Lehigh University Finance Tracks: Charting Your Path to Success

Lehigh University’s College of Business offers a robust and comprehensive finance program, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the dynamic world of finance. Within the finance major, students can tailor their education through specialized tracks, allowing them to delve deeper into areas of particular interest and gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Currently, Lehigh offers several distinct finance tracks:

Corporate Finance

This track provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate financial management. Students will learn how to analyze financial statements, make investment decisions, manage working capital, and value businesses. Coursework covers topics such as capital budgeting, financial planning, risk management, and mergers and acquisitions. This track is ideal for students interested in careers as financial analysts, corporate treasurers, consultants, or investment bankers focused on corporate clients.

Investments

The Investments track focuses on the analysis and management of securities and investment portfolios. Students will learn about different asset classes, valuation techniques, portfolio optimization, and risk management. Coursework includes subjects like equity analysis, fixed income securities, derivatives, and alternative investments. This track is well-suited for students aspiring to careers as portfolio managers, security analysts, hedge fund analysts, or financial advisors.

Financial Engineering

This highly quantitative track combines finance with mathematics and computer science. Students learn to develop and apply sophisticated models to solve complex financial problems. Coursework includes topics such as stochastic calculus, numerical methods, and financial modeling. The Financial Engineering track is geared toward students interested in careers as quantitative analysts (“quants”), risk managers, or traders in investment banks, hedge funds, or other financial institutions.

Real Estate

The Real Estate track provides a focused understanding of the real estate market, including property valuation, financing, development, and investment. Students learn about real estate law, market analysis, and portfolio management. Coursework covers topics such as real estate appraisal, mortgage finance, property management, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). This track prepares students for careers in real estate development, investment, brokerage, or property management.

FinTech

This newest and most cutting-edge track focuses on the intersection of finance and technology. Students will learn about emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, and how they are transforming the financial industry. Coursework includes topics such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and algorithmic trading. The FinTech track is designed for students who want to be at the forefront of innovation in finance and are interested in careers as data scientists, software engineers, or financial analysts in FinTech companies.

These tracks are not mutually exclusive, and students can tailor their curriculum further by selecting electives from other areas of finance or related disciplines. Lehigh’s finance faculty are experienced professionals and researchers who are dedicated to providing students with a rigorous and relevant education. Students also benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a trading room with real-time market data.

Choosing a finance track allows Lehigh students to specialize their knowledge and increase their competitiveness in the job market, paving the way for successful and fulfilling careers in the ever-evolving world of finance.