Students studying finance learn to make decisions in three areas: corporate finance, investments and financial institutions. Corporate finance courses prepare students for financial analysis and planning. The investments area emphasizes decision-making processes required to value securities such as stocks or bonds and teaches principles of managing an investment portfolio. Students study financial institutions, including commercial banks, savings and loan associations, mutual funds, and insurance companies, to understand the function of U.S. and international money and capital markets. Offered by the Department of Accounting and Finance, the curriculum prepares students for careers as financial officers responsible for investment and financing decisions for corporations or financial institutions.