Finance Major - Florida Gulf Coast University

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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Finance develops the analytical and behavioral skills necessary for success in dynamic and diverse domestic and global financial environments.

The goal of the finance program is to impart knowledge and competence in finance that will prepare students for entry-level and leadership positions in financial management, banking, investments, and real estate. Students have the opportunity to pursue one of three concentrations: Financial Analysis and Management, Financial Services or Real Estate Finance.

Financial Analysis and Management Concentration students are introduced to the theory, concepts, applications, institutional environment, and analytical tools essential for proper decision making. Courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of the relationships between business finance and the economic system in the context of the management decision-making process.
Financial Services Concentration students are introduced to the comprehensive scope of the financial planning profession. Topics covered include: risk management, tax planning, investments, estate planning, and retirement planning. The concentration is designed to provide the educational outcomes required by the Certified Financial Planner TM (CFP) Board.
Real Estate Finance Concentration students are introduced to theory, concepts, market participants, relevant institutions, and analytical tools & techniques required to be successful in real property markets. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the world's largest asset class, Real Estate.

The appropriate use of technology, new organizational structures, entrepreneurial thinking, and international awareness is integrated throughout the program. The goal of the finance program is to impart knowledge and competence in finance that will prepare students for entry-level and leadership positions in public and private organizations such as financial management, banking, investments, and real estate.

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Concentrations

Financial Analysis and Management Concentration
Financial Services Concentration
Real Estate Finance Concentration

Accreditation
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Lutgert College of Business:

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

As the world's largest business education alliance, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to over 1,500 member organizations and more than 785 accredited business schools worldwide.

With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education.

For more information, visit aacsb.edu.
Admissions Information
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Admissions Information for the 2025-2026 Catalog Year
If you are not yet an FGCU student, visit the Admissions Office Website
If you are a newly-admitted FGCU student please be sure to sign up for an Eagle View Orientation session. As part of this session you will be meeting with an academic advisor who will assist you in registering for classes for your major.
Admission Deadlines
Visit the Admissions Office Web site for information on admission deadlines of the university.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2025-2026 Catalog Year
The General Education Program Website is located at https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
Degree-seeking students are classified as pre-majors prior to formal transition into a Lutgert College of Business (LCOB) major. As pre-majors, students may enroll in lower division (1000-2999 level) courses to satisfy general education and common prerequisite requirements; lower level electives; and business common core courses, except GEB 4890, if course prerequisites are met. Pre-majors may not enroll in upper division (3000-4999 level) courses for the major.

Transition from a LCOB pre-major to a major happens following (a) completion of all common prerequisites with a minimum grade of C or higher in each course; and (b) completion of 50 earned credits with a minimum FGCU GPA of 2.0.

For timely degree completion, FTIC (First Time in College) students are expected to complete the following:
- MAC 1105 with minimum grade of B (or relevant accelerated credit or placement exam), ECO 2023 or ECO 2013 with minimum grade of C, one additional common prerequisite, and an overall 2.4 FGCU GPA within one calendar year from admission
- Four common prerequisites by the end of the third semester (excluding summer) from admission
- Seven common prerequisites and an overall 2.7 FGCU GPA by the end of the fourth semester (excluding summer) from admission
- FIN 3403 with minimum grade of B by the end of the fifth semester (excluding summer) from admission
- FIN 3504 with minimum grade of C by the end of the sixth semester (including summer) from admission
For timely degree completion, transfer students are expected to complete the following:
- Seven common prerequisites and an overall 2.7 FGCU GPA by the end of the third semester (excluding summer) from admission
- FIN 3403 with minimum grade of B by the end of the fifth semester (excluding summer) from admission
- FIN 3504 with minimum grade of C by the end of the sixth semester (excluding summer) from admission
Students should refer to the Degree Map for milestone information. Degree maps for each major can be found at https://www.fgcu.edu/cob/.

In addition to the program requirements, students must:
- Attempt ACG 2021 no more than two times.
- Earn a grade of B or higher in FIN 3403, which can be attempted no more than two times.
- Earn a grade of C or higher in the common prerequisites, business common core, required courses in the major, and restricted electives/concentration.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits, at the upper division (3000-4999 level).
- Complete the last 30 credits of business courses at FGCU.
- Complete a minimum of 12 credits among required courses in the major, concentration and restricted electives at FGCU.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfy the Service-Learning requirement.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement.
- Complete the standardized business knowledge assessment exam administered during the last semester in GEB 4890 Business Strategy.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Program Requirements
1. FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
  To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.
2. Common Prerequisites
  For this major, common prerequisite courses with an asterisk (*) require prior knowledge and skills demonstrated through degree acceleration programs (e.g., the College Board's Advanced Placement Program [AP], International Baccalaureate Program [IB], College-Level Examination Program [CLEP], Advanced International Certificate of Education Program [AICE]); dual enrollment; placement exam; or college coursework
  
  FGCU Course: ACG 2021 Intro. to Financial Acctg. (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: ACGX021 or ACGX022 or (ACGX001 and ACGX011)
  
  FGCU Course: ACG 2071 Intro. to Managerial Acctg. (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: ACGX071 or ACGX301
  
  FGCU Course: CGS 1100 Computer Software & Technology (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: CGSX100 or CGSX100C or CGSX570 or CGSX060 orCGSX531 or CGSX000 or ISMX000 or CGSX518
  
  FGCU Course: ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: ECOX013
  
  FGCU Course: ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: ECOX023
  
  FGCU Course: *MAC 2233 Elementary Calculus I (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: MACX233
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of B; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  FGCU Course: STA 2023 Statistical Methods (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: STAX023 or STAX122 or QMBX100
3. Business Common Core (27 credits)
  BUL 3130 Legal & Ethical Enviro of Bus (3)
  FIN 3403 Business Finance (3) Minimum grade of B
  GEB 4890 Business Strategy (capstone) (3)
  ISM 3011 Information Systems (3)
  MAN 3025 Principles of Management (3)
  MAR 3023 Introduction to Marketing (3)
  SCM 3005 Supply Chain Management (3)
  
  Select one of the following:
  ENC 3250 Professional Writing (3) or
  GEB 3523 Critical Think&Writing for Bus (3)
  
  Select one of the following:
  GEB 3085 Professional Development (3)
  SPC 1608 Effective Speaking (3)
  SPC 2023 Public Speaking (3)
4. Required Courses in the Major (3 credits)
  FIN 3504 Principles of Investments (3)
5. Restricted Electives in the Major (6 credits)
  Select 6 credits of approved upper division (3000-4999 level) electives with any of the following prefixes: ECO, ECP, ECS, FIN, REE, RMI, TAX or AEB 3144
6. Concentration (18 credits)
  Select one of the following concentrations:
  
  Financial Analysis and Management Concentration
  FIN 3244 Money & Capital Markets (3)
  FIN 3414 Financial Management (3)
  FIN 4514 Security Analysis (3)
  FIN 4443 Financial Policy/Sr. Seminar (capstone) (3)
  REE 4204 Advanced Real Estate Finance (3)
  
  Select one of the following:
  ECO 3410 Econometrics I (3)
  QMB 3302 Business Analytics (3)
  
  Financial Services Concentration
  FIN 3144 Personal Financial Planning (3)
  FIN 4132 Estate Planning (3)
  FIN 4128 Financial Plan Development (capstone) (3)
  RMI 3011 Risk Management & Insurance (3)
  RMI 4135 Retirement Planning (3)
  TAX 3721 Tax Planning (3)
  
  Real Estate Finance Concentration
  REE 3043 Real Estate Fundamentals (3)
  REE 3103 Valuation of Real Property (3)
  REE 3303 Real Estate Inv Decision Mking (3)
  REE 3433 Real Estate Law (3)
  REE 4204 Advanced Real Estate Finance (3)
  REE 4931 Real Estate Senior Seminar (capstone) (3)
7. Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement (3 credits)
  Select at least 3 credits in sustainability coursework (SCGR Attribute)
8. Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
Degree Map
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Finance (B.S.)
Course Description
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSEATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Explain key financial theories and practices.
2. Analyze financial issues in corporate and investment settings.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the working of financial markets.
Finance content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through assignments such as papers, projects, and tests in courses such as FIN 4128, FIN 4443, and REE 4931.

Additionally, all LCOB students must complete the business core with the following learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical frameworks in business.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of global factors influencing business.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of corporate social responsibility, including environmental responsibility, frameworks.
4. Understand main concepts & definitions in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing, & operations management.
5. Demonstrate the integration of knowledge across disciplines.
These are assessed using assignments such as papers, projects, and tests in courses such as BUL 3130 (or BUL 3320 or HFT 3670), GEB 4890, FIN 3403, MAR 3023, and other undergraduate business courses.

Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:

All LCOB students must complete the business core with the following learning outcomes:
1. Prepare effective written reports.
2. Deliver effective oral presentations.
These are assessed using assignments such as papers, projects, and tests in courses such as FIN 3403, GEB 4890, MAR 3023 and other undergraduate business courses.

Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:

All LCOB students must complete the business core with the following learning outcomes:
1. Solve business problems using analytical tools.
2. Apply critical thinking skills to business problems.
Critical thinking skills are assessed by assignments such as papers, projects, and tests in courses such as FIN 3403, GEB 4890, and other undergraduate business courses.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees, and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Student Account Services website.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit the Financial Aid website for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.
Graduation Requirements / ETS Major Field Test in Business
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Graduation Information:

Information regarding Graduation Requirements, the Application to Graduate, and the graduation process may be found at fgcu.edu/graduation/requirements.

ETS Major Field Test in Business:

As a Lutgert College of Business senior enrolled in GEB 4890 (Business Strategy) this semester, you are required to participate in the ETS Major Field Test for Business. The exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions designed to measure a student's subject knowledge and the ability to apply facts, concepts, theories and analytical methods. Some questions are grouped in sets and based on diagrams, charts and data tables. The questions represent a wide range of difficulty and cover depth and breadth in assessing students' achievement levels.

For further information on the ETS Exam, please see ETS Major Field Tests (a description of the test, published by ETS).

The ETS Major Field Test is a graduation requirement. All potential graduation candidates must register online at https://www.registerblast.com/fgcu/Exam/List to complete the ETS Exam with the FGCU Testing and Assessment Office.

If you have any questions or need additional assistance,
please call the LCOB Office of Student Affairs at (239) 590-7302.
Destination FGCU Transfer Program
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- Finance (B.S.) Transfer Program

Lutgert News | FinanceSee All

Lutgert College of Business Seniors Score in 90th Percentiles Nationwide

June 17, 2024 / Lutgert News / Tags: Accounting, Analysis, Assesment, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Resort & Hospitality, Testing, Undergraduate

As part of our ongoing efforts toward continuous improvement of student learning, the Lutgert College of Business has long required our graduating seniors to complete the ETS Business Major Field Test (MFT), and our students often score quite highly relative to a large national sample—particularly when it comes to knowledge assessed in their own discipline. Perhaps the most useful measure is not only a direct one (% of answers correct) but also the indirect benchmarking compared to 35,472 U.S. students (at 325 institutions) who completed the ETS Business MFT between Sept. 2021-June 2023. That yields a percentile score for our business majors relative to that national benchmark.

Brave New World? AI Researcher Says Ditch Dystopian Fears

April 13, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: AI, Accounting, Advertising, Agribusiness, Economics, Finance, Information Systems & Operations Management, Management, Marketing, PGA Golf Management, Real Estate, Resort & Hospitality, Sales

The warnings are ominous and plentiful. For over half a century, we’ve been hit with a deluge of cautionary tales – from books to the big screen – teaching us to fear the unleashed power of artificial intelligence (or AI). Inevitably, in those stories, technology develops sentiency, plunging the world into a dystopian hellscape, leading to the end of human civilization. So why is Chrissann Ruehle, Lutgert College of Business instructor, eschewing pop culture to embrace the latest AI development? “I see this as a collaboration and connection between humans and machines, humans and technology, as well as being a benefit for our students and also for faculty,” she explained. For the past six years, Ruehle has researched the burgeoning field of AI and is working on publishing articles and papers on the subject. She describes one of the newest creations, ChatGPT, as a “generative artificial intelligence program that uses conversational artificial intelligence.”

Professional Development Skills Course Bridges the Gap Between the Classroom and the Workforce

April 05, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: Accounting, Advertising, Agribusiness, Economics, Finance, Information Systems & Operations Management, Management, Marketing, Mentorship, New Course, PGA Golf Management, Real Estate, Resort & Hospitality, Sales, Undergraduate

The Lutgert College of Business remains in constant contact with industry partners to make sure our graduates have the knowledge employers are looking for. This consistent communication has led to new majors in Supply Chain Management and Data Analytics, integration of advanced MS Excel skills into the accounting curriculum, and a new concentration in International Business for management majors. Yet the most frequent request across disciplines and majors is the need for “soft skills”: networking with clients, giving effective presentations, writing professional communications. Even a handshake can make the difference between clinching a deal or losing a client.

Learn more about the Department of Economics & Finance.

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