Franklin’s extensive academic offer adds a new and engaging major in Finance to the list, available from Fall 2021 semester. This new program will completely substitute majors in International Banking and Finance and International Management with emphasis in Finance, combining teachings from both, and yet expanding the curriculum to include core courses in finance that provide a comprehensive and well-rounded education, such as Portfolio Analysis, Financial Markets and Institutions, Personal Finance and Fintech. The Business and Economics Division has worked tirelessly to augment the program, finding synergies and emphasizing the strengths of the original above-mentioned majors, to provide students with a comprehensive and rigorous understanding of the fundamental notions of Finance. The goal is to supply students with essential knowledge, skills and tools, emphasizing entrepreneurial thinking, and reflecting current and future company needs in today’s highly globalized and technological world.
The curriculum, consisting of a total of 57 credits, is structured in three sections: Foundation courses, exploring fundamental principles in macro and microeconomics, accounting, statistics and finance; Core Finance courses, covering financial institutions and markets, investments and corporate finance, central banking and international banking; and lastly, the choice between two specializations reflecting two different approaches in financial education, Business or Economic Policy applications.
The Economic Policy track trains students in two specific areas of interest in finance: the macro-policy environment and forecasting techniques in a variety of economic and financial applications. Students can then choose from a menu of courses depending on their interests.
The Business track’s main pillars are business systems, marketing, strategic management, and an applied statistics course in quantitative methods and dynamic forecasting. A final capstone course is also included, where students apply their knowledge and skills to a real-life business project.
The new major in Finance is not only focused on theoretical teaching but centers especially on experiential learning, including a substantial travel component where students interact with practitioners from the industry and visit financial institutions in Europe. Lastly, a collaboration with Rothschild & Co, a multinational investment bank and financial services company, has been established to support students in honing skills and abilities in practical and real-world projects.