{"id":18492,"date":"2022-11-27T13:26:52","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T18:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/?p=18492"},"modified":"2024-11-26T07:56:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T12:56:22","slug":"finance-degree-duration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/finance-degree-duration\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take To Get a Degree in Finance?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"f862c97100d898773dd915a3810aee54\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:0px;\">\n\n<\/div>\n<p>Getting <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/why-major-in-finance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a degree in finance<\/a> is the first step to entering a large and promising field, and if you love working with numbers and money, entering this field will be even easier. As a finance professional, you&#8217;ll be able to work with large and small businesses, governments, foundations, and other establishments to help them make better financial decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, if you&#8217;re interested in learning more about this versatile field and have answers to questions such as, \u201chow long does it take to get a finance degree?\u201d, \u201cWhat are the common finance careers?\u201d, \u201cWhat are the types of degrees?\u201d, and more, stay with us.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"finance-degree-overview\">Finance Degree: Overview<\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18495 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"finance-degree-overview\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/finance-degree-overview-1024x682.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p>The main objective of finance is to help businesses, individuals, and organizations make money. Naturally, a degree in finance aims to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to achieve that main goal. Typically, the coursework for a <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/is-finance-a-hard-major\/\">major in finance<\/a> includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Financial Management,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Investments,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Financial Markets,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/accounting-vs-finance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Accounting<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Business and Economic Forecasting,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Federal Taxation for Businesses,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Economics,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">International Finance, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some of the field-related skills you&#8217;ll gain are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Understanding stock markets, trading, and investments,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Planning and making wise investments,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Interpreting and manipulating data,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Gaining knowledge of various types of financial products and services, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to that, you&#8217;ll also gain transferrable skills, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Teamwork<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Organization<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">IT software skills<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Research and analytical skills<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Interpersonal skills<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As finance management is necessary for most industries, getting a degree in finance opens opportunities to enter other sectors, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Finance<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Insurance<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Manufacturing<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Government<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Large and small companies in every industry<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Professional, technical, and scientific services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"types-of-finance-degrees-and-their-duration\">Types of Finance Degrees and Their Duration<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to pursue a degree in finance, there are many paths you can take to gain thorough knowledge to become competent finance professional. You should carefully examine what option fits your professional goals.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"associate-degree-in-finance\">Associate Degree in Finance<\/h3>\n<p>Getting an associate degree can be right for you if you want to learn the fundamental concepts of finance. You&#8217;ll learn about investing, microeconomics, corporate finance, financial markets, financial planning, etc.<\/p>\n<p>An associate degree in finance usually takes two years to complete,\u00a0 after which you can find junior-level jobs as a budget analyst, sales associate, assistant to financial advisors, etc.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"bachelors-degree-in-finance\">Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Finance<\/h3>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18493 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"bachelors-degree-in-finance\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/bachelors-degree-in-finance-1024x682.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p>Getting a bachelor&#8217;s degree in finance can be an <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/why-is-economics-important\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">excellent decision<\/a> as it teaches you <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/finance-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">finance concepts, analytical and critical thinking skills<\/a>, which you&#8217;ll need in the work field. Here at BAU, we offer an exceptional <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/program\/ba-in-economics-finance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BA in Economics &amp; Finance program<\/a> with courses such as Financial Accounting, Ethics, International Financial Crises, Investment Strategies, etc.<\/p>\n<p>A bachelor&#8217;s degree in finance usually takes four years to complete.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"masters-degree-in-finance\">Master\u2019s Degree in Finance<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/mba-in-finance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pursuing a master&#8217;s degree in finance<\/a> as the next step in your career can be rewarding in advancing your knowledge of the field and advancing to more <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/how-to-become-a-financial-manager\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">managerial roles<\/a> in an establishment. Although the courses depend on the program, generally, students will learn financial laws and regulations, investment management, statistics and data analysis, advanced accounting, risk management, etc.<\/p>\n<p>A master&#8217;s degree in finance usually takes two years to complete.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"doctoral-degree-in-finance\">Doctoral Degree in Finance<\/h3>\n<p>A doctorate in finance is the ultimate degree in getting the most advanced knowledge in the field. As a student, you&#8217;ll learn in-depth education in statistics, financial mathematics, investments, finance products and markets, etc.<\/p>\n<p>A doctorate in finance usually takes three to six years to complete, after which you can pursue a career as a finance professor or researcher in universities or go for a career as a chief financial officer.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"finance-certifications\">Finance certifications<\/h3>\n<p>A finance certification can help you immensely increase job opportunities and salaries and solidify your credibility as a competent finance professional. It also enables you to gain greater specialization in the finance field.<\/p>\n<p>There are various certifications available depending on the occupation. Some of the most common certifications are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfainstitute.org\/en\/programs\/cfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Chartered Financial Analyst<\/a> (CFA),<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfp.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Certified Financial Planner<\/a> (CFP),<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/icfs.com\/certified-fund-specialist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Certified Fund Specialist<\/a> (CFS),<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aciia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Certified International Investment Analyst<\/a> (CIIA), and others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Although the duration depends on the type of certification, it usually takes a few months to get certified.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"common-finance-careers\">Common Finance Careers<\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18494 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"common-finance-careers\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/common-finance-careers-1024x682.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/mba-in-finance\/\">Getting a finance degree<\/a> opens many job opportunities, but in this article, we&#8217;ll explore three career paths with high salaries.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"financial-analyst\">Financial analyst<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/business-analyst-vs-financial-analyst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial analysts<\/a> are professionals that guide businesses in making better decisions. They&#8217;re responsible for gathering and evaluating data, organizing information, making forecasts, developing recommendations, generating reports, studying economic and business trends, etc.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that financial analysts have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/financial-analysts.htm#tab-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">median annual wage<\/a> of $95,570 with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/financial-analysts.htm#tab-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">9% increase in job outlook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"chief-financial-officer\">Chief financial officer<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/how-to-become-a-cfo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chief financial officers<\/a>, or CFOs, are professionals responsible for a company&#8217;s financial operations. While their specific duties and responsibilities depend on the establishment they work for, generally, they&#8217;re in charge of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Analyzing market trends and making forecasts,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Managing investment portfolios and conducting audits,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Managing vendor responsibilities,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Driving the company&#8217;s financial planning,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Managing the team of financial professionals,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Recording all company-wide transactions, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Job=Chief_Financial_Officer_(CFO)\/Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Payscale<\/a> details an average CFO salary of $141,275 per year, with wages ranging from $79k to $231k.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"investment-banker\">Investment banker<\/h3>\n<p>Investment bankers are professionals responsible for raising capital for businesses, corporations, individuals, governments, or other entities. Some of their duties include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Developing new business opportunities,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Identifying risks and offering financial advice,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Facilitating complicated financial transactions,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Issuing debt and selling equity to raise capital,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Facilitating mergers and acquisitions,<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Preparing reports and forecasts, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/Salaries\/investment-banker-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Glassdoor<\/a> reports an average base pay of $134,606 per year with an additional income of $154,548 per year for investment bankers.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Getting a finance degree can be very rewarding in your professional life as you gain:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">In-demand skills: skills such as teamwork, communication, or flexibility, which will always be necessary for the work environment.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Career growth: a finance degree will open many opportunities for various professions or promotion to a higher role.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">High salaries: most finance jobs have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">well-above-average salary<\/a>, including entry-level ones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lastly, if you&#8217;re organized, detail-oriented, work well with others, and have strong mathematical and statistical skills, pursuing a career in finance can be the right decision for you.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getting a degree in finance is the first step to entering a large and promising field, and if you love working with numbers and money, entering this field will be&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":18496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[157,35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18492","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-careers","8":"category-academic-advice"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18492"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20099,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18492\/revisions\/20099"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}