Accredited finance degree programs in Utah are greatly enhanced by the rich mix of economic industries represented within the state. While Utah is most notably known for its rugged beauty that draws crowds of tourists for outdoor recreation, it also is home to businesses operating in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing, information technology and finance industries. Recently, Utah was recognized via the State New Economy Index as the number one state for Economic Dynamism. The designation which was given based upon the globalized, knowledge driven and entrepreneurial nature of the state’s economy is an indicator of the fertile business environment that is great for the development of tomorrow’s financial leaders.
Brigham Young University
Marriott School of Management
Brigham Young University’s (BYU) Marriott School of Management is named for its benefactors J. Willard and Alice Marriott who are the founders of the Marriott Corporation. The school is known for graduating business leaders with strong ethics and professional competence. The BYU School of Management which was established in 1974 currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students. The school offers undergraduate majors in management, accounting, information systems, recreation management and finance. Associated undergraduate minors are in management, strategy, and non-profits. Graduate majors offered are Master of Business Administration (MBA), executive MBA, Master of Public Administration (MPA), executive MPA, Master of Accounting, Master of Information Systems Management, and Master of Science (MS) in Youth and Family Recreation. The school is highly ranked and was recognized as number one in the country for its accounting program in 2010 and 2013 by the Wall Street Journal; it also ranked third in “Employer Satisfaction” in 2014 according to Businessweek.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance Major
The Marriott School’s MBA program is a comprehensive, two year program that includes core and elective courses. The curriculum is delivered in a cohort fashion where all students enroll in the Fall semester and complete their first year together learning the analytical techniques to apply to the fundamental areas of business. During the first year of MBA studies, students are not allowed to work on a job due to the rigorous nature of the program. Course work in the MBA program involves a lot of group projects that prepare students for the way things really get done in professional work settings. Groups of five students are formed for project work based upon the students’ academic and professional experiences as well as language backgrounds. The first year’s core classes include topics like operations management, managerial accounting and business strategy. Elective courses allow students to focus on their finance major and include topics like financial statement analysis, international finance and corporate financial accounting.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
Campus Dr
Provo, UT 84602
Phone: (801) 422-3500
Email: johnbingham@byu.com
Website: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/mba/
University of Utah
David Eccles School of Business
The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business strives to develop creative problem solvers who know how to apply theoretical knowledge to real world, global business challenges. The school offers students a variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs as well as specialized certifications for professional development. Graduate programs include advanced degrees in business administration, accounting, real estate development and healthcare. Students also have many dual degree program options from which to choose. The school of business is recognized for faculty research publications and its strong links to industry. The Professional in Residence program which includes two seasoned business executives with experience in corporate and international finance allows students to interact with industry professionals who can expose them to real world industry challenges.
Master of Science (MS) in Finance
The MS in Finance at the David Eccles School of Business is a challenging, 30 credit hour program that allows students to customize their learning experiences to suit their unique academic interests and career goals. For example, students choose among tracks in categories like financial analysis, investment and portfolio management, financial forensic services and corporate finance. Students have the option to finish the program in a year if they participate in it full time; part time students usually finish the program within two and a half years. The MS in Finance program also flexibly allows students to enroll in either the Fall or Spring semesters. Depending on the program customizations chosen, students can use the program to prepare to earn the prestigious professional designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The 15 credit hour core and elective courses prepare students for technical and highly analytical careers in finance.
Related Resource: How Do I Become A Financial Analyst?
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
1655 Campus Center Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: (801) 581-7785
Contact Page
Website: http://msf.business.utah.edu/
Master of Business Administration, Finance Concentration
The Eccles School of Business offers students four types of MBA programs from which to choose depending upon their personal needs, career aspirations and professional experience. These options include the Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Online MBA, and the traditional Full Time MBA. While all the MBA programs offer students some flexibility in choosing electives to customize their learning experiences, it is the Full Time MBA that gives students the opportunity to specialize in business areas like finance. During the program, students choose from among finance related electives that total 24 credit hours of coursework. The experiential based MBA with a finance focus also features study abroad programs and domestic consulting projects that help students to develop management, leadership and professional competence. Enrolled students take advantage of career management services and mentor programs that are designed to give them an edge in the job market. This MBA option is deemed appropriate for students who want to change careers and enter the finance industry.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
1655 Campus Center Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: (801) 581-7785
Email: mastersinfo@business.utah.edu
Website: http://mba.business.utah.edu/
Utah State University
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Utah State University’s (USU) Jon M. Huntsman School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate level degree programs in business that are based on four foundational pillars of excellence. These four core values include ethical leadership, analytical rigor, entrepreneurial spirit and global vision. The school believes that business leaders with integrity are the ones who should be placed in key positions within the global marketplace. Since critical problem solving skills are needed across all industries, curricula focusing on analytical rigor are important tools in the development of tomorrow’s business professionals. While the business school faculty realizes that not every one will start their own business, the innovative skills needed to develop, operate, and manage a start up business is critical to nearly every business. The school’s global vision is most widely recognized within its International Business undergraduate degree program and Global Learning Experiences activities.
Master of Science in Financial Economics
Students who want a concise, rigorous financial economics program that helps them gain valuable skills very quickly opt for USU’s MS in Financial Economics degree program. Many large corporations in the domestic and global market demand finance professionals with technical financial skills, and students enrolled within this professional, terminal degree program consistently deliver those skill sets. For example, Financial Economics majors typically pass the level one CFA exam and gain Bloomberg certification by the time that they graduate. The program also boasts impressive job placements to financial heavy weights like Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, KMPG and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 30 minimum credit hour program includes course topics like mathematical economics, econometrics, fixed income securities, derivatives and computational methods. The program has been particularly attractive to students interested in fiancial economics because of its relatively high job placement rates and low debt statistics. Because students finish the program within a year, they save nearly $100,000 in tuition costs. They also enter the work force with valuable skills and credentials quicker than they would with other programs.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
3500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
Phone: (435)797-2378
Email: tyler.bowles@usu.edu
Website: http://huntsman.usu.edu/msfe/
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance Specialization
An MBA from the Huntsman School of Business instills values of operational excellence and integrity. These values lead to continuous operational improvement throughout organizations. USU offers two distinctive MBA programs which are the Professional MBA and the Full Time MBA. Students may specialize in finance when they choose the Full Time MBA program. The program is an intensive, one year program that has been revamped to eliminate redundancy in course topics and maximize time spent learning challenging new concepts and techniques. The core course topics that Huntsman MBA students can expect to take are accounting for management decision making, global strategic thinking, systems thinking and advanced tactics managing individuals and groups. Finance focused elective topics are fixed income, corporate finance, derivative markets and investment analysis. The Huntsman MBA with a finance specialization has a curriculum that allows students to gain hands on experience with real world projects.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
3500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
Phone: (435) 797-3624
Email: HuntsmanMBA@usu.edu
Website: http://huntsman.usu.edu/mba/
Utah has a number of quality finance degree programs offered by schools with great reputations within industry as well as academia. Whether students decide to enroll in a comprehensive, two year finance degree program or to fast track their academic aspirations with an intense, one year program, there are plenty of options available to them through the multiple accredited finance degree programs in Utah.
