and Assessor
- Corporate Finance
- • Financial Analyst
- • Budget Analyst
- • Compensation and Benefits Specialist
- Insurance
- • Insurance Sales Agent
- • Insurance Claims Adjuster, Appraiser, Examiner and Investigator
- • Insurance Underwriter
- Investments and Wealth Management
- • Personal Financial Advisor
- • Paraplanner
- • Wealth Manager Associate
- • Securities, Commodities and Financial Services Sales Agents
- • Client Service Associate
- Non-Profit Organizations
- • Financial Coach
- • Financial Consultant
- • Financial Wellness Coordinator
Graduate Employment Outlook
Employment opportunities in finance-related fields are projected to grow about 7 percent through 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Numerous job titles and career pathways in the field of finance give graduates opportunities to evolve and find their ideal position. Also, finance-related positions are typically some of the top-paying positions in a business firm.
$41,000- $51,000 annual salary
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Advisor
Business Division Course Advising
Curriculum
Effective 2024-2025 academic year
Finance (FIN)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| ACC 101 | Financial Accounting ( B) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FIN 100 | Personal Finance ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FIN 130 | Principles of Banking ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MAT XXX Mathematics Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| BUS 190 | Professional Practices ( B) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ACC 102 | Managerial Accounting ( T) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| LAW 101 | Business Law ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FIN 120 | Risk and Insurance ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| IM 120 | Electronic Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel ( B) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ENG 10X English Composition Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| FIN X9X Cooperative Education Elective 1: Finance (T) | 1 | 40 | 2 | |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| ECO 110 | Principles of Macroeconomics ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FIN 150 | Business Finance ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| XXX XXX Technical Elective 1 (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Technical Elective 2 (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 5 | ||||
| FIN 200 | Stocks, Bonds, and Investing Principles ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FIN X9X Cooperative Education Elective 2: Finance (T) | 1 | 40 | 2 | |
| Semester 6 | ||||
| MKT XXX Marketing Elective (B) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Arts/Humanities Elective or Natural/Physical Science Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Technical Elective 3 (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Technical Elective 4 (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total Credits: | 58 | 87 | 63 | |
Electives
Students must consult with an Academic Advisor when choosing electives.
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | ||
| MAT 105 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| MAT 125 | Algebra and Trigonometry | 4 |
| MAT 126 | Functions and Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 131 | Statistics 1 | 3 |
| MAT 132 | Statistics 2 | 3 |
| MAT 151 | College Algebra | 4 |
| MAT 215 | Business Calculus | 6 |
| MAT 251 | Calculus 1 | 5 |
| MAT 252 | Calculus 2 | 5 |
| English Composition Elective | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| ENG 103 | English Composition 2: Writing about Literature | 3 |
| ENG 104 | English Composition 2: Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENG 105 | English Composition 2: Business Communication | 3 |
| Marketing Elective | ||
| MKT 101 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 105 | Marketing and Customer Relations | 3 |
| MKT 130 | Principles of Sales | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective or Natural/Physical Science Elective (select one course) | ||
| Any OT36 course from ART, LIT, MUS, PHI, REL, THE, or COMM 130 | 3 | |
| or, any OT36 course from BIO, CHE, EVS, PHY, PSC | 3 | |
| Cooperative Education Electives (4 credit hours required) | ||
| FIN 191 | Part-Time Cooperative Education 1: Finance | 1 |
| FIN 192 | Part-Time Cooperative Education 2: Finance | 1 |
| FIN 193 | Part-Time Cooperative Education 3: Finance | 1 |
| FIN 194 | Part-Time Cooperative Education 4: Finance | 1 |
| FIN 197 | Part-Time Career Education Project: Finance | 1 |
| FIN 291 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Finance | 2 |
| FIN 292 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 2: Finance | 2 |
| FIN 297 | Full-Time Career Education Project: Finance | 2 |
| Technical Electives (Total of 12 credits required) | ||
| ACC 175 | Federal Taxation: Individuals | 3 |
| ACC 180 | Federal Taxation: Business | 3 |
| ACC 201 | Intermediate Accounting 1 | 4 |
| ACC 202 | Intermediate Accounting 2 | 3 |
| ACC 210 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
| COMM 105 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| HSV 115 | Counseling and Interviewing Techniques | 3 |
| LAW 110 | Employment and Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 130 | Estate Planning, Family and Probate Law | 3 |
| MGT 101 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MGT 105 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGT 120 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MGT 130 | Project Management | 3 |
| RE 100 | Real Estate Principles and Practices | 3 |
| RE 105 | Real Estate Law | 3 |
| RE 110 | Real Estate Appraisal and Finance | 3 |
The letters G, B, and T (displayed after course titles or elective descriptions) identify types of courses required by the Ohio Department of Higher Education as part of an associate’s degree curriculum.
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
Some courses are offered in alternative versions identified with a letter after the course number -- for example, ENG 101 and ENG 101A.
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.