Finance and Business Law

About the Department

Jennifer Miele, Department Chair
Peters Business Building, Room 285
559.278.2341
FAX: 559.278.3326
https://craig.fresnostate.edu/fbl/

The Department of Finance and Business Law offers three options (areas of emphasis) within the Bachelor of Science in the Business Administration degree program:

The Finance Option stresses the financial structure of businesses through a common set of courses and specialized courses directed at various applications. It is designed to provide students with the basic skills required to plan, supervise, and control the financial activities of business organizations. These include understanding the trade-off between risk and return, the time value of money, and the magnifying effect of leverage. Students also gain the skills related to evaluating the financial needs of a business, obtaining the funds required by the firm, and using these funds in such a way that the company’s goals are met.
The International Business Option introduces students to the fastest growing part of business today. The information and communications revolution - and declining travel costs - have made all businesses aware of global markets. The option stresses the role of global communications and the growth of entrepreneurial opportunities in worldwide markets, with special attention to California and the markets of the Pacific Rim.
The Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Option provides the background for a wide range of career opportunities in addition to residential and commercial real estate sales. These areas include development, lending, banking, appraising, escrow, property management, and construction. Usually students who enroll in the real estate option will complete all courses necessary to take the California Brokers License Examination.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

Global Business
Law for Entrepreneurs
Personal Financial Planning
Legal & Ethical Aspects of Sports Marketing

What You Can Learn

Evolution of international business, dealing with changing cultures, and variations within cultures
Legal issues in managing technology
Government and social control of private enterprise

Career opportunities

Career opportunities in finance include, but are not limited to, the following:

corporate finance - financial analyst, financial planning, project finance;
portfolio management - security analyst, stockbroker, investment banker, portfolio manager; and
banking and financial institutions - commercial and residential loan officers, trust officer, marketing officer.

What You Can Earn:

Financial Analyst I, $63,519 (our region)
Securities Analyst, $129,039 (our region)
Commercial Loan Officer I, $70,301 (our region)

Source: HR reported data on salary.com as of February 2023

Programs

Certificates

Finance, Certificate of Special Study

Bachelor