The finance major at USD will prepare you for a dynamic, exciting career in the world of business. Students who pursue a finance major may choose from many career paths including corporate finance, investments, financial planning, portfolio management, banking, mergers and acquisitions, insurance, real estate, security analysis, and international finance.
The field of finance is centered on decision-making; decisions about how to obtain funds, deploy funds (invest), and manage capital in personal and business settings. Although finance professionals are known for their excellent quantitative skills, they also need excellent "people" skills so they can interact with others and effectively communicate their ideas. Most importantly, finance professionals embrace life-long learning because the financial markets experience constant change. For example, finance has been dramatically impacted by the rapid evolution of technology. Information available from the capital markets, the World Wide Web (WWW), and the Internet has become an essential part of many financial decision processes including deciding on capital expenditure projects, investigating and deciding on the appropriate mix of funding sources, and investing personal or corporate resources. In sum, successful finance professionals are adaptable, entrepreneurial, and motivated individuals.
The finance department is of the philosophy that students "learn by doing." Therefore, we provide students with many opportunities to apply the theories they learn in the classroom. We do this by incorporating real-world case studies, trading simulations, management simulations, and project assignments into our courses. Outside the classroom we offer three student groups, Financial Management Association (FMA), Coyote Investment Club (CIC), and Coyote Capital Management (CCM), that afford members the opportunity to experience the finance profession as a student at USD.
The FMA group helps students network with finance professionals by bringing speakers to campus and sponsoring field trips to businesses in Omaha as well as financial centers such as Chicago and New York City. The USD FMA group was honored to receive the coveted Superior Chapter designation for the eighth year in a row for their work during the 2007-2008 academic year!
The Coyote Investment Club was created in 1997 to give students a vehicle to invest their own money and learn how to analyze securities. CIC membership is capped at 40, but there are spots available each year as students graduate and withdraw their funds from the club. As of mid-2008, the CIC portfolio is worth more than $70,000.
Coyote Capital Management was created in the fall of 2001 thanks to a $10,000 donation from First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, SD. Since 2001, the portfolio has grown substantially through donations and positive investment returns. Currently, the students involved with CCM manage a portfolio of more than $600,000. CCM participated in the 2004 National Student Managed Portfolio competition and placed 3rd in the undergraduate equity blend category!
Students who participate in CCM receive hands-on training as portfolio managers.
Dr. Angeline Lavin
Academic Program Coordinator - Finance
219 Patterson Hall
605.677.5566
Angeline.Lavin@usd.edu
