The Department of Accountig, Finance & Economics, an Overview


Designing a professional BBA program at the Department of Finance, Accounting, & Economics (DAFE)

It is somewhat difficult to suggest a typical three years and a half program in Business, because each student’s program should be specifically tailored to his or her needs and interest. This revised program in the DAFE lends itself easily to a certain degree of specialization, as is the recent trend with an increasing number of American Universities. Students considering graduate work in business, computer, law or engineering will find the training received in any of the different BBA degrees in the department to be quite valuable.

In Accounting, Finance, and Economics, the Department offers major Business/Economics elective courses for students who want to deepen and sharpen the focus of their major. In addition, students can pursue their course / job interest by working with their respective advisors on choosing faculty elective courses in the following areas: General Finance, Investment, Corporate Finance, Banking, Real Estate Finance, Financial Planning, Accounting Information Systems, General Accounting, Management Accounting and Control, Auditing, and Economics.

Graduate schools of business are now primary looking for students background that focuses on both writing and quantitative skills. Thus an appropriate business program would balance liberal arts and business contents, and the judicious use of mathematical concepts, methods, and techniques. The DFAE business curriculum provides such a program.

Not all courses listed in the suggested program below will necessary be offered in any given semester, or year. New courses will be gradually offered when appropriate and when the human resource needs are secured.

In the required common courses below, a new course, E-Business, is now added, a course which is a must for any business curriculum in these days. Also two Math courses for Business and Economics have been added because, as experience has shown, many of our incoming students are ill-prepared in Math.

Graduation Requirements
Students seeking the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration – Finance, Accounting, Economics, Financial Engineering or Energy Economics Concentrations must complete a total of 106 credits with an overall average of at least 2.0/4.0 and a minimum average of 2.3/4.0 in the common core and major requirements. These 106 credits are divided into: General Education Requirements, Common Core Requirements, Major Requirements, Faculty Electives, Free Electives. In addition, the passing grade for Principles of Accounting I and II, Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and Principles of Financial Management I, is “C”. The passing grade for remedial Math courses is “C”. Students are strongly advised to plan in advance their courses for the entire program.

Admissions Requirements
Applicants must pass the Lebanese Baccalaureate Part II (Any Strand) or its equivalent as identified by the Lebanese Ministry of Education. They are required to sit for an English Entrance Test (EET) or TOEFL. Mathematics Entrance Exam Test is required from all High School students. Upon the Entrance Exam results accepted students may be assigned MAT 001 and / or MAT 100 and / or MAT 105 by the Admissions Committee in light of their scores on the Math entrance exam.



The Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Objectives
The purpose of the Bachelor of Business Administration BBA is to provide students with the skills necessary to meet the Business demands of the future in a variety of organizational settings. Specifically, a graduate of this major should be able to:

  • Develop initial thinking, analytical, problem solving, and decision making skills.
  • Develop human relation skills and successfully apply those skills to a variety of business situations.
  • Evaluate and use professional literature.
  • Understand the international arena and its place in current business environment.
  • Know the components of continuous business process improvement.
  • Increase individual knowledge and understanding of self and other in the work environment.
  • Develop the ability to plan, organize, direct and control within an organizational environment.
  • Understand how modern business functions.
  • Develop specific business skills (e.g. Economics, Accounting, Finance, etc.) critical to effective and efficient management.

General Description
A degree in Bachelor of Business Administration in the Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics requires 106 credit hours. No minor or second major is required. A common body of knowledge is required of all students majoring in the Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics. Students are required to supplement the required courses with a number of Business and non-business elective courses. By carefully selecting these elective courses, students may develop a program of study that fits with their interests and career preparation needs. In order to maximize the benefits of their program, students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their assigned advisor in developing their program of study.

If students are unsure of career goals, as a Business Administration student you will have an opportunity to take a variety of business courses to see what type of work might appeal to you most.

Career Opportunities
The career opportunities for Finance, Accounting & Economics majors are varied and challenging. The program of study prepares graduates for decision – making positions in both the public and private sectors. So many graduates accept positions within the banking industry, including local and international commercial banks and governmental agencies. The majority of these opportunities require indepth knowledge of finance and a solid foundation in analytical and communication skills. Graduates have also found career opportunities with major corporations and private enterprises here in Lebanon and specially in the Gulf countries. Below are just a few of the careers from which students may choose:

Finance

  • Corporate Financial Manager
  • Commercial Bank Officer
  • Financial Planner
  • Management Consultant
  • Financial Analyst
  • Investment Manager
  • Bank Examiner
  • Credit Analyst
  • Loan Officer
  • Real Estate Appraiser and Broker
  • Estate Management Officer
  • Real Estate Developer
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Stockbroker
  • Mortgage lending
  • Insurance: sales representative
  • Securities: sales representative
  • Investment counselors

Accounting

  • Corporate Accountant
  • Public Accountant
  • Tax Accountant
  • Auditor
  • Accountant Consultant
  • Tax Reporter and Planner
  • Accounting System Designers
  • Accounting System Auditors
  • Industrial Accountants

Economics

  • Economics Department of Large Corporations
  • Government and Government Agencies; Departments of treasury, agriculture and labor
  • Career in Financial Institutions
  • Career in Research and Consulting Firms
  • Career in the Central Bank as bank examiner and the Public Sector inside and outside Lebanon such as Foreign Service

Energy Economics

  • Governments
  • Utilities
  • Energy companies
  • Consulting firms
  • Organizations concerned with energy

Financial Engineering

  • Financial Market as dealers
  • Foreign Exchange Firms
  • Financial Risk Analysis and Management
  • Stock-Brokering
  • Training Management
  • Portfolio Management
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Investment Analysis
  • Central Banking
  • Banking
  • Financial Product Development
  • Insurance Companies
  • Diversified Financial Services Companies

Activities
Faculty at the Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics believe it is important to expose you to a variety of practical and theoretical aspects of business, then give you an opportunity to apply your newly gained knowledge in business situations.

For that reason, the Department along with the Student Affairs Office, sponsor student organizations. In addition the Department uses faculty help to place students in internships, and invites visiting executives and scholars to campus.

Being involved in organizations will allow students to plan, budget and share responsibilities for projects and events. You can learn to manage meetings, deal with conflict, motivate peers of different personalities, express opinions and follow through to the last detail. Student organizations also provide the opportunity to start networking with business professionals and to meet students with similar interests.

As students progress in their studies, they will participate in an internship. Internships give students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a variety of part-time, business – related jobs. Students might be placed in an entry – level position in a bank, corporation or insurance company. Following graduation, some students find full-time positions with the companies that sponsor their internships.

General Education Requirements (30 cr.)

Required Common Courses (45 cr.)

ACO 201, ACO 202, ACO 311, BAD 201, BAD 311, BAD 323, BAD 453, BAF 311, ECN 211, ECN 212, ECN 333, MRK 201, MAT 205, STA 206, STA 207