Financial Services Cluster

Offering students hands-on training in a specific industry and face-to-face interaction with top industry professionals, the Financial Services Cluster is taught by business professionals and an expert Fisher faculty lecturer.

Leading financial services practitioners will share their expertise, address up-to-the-minute issues facing businesses today, and look to students to provide real-world solutions. Complementing this action-learning format will be a series of lectures designed to provide students with the breadth and depth of knowledge that they will need to succeed.

The faculty coordinator for the Financial Services Cluster is Bob Lane. Classes are typically offered one evening each week.

This is an academic program with expectations. There will be exams, outside readings, projects, and assignments. Students in this cluster should be aware that there will be several required learning opportunities outside of class time. These events include, but are not limited to, the Kick-off event, the Project Showcase, field trips, networking events, etc.

In Autumn Semester, students will meet one evening per week.  In Spring Semester, students should expect to meet one evening per week as well. However, because students will be completing projects, they should be aware that there will be an additional time commitment outside of that one evening. Sponsoring companies will aid in the evaluation of these projects.

Course Sequence and Syllabi

Introduction to the Financial Services Industry:  Insurance & Commercial Banking

Autumn- 2 semester hours
Course syllabus

The first course in the Financial Services Cluster will involve an integration of commercial banking and insurance.  Industry Partners will alternate the content and subject matter for their respective disciplines.  Classes will consist of:  lecture/presentations, case studies and/or simulations, with work to be done by project teams.

Introduction to the Financial Services Industry:  Investment Banking & Projects

Spring- 3 semester hours
Course syllabus

The second course in the Financial Services Cluster (pre-requisite is: Introduction to the Financial Services Industry:  Insurance & Commerical Banking) will be devoted to Investment Banking.  The class will also take on industry- specific projects that are provided by the Industry Partners, which will be executed in teams.