Hockey fans love hat tricks — when a player scores three goals in a game. And did you know? You can achieve an educational “hat trick” at Wilmington University, beginning with an associate degree in finance.
“We talk in academia all the time about stackable credentials. And the associate degree is a good way to get started,” says Donald Stuhlman, WilmU’s director of finance and accounting programs. “You can actually earn an associate, a bachelor’s and a concentration or certificate — a hat trick.”
“We talk in academia all the time about stackable credentials. And the associate degree is a good way to get started.” – Donald Stuhlman
Earn an Associate of Science in Finance degree 100% online in as little as one and a half to two years — and qualify for entry-level positions in banking, investment and real estate. Enjoy a career making more than $40,000 a year as a finance clerk, insurance salesperson or loan officer, for example.
“We watch very carefully what is in demand in the employment industry,” explains Dr. Stuhlman, who holds a doctorate in business administration from the University. Lightcast, a labor analytics company, “studies job postings and labor market projections to see what employers are looking for” and then compares the results to WilmU’s syllabi and course objectives.
“We modify our curriculum to make sure we’re covering what’s in demand in the marketplace,” he describes. “It’s cutting-edge.”
The 20-course A.S. in Finance degree combines theory and practice, teaching the basics of fiduciary planning and leadership. In courses such as Principles of Management, Business Statistics, Financial Planning and Corporate Finance, learn to analyze data and apply financial models so you can develop business solutions.
“We modify our curriculum to make sure we’re covering what’s in demand in the marketplace.”
– Donald Stuhlman
Since launching the program in 2021, enrollment has grown tenfold. It’s the only associate degree of its kind in the region, and the University is pleased to offer it as a convenient first step into financial careers or a deeper study of finance.
“An associate degree opens a pathway for your future. If you go into employment right away, a bachelor’s degree will always be there for you on the horizon,” says Dr. Stuhlman, the program chair. “It could move into any of the programs in the College of Business. Every course moves into the bachelor’s program.”
After completing this associate degree, you can pursue several bachelor’s degree options, including finance, accounting and business management.
“This is the entrance port, and then you can start looking at Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™,” Stuhlman notes. Wilmington University’s Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™ saves you time and tuition by building a certificate into your degree program or helping you accelerate into your next degree.
Ready to launch a career in finance? Check with your human resources department for tuition benefits so you can more affordably pursue an A.S. in Finance.
“The associate degree opens doors,” Dr. Stuhlman says.
Learn more at www.wilmu.edu/business/finance-associate.aspx.