Finance deals with the exchange of assets over time: the pricing of assets, which projects firms undertake, how those projects are funded, appropriate investment strategies by individuals and institutions, how domestic and international financial markets work, and the governance of those who make financial decisions.
Finance at UGA is consistently one of the largest majors on campus and the largest major in the Terry College of Business. The B.B.A. delivers an education on the theory and use of financial analysis, combining course work in financial management, investment analysis, financial institutions and markets, international finance, mergers and acquisitions, trading strategy, financial models, derivatives, and corporate finance. (Refer to the Pre-Business major for information on applying.)
Undergraduate majors control a $250,000+ stock portfolio through a Student-Managed Investment Fund, learning to make critical investment decisions in volatile markets; receive advice from professionals in the finance industry; and are provided with the skills and knowledge to value cash flows and assets, analyze the financial performance of firms, determine strategies to enhance the value of a firm, and understand financial innovations in domestic and international capital markets.
The department works closely with potential employers. Interns have been placed at Frisch Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Target, Accenture, Wells Fargo, Nissan, Boing, and others. More than 80% of graduates secure employment within three months of graduation in such areas as major corporations, small business firms, brokerage firms, commercial and investment banks, insurance companies, accounting and consulting firms, and government agencies.
Study Abroad Options: UGA at Oxford Study Abroad Program; UGA Study Abroad Program Verona, Italy