Program Overview
The banking and finance program at Dar Al-Hekma University offers a unique well-structured curriculum which prepares students for success in the dynamic financial world. The first in the region to offer an Islamic finance track, the program is keen on preparing young professionals for this fast- growing field. The students in the program start with core business courses to establish a strong foundational understanding of the business environment. Specialization courses are taught in the junior and senior years providing students with a deeper understanding of specialized areas such as investment banking, corporate finance, risk management, managerial accounting and financial modeling.
Combining their academic and financial expertise gained through many years of experience in the industry, our faculty expose students to the realities of the market and work on enhancing their knowledge, skills, and critical thinking.
The program aims at bridging the gap between theory and practice by offering many opportunities of exposure to real life practices through presentations and workshops by inspiring industry leaders, guest speakers, and educational trips. Students also participate in worldwide competitions, such as the CFA Research Challenge.
There is a high demand of our students in the financial job market which offers many career paths and opportunities. Our graduates start their careers with top employers including, Saudi Banks such as the National Commercial Bank, the Saudi British Bank, and international firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), BMG Financial Group, and Unilever.
Those who opt to pursue their post-graduate studies are accepted by top international universities such as the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), and Durham University
Tracks
Islamic Finance: Islamic finance has been introduced as a track in the banking and finance program to meet the requirements of the labor market and bridge the skill gap in this field. The Islamic financial industry has significantly grown attracting funds from all over the world and becoming a strong competitor to the conventional sector. Nevertheless, this growth has not been matched with the availability of qualified professionals. Hence, this new track will contribute to providing students with the necessary skills to prepare them academically and professionally to be able to handle the challenges faced by this dynamic field. Accordingly, the curriculum was developed using courses and teaching strategies which develop the students' analytical knowledge and skills.
Program Mission
To graduate professionals equipped with concepts and skills of international standards in banking, investment, and finance from both the conventional and the Islamic perspectives.
Program Goals
- Expand the banking and finance program in alignment with the job market needs.
- Enrich the banking and finance profession by graduating qualified professionals.
- Increase research opportunities in the area of banking and finance.
- Renew the National Commission of Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) accreditation.
- NCAAA accreditation for the banking and finance program.
- Promote the banking and finance profession in the community.
Why Choose this Program at Dar Al-Hekma University?
- The banking and finance curriculum combines theory and concepts with practical skills needed in the job market.
- The program associates itself with the industry through strong links with prominent employers and prepares its graduates to meet the requirements of the industry.
- The curriculum was designed in collaboration with top national and international universities and developed by the Hass School of Business at the University of California Berkeley, USA and tailored specifically to the Saudi market by King Fahd University.
- The program is accredited by the National Commission of Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA).
- The faculty of the program are a mix of highly qualified international and national scholars who hold degrees from reputable world-class universities.
Programs
| TOEFL Score
| Required Certificate Percentage
| Qudurat Test Score
| Othe Admission Requirement
|
|---|
Bachelor of Banking and Finance (Track)
Bachelor of Islamic Finance (Track)
| 500
| 80%
| 65%
| None
|
For further details about admissions,click here
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
Knowledge
- Explain concepts, principles, and practices related to business.
- Identify fundamentals and theories related to banking and finance from both the conventional and Islamic perspectives.
- Recognize the implications of domestic and foreign influences on financial markets and financial institutions, from the general as well as the Islamic perspective.
Skills
- Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze, manage, and make decisions to deal with the challenges and complexities of the national and global business environments.
- Use techniques and methods of inquiry to collect and interpret data to provide information that would support strategic decisions.
- Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
- Apply appropriate techniques to evaluate various scenarios related to corporate finance, investment, commercial and Islamic banking, and risk management with emphasis on the Islamic perspective.
- Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills to make financial decisions.
Value
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional, ethical, legal, secure, and social issues and responsibilities.
- Work independently and/or as part of a team.
|
Year One |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall
|
Semester – Spring
|
|---|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
| BBUS 1301 | Introduction to
Business | 3 | MATH 1303 | Calculus | 3
|
| MATH 1301 | College Algebra | 3 | BECO 1201 | Principles of
Microeconomics | 2 |
| BMKT 1301 | Principles of Marketing
Management | 3
| BACC 1301 | Principles of Financial
Accounting | 3 |
| ICTC 1301 | Information and Communication
Technology | 3 | BBIS 1301 | Business Information
Systems | 3 |
| COMM 1301 | Communication Skills I
| 3 | BMGT 1301 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 | ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours
|
18
|
Total Credit Hours
|
17
|
|
Year Two |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall
|
Semester – Spring
|
|---|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
| BACC 2301 | Principles of Managerial
Accounting | 3 | BBUS 2302 | Quantitative Analysis for
Management | 3 |
| BECO 2301 | Principles of
Macroeconomics | 3 | BFIN 2302 | Financial Management | 3 |
| BMGT 2302 | Human Resource
Management | 3 | BMGT 2301 | Principles of Organizational
Behavior | 3 |
| BSTA 2301 | Statistics for Business | 3 | ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 |
| COMM 1302 | Communication Skills II | 3
| ITAI 1201
| Introdction to Artificial Intelligence
| 2 |
| ARTS xxxx | Arts and Design | 2 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Ed Electives
(HUMN, NASC, SBSC) | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours
|
17
|
Total Credit Hours
|
17
|
|
Year Three |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall
|
Semester – Spring
|
|---|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
| BMGT 3301 | International Business
Management | 3 | BMGT 3304 | Strategic Management | 3
|
| BMGT 3201 | Legal Environment
of Business | 2 | BNFN 3307
| Islamic Banking and Finance
| 3 |
| BBUS 3302 | Research Methodology | 3 | BNFN 3305 | Risk Management
of Financial Markets
and Institutions | 3 |
| BNFN 3302 | Commercial Bank
Management | 3 | EMOI 1201 | Emotional Intelligence | 2 |
| BNFN 3303 | Investment Analysis
and Portfolio Management | 3 | ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 |
| ENTR 3301 | Entrepreneurship and
Design Thinking | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Ed Electives
(HUMN, NASC, SBSC) | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours
|
17
|
Total Credit Hours
|
17
|
|
Year Four |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall
|
Semester – Spring
|
|---|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
Course Code
|
Course Title
|
Credit Hours
|
| BBUS 4301 | Business Ethics and
Social Responsability
| 3 | BNFN 4309
| Investment Banking
| 3 |
| BNFN4301 | Corporate Finance | 3 | BNFN 4303 | Internship: Banking and
Finance | 3 |
| XXXX xxxx | School/Program Elective | 3 | BNFN 4304 | Financial Policy | 3 |
| BBBF 1101 | Basic Body and
Brain Fitness | 1 | XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
| ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 2 |
| XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours
|
15
|
Total Credit Hours
|
12
|
Career Prospects
The program equips students with the necessary skills that qualify them for a variety of career paths/jobs in the market including, but not limited to: - Financial analyst
- Banker
- Financial manager/officer
- Financial markets analyst
- Fund/Investment manager
- Financial advisor/consultant
- Financial planner
- Investment analyst
- Investment banker
- Insurance specialist/officer
- Real estate manager
- Stock broker
- Portfolio manager
- Bank manager/officer
- Development banks/Institutions officer
- Venture capital professionals
- Sharia compliant specialist (Students from the Islamic track)
Islamic Finance Track Plan of Study
|
Year One |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
| BBUS 1301 | Introduction to Business | 3 | MATH 1303 | Calculus | 3
|
| MATH 1301 | College Algebra | 3 | BECO 1201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 2 |
| BMKT 1301 | Principles of Marketing Management | 3
| BACC 1301 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ICTC 1301 | Information and Communication Technology | 3 | BBIS 1301 | Information Systems Foundations
| 3 |
| COMM 1301 | Communication Skills I
| 3 | BMGT 1301 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 | ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Two |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
| BFIN 2302 | Financial Management | 3 | BBUS 2302 | Quantitative Analysis for Management | 3 |
| BACC 2301 | Principles of Managerial Accounting | 3 | IBNF 2302 | Introduction to Islamic Banking and Finance
| 3 |
BECO 2301
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | BMGT 2301 | Principles of Organizational Behavior
| 3 |
| BSTA 2301 | Statistics for Business | 3 | ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 |
| COMM 1302 | Communication Skills II | 3
| ISLS XXXX | Islamic Studies | 2 |
| ITAI1201 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
| 2 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Ed Electives (HUMN, NASC, SBSC) | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Three |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
| BMGT 3301 | International Business Management | 3 | BMGT 3304 | Strategic Management | 3
|
IBNF 3302
| Intermediate Islamic Banking and Finance
| 2 | BNFN 3304 | Investment Banking | 3 |
BFIN 3301
| Financial Modeling | 3 | BBUS 3302
| Research Methodology | 3 |
| BNFN 3302 | Commercial Bank Management | 3 | EMOI 1201 | Emotional Intelligence | 2 |
| BNFN 3303 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management | 3 | IBNF 3303
| Islamic Commercial Law | 3 |
| ENTR 3301 | Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Ed Electives (HUMN, NASC, SBSC) | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Four |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
| BBUS 4301 | Risk Management of Islamic Financial Institutions | 3 | IBNF 4204
| Sukuk - Structuring, Practices and Operations | 3 |
IBNF 4302
| Islamic Capital Markets and Asset Management | 3 | BNFN 4303 | Internship: Banking and Finance | 3 |
| XXXX xxxx | School/Program Elective | 3 | BNFN 4304 | Financial Policy | 3 |
| BBBF 1101 | Basic Body and Brain Fitness | 1 | XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
| ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 2 |
| XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 |
Total Credit Hours |
12 |
