Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics
Overview
Earn your Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Economics
If you are interested in pursuing a career in business, corporate finance, banking, insurance or investment companies, Grand Canyon University's (GCU) Colangelo College of Business offers the Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics degree. This finance and economics degree program takes the topic areas that will be important to a career in this field and explores each in depth. In this finance and economics program, you study international trade and finance, and explore the interrelationships between the international monetary environment and financial planning for corporations with overseas operations.
Degree Outcomes
Finance and Economics Degree Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics degree coursework includes areas such as finance, economics, statistics, financial and managerial accounting, marketing, investments and portfolio management. Through the coursework, you also focus on business and leadership skills, addressing the areas of servant leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
What You Will Learn
Coursework to take your Career to the Next Level
Specific topics in the finance and economics degree program include:
- Marketing mix and marketing concepts
- Microeconomic, macroeconomic and international economics topics
- Accounting cycle and the construction of financial statements
- Use of managerial accounting data in the decision-making process
- Legal and ethical issues of concern to business
- Individual and group behavior in organizations
- Practical application of descriptive and inferential statistics in business
- Fundamentals of business finance
- Financial evaluation and management of business
- Microeconomic principles and techniques of analysis
- Finance function within the modern corporation
- Investments and portfolio management
- Production/operations management
- Interrelationships between the international monetary environment and financial planning for corporations with overseas operations
- Strategic management
Career Outcomes
Prepare for a Career in Finance and Economics
After you complete the Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics degree, you may opt to further your education. GCU offers a variety of master's degrees in business, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA), an MBA with an emphasis in finance and a Master of Science in Leadership.
Course List
General Education Requirements
General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University's General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.
Requirements
Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community.
GCU Course Options
- UNV-112, Success in Science, Engineering and Technology & Lab: 4 credits
- UNV-103, University Success: 4 credits
- UNV-303, University Success: 4 credits
- UNV-108, University Success in the College of Education: 4 credits
Requirements
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to construct rhetorically effective communications appropriate to diverse audiences, purposes, and occasions (English composition, communication, critical reading, foreign language, sign language, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of English grammar or composition.
GCU Course Options
- UNV-104, 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: 4 credits
- ENG-105, English Composition I: 4 credits
- ENG-106, English Composition II: 4 credits
Requirements
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to express aspects of Christian heritage and worldview. Students are required to take CWV-101/CWV-301.
GCU Course Options
- CWV-101, Christian Worldview: 4 credits
- CWV-301, Christian Worldview: 4 credits
Requirements
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, physical geography, ecology, economics, theology, logic, philosophy, technology, statistics, accounting, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of intermediate algebra or higher.
GCU Course Options
- MAT-154, Applications of College Algebra: 4 credits
- MAT-144, College Mathematics: 4 credits
- PHI-105, 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: 4 credits
- MAT-134, Applications of Algebra: 4 credits
- BIO-220, Environmental Science: 4 credits
Requirements
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, crosscultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.
GCU Course Options
- HIS-144, U.S. History Themes: 4 credits
- PSY-100, Psychology in Everyday Life: 4 credits
- SOC-100, Everyday Sociology: 4 credits
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course surveys the marketing mix and marketing concept; markets and buyer behavior; product, service, and relationship marketing for global competition; creating and keeping customers in an e-commerce world; branding and positioning; distribution strategies, integrated marketing communications, and pricing strategies.
Course Description
The course covers microeconomic topics, macroeconomic topics, and international economics topics. Microeconomic topics include the nature and method of economics, supply and demand, utility, and supply and demand elasticities. Macroeconomic topics include the measurement of national output, factors that impact output, other means of measuring national wealth and economic well-being, unemployment, inflation, GDP accounting, and business cycles. While the focus of this course is primarily on the U.S. economy, some comparative economic analysis will be covered. In addition, select topics related to international trade and finance are introduced.
Course Description
This writing intensive course is a comprehensive study of the legal and ethical issues of concern to business, including those areas of the U.S. legal system that are most relevant to business, such as the law of torts, strict liability, intellectual property, and contract law. It explores the role of ethics and values in business decision making, and approaches these subjects from the perspective of the stakeholders as opposed to an economic interpretation of the firm and its responsibilities.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the accounting cycle and the construction of financial statements. Students explore the fundamental principles and practices of financial accounting as outlined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); the steps in the accounting cycle from journalizing transactions through the preparation of financial statements; and the use and interpretation of the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. Prerequisite: MAT-134, MAT-144 or MAT-154.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the use of managerial accounting data in the decision-making process. Topics include the use of cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis and relevant costs in decision making, using budgets and the balanced scorecard to evaluate performance, methods for setting prices of products and services, and analyzing capital investment opportunities. Prerequisite: ACC-250.
Course Description
Drawing upon real-world management situations, this course is a study of individual and group behavior in organizations through detailed coverage of the functions of management, individual differences/diversity, leadership, motivation, decision making, organizational design, and organizational change and development. Emphasis is placed on how an understanding of organizational behavior leads to effective management practice. Also PSC-420.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the practical application of descriptive and inferential statistics in business. Topics include probability, probability distributions, the central limit theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression. Prerequisite: MAT-134, MAT-144 or MAT-154.
Course Description
This course focuses on microeconomic principles and techniques of analysis from the perspective of the firm and the study of the national economy. Topics include the costs of production, market structures, profit maximization, regulation and deregulation of business, labor markets, GDP and measures of economic well-being, national income accounting, the effects of business cycles, an overview of fiscal, monetary and supply side policies, and role of money, banks, and the Federal Reserve System in the United States. Prerequisite: ECN-220.
Course Description
This course is a general survey of financial institutions, the Federal Reserve System, the qualities of a sound monetary system, the theory and value of money, deposit insurance, and foreign exchange. Prerequisites: ECN-220, ACC-250, and one of the following: MAT-134, MAT-144, or MAT-154.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to designing, planning, operating, and controlling production systems. Emphasis is on managerial concepts and strategies relating to the management of operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools are introduced and applied. Prerequisite: BUS-352 or MAT-274.
Course Description
This course is a study of the finance function within the modern corporation. Topics covered include financial analysis and planning, the valuation of financial assets, capital budgeting, capital structure, and working capital management. Prerequisites: ACC-350 and FIN-350.
Course Description
This course studies stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles, and their application in investment portfolio management. The securities market and trading procedures are discussed. The course develops and emphasizes portfolio theory that is applicable to both professional portfolio management and individual investment decisions. The application of portfolio theory to corporate investments and diversification is also discussed. Prerequisite: FIN-450.
Course Description
This writing intensive course serves as the capstone experience in business and management that includes the gradual development of a comprehensive and integrative business plan. This course is designed to assist students in their development as managers, servant leaders, and successful strategic thinkers. Management, marketing, accounting, finance, economics, global perspectives, law, and political issues are covered during this course. It is a writing intensive course that will help students develop competencies such as critical thinking, effective communication, leadership, and global awareness. Prerequisites: FIN-350, MGT-240 or MGT-420, MKT-245, and senior status.
Course Description
This course provides a study of interrelationships between the international monetary environment and financial planning for corporations with overseas operations. The topics covered include the international monetary system, the foreign exchange market, managing exchange exposure, political risk management, import/export financing, and international performance evaluation. Prerequisites: FIN-350 and ECN-360.
Faculty Bios
Program Locations
Campus
Online
Evening
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program’s published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution’s catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who graduated between 7/1 – 6/30 of the preceding year. The On-Time Completion rate is determined by the number of students in the cohort who completed the program within the published program length divided by the number of students in the cohort who graduated.
On-campus program disclosures Online and Evening program disclosures* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.