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.
People
Minors
A minor is not required.
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.
Why Appalachian?
- Finance and Banking students have opportunities to not only study financial markets, but also gain real-time experience through coursework and through programs and activities such as the Bowden Investment Group and the Finance Student Association.
- The Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance maintains strong corporate relationships, which benefit students during and after their college years.
- Finance Professor Harry Davis serves as the dean of the North Carolina School of Banking and as an instructor for the South Carolina School of Banking.
- Approximately 30 percent of Finance students double major in RMI because requirements in one major counts as electives in the other. Regarding job placement, the majors boost one another.
Location
Boone and Hickory*
*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.
Careers
- Auditor
- Bank Examiner/Regulator
- Bank Loan Officer
- Bank Manager
- Bank Representative
- Bookkeeper
- Branch Manager
- Business Manager
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Claim Adjuster/Examiner
- Commodities Trader
- Controller
- Credit Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Consultant
- Financial Economist
- Financial Planner
- International Trade Specialist
- Investment Banker
- Investment Analyst
- Loan Administrator
- Market Research Analyst
- Mergers/Acquisitions Manager
- Mortgage Broker
- Portfolio Analyst
- Stockbroker
- Systems Analyst
- Treasury Management Specialist
- Trust Analyst
Contacts
Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance
Dr. Chris McNeil
Chair
mcneilcr@appstate.edu
828-262-6243
Dr. Harry Davis
N.C. Bankers Association Professor
davishm@appstate.edu
828-262-6845
Dr. David Marlett
Director, Brantley Risk and Insurance Center
marlettdc@appstate.edu
828-262-2849
Dr. Brandy Hadley
Bowden Investment Group
hadleybe@appstate.edu
(828) 262-6938
Dr. David Marlett
Gamma Iota Sigma Advisor
marlettdc@appstate.edu
828-262-2849
Mr. Joe Walsh
FSA Advisor
walshj@appstate.edu
828-262-2209