Finance 4-Year Plan / Finance Links

Welcome to the Finance Emphasis Homepage!

If you are interested in a degree in business with an emphasis in finance, you will be electing a course of study that will equip you with the analytical skills that will allow you to contribute to your employer in a variety of fields. Bethel is well-recognized for developing graduates who display strong ethical behavior coupled with the critical thinking skills necessary for success in today’s global business environment.

THE PROGRAM

The Finance emphasis is built on the structure provided by the core curriculum of nine courses that all majors take while engaging students with active learning experiences including computer-based simulations and hands-on lab activities. You can find details in the college catalog at: http://www.bethel.edu/college/catalog/acadprog/dept/business.html

Students who choose a Finance emphasis are encouraged to select a second, complementary emphasis in order to differentiate themselves. While countless opportunities exist, combining a Finance emphasis with Economics provides for development of broad-based analytical skills. When combined with an Accounting emphasis, graduates are able to integrate financial analysis with critical decision making. A combination of Finance and Marketing provides graduates with the insight to have input across business lines. Other options include combining with international business, human resources management or with majors outside the Business and Economics Department. By combining the emphasis with another, graduates are able to bring the skill-set and knowledge-base of both emphases into the workplace.

FINANCE INTERNSHIPS

All students who graduate from the Department of Business and Economics are required to complete an internship. Students majoring in Finance will have completed an internship designed to provide insight into the application of the theories studied in the classroom. The Business & Economics Department has a full time Internship Coordinator who assists students in resume development, interview skills, and job search strategies. Finance students have been employed as interns with Merrill Lynch, Northwestern Mutual, and Thrivent Financial, to name a few. Students can earn up to nine credits with internships during their junior and senior years. See the Department’s website for further information on internships at: http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/business-economics/internship/index

FACULTY

Students in the Finance emphasis will take courses primarily from two professors.

Brian Holland came to Bethel in 1984 and his financial interests include health care finance, working capital issues and consulting with small business. 

Chuck Hannema joined the Bethel faculty in 2002 following a 20-year career in the investment and commercial banking fields. As such, he brings a practical application approach to the text book theories studied.

Both Professors Holland and Hannema have a passion for engaging students in and out of the classroom in their endeavor to make Finance an exciting and practical field of study.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As a career focus, the Finance emphasis was created to allow students to be well-qualified for jobs that typically follow one of two career paths. Graduates have developed exciting careers in the financial analysis spectrum at firms such as Best Buy, Target, and US Bank. An alternate track has placed graduates in investment analysis and portfolio management with firms such as Ameriprise, Wells Fargo and ThinkEquity. Bethel University Finance graduates are increasingly recognized as being well-equipped with the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to be a valuable employee coupled with an exemplary work ethic grounded in integrity and ethical behavior.

BETHEL BUSINESS & ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION

The Bethel Business & Economics Association can be a vital part of your educational, professional, and community experience at Bethel. This student-led association helps develop a spirit of friendship and cooperation among students in all business and economics disciplines via organized site tours, campus presentations, and social gatherings. It also gives the student a chance to exercise on-campus leadership, something very attractive to potential employers. You can learn more about the BBEA on their website: http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/business-economics/student/bbea.html

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

There are numerous scholarships available for business students. Scholarships are primarily awarded based on academic achievement and/or need. See the Department’s website for further information at: http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/business-economics/student/scholarships.html

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have specific questions or would like to discuss this program, its benefits, and its requirements, contact:

Brian Holland, Associate Professor

Phone: 651.638.6330

Email: holbri@bethel.edu

Or

Chuck Hannema, Associate Professor

Phone: 651.638.6461

Email: charles-hannema@bethel.edu