FGCU Finance Minor: Building a Foundation for Financial Success

The Finance Minor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) provides students from diverse academic backgrounds with a solid understanding of core financial principles and practices. It’s a valuable addition to any degree, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of personal finance and excel in various professional fields.

Curriculum Highlights

The minor typically consists of 15 credit hours, strategically designed to provide a comprehensive overview of finance. While specific course requirements may change, common elements include:

• Principles of Finance: A foundational course covering basic financial concepts, including time value of money, risk and return, and financial statement analysis. This is typically a prerequisite for other finance courses.
• Investments: Exploration of different investment vehicles, portfolio management strategies, and market analysis techniques. Students learn to assess investment opportunities and build diversified portfolios.
• Financial Markets and Institutions: A deep dive into the structure and function of financial markets, including the role of banks, investment firms, and regulatory agencies.
• Corporate Finance: Understanding financial decision-making within corporations, covering topics such as capital budgeting, working capital management, and dividend policy.
• Electives: Depending on availability, students can choose elective courses that align with their specific interests, such as real estate finance, international finance, or risk management.

Benefits of Pursuing the Finance Minor

Obtaining a Finance Minor offers several advantages:

• Enhanced Career Prospects: Finance skills are highly sought after across various industries. The minor can significantly improve your marketability, regardless of your primary major.
• Improved Financial Literacy: Gain a deeper understanding of personal finance, empowering you to make informed decisions about investing, budgeting, and managing debt.
• Complementary Skillset: The analytical and problem-solving skills developed in finance courses complement various disciplines, making you a more well-rounded candidate.
• Graduate School Preparation: The minor can serve as a strong foundation for pursuing graduate studies in finance, economics, or business administration.
• Networking Opportunities: Engage with finance faculty and students, expanding your professional network and gaining valuable insights into the finance industry.

Who Should Consider a Finance Minor?

The Finance Minor is a valuable asset for students in a wide range of majors, including:

• Business Majors (excluding Finance): Marketing, Management, Accounting, Economics
• STEM Majors: Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics
• Liberal Arts Majors: Communication, Political Science, Psychology

Ultimately, anyone interested in enhancing their financial literacy and expanding their career opportunities should consider adding the Finance Minor to their FGCU degree program. Contact the FGCU Lutgert College of Business for the most up-to-date information on course requirements and advising.