University at Buffalo (UB)
Every important financial decision involves uncertainty and judgment. What should you consider to develop a financial plan? How do you evaluate the risk–return trade-off under ever-changing conditions? And how can you make better-informed financial decisions in the dynamic markets?
The Finance program equips you with data, discipline and strategic thinking. Through real-world applications and hands-on learning, you’ll build strong quantitative skills, develop professional judgment and strengthen your critical thinking — preparing you for internships and careers in finance.
If you’re a motivated student who likes data-driven analysis and strategic problem-solving, the finance major offers a rigorous path that leads to many practical opportunities.
Get ready to build a strong foundation in how financial markets function and how capital is allocated. Early in the program, you’ll study economics, financial markets, strategic financial planning, accounting, quantitative methods and corporate finance — developing the analytical skills and financial knowledge you need to prepare for an internship early in the academic cycle. As you progress into your junior and senior years, advanced coursework in areas such as financial analysis, investment management, financial institutions, derivatives, valuation and financial modeling, and data science lets you deepen your finance and technical expertise. Throughout the program, you will receive professional development guidance focused on networking, professional connections and communication in the workplace. Of course, you’ll be able to choose electives based on your interests and career goals.
Join a club, network with industry professionals and get hands-on experience that helps set you apart.
Internships. Many reputable financial services firms recruit for competitive internships during sophomore or junior year — which is why our curriculum introduces core finance courses early on to ensure you are well prepared for these opportunities.
Investment and equity research student groups. Through faculty-mentored groups including the Terese Kelly Investment Group, Rising Bulls Equity Group, and Fisher Fellows Program, you can apply classroom learning to pitch investment ideas, analyze securities and gain hands-on experience in portfolio management and equity research.
Visits to financial hubs. Meet alumni and industry professionals in visits to financial companies in cities like New York City, Chicago and Boston.
Bloomberg Terminals. Get real-time data, news, business intelligence and research reports when you use UB’s Bloomberg Terminals, the industry standard for financial professionals.
UB alumni have worked for top financial firms on Wall Street and around the world, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citi, M&T Bank and Vanguard.
As a finance major, you can choose from careers in financial analysis, asset and portfolio management, banking and credit, among other fields. Whether you work for a financial firm, investment bank, government agency or other organization, popular career path examples include:
If you’re interested in professional advancement, you can also choose to pursue credentials such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The Finance curriculum covers key areas tested at the Level 1 exam, including financial statement analysis, equity investments, corporate issuers, economics, quantitative methods and derivatives. While our program’s objective is broader than exam preparation, it will provide a strong academic base if you want to sit for the examination before (or shortly after) graduation.
Of course, you can also choose to get an advanced degree after you graduate, including the highly ranked Master of Science in Finance (MSF) at UB.
At UB, you’ll take classes with professors who have real-world experience working for leading financial institutions — which means you’ll quickly get a sense of what to expect in the high-stakes world of finance.
Our award-winning faculty are also members of the Financial Management Association, American Financial Association, European Financial Association and others. They are well-respected thought leaders, and have been referenced in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and other leading publications. As researchers, they have published their work in the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, and others.
Perhaps most importantly, our faculty members are exceptional teachers and mentors. Many have been lauded for their expertise in the classroom, and several have received prestigious recognition like the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professorship. Throughout your time at UB, you’ll find that our faculty take pride in mentoring and coaching you, and often share contacts and connections that can help you get internships and jobs.