Best Online Bachelor's in Finance Programs

Colorado Technical University, another pace-setter in online higher education, offers an entirely online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in finance. This program offers students the foundational knowledge and skills to begin a career in business finance. It builds on the core Business Administration curriculum, and the concentration in finance focuses specifically on theories and practices related to financial accounting, investment allocation, and risk management.

Students in this program will have the opportunity to develop their understanding of marketing, international business practices, and international finance. The program is ACBSP-accredited and covers a wide range of topics including banking, analytics, and business development. CTU’s online BBA program consistently receives recognition for excellence by major outlets.

The program requires 180 total credit hours, which is composed of 66 hours of general education courses, 86 hours of core business administration courses, and an additional 28 hours of concentration credits. Students in the finance concentration will take an additional 28 hours of 300 or 400-level courses relevant to this specific area of concentration. This part of the curriculum addresses industry-relevant theories and real-world financial practices. courses under the finance concentration include financial statement analysis, money and capital markets, investments, risk management and more.

Northeastern University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, offers an AACSB-accredited online Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting Management. The program is designed to prepare students to make important economic decisions, among other things. Students will learn crucial skills, such as how to leverage assets, manage budgets, achieve financial efficiencies, and maximize investments. Coursework is wide-ranging and comprehensive.

Students can also expect to develop considerable analytical and quantitative skills, which are crucial for the profession. Graduates of the program will be trained in areas as diverse as financial reporting and analysis to international finance and investments. Being trained in both finance and accounting is a considerable asset for students who desire broad training and look forward to a career full of diverse prospects.

The program prepares students to take advantage of the considerable growth in demand for the finance and accounting professions. Coursework in the program includes but is not limited to Cost Accounting, Financial Reporting & Analysis 1, Financial Reporting & Analysis 2, Principles of Taxation, Financial Institutions and Markets, Risk Management and Insurance, Investments, Financial Statement Analysis, and Business Strategy.

University of Maryland University College is a household name in the online higher education industry, and rightly so. Its fully online Bachelor of Science in Finance is no exception, and it receives regular recognition for excellence. The program is analytic in nature, and graduates are prepared to enter a professional field that continues to grow in demand through training in real-world situations.

The curriculum includes training in foundational principles of business, economics, and accounting as well as an in-depth focus on the details of finance and financial management via intensive case studies. Graduates of the program pursue jobs in areas as diverse as contract management, budgeting, corporate and government financial management, investments, portfolio analysis and management, financial analysis, financial planning, banking, risk management, and insurance.

Students at UMUC also have the opportunity to take a CFP Board-approved course of study that meets the criteria needed to fulfill the educational component required to sit the Certified Financial Planner exam. Coursework in the program includes classes in business finance, financial management, investments, security analysis, strategic risk management, and valuation. Students also complete an extensive case study as part of the program.

Upper Iowa University, located in Fayette, Iowa, has expanded its online degree offerings in recent years. For students interested in finance, UIU offers not one but two options: an online Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management. Which degree is better suited for each student will depends on each student’s individual goals and interests.

The Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance will best suit students who aspire to a broad career in business and management but happen to have a particular interest in acquiring skills in finance. BBA students will be prepared to manage and foster teamwork, provide an analytical assessment of financial opportunities, create and understand financial statements, and conduct financial analysis and management. Graduates of the program will be well prepared to pursue careers in operations, administrative services, training and development, supervision, and small business administration.

The Bachelor of Science in Financial Management will be better suited for students who have a particular interest in the analytical work of finance in particular. The BS includes training in areas such investments, small business management, strategic management, and international finance. Graduates of the program pursue careers in financial operations, analysis, personal financial advising, financial services, and sales.

National University, located in Washington, DC, offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance that is intended to prepare students for positions in the field of corporate financial management and related areas. The program provides both practical and theoretical training in financial decision-making and the creation of wealth through the responsible management of financial resources. Students also develop a broad perspective of the global economic and financial environment.

Successful graduates of the program will be able to explain the financial objectives of an organization and apply quantitative, qualitative and problem-solving skills in order to achieve those objectives; describe ethical, legal, and global issues that impact an organization’s financial position; discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of corporate finance; explain the structure and operation of financial markets domestically and internationally; and demonstrate oral and written communication skills needed by financial managers.

Among the most important skills students will acquire is the ability to examine the financial position of an organization and make complex financial decisions. The degree requires 180 credit hours (quarter units) to complete. Note that while the majority of the program can be completed online, 45 of those credits must be completed in residence at National University, and 76.5 of them must be completed at the upper-division level.

Dallas Baptist University has made great strides in recent years catering to the educational needs of working adults and parents who are balancing multiple commitments. DBU has multiple options for students who are interested in going back to school to complete or start their degree and for students who are just starting their educational journey. DBU’s online programs are administered through its College of Professional Studies, which was founded over thirty-five years ago.

DBU is a comprehensive Christian liberal arts university. Students can expect to receive a balanced liberal arts education with an emphasis on faith commitments. For students interested in finance, DBU offers a Bachelor of Business Studies, and students can opt to concentrate in a number of different areas, such as Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hotel and Hospitality Management, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing.

Students majoring in Finance are required to complete thirty credit hours in Finance for their area of concentration. This includes the following courses: Principles of Financial Accounting, Principles of Managerial Accounting, Corporate Financial Management, Securities Analysis, Principles of Management, Business and Public Law, Information Systems for Management, and Principles of Marketing. Students also choose two courses from the following: Money and Financial Institutions; Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance; Personal Financial Planning; Real Estate Finance and Investments; Portfolio Management; Advanced Topics in Corporate Financial Management; and International Finance.

Southern New Hampshire University has increased its presence in a big way in recent years and has helped thousands of students complete and finish their degrees through an entirely online offering of bachelor’s degrees. SNHU offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Finance that offers training in a wide variety of finance and accounting skills. Students will learn to analyze the fundamentals of investment vehicles; address the key issues modern corporate managers face, including capital budgeting, firm valuation and risk assessment; and examine ethics and the ever-evolving regulatory environment.

Graduates of the program can expect to be prepared for immediate entry into the profession and for a variety of roles, including developing financial plans to counsel clients on investment recommendations, analyzing local and global economies, and making strategic decisions. Along the way, students will gain experience in managing a virtual stock market portfolio and modeling with state-of-the-art simulations to marry theory with real-world application.

SNHU has several explicit objectives for students in the program, including the following: develop financial plans that utilize appropriate investment strategies designed to counsel clients for making appropriate investment recommendations; analyze domestic and global economic environments and market conditions for supporting organizational strategic goals and effective financial planning; analyze an organization’s financial statements for forecasting and meeting organizational goals and objectives; and apply quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis for supporting sound financial decisions.

Lynchburg, Virginia’s Liberty University is another household name in online higher education, and it offers one of the most vast degree catalogs in the country. Students interested in finance at Liberty University can pursue its fully online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. This program helps students master financial skills critical for the business world.

Students will study financial analysis, investment strategy, the stock market, and banking skills that are necessary to work effectively in the financial industry. They can also expect to develop skills pertinent to the fields of general business, accounting, economics and marketing in both the domestic and international marketplace. Coursework is designed to prepare students for service in the modern business marketplace.

Graduates of the program will be well poised to complete Liberty’s Master of Business Administration or a Master of Arts in Leadership and Management, both of which are also offered online. Those interested in entering the workforce will have a number of options available, and recent grads have gone on to work as financial analysts, investment bankers, management consultants, loan officers, real estate agents/brokers, securities analysts, and entrepreneurs.

Regis University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Finance degree through its College of Business and Economics that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of financial management. It puts great effort into staying on top of the ever-changing trends in this in-demand profession as well as developments in the global economy. Students will be prepared to work in banks, investment companies, government agencies, consulting firms, insurance firms and large and small corporations.

Regis’s program not only prepares students academically for their prospective careers but also prepares them to pursue professional certificates and licensure, such as the Series 7. Students can complete their degree fully online, fully on campus, or a combination of both for those who happen to reside in the area. The curriculum exposes students to a wide array of courses and topics, such as financial analysis, forecasting and planning, money and banking and managing technologies for business strategies.

Graduates of Regis’s program can expect to be prepared to work with diverse management groups, marketing professionals, accountants and others who depend on finance professionals to achieve their economic goals with well-reasoned ethical decisions. Additionally, CBE graduates who intend to sit for their CPA exam receive discounted rates on exam prep courses.

Purdue University Global is a for-profit institution that has served the distance-learning needs of students for many years. Although it is primarily a distance-learning institution, it also operates fifteen physical locations throughout the country. Purdue Global offers an online Bachelor of Science in Finance that is designed to provide students with technical knowledge and skills in a wide range of financial areas and develop an understanding of the factors that influence financial decision-making.

Students can expect opportunities to grow and apply their critical-thinking skills to find solutions to a variety of financial problems. The curriculum covers subjects such as financial planning, corporate finance, banking, real estate, financial markets, and investment management. The degree has the following objectives for graduating students: gain technical knowledge and skills in a range of financial areas; acquire an understanding of factors that influence financial decision-making; and develop/implement critical thinking skills to solve in-depth financial problems.

Purdue University Global’s program is designed to provide students with rigorous training through assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects that will prepare them for the real-world challenges they will face in their careers. Students can expect to acquire skills such as the following: perform financial analysis using quantitative concepts and techniques; interpret financial statements and ratios; examine investment and financial risk; analyze financial theory and practices; apply legislation, regulations, and principles of practice to financial scenarios; and communicate professionally through writing and presentations with stakeholders.

East Carolina University has been involved in distance education for more than sixty years, and it was one of the first schools to offer a degree online. Today, ECU offers more than 75 degrees and certificate programs online in a wide variety of fields. Online courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus courses. The level of coursework, required readings, and examinations are the same for online and on-campus courses.

East Carolina University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of financial topics, and additional concentrations are offered in managerial finance, financial services, and risk management and insurance. Managerial finance is particularly well suited for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the banking industry.

The coursework in ECU’s program boasts considerable breadth. Following are a few of the courses finance students can look forward to: Financial Markets, Principles of Real Estate, Investments, Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, Financial Analysis and Planning, Cost Accounting, Topics in Finance, Real Estate Financing, International Finance, and much more.

Post University, a private, for-profit university located in Waterbury, Connecticut, was founded in 1890. It currently enrolls approximately 4,000 students, and it offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Finance. Graduates of the program have enjoyed successful careers in corporate finance, investment and wealth management, banking, personal finance, and international finance. Many have also pursued graduate education and professional study to become Certified Financial Planners (CFPs).

Students in the program will acquire a number of necessary skills for this growing profession, such as analyzing financial situations, determining potential problems and arriving at profitable solutions. Post’s program places an emphasis on case studies, and students will gain experience in financial management, financial policy making, strategic financial planning, business fundamentals and ethics, and communication.

An additional feature of Post’s program is that it is one of fewer than fifty universities in the nation to offer academic courses that prepare students to sit for two separate Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) exams: Series 6 and Series 7. Students can also specialize in several distinct areas of concentration: General Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial Services & Banking, and Personal Financial Planning.

Davenport University offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance that is designed to prepare students to become capable financial managers who can make wise decisions in this fast-paced and highly analytical field. The program is fully accredited and was designed as a partnership with the business community to provide a relevant, rigorous curriculum. Finance students start their business courses during their first semester.

Students will develop competency in the following major areas: budgeting, data analysis, investments, international business, and internal controls. Additionally, the program offers students the option to focus specifically on Financial Planning, which will appeal to students who want to become a financial advisor to individuals or businesses.

Davenport’s financial planning specialty is a registered program with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP). This means that when you complete the specialty courses with your major, you have guaranteed eligibility to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam, without the lengthy application process that non-registered program students must submit. By passing this exam you certify that you are qualified to practice independently as a financial planner.

Texas A&M University Commerce, part of the Texas A&M University system, offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Finance through its College of Business that is designed to expose students to as many areas of finance as possible. Students can expect to take advanced courses, for instance, in Financial Management, Investments, Financial Planning, Derivatives, Financial Markets and Institutions, Economics, and Financial Accounting.

All students in the program are encouraged to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. The program is built on TAMUC’s core curriculum, an essential element in the educational process that results in professional success, personal growth, and responsible citizenship. In this process, students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge, learn reasoning and communication skills, examine their goals, values, and potential, and develop an enduring commitment to learning through both formal and informal educational experiences.

The finance program at TAMUC is designed to provide successful academic experiences and to facilitate students’ abilities to perform responsibly and effectively in their chosen professional roles in business, industry, government, and education. The program offers advanced courses such as the following for those interested in finance: Financial Modeling in Excel, Principles of Financial Planning, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Intermediate Micro Economics, US-Economics of Personal Finance, Money, Banking & Financial Markets, Principles of Investments, Advanced Financial Management, and GLB/International Business Finance.

California State University East Bay is a public university located in Hayward, California. It enrolls nearly 15,000 students and offers a number of online programs in the business and management fields. For students interested in Finance, East Bay offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, which offers students the opportunity to concentrate in the areas of Finance, General Management, Information Technology Management (ITM), and Operations and Supply Chain Management .

The Finance major requires 97-105 credits of a total of 180-183 for the Bachelor of Science degree. Students in the program have pursued careers in financial management of business firms, banks, related financial institutions, investment banking, investment management, and securities brokerage. In addition to the development of a theoretical basis of decision-making, coursework emphasizes experience in solving the problems that students will face as financial managers.

Finance students are required to take Corporate Finance and Investment Analysis and four of the following courses: Entrepreneurial Finance, Derivatives Markets, Problems in Corporate Finance, Risk Management in Financial Institutions, Financial Modeling, Seminar in Financial Theory, International Business Finance.

Portland State is a public, non-profit research university located in Portland, Oregon. It currently enrolls approximately 27,000 students total, and it offers an online Bachelor of Science in Finance. The program is designed to prepare future finance leaders to solve global economic problems and help businesses plan for a better future. Students will develop a deep understanding of emerging macro-economic trends and acquire familiarity with new technologies and regulatory standards.

The financial profession of the future will require skills beyond simple mathematical formulas, such as how marketplace conditions drive business strategy. Skills students can expect to develop include formulating and framing benchmarks, creative problem solving, increasing efficiencies, and monitoring trends and interpreting outcomes. Finance students can expect a challenging, rigorous, and rewarding experience that will prepare them for the high-end financial industry, such as corporate finance, banking, or in an investment-related field.

Additionally, students will acquire general business skills, such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. Coursework in the program includes classes such as Financial Accounting and Reporting, Intermediate Financial Management, Investments, Fundamentals of Derivative Securities, Valuation, International Financial Management, and Finance Topics and Cases.

Baker College is a private college founded in 1911 in Flint, Michigan, that now operates more than a dozen locations throughout Michigan as well as one in Reading, Pennsylvania. It has expanded its online offerings in recent years to great success, including a Bachelor of Science in Finance. This program focuses on resource allocation—financial markets, financial instruments, individuals, and institutions that manage money and other assets.

Baker’s curriculum is developed and taught by finance professionals, and students gain an understanding of financial theory and practice from many perspectives—banking, financial services, financial planning, and corporate finance. Students also study the issues that individuals and organizations face today, and develop the analytical and math skills needed to succeed in a global environment.

Students can choose to concentrate their program in several areas, including corporate finance, investment banking, financial markets and services, or insurance. Graduates of the program will be prepared to serve in a number of crucial roles for corporations, pension funds, insurance companies, and other organizations and individuals who make investment decisions and rely on financial analysts to provide information and guidance. Students will be able to assess stock and bond performance, study trends, and develop portfolio strategies and recommendations to meet financial goals.

University of Houston Downtown, one of the four institutions in the University of Houston system, offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance program that prepares graduates for professions in financial management, investment management, banking and financial institutions. Like so many schools on our list, UHD has recognized the growing demand for financial professionals who can respond to changing market conditions and has risen to meet the challenge.

The stated goal of the program is to produce graduates who can help individuals and businesses increase productivity through financial and technological solutions. The program also prepares graduates to pursue graduate studies and to take the Chartered Financial Planners (CFP) and/or the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) and/or the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) certification examinations.

Students in the program can expect to develop a wide array of skills that will prepare them to meet any challenge they will face in their careers. Graduates of the program have gone on to work in a variety of capacities, such as corporate finance managers, investment managers, credit analysts, banking professionals, personal financial advisors, security analysts, wealth managers, real estate appraisers, insurance agents, financial service professionals, and financial examiners.

DeSales University is a private, Catholic university located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. DeSales offers an online Bachelor of Science in Finance that prepares students in a wide variety of areas, including banking, security analysis, risk management, taxation, international finance, and more. The program is offered fully online, and students can look forward to courses such as Quantitative Business Analysis, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Money and Banking, Financial Markets & Institutions, and Investments & Portfolio Management.

Students will be prepared in a number of areas, including banking, security analysis, risk management, taxation, and international finance. Graduates pursue careers in many financial occupations, such as banking, financial management, financial planning, security analysis, and insurance. The program also offers an accelerated option in Financial Planning designed to meet the need for finance professionals who can serve the interests of both individuals and businesses.

For students who happen to be in the area, DeSales’s Gambet Center gives students access to some of the most cutting-edge technology in the field. The Talen Energy Trading Room boasts a live-ticker, three big-screen TVs displaying the latest financial news, and computers loaded with professional, top-of-the-line trading simulation software. Students able to take advantage of these resources will get an idea of what a day on Wall Street is really like.

Part of the sprawling University of Minnesota system, UM Crookston offers an online Bachelor of Science in Finance that prepares students to understand the markets and how businesses raise and invest capital. Students will be exposed to subjects such as money and banking, investment, insurance, risk management, estate planning, corporate finance, and financial institutions, and they will acquire the knowledge necessary to calculate contemporary financial measures of performance and risk as well as the ability to explain how the financial services component industries interact with each other.

Graduates of the program will appreciate the dimensions of performance and risk relevant to financial services companies and assess consumer financial needs and the mechanisms available for fulfilling these needs. They will also be able to describe and apply financial concepts, theories, and tools, and evaluate the role of technology and the legal, ethical and economic environment as it relates to financial services. Those interested in personal finance will further be prepared to present individual financial plans.

Those who successfully complete this degree can look forward to careers as financial analysts (budget analyst, credit analyst, investment analyst, merger and acquisitions analyst), capital markets analysts (rating analyst, tax analyst, treasury analyst), money market analysts, finance managers, personal financial planners, investment bankers, asset managers, and actuaries.

The University of Memphis is a public institution founded in 1912, and it currently enrolls more than 22,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. U of M offers Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance through its Department of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate. The department is one of six departments within the Fogelman College of Business & Economics, which is the only business college in the Memphis area fully accredited by the prestigious AACSB—a significant consideration particularly for students in the area whose careers might benefit from such a designation.

U of M’s BBA in Finance also offers the opportunity for students to concentrate in Business Finance in particular, which aims to provide the basic concepts, principles and analytical tools essential for business decisions in the fields of finance. The business finance concentration focuses on decisions concerning stocks, bonds, fixed-income securities, derivatives, foreign exchange, capital markets, capital budgeting and financial management of corporations. The degree requires 120 hours, and it can be completed entirely online.

The stated objectives of the Business Finance concentration are for students to be able to develop and monitor operating budgets and financial control systems; conduct financial analysis to aid in corporate control, advise investors, and design optimal investment portfolios; design and promote financial products for use by industry, banks, and other financial institutions; and analyze the profitability of alternative investment options and make recommendation of likely investment outcomes.

University of Houston Clear Lake, one of the four schools comprising the University of Houston system along with UH Downtown mentioned above, provides an affordable solution to those seeking an online option for acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Finance. This program merges both quality with convenience, and it is also included among the elite group of colleges and universities who are accredited by the globally recognized Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The program is offered through UHCL’s College of Business, and it is designed to provide students with the comprehensive training and preparation necessary to excel as a financial leader. All finance faculty members hold their Ph.D.’s and hail from top-notch business and industry, bringing first-hand experience to every student. Students can also expect to acquire hands-on experience through case studies and projects while strengthening ethical awareness and a global perspective.

Courses in the program include classes such as the following: Accounting, Statistics

Financial Markets, International Finance, and Financial Statement Analysis. Graduates will be able to master the areas of corporate finance, commercial banking, financial planning, investment banking, money management, and real estate investments.

Rasmussen is a for-profit college that offers a wide variety of online programs and also operates two dozen physical campuses in Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin, and Kansas. It is based in Maitland, Florida. Rasmussen offers an online Bachelor’s degree-completion program that provides a broad range of training in financial concepts and skills that prepare graduates to advance their careers into positions such as financial analysts and finance managers.

The program is priced to be competitive, and the program can be completed in as little as eighteen months. Courses are taught through a combination of traditional courses and competency-based education (CBE), a hybrid program that offers the best of both worlds and provides credit for equivalent prior work experience. Self-paced CBE courses focus on efficiency and relevancy, and emphasize project-based assessments and real-world scenarios.

This unique approach to learning helps students master how to evaluate an institution’s financial policy, detect fraud in financial statements, understand business laws, and examine moral and ethical issues that arise in business. Graduates of Rasmussen’s program are working in a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to Accounting, Finance and Banking, Healthcare, Insurance, Local and State Government, Property Management, and Retail and Hospitality.

Walden University is a for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that enrolls in excess of fifty thousand students through its vast selection of undergraduate and graduate programs. Walden offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration that is designed to prepare students for success in their chosen professions. Coursework in Walden’s program is composed of 70 percent business courses, which will appeal to those who know exactly what they want out of a program.

Students will gain practical, relevant skills that can be applied in a variety of roles, functions, and industries. Students will also gain insight into key business functions—such as accounting, finance, operations, and marketing—and how they work together to keep an organization running smoothly. They will be prepared to analyze issues that impact business decisions from economic, political, legal, ethical, and social-change perspectives, and also examine how technology and innovation can help organizations develop a sustainable competitive advantage.

The Finance concentration will prepare students to effectively assess and guide the operation of an organization. The curriculum will help students appreciate how the key financial levers of an organization work and how to help management direct the organization to optimize its value to both its employees and other shareholders. Walden boasts nearly fifty years of experience serving the needs of adult learners, and it boasts comprehensive student support services that feature an array of resources dedicated to students’ success and well-being.

The University of Michigan Flint is part of the University of Michigan system and one of two satellite campuses of the Ann Arbor–based university. UM Flint offers a Bachelor of Business Administration entirely online—the only online business degree offered by any of the three U of M campuses. The degree caters particularly to adult learners and students who have full-time or part-time work obligations and desire to either earn their diploma for the first time or complete an unfinished degree.

UM Flint’s online BBA offers a unique combination of rigor, convenience and flexibility. The faculty is able to provide a truly interactive experience for students through a cutting-edge delivery system. The program allows students to major in finance, and it also offers concentrations in general business and marketing. The finance major is designed to prepare students for professional careers in the fields of corporate finance, banking and financial institutions, and investment.

The finance curriculum emphasizes developing an understanding of these three areas of finance through courses on forecasting, portfolio theory and security analysis, options and futures markets, accounting, money and banking, management of working capital, and management of financial institutions. Finance faculty members are available to consult with students wishing to pursue careers in any of the above-mentioned areas.