Bachelor of Science in Finance

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Finance
Bachelor of Science Degree

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Program Contact
Dr. Panagiotis Kokkalis, Department Head
Offered within the
Department of Business and Management


Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education

A finance degree involves the management, creation, and study of money, banking, investments, assets, and liabilities.

 

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Finance degree prepares students for management positions in financial, commercial, industrial, and governmental organizations. Students are taught the principles of financial decision making and build an understanding of the economic, legal, and financial environment in which they will operate. Career options exist in government, industry, service, and not-for-profit organizations.

Students become familiar with financial systems, which include the public, private and government spaces. They also study financial instruments related to countless assets and liabilities. Specifically, Finance majors study cash flow, asset and risk management, capital markets, portfolio theory, international finance and forecasting and budgeting. Students become experts at decision making – one of the main differences between Finance and Accounting.

As a Finance major, students go beyond making a budget; they learn how to analyze a budget to determine opportunities to save or identify the best investment option. Students explore different career options in the Finance program based on their interest in decision-making – they can choose to pursue studies that support a managerial position as a Financial Analyst or they may be interested in a path that leads them to a career in Financial Consulting.

Finance students develop their ability to manage corporate finances and enhance their leadership potential. At RIT Dubai students learn how to solve problems. In addition, and more importantly, they learn how to prevent problems through in-depth analysis, contingency planning and effective decision making.

Typical Job Titles

Account Manager Acquisitions Associate
Analyst Closing Coordinator
Equities Derivatives Product Controller Equity Trader Assistant
Financial Advisor Investment Banking Analyst
Junior Finance Associate Professional Financial Advisor
Reconciliation Analyst

 

Industries

Accounting

Commercial Banking and Credit

Higher Education

Human Resources

Investment/Portfolio Management

Transportation and Logistics

Mission Statement

The Finance program prepares graduates to lead businesses and financial institutions in an ever-changing financial and technological environment. Through high quality teaching that enhances critical thinking and decision-making skills, RIT Dubai Finance graduates will have the expertise in risk management, valuation of assets and investment, financial markets and institutions and will be the drivers of value creation in Dubai, the UAE, and the world.

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Program Goals

These are the program goals and associated program outcomes for the Business Core which are common to all business and management students:

  • Analytical and Critical Skills: Analyze and evaluate major business issues to make and communicate effective decisions. Upon graduation, students will be able to:
    • Analyze a business problem using one or more theory-based frameworks.
    • Interpret data using quantitative methods.
    • Communicate a solution to a business problem and the reasoning behind it.
    • For a substantive ethical business issue, propose a sustainable course of action that considers the interest of primary stakeholders.
  • Applied Focus: Learn course concepts and theories through application and practice. Students will be able to:
    • Apply course concepts effectively in a real organizational setting.
    • Successfully complete hands-on business-related projects.
    • Work effectively with others and in teams.
    • Demonstrate how global cultures and institutions impact businesses.
  • Creative Problem Solving: Generate a creative solution to a business problem or opportunity through the application of design thinking. Students will be able to:
    • Demonstrate a process for generating a creative solution.
    • Demonstrate the use of design thinking to arrive at a creative solution.
    • Evaluate alternative solutions.
  • Technology: Apply business technology and explain its implications. Students will be able to:
    • Explain the impact of technology on business operations.
    • Apply business technology to solve a problem.
    • Develop a strategy that includes technological innovation.

Program-Specific Goals

The following goals are unique to Finance:

  • Cash Flows, Risk and Value - Possess knowledge concerning cash flow, risk and value in finance in various contexts and be able to apply financial models concerning them. Students will be able to:
    • Compute risk measures for financial securities (e.g., bonds and stocks).
    • Conduct analysis on risk-related issues (e.g., compute risk-adjusted performance measures.
    • Evaluate financial securities using cash flow-based models
  • Use of Financial Technology in Analyzing Data: Students demonstrate the ability to use Excel or other contemporary software applications to analyze given data sets. Students will be able to:
    • Apply technology in analyzing financial statements and in developing projections and forecasts.
    • Use technology to communicate the results of the analysis so they may be used in decision-making.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Compute risk measures for financial securities (e.g., bonds and stocks).
  • Conduct analysis on risk-related issues (e.g., compute risk-adjusted performance measures.
  • Evaluate financial securities using cash flow-based models.
  • Apply technology in analyzing financial statements and in developing projections and forecasts.
  • Use technology to communicate results of analysis so they may be used in decision-making.

Curriculum

Typical Course Sequence

Total Credit Hours - 123

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
MGMT-101
Business 1: Introduction to Business Communication, Planning and Analysis
This is the first of a two-course sequence, 4 credit year long experience, comprising the freshman-integrated experience. In Business 1, students will be introduced to the key functional areas of business, discuss current factors, events, and trends that impact business, build professional, personal leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, and evaluate business decisions, and the business plan process. By understanding the key functions of business and analyzing business decisions in Business 1, students will be able to then develop their own business ideas in Business 2.
 3
ECON-101
Principles of Microeconomics
Microeconomics studies the workings of individual markets. That is, it examines the interaction of the demanders of goods and services with the suppliers of those goods and services. It explores how the behavior of consumers (demanders), the behavior of producers (suppliers), and the level of market competition influence market outcomes.
 3
COMM-253
Communication
An introduction to communication contexts and processes emphasizing both conceptual and practical dimensions. Participants engage in public speaking, small group problem solving and leadership, and writing exercises while acquiring theoretical background appropriate to understanding these skills.
 3
STAT-145
Introduction to Statistics I
This course introduces statistical methods of extracting meaning from data, and basic inferential statistics. Topics covered include data and data integrity, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, numeric summary measures, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. The emphasis of the course is on statistical thinking rather than computation. Statistical software is used.
 3
STAT-146
Introduction to Statistics II
This course is an elementary introduction to the topics of regression and analysis of variance. The statistical software package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on business applications. This is a general introductory statistics course and is intended for a broad range of programs.
 4
MGMT-102
Business 2: Business Planning and Professional Development
This course, the second in the First-year Business 4 Credit Experience, applies business and technology tools to create a modified business plan. Supported by guest speakers on a variety of professional development topics, along with student and professional mentors, students in this project-centered course use the Business Model Canvas innovation tool and learn to identify and communicate the nine key elements of a business model. Students will complete a team project that outlines the business case for a new product or service to address a selected challenge or opportunity. Student teams present a business case in both a one-page document and a 10-minute presentation pitch.
 1
UWRT-150
FYW: Writing Seminar
Writing Seminar is a three-credit course limited to 19 students per section. The course is designed to develop first-year students’ proficiency in analytical and rhetorical reading and writing, and critical thinking. Students will read, understand, and interpret a variety of non-fiction texts representing different cultural perspectives and/or academic disciplines. These texts are designed to challenge students intellectually and to stimulate their writing for a variety of contexts and purposes. Through inquiry-based assignment sequences, students will develop academic research and literacy practices that will be further strengthened throughout their academic careers. Particular attention will be given to the writing process, including an emphasis on teacher-student conferencing, critical self-assessment, class discussion, peer review, formal and informal writing, research, and revision. Small class size promotes frequent student-instructor and student-student interaction. The course also emphasizes the principles of intellectual property and academic integrity for both current academic and future professional writing.
 3
MGIS-130
Information Systems and Technology
To be successful in our globally-networked business environment, contemporary management professionals must have a strong grounding in the principles of information and information technology. This course provides an introduction to the field of management information systems (MIS), including the tools and techniques for managing information and information technologies within organizations. We place a particular emphasis on the nature of systems, the role of information in business processes, the management of data, and the planning of MIS design projects.
 3
ACCT-110
Financial Accounting
An introduction to the way in which corporations report their financial performance to interested stakeholders such as investors and creditors. Coverage of the accounting cycle, generally accepted accounting principles, and analytical tools help students become informed users of financial statements.
 3
BANA-255
Data Literacy, Analytics, and Decision Making
This course serves as an introduction to the uses (and potential misuses) of data in a wide variety of social settings, including the exploration of contemporary techniques to analyze such data. Data acquisition, cleansing, management, analysis, and visualization will be addressed through hands-on projects. Project work will include contemporary social problems addressed using a dynamic set of resources and technologies. An emphasis will be placed on how insights gleaned from data analysis can be used to guide individual and group decision-making scenarios.
 3
YOPS-10
RIT 365: RIT Connections
RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies.
 0
Foundation 2: Islamic Culture Course 3
Second Year
ACCT-210
Management Accounting
Introduction to the use of accounting information by managers within a business. Explores the value of accounting information for the planning and controlling of operations, assessing the cost of a product/service, evaluating the performance of managers, and strategic decision making.
 3
ECON-201
Principles of Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics studies aggregate economic behavior. The course begins by presenting the production possibilities model. This is followed by a discussion of basic macroeconomic concepts including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth and fluctuations. The next topic is national income accounting, which is the measurement of macroeconomic variables. The latter part of the course focuses on the development of one or more macroeconomic models, a discussion of the role of money in the macroeconomy, the aggregate supply-aggregate demand framework, and other topics the individual instructor may choose.
 3
MKTG-230
Principles of Marketing
An introduction to the field of marketing, stressing its role in the organization and society. Emphasis is on determining customer needs and wants and how the marketer can satisfy those needs through the controllable marketing variables of product, price, promotion and distribution.
 3
FINC-220
Financial Management I
Basic course in financial management. Covers business organization, time value of money, valuation of securities, capital budgeting decision rules, risk-return relation, Capital Asset Pricing Model, financial ratios, global finance, and working capital management.
 3
FINC-352
Financial Management II
Advanced course in financial management. Covers project cash-flow analysis, issuance of securities, cost of capital, debt policy, dividend policy, and market efficiency.
 3
MGMT-215
Organizational Behavior
As an introductory course in managing and leading organizations, this course provides an overview of human behavior in organizations at the individual, group, and organizational level with an emphasis on enhancing organizational effectiveness. Topics include: individual differences, work teams, motivation, communication, leadership, conflict resolution, organizational culture, and organizational change.
 3
INTB-225
Global Business Environment
Being an informed global citizen requires an understanding of the global business environment. Organizations critical to the development of the global business environment include for-profit businesses, non-profits, governmental, non-governmental, and supranational agencies. This course introduces students to the interdependent relationships between organizations and the global business environment. A holistic approach is used to examine the diverse economic, political, legal, cultural, and financial systems that influence both organizations and the global business environment.
 3
MATH-161
Applied Calculus
This course is an introduction to the study of differential and integral calculus, including the study of functions and graphs, limits, continuity, the derivative, derivative formulas, applications of derivatives, the definite integral, the fundamental theorem of calculus, basic techniques of integral approximation, exponential and logarithmic functions, basic techniques of integration, an introduction to differential equations, and geometric series. Applications in business, management sciences, and life sciences will be included with an emphasis on manipulative skills.
 4
SCBI-035
Careers in Business
This course consists of a series of workshops designed to introduce business students to the skills needed to be successful in job and coop searches and applications to graduate schools. Students will establish their career goals, create material (e.g., resume, cover letter), and acquire skills needed to achieve these goals.
 0
General Education - Artistic Perspective 3
General Education - Scientific Principles Perspectives 3
Third Year
MGMT-340
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
This course applies concepts of ethics to business at the macro level and at the micro level. At the macro level the course examines competing business ideologies exploring the ethical concerns of capitalism as well as the role of business in society. At the micro level the course examines the role of the manager in establishing an ethical climate with an emphasis on the development of ethical leadership in business organizations. The following topics are typically discussed: the stakeholder theory of the firm, corporate governance, marketing and advertising ethics, the rights and responsibilities of employees, product safety, ethical reasoning, business's responsibility to the environment, moving from a culture of compliance to a culture of integrity, and ethical leadership.
 3
FINC-362
Intermediate Investments
Focuses on the financial investment problems faced by individuals and institutions. Theoretical topics include asset pricing, hedging and arbitrage. Application topics include risk management in bond-and-stock portfolio context. A discussion of options, futures and swaps also is included.
 3
FINC-499
Finance Co-op
One semester of paid work experience in finance
 0
General Education - Immersion 1 3
General Education - Immersion 2 3
General Education - Immersion 3 3
Open Elective 3
General Education - Social Perspective 3
General Education - Natural Science Inquiry Perspective 3
Finance Elective 3
Fourth Year
DECS-310
Operations Management
A survey of operations and supply chain management that relates to both service- and goods- producing organizations. Topics include operations and supply chain strategies; ethical behavior; forecasting; product and service design, including innovation and sustainability; capacity and inventory management; lean operations; managing projects; quality assurance; global supply chains; and the impacts of technology.
 3
MGMT-560
Strategic Management
A capstone course drawing upon major business functions—accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, and organizational theory and how strategic managers integrate functional theories and concepts to create competitive advantage. The course provides an integrated perspective of business organizations toward the achievement of enhanced profitability and a sustainable competitive advantage. Topics include the analysis of business environments, industry attractiveness, and competitive dynamics. Students learn how to formulate and implement effective business-level, corporate-level, and global strategies using theories, cases and a simulation.
 3
FINC-420
International Finance
Discusses the problems posed by the international financial environment in which corporations operate. In particular, students learn to quantify and manage risks arising from shifting exchange rates. Other topics include exchange rate systems, international trade finance, international capital budgeting, country risk analysis, and long-term international financing.
 3
FINC-460
Financial Analysis and Modeling
In this course, students learn to obtain and organize financial data and conduct financial analysis such as discounted cash flow analysis, risk analysis and financial forecasting. Sources of data include web-based sources and proprietary databases. Excel will be the main software tool.
 3
Finance Elective 3
Open Elective 3
General Education Elective 3

 

To graduate, students need to complete all the requirements as listed in the curriculum graduation policy

Faculty

Advisory Board

HH Sheikh Dr. Faisal Al-Mualla
Ministry of Defense - Advisor

Ms. Binnur Tunbul
IBM - Retired

Ms. Shaykha Alqaydi
ADEC - Manager

Ms. Mashal Waqar
Venture Punk - COO

Ms. Dana Osman
Huda Beauty - Global Brand Marketing Manager

Mr. Nigel Pasea
Waystone Compliance Solutions - MD MENASA Region

Ms. Lori Baker
DIFC - Vice President – Data Protection & Regulatory Compliance

Mr. Ahsan Ali
Kaizen Paint Middle East FZCO - Chief Growth Officer

Website last updated: June 27, 2024