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Computational Finance Major

Study computational finance at SBU

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The integration of computer science with the field of finance is one of the emerging areas of growth in the financial arena. Studying computational finance at SBU will equip you in both computing and finance to prepare you for a variety of careers.

As financial securities become more complex and technology continues to evolve the field, demand is growing for people who understand math, financial securities and technology. You will learn about a variety of financial tools as well as how to develop an approach to effectively utilize those tools.

The Computational Finance degree is offered through SBU's Robert W. Plaster College of Business. 

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree plan

100%
Job
placement
rate

(100% of SBU computational finance majors who graduated in 2021-2022 had employment in their field at the time of graduation.)

SBU College of Business Job Placement and Salary Data (PDF)

SBU students

The SBU Advantage

  • Receive a well-rounded education and career preparation through SBU's unique comprehensive degree that blends the fields of finance, computer science and mathematics. SBU offers the only undergraduate computational finance degree program in the Midwest and one of only a few in the entire nation.
  • Thrive within a close-knit community where class sizes are small enough for dedicated faculty to provide personalized attention that builds lifelong friendships.
  • More than 75% of students in the business administration division complete at least one internship before graduation.

Faith Integration

Faculty are committed to intentionally integrating Christian faith in the classroom with the goal of producing future business leaders who are also servant leaders.

Psalm 15 — The College of Professional Programs and Robert W. Plaster College of Business's Psalm 15 initiative provides intentional integration of faith and academic discipline. Using Psalm 15 as a basis, the College has identified eight character traits that should be the hallmark of the College's students and graduates. These character traits are emphasized in coursework and in a special lecture series. The highlighted character traits are: Integrity, Service, Respect, Charity, Faithfulness, Truthfulness, Humility and Perseverance.

Ethics and Professional Development — As part of an intentionally Christian education, all students in the Robert W. Plaster College of Business take a senior-level course in Ethics and Professional Development. The course teaches Christian personal and professional ethics and equips students with life skills such as career development, etiquette, and personal financial planning, with the goal of producing ethical business leaders who will be servant leaders in the workplace.

Clubs and Organizations

JumpStart

Want to start a business as a student? At SBU, you have the opportunity to receive guidance and funding as you build a business while pursuing your degree. One of our students, Lillian, started a hair accessory business on Etsy and earned over $12,000 in profits her first year! You even have the chance to earn funds for your business through the Jumpstart entrepreneurship competition.

Sentrepact

Sentrepact is an opportunity for you to mentor high school students as they partner with local businesses in their community. You will be putting your learned skills from the classroom into practice through partnering with high school students and providing advice on how to improve their business partnerships.

Delta Mu Delta

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize superior scholastic achievement of business administration students. The purpose of Delta Mu Delta is to promote higher scholarship in education for business, and to recognize and reward scholastic attainment in business subjects. Delta Mu Delta is an invitation-only society for juniors and seniors in the top 20% of their class with a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Financial Management Association (FMA)

Financial Management Association (FMA) offers amazing opportunities for business students. In the SBU FMA chapter, students have the opportunity to meet and network with local finance professionals, engage in investment competitions, participate in community service, and network with SBU peers. As a member of FMA, a national organization, students gain access to FMA's extensive online library, online forecasting competition, job posting board, and international networking and award opportunities.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the largest career student business organization in the world. FBLA has more than 10,000 members and more than 500 chapters. 

SBU's FBLA chapter consistently excels at the yearly state and national competitions, earning 58 top-ten national finishes so far!

 

 

Full-Time Faculty

Troy Bethards

Dr. Troy Bethards, College Dean
Ryder King

Ryder King, Instructor
Nathan Wright

Dr. Nathan Wright, Division Head
Levi Bridge

Dr. Levi Bridge, MBA Coordinator
David Liu

Dr. David Liu, Associate Professor
Angela Brown-Peterson

Dr. Angela Brown-Peterson, Associate Professor
Bill Marr

Bill Marr, Instructor

Scholarships

The College of Professional Programs and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business offer many privately funded scholarship opportunities for their students. During a recent academic year, more than $89,000 was awarded in private scholarships to students from these college-level scholarships. Some scholarships available include:

  • Aric Beckham Memorial Scholarship
  • Bill & Geneva Williams Memorial Scholarship
  • Business College Scholarship
  • Clifford & Marie Gouge Memorial Scholarship
  • Credille Family Scholarship
  • Dexter Yager Business Scholarship
  • Don & Joan Woods Endowed Scholarship
  • Dr. B.E. Clark Distinguished Accounting Student Scholarship
  • Gary & Jane Black Excellence Scholarship
  • Gladys Henderson Memorial Scholarship
  • Melvin & Minnie Hall Memorial Scholarship
  • Nebraska Book Company Scholarship
  • Ralph Stufflebam Memorial Scholarship
  • Ruby Letsch-Roderique Business Scholarship

Taylor Center

The Robert W. Plaster College of Business is housed in the Gene Taylor National Free Enterprise Center. The Taylor Center was expanded and renovated to provide the following benefits for our students:

  • Increased number of dedicated study areas and presentation rooms that can be reserved in advance
  • Keycard access for certain majors increases building security while allowing you to access space and equipment after hours to effectively study and work on group projects
  • Student lounge and open spaces to study, relax and hang out

Computational Finance Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
BUS 1013 Introduction to Business 3
FAR 1023 Introduction to Fine Arts 3
BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

CIS 1033 Foundations of Computer Science 3
MAT 1173 Discrete Mathematics 3
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
BUS 2013 Business Communications 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

CIS 1144 Computer Science I 4
BUS 2023 Business Statistics 3
ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting 3
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication    3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

CIS 1154 Computer Science II 4
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
ACC 2043 Principles of Managerial Accounting 3
ECO 2033 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
FIN 3003 Personal Financial Planning 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
CIS 2253 Web Engineering and Development 3
MGT 3013 Principles of Management 3
FIN 3053 Business Finance 3
FIN 4073 Insurance (fall, odd) 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

PHS 1004 Introduction to Physical Science 4
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology 3
MKT 3023 Principles of Marketing 3
FIN 4053 Investments (spring, even) 3
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester

MGT 3033 Operations Management 3
ECO 3023 Money and Banking 3
 LDR 4043 Ethics and Professional Development 3
  Cultural Studies 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
BUS 3073 Legal Environment of Business I 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

  Upper-Level COBACS Course 3
MGT 4083 Strategic Management 3
CIS 3123 Survey of Data Science 3
FIN 4033 Introduction to Derivatives (spring, odd) 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
  Elective 1
Total hours 15

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Computational Finance plan (PDF)