A photo of financial economics students in a lab class

Financial Economics

College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences

Financial Economics provides students with a strong foundation in economic theory and quantitative methods, along with coursework in the area of business finance. UMaine’s financial economics program provides a strong undergraduate background for graduate professional degrees in business, economics and law.

  • Choose between Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees
  • Hands-on experience early in the program
  • Close interaction with faculty and small class sizes
  • NEBHE Program: Applicants to this program who reside in Vermont are eligible for reduced tuition under the New England Regional Student Program
  • 4 + 1 degree allows undergraduate students to accelerate their plans by beginning their graduate degree while still an undergraduate
  • Students can gain hands-on experience managing a multimillion dollar real money portfolio by joining Student Portfolio Investment Fund (SPIFFY)
  • Travel courses to China and Russia, and visits to the New York Stock Exchange and other financial institutions

Our approach incorporates the fundamentals of economic theory in the areas of macroeconomics and monetary economics along with the applied analytical tools of finance and econometrics.

The B.S. in Financial Economics degree is designed for students who wish to pursue training in quantitative financial economics while the B.A in Financial Economics is designed for careers in the financial services industry. These courses are complemented by other electives in business, liberal arts and sciences, mathematics and statistics.

The School of Economics is small enough that we get to know our students and can help them achieve their goals, whether it is going to Europe or Australia for a semester or obtaining a summer internship with a specific type of company. Yet, at the same time, we are large enough to offer a rich assortment of core economics courses and electives, as well as other student-oriented activities.

All of our upper level courses are small in size, promoting lively classroom discussions.

Graduates are well-prepared for lucrative and exciting careers in the fields of finance and banking. Finance is the seventh best major according to kiplinger.com; mid-career median pay for a finance major is $85,400 and projected job growth is about 23 percent. Recent graduates have pursued careers in financial management in businesses and nonprofit organizations; commercial and investment banking; and insurance and brokerage. They are prepared to advance rapidly in their field. Employers regularly ask the School of Economics to recommend recent graduates for jobs.

The School of Economics encourages students to get involved in research projects, to study abroad or take part in summer internship programs — course credit is available for all of these options.

Travis Blackmer

Undergraduate Program Coordinator


207.581.3155
travis.blackmer@maine.edu

Financial Economics

College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences


Winslow Hall, Room 206
207.581.3154

A photo of Spiffy students in New York City

SPIFFY

SPIFFY – The Student Portfolio Investment Fund, where students gain real-world experience in investing, applying classroom knowledge, and making important financial management decisions. Established in 1993 with an initial $200,000 contribution, SPIFFY now manages $3.5 million in stocks, bonds and international funds. Students make investment and organizational decisions. The skills students gain from SPIFFY are invaluable: Leadership, financial knowledge, teamwork, Bloomberg Terminal adequacy, investment strategy, and how to operate within an organization.