About

The Finance and Banking (BSBA) degree at Appalachian State University prepares you for a broad range of careers in the financial services industry, including banking and financial markets, corporate finance, investments and financial planning. You will gain a strong theoretical foundation as well as practical application through an array of coursework and exposure to computer models, computer simulation exercises and interaction with business professionals to analyze financial performance in a variety of business enterprises.

Faculty members are leaders in their respective fields, developing knowledge and insight through research that is shared not only at Appalachian but nationally in the financial industry. The majority of tenure-track faculty members serve as either associate or full professor, lending the department and its students stability and valuable experience.

After Graduation

Employment: Employers include:

• Ally Financial
• Amica
• Asheville Savings Bank
• Auto Owners Insurance
• AXA Equitable
• Bank of America
• Banker’s Life & Casualty
• BB&T
• C.H.S. Robinson
• CGI Group Inc
• Cisco
• Corning
• Delhaize America
• Dell
• First Citizens Bank
• First Tennessee
• French Embassy
• Key Risk
• Liberty Mutual
• Lowe’s Home Improvement
• Partners Insurance
• People’s Bank
• PNC Bank
• PWC
• Red Ventures
• RPS Rollins
• Safeco
• SECU
• State Farm
• Vanguard Group
• Wells Fargo
• Yadkin Bank

Graduate School: Some students choose to continue their education. In recent years, they have attended graduate schools including Appalachian State University, University of Tennessee, University of Florida, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Duke, University of South Carolina, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and others.

Career Exploration website

People

• 

  Faculty Profile: Dr. Brandy Hadley ’09 ’11

  Dr. Brandy Hadley says as a student the Appalachian Community surrounded her and taught her to believe in herself. Now an assistant professor, she has come full circle as she guides her own students at App State.

• 

  Faculty Profile: Dr. Jamie Parson

  Parson fosters access to careers in insurance for underrepresented students in the Walker College of Business through diversity and inclusion initiatives designed to give students the resources they need to be successful.

• 

  Alumnus Profile: James K. Reaves ’93

  “I think that what makes me successful in the business world is teamwork, focus and hard work. … I can never repay all that Appalachian has done for me.”

  - James K. Reaves ’93, senior vice president at BB&T

• 

  Faculty Profile: Dr. Harry Davis

  You’ll learn from Dr. Harry Davis, the North Carolina Bankers Association Economist and frequent speaker at state, regional and national banking conventions on economic and banking issues.

  Meet more faculty

Minors

A minor is not required.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

Bowden Investment Group (BIG) – Students analyze investment opportunities and manage a real investment portfolio with the goal of a return on invested funds that exceeds the return on the S&P 500 index. In 2014 members won the North Carolina Chartered Financial Analyst Society Research Challenge, making it the fourth win in six years for Appalachian. Appalachian has the best overall record among North Carolina schools. Members visit New York’s financial district each fall.  

Finance Student Association (FSA) – For students with an interest in finance, including non-finance and banking majors. The association promotes exposure to finance and banking, explores opportunities for employment and builds relationships among the members, faculty & business professionals.  Members visit New York’s financial district each fall.

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society – Membership is the highest international recognition a student in business can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at an AACSB accredited school.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.  

All business students fulfill an international requirement, and an increasing number choose to study abroad through a wide variety of exchange programs. The college maintains partnerships with universities across the globe and continues to expand groundbreaking opportunities in emerging markets.

For this major, there are two study abroad options under the same course number:

• FIN 4800 – Students travel to Bermuda to meet with experts in the insurance profession, scientists studying climate change and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
• FIN 4800 – Students travel to London’s financial district, home to many of the world’s largest insurers and reinsurers.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for declaring a major within the Walker College of Business are detailed here.