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Finance Experiential Component

Purpose of the Experiential Component

The experiential component is a critical requirement of the finance major. Students should seek out and pursue an experience that is consistent with their personal interests, academic career, and professional goals. This is an opportunity for students to grow as engaged global citizens making decisions within complex financial systems. 

The finance experiential requirement should fulfill one or more of these learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate understanding of the core concepts underlying financial and economic models.
  • Apply key financial and economic concepts to connect insights from multiple perspectives.
  • Communicate financial analyses, both written and oral, to diverse audiences.
  • Collaborate effectively in teams, demonstrate professional responsibility, and exercise ethical judgement in financial analyses and insights.

Guidelines

To fulfill the experiential requirement, the experience must meet these guidelines and be registered with one of the four options outlined below.

  • Pursued after the student has successfully completed Finance (INBM 250).
  • Minimum of 8 weeks and a minimum of 80 hours; weeks should be mostly consecutive.
  • Occur during the academic semester (fall or spring) or during a summer, with the work weeks mostly consecutive.
  • Can be paid or unpaid, remote or in-person, off-campus or on-campus. For remote experiences, additional guidelines and approvals may be necessary.
  • Use finance skills, broadly defined, during a closely supervised experience.
  • Address one or more of the finance learning outcomes listed above.
  • Registered and approved with the appropriate pathway (INP, REXP, etc.) before the experience begins; retroactive approval is not granted. See details regarding registration options below.

Four Options to Fulfill the Finance Experiential Requirement

  1. Internship Notation Program (INP)
    1. Ideal for internship experience supervised by a professional/mentor in the field.
    2. Must be a minimum of 8-weeks and 80-hours to fulfill the finance requirement.
    3. Register through Gateway. INP staff coordinates all necessary paperwork and approvals with the finance program.
    4. Upon completion of internship and INP requirements, the experience is documented on the transcript as INTR 781 with a "Credit" grade. The ¼ credit awarded for INP will fulfill the finance experiential component requirement. There is no tuition charged for INP enrollment.
    5. For additional information on the INP, see the program’s website or contact the Director of Internships, Matthew Pouss.
  2. Research Experience Notation (REXP)
    1. Ideal for scholarly research experience supervised by an academic/professional researcher.
    2. Must be a minimum of 8-weeks and 80-hours to fulfill the finance requirement. REXP experiences are typically full-time (about 35-40 hours per week) for 8 weeks in the summer.
    3. Register through Gateway via the INP/REXP Portal in CLIQ. REXP staff coordinates all necessary paperwork and approvals with the finance program.
    4. Upon completion of research and REXP requirements, the experience is documented on student’s transcript as REXP 781 with a "Credit" grade. The ¼ credit awarded for REXP will fulfill the finance requirement. There is no tuition charged for REXP enrollment.
    5. For additional information on the REXP, see the program’s website or contact the Director of Internships, Matthew Pouss.
  3. Independent Study/Research or Student-Faculty Research
    1. Ideal for a fall or spring semester scholarly research experience supervised and graded by a Dickinson professor.
    2. Students must complete the Special Course Options form through CLIQ forms to enroll in a one-credit 500, 550, or 560 course.
  4. Study Abroad Program with Registered Internship/Research Experience
    1. Options vary depending on the study abroad program. When exploring study abroad programs, student should consult with CGSE about registered internship options. Some examples include programs like Dickinson in DC, Dickinson in Spain, and Dickinson in France.
    2. The internship or research experience must be registered through the INP or a course pre-approved by the Director of Internships and the finance program chair.

Resources and General Advice

Students are encouraged to discuss experiential interests with their academic advisor and use the resources in the Center for Career Development. From individualized career advising appointments and drop-in hours, internship/job postings, on- and off-campus programs, online resources, and alumni groups, students can work with the Center to identify opportunities to meet their interests and connect with alumni. 

Here is some general advice:

  • Keep your resume updated and professional. Be sure you have multiple people review your resume!
  • The finance field recruits very early, often a year ahead of the internship. All students, but particularly first-year and sophomore students, must be diligent in applying early and often (typically during the fall) to a wide range of positions. To help with your search, consult the Center for Career Development, use Handshake, web searches, professional associations, personal networks, and other available resources.
  • When exploring opportunities, do not filter by positions with “finance”, “wealth”, “financial”, “banking”, or “intern” in the position title. It is not a requirement that this position contain those key words in the name to earn credit for the experience. 
  • Maximize the Dickinson network. Our alumni from all majors pursue a wide variety of professions in a broad range of industries, and you can learn so much from their experiences. Use LinkedIn, the Alumni Directory, and other resources to make connections.
  • Generate opportunities for yourself. If there is a place you are interested in working, connect with someone there about potential experiences. You can use the finance major requirement to ask about what the position might involve or how you would like to contribute to an organization.
  • Consider opportunities with a variety of organizations and industries.
  • Check your email frequently and respond to inquiries quickly. Opportunities are often time sensitive and waiting might result in a lost prospect.
  • Talk with your advisor if you have questions about whether the experience you are interested in can be used to meet the major requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Where do I start?

  • Talk to your academic advisor and the Center for Career Development about opportunities on- and off-campus.

Q: Can my internship/research experience in X, Y or Z topic count?

  • Maybe. Ask your finance advisor and finance program chair to pre-approve the experiential component before you begin. Your experiential component must connect with the finance program goals listed above and be registered prior to starting the experience. Experiences are not approved retroactively.

Q: Can I double dip so that the experiential component counts towards my finance major and a second major?

  • Maybe. Before you begin, ask the finance program chair to pre-approve the experiential component for finance and consult with the Director of Internships

Q: What are the important deadlines?

  • If pursuing INP or REXP, you must register before starting the experience. Contact the Director of Internships if you have questions about the deadlines.
  • If pursuing an independent study/research (500, 550, 560) or registered experience while studying abroad, you must register according to the semester's add/drop deadline for the semester of the experience.

Q: Do I have to complete the experiential component at a specific time?

  • You can complete the experiential component during the fall semester, spring semester, or summer; and any time after completion of INBM 250 (Finance).
  • Recruitment for finance internships happens early and students should look into securing internship opportunities for as early as the summer after freshman or sophomore (more likely) year.

Important Note for International Students

International students on an F-1 visa must obtain appropriate work authorization to pursue an internship or research experience in the U.S. or with a U.S.-based company. Visa regulations may have strict limitations on the number of hours that can be worked during the academic year and summer terms. Students should consult with the ISSS staff in the Center for Global Study & Engagement and the Director of Internships regarding these regulations.