Content and objectives
Hesse is the German state where the financial services sector plays the largest economic role. The structure of the Financial Services Major , including its individual subjects and events, was developed by academics from the departement of Economics in collaboration with representatives from banks, insurance companies, and other financial services firms, and designed to meet practical needs.The aim of this Major is to provide integrated training in the various areas of management within financial services companies, as well as in financial and capital market-related issues. It is therefore a "cross-sectional Major " in which various functions of general business administration are taught and applied, each specifically tailored to the characteristics of the financial services industry, along with specific financial techniques and methods.
Structure of the majors s
| Business Administration (BA 2020) / Major Financial Services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration of Financial Institutions (411) | Prof. Dr. Anke Haag | 6 CrP |
| Corporate Banking (515) | Prof. Dr. Anke Haag | 6 CrP |
| Financial Markets (412) | Prof. Dr. Christoph Gallus | 6 CrP |
| Private wealth analysis and planning (514) | Prof. Dr. Christoph Gallus | 6 CrP |
Modules 411 and 412 are dedicated to the fundamentals of bank strategy and management, as well as the analysis and quantitative valuation of financial market instruments. Module 411, Business Administration of Financial Institutions, focuses primarily on the business model of banks. It covers bank refinancing, the competitive landscape for retail and corporate banking services, and the regulatory environment. Module 412, Financial Markets, presents methods for valuing companies, stocks, bonds, and derivatives (such as futures, interest rate swaps, CDS, call and put options), as well as methods for stock market trading and quantitative risk management.
Building on this foundation, Module 513 provides an overview of corporate banking, and Module 514 offers an introduction to asset management. Module 514 covers the life cycle of private investors, the empirical distribution of private investors' wealth, available asset classes, key products, and targeted portfolio construction. Depending on student interest, alternative asset classes such as real estate, gold, private equity and hedge funds, ETFs, or potentially cryptocurrencies will be explored in greater depth.
Furthermore, supplementary elective modules are offered by Prof. Haag or Prof. Gallus, or by experienced lecturers, as needed. The elective module 727, Insurance Studies, covers insurance products with a focus on the customer perspective and can be used for the certificate of competence required by the Insurance Intermediaries Directive. The topic of Sustainable Finance is offered either as elective module 747, Sustainable Finance, or as part of the NaMa Bachelorstudy programand can be taken by interested Majorstudents. Module 716 is dedicated to the topic of return and, above all, risk management, and is conducted either as a business simulation or as a seminar combining theory, concrete application scenarios, and case studies. Furthermore, students interested in data analysis and digitalization, topics also important in the financial sector, can take the elective modules Mathematical Methods of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (726) and Introduction to Operations Research with Python (715), both supervised by Prof. Dr. Gallus.
For those interested in research, there is a collaboration with the Chair of Financial Mathematics at Justus Liebig University in Giessen. Practice-oriented research on causality in financial market data modeling is being conducted within the framework of a LOEWE project funded by the state.
Combination with other majors
Depending on individual interests and career goals, this Major can be combined with numerous other specializations. For careers in finance and accounting, combining it with the Major Controlling or Tax Consulting and Auditing is recommended. Information technology is becoming increasingly important in the financial services industry, making a combination with the Major in Digital Business a sensible option for students with this career goal. For those aiming for a career in international business, a combination with the Major in International Management is highly recommended. If students wish to specialize in specific areas of financial business, selecting relevant modules from other majors , such as the Major Medium-Sized Companies , is advisable.
Occupational and professional fields
The Major opens up career opportunities in specialist and, after appropriate training, management positions in the financial sector, at traditional banks and savings banks as well as at fintechs, asset managers, in the financial departments of traditional companies, at management consultancies and at public institutions such as the financial supervisory authority.
Career prospects
The financial sector is undergoing a period of dynamic change due to evolving customer behavior, new distribution channels, and the market entry of additional, innovative competitors. These challenges present a significant opportunity for young, well-educated university graduates to actively shape these developments and grow alongside them.
Cooperations
The Financial Services Major collaborates with numerous banks, savings banks, insurance companies, and other financial service providers. The integration of teaching and research within the Major is ensured through close contact with cooperation partners, the awarding of teaching positions to proven specialists from the field, as well as practical lectures, the facilitation of internships, the implementation of projects, and the assignment of bachelor's thesis topics in cooperation with companies in the financial sector. We collaborate with, among others, the following companies:
- Allianz AG
- Bearing Point
- Commerzbank AG
- Deutsche Bank AG
- Deutsche Börse AG
- German Federal Bank
- DZ Bank AG
- Formaxx AG
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- Sparkasse Gießen
- Sparkasse Wetzlar
- Sparkasse Oberhessen
- Union Invest
- Volksbank Mittelhessen
