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About the BS in Finance Degree

Why Study Finance at Cedarville?

Are you looking to pursue a rewarding finance career? Cedarville's distinctly Christian finance degree, offered by the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, will prepare you for roles like financial analyst, security analyst, financial planner, or account executive in industries like banking, insurance, and securities.

Throughout your coursework, you'll be taught from a biblical worldview by experienced professors, ensuring you're ready to become an ethical, God-honoring finance professional. At Cedarville, you'll be prepared to excel in the workplace — but more importantly, you'll be prepared to make a Gospel impact through your vocation.

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Complete Your Finance Degree Online!

Interested in finance but need added flexibility? Connect to Cedarville from wherever you are! This program is also offered online, with six start times throughout the year.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Finance Program Highlights

Thorough Preparation – You will learn to plan for financial success of organizations and individuals by asking and answering finance-related questions such as:

  • Will this project add value to the company and its owners?
  • What is the best way to finance this project?
  • What steps would improve our bank branch’s profitability? How do I help my clients prepare for a comfortable retirement?
  • What tools can be used to select assets to place within in a diversified investment portfolio?

Comprehensive – You will be equipped to evaluate investment decisions for both organizations and individuals, manage financial institutions, and work with individuals to develop comprehensive financial plans.

Caring, Credential Faculty – You will learn from professors with advanced degrees and relevant experience who care about your growth both academically and spiritually.

Chartered Market Technician® (CMT) program logo

Cedarville University is an Academic Partner of the CMT Association, aligning elements of the finance curriculum with the Chartered Market Technician® (CMT) program. This partnership reflects Cedarville’s commitment to preparing students for careers in investment analysis, portfolio management, and financial markets through rigorous and applied finance education.

What Can I Do With a BS in Finance Degree?

Finance careers focus on financial decisions faced by business enterprises. This includes methods of raising money, debt management, investment and security analysis, real estate and insurance, and virtually all aspects of finance.

The bachelor’s degree in finance will prepare you for careers such as:

  • Financial Analyst
  • Financial Manager
  • Financial Advisor
  • Banking Officer
  • Asset Manager

Our graduates are working at places such as:

  • Accenture
  • Cincinnati Insurance
  • Edward Jones
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • LexisNexis
  • Speedway

Others have gone on to graduate and law school at places like:

  • Harvard
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Rochester

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that most professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 100% of recent graduates from the Robert W. Plaster School of Business were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville's other placement rates.

Cedarville's Placement Rates

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

Student-Managed Investment Fund — As a junior and senior finance major, you will gain actual investment experience by managing University endowment funds in a portfolio of equity securities in our Applied Portfolio Management course.

Key Bank Trading Center — With its electronic data ticker and live financial news, the KeyBank Trading Center offers you a realistic environment in which to explore finance and gain practical investment experience.

Internships — Internships will give you real-world experience in the finance field. Cedarville business students have been placed in internships at Northwestern Mutual, Dana Inc., and Cummins, among others.

Integrated Business Core (IBC) — This two-semester program allows you to integrate classroom learning with practical business experience. As part of the IBC, you will create a business plan and present a loan proposal to local business professionals in order to obtain necessary funding for your startup venture.

Student Organizations — You can choose to participate in business-related student organizations:

Investment Club

The investment club is a diverse group of investors looking to deepen their knowledge within the finance and investment space. We strive to provide hands-on experience for our members by including practice with mock financial research reports, stock pitches, general conversations about market trends and news, portfolio management (paper trading), and alumni connections/speakers. We hope to help prepare our members to achieve various financial positions at some of the most prestigious firms in the market today.

PSB Student Leadership Team (SLT)

Serve as a student advisory board for the Robert W. Plaster School of Business faculty, provide resources to orgs and students, represent the School of Business at CU Fridays and other prospective student events, serve as a liaison between students and faculty, and meet the goals of the PSB and faculty advisors.

Women in Business (WIB)

Our mission for Women in Business is to help women aspiring in business and leadership achieve their goals. WIB prepares its members by providing a forum for addressing issues relevant to women in business, connecting with modern female business leaders, impacting women in need, and establishing camaraderie among female students interested in business. We do this through learning experiences, such as hosting keynote speakers, social activities, such as game nights and brunches, and service opportunities such as volunteering in the Cedarville and greater Dayton community. Any of this organization's public events are open to men and women.

Program Curriculum

Building on your core liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take a set of core finance courses, including Investments, Money and Financial Markets and our capstone course, Advanced Financial Management. You will be able to choose from a variety of electives and explore areas of interest including financial planning, security analysis, international finance, management of financial institutions and real estate finance.

Sample courses:

  • Applied Portfolio
  • Financial Planning
  • Investments
  • International Finance
  • Securities Analysis + Portfolio MGMT
  • Money and Finance Markets
  • Advanced Financial Management
  • Financial Institution Management

Start Your Degree in High School!

Save time and money in college by taking dual enrollment courses now. Discover how you can complete your business degree up to a year early with the Dual Enrollment Pathway to Business.

Explore the Dual Enrollment Pathway

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you choose the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • 4-Year
  • Residential
Professor standing in front of classroom teaching.

From Our Students:

  • The Robert W. Plaster School of Business has taught me so much about the business world and how to incorporate my biblical beliefs into my future career. There have been quite a few opportunities for me to apply this learning to a real-world scenario, especially during my time in the IBC. The professors have encouraged me in many ways, from allowing me to ask questions to planning my future after Cedarville.
    Sarah Baab '23
    Sarah Baab
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Jonathan Burson

Jonathan Burson, PhD

Assistant Professor of Finance
UG

Contact

Robert W. Plaster School of Business

Program News