BS in Financial Information & Analysis

Fuel Your Future in the Business World

Drive real results in the fast-paced financial industry with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Information and Analysis from Clarkson University. Whether on Wall Street, for the Big 4 or by starting your own venture, you will be prepared to move, manage and make money work to your advantage.

Why Major in Financial Information and Analysis at Clarkson?

Our program provides advanced practical skills in accounting, investment and money management. As a student, you will have the opportunity to build your résumé via high-quality internships and exciting global experiences. Our program is rigorous and has brand recognition — we are considered one of the best business schools in the country by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.

The skills you will develop are sought after by prestigious financial institutions. Approach investments with a strategic mindset. Understand what accounting methods to apply in different business ventures and their tax implications. Learn how to allocate capital to meet your organization's goals.

Classes are hands-on and focused on real-world scenarios. Our faculty are renowned entrepreneurs and scholars who will give you personalized guidance for your future. As a student, you will also have the opportunity to manage part of the university's endowment fund as part of your training. By the time you graduate, your experience will set you apart in the job market.

And, our Financial Information & Analysis Class of 2023 had a 100 percent placement rate and starting salaries as high as 112K.

What You'll Learn

You will complete classes in business fundamentals for the first two years of the program. You will then take the required courses for the major and other specialized courses. You can use electives to fulfill a track or minor or explore other fields.

The core requirements for the major are:

Cost Accounting
Financial Management II
Intermediate Financial Accounting I
Intermediate Financial Accounting II
Investments
Strategic Financial Management

Curriculum

The Financial Information and Analysis (FIA) program consists of 33 credits of Clarkson Common Experience, 42 credits of foundation coursework in business, 27 credits of specialized business courses, and 18 credits of electives.

Clarkson Common Experience
The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.

FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

AC305 Cost Accounting
AC311 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
AC312 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
FN462 Investments
FN464 Financial Management II
FN470 Strategic Financial Management

Students must complete 3 of the following courses:

AC407 Taxation of Business Entities
AC421 Accounting Information Systems
AC431 Advanced Accounting: Investment & Ownership Interests
AC436 Auditing
FN/EC468 Financial Markets & Institutions
FN455 Venture Capital & Private Equity
FN467 International Finance
FN474 Models for Financial Analysis
FN475 Portfolio Management
FN575 Professional Fund Management I and/or
FN576 Professional Fund Management II (must total at least 3 credits)
LW471 Law & Society II

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives
Students majoring in FI&A will have approximately 18 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives.

Free Electives
Students majoring in Financial Information & Analysis will have approximately 6 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

Professional Experience
All students participate in a project-based professional experience such as a co-op, an internship, directed research or a community project clearly related to the student's professional goals.

Global Experience
A global experience is required for graduation for all Clarkson Business students. Employers want our graduates to understand different cultures and diversity and to have had first-hand exposure. Students will have a variety of opportunities, such as a semester exchange and/or faculty-led global business trips, to satisfy this requirement.

Co-ops and Internships

Gain résumé-worthy experience before you graduate. Apply the skills you've learned in the classroom with an internship or co-op assignment. Students in the program have completed internships for these and other companies:

Accenture
Amazon
General Electric
Goldman Sachs
Goodyear
IBM
Johnson & Johnson
Lockheed Martin
Target
Wells Fargo

Learn more about co-ops and internship opportunities.

Undergraduate Research

Join a faculty-led research project, and form part of the next generation of innovators. Opportunities are open to undergraduates during the school year and summer sessions. Explore research at the Reh School of Business.

First-Year Business Venture

Apply your financial savvy from the get-go. As a first-year business student, you will take Small Business 113: Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this course, student teams form real companies and later pitch their business plans to investors for funding. This opportunity gives you a chance to gain important hands-on experience that will help you throughout the rest of your studies. You can also fuel your ambitions with the Reh Cup and other entrepreneurial opportunities.

Clubs and Organizations

Find a community of creators and innovators through Clarkson’s 200-plus student groups. Volunteer with the Clarkson Sustainability Club, explore the great outdoors with the Mountain Bike Club or enhance your skills in the Clarkson Strategic Investment Group. Explore all clubs and organizations now.

Tracks and Minors

Use your electives to round out your studies with a track or minor in a related field:

Accounting Track

If you envision a career in accounting, this track will provide you with specialized knowledge in the field. Gain an overview of fundamental business concepts, information systems and investment management methods in accounting. Coursework will prepare you to take the CPA exam, as well. Learn more about the accounting track.

Quality-Based Project Management Minor

Develop the skills to manage people, resources and budgets to ensure a project's success. Gain the foundation you need to earn one or more certifications. Learn more about the quality-based project management minor.

Statistics Minor

Deepen your understanding of data by learning advanced quantitative methods. The coursework includes calculus, algebra, probability and statistics. Learn more about the statistics minor.

Economics Minor

Learn the basic principles of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. Understand the role the economy has in society and how it shapes our world today. Learn more about the economics minor.

Study Abroad Opportunities

International experience is a requirement for all Reh School of Business undergraduate students. Not only does it open your eyes to whole new experiences, but it also gives you a competitive edge in the job market. Students can choose to study abroad for a semester at one of Clarkson's international partner institutions, participate in one of our Global Business Program trip courses (students participate in a semester-long course, which culminates in a three-week international trip) or travel to nearby Canada for a series of four long-weekend trips. Learn more about all of our study abroad opportunities.

Student Perspective

"My experience at Clarkson has played an integral role in my success in recruiting for top financial firms and ultimately landing a job for a competitive position within one of the firms. Towards the end of my junior summer, I began recruiting for full-time positions. I had the good fortune to have been extended offers and interviews by several top financial firms, including Blackstone, Starwood Capital Group, Rockpoint Group, and JPMorgan."

Marques Bouyer '22, BS in Financial Information and Analysis

Career Possibilities

A degree in financial information and analysis will serve you in any industry. Learning to manage capital opens the doors to a wide variety of roles and organizations. The skills you gain can also help you launch your own financial services venture, if you choose to do so.

Some of our students choose to continue their studies by pursuing MBAs or other graduate degrees at Clarkson University or at other institutions.

Some of the roles our students have found success in include:

Accounting information systems designer
CFO
Certified financial planner
Certified public accountant
Commodity trader
Comptroller
Corporate financial planner
Credit analyst
Financial analyst and planner
Financial manager
Financial services personnel
Investment manager
IRS investigator/agent
Management accountant
Management accounting personnel

Employers

Our graduates have found that their skills are high in demand. Class of 2023 graduates in Financial Information and Analysis had a 100-percent placement rate with starting salaries as high as $112K. Recent employers include:

Blackstone
Compass Interpreters
Dexter Axle
EPIC
Goldman Sachs
The Home Depot
Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices
Kalamazoo Wings
KeyBank
Kiewit
KW Vermont Strong Will Real Estate
M&T
Minnesota Wild
NBT Bank
Pall Corporation
Qred AB
Rathe Family Business

Graduate Schools

Many of our graduates choose to pursue advanced degree programs. Many have pursued graduate degrees through Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences or Reh School of Business programs or Clarkson's other graduate programs. Other graduate schools where our students have recently enrolled include: