Financial Services (B.B.A.)

Program Highlights

- Internships are an integral part of the program. Students have interned with investment firms, insurance companies, consulting firms, banks, small businesses and credit unions in positions that range from financial analysts to human resources.

- Students who successfully complete the program meet the educational requirements to sit for the Certified Financial Planner™ Exam.

- Students benefit from full-time faculty with exceptional professional experience in financial planning. Faculty backgrounds include service as: chair of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards; senior vice president of the fourth largest bank in the United States; CEO of the 15th largest investment management company; certified public accountant; and legal counsel.

- Students learn how to manage investments and financial risks in order to assist clients with meeting their financial goals.

- Faculty are available in and out of the classroom to advise and assist students in pursuing their personal career goals.

- Students develop the interpersonal skills necessary for success in the personal finance field by actively engaging with peers, faculty and professionals.

What Will I Learn?

The financial planning needs of individuals, businesses and corporations are on the rise and SUNY Cobleskill’s Financial Services program prepares graduates to meet this growing need. The program introduces students to the fundamentals of personal financial planning, including investments, retirement and employee benefits planning, risk management and insurance, and tax and estate planning. By working in groups, role playing, and leading presentations, students prepare for internships where they apply the knowledge they learned in class to business settings. Students gain additional experience in the fundamentals of financial planning by developing their own personal financial plans as part of their studies.

See program details and course breakdowns >

Career Outlook

Financial service professionals are employed by:
- businesses
- banks
- insurance companies
- investment firms
- governmental agencies

Program internships allow students to demonstrate their expertise to business owners and professionals in real-world financial situations. Many internships lead directly to jobs following graduation.

Graduates have become:
- independent financial advisors
- insurance agents
- financial planners
- bank officers
- company comptrollers
- analysts

Graduates have also gone on to earn master’s degrees in business administration and public policy.