Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Finance.

The study of finance centers on the investment and financing decisions of firms, the capital markets in which they operate, and the institutions and instruments that enable market function. Finance permeates almost every business decision, impacts household planning, and informs policy making. In periods of heightened uncertainty, disciplined thinking about risk, which finance provides, is as important as ever.

Our faculty comprise actively engaged researchers trained at some of the most elite universities in the world. In terms of research productivity measured by publication in leading finance journals, we rank in the top 25 finance groups among thousands worldwide and in the top handful of departments within public universities. Collectively, we have deep expertise spanning corporate finance, asset pricing, governance, market microstructure, portfolio management, financial institutions, and the intersection of finance with issues relating to networks, human capital, and the environment.

Our clinical faculty and lecturers offer students applied knowledge intimately tied to modern practice. Many in our group have been leaders at prominent corporations across the globe. Together with the research faculty, the W. P. Carey Department of Finance provides students with an essential grounding of knowledge and skills for a career in finance, whether in the corporate sector, financial services, or real estate.

We serve a large number of highly qualified students at the Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD levels. Undergraduate students can select finance curriculum to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, a Financial Planning concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Business, as well as a minor in Real Estate to complement any major field of study.

Our B.S. in Finance is ranked among the top undergraduate finance programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. We deliver frontier-informed, relevant curriculum and provide opportunities for students to excel through individualized programs including Investment Banking Industry Scholars, Student Investment Management Funds, and the Intel Collaborative Thesis Project.

Our new Financial Planning concentration within the Business B.A. is designed for students interested in a career in financial services. Aligned with educational requirements for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, students can leverage this degree to become ethical financial stewards, helping others to navigate their financial lives.

For graduate students, we operate a STEM-designated Masters in Finance program (MS-FIN), which offers a cutting-edge curriculum balanced between corporate finance and asset management. We also serve MBA students across the many W. P. Carey platforms, with finance as an area of emphasis. Our Ph.D. program trains future researchers and allows for significant personalization and mentorship.

We have thousands of successful finance alumni that help us maintain partnerships in the business community, both locally and internationally. Many give back to the department by serving on our Finance Advisory Board. These strong relationships help us to hone our offerings to serve students and the broader community, and are key to the success of our graduates and programs.

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Finance at the W. P. Carey School of Business. For additional information, please contact us at wpcareyfin@asu.edu.

Best Regards,
Laura Lindsey
Department of Finance Chair and Cutler Family Endowed Professor