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Undergraduate Major: Finance

Finance graduates go to work in one of three broad areas: corporate finance, banking, or investment-related fields. The finance option has been prepared to give you an understanding of all of these areas, and of the common underlying principles. Finance is interested in the future performance of the company and what to do to enhance it. To this end, finance practitioners must thoroughly understand accounting as a presentation of the current condition of the business. But they must also understand how the plans of the business relate to its value, and must understand the role of capital markets and institutions in providing funding resources to the business and monitoring its performance.

In addition to the courses listed below, the serious finance student is strongly advised to take additional accounting courses, especially at least two courses in the intermediate accounting sequence (ACTG 381 - 382). Also, financial analysis is, as its name implies, analytical, so anything you can do to enhance your quantitative and analytical skills will help your career. It is essential that you have a strong understanding of algebra and statistics; calculus is also useful as a mental discipline. Understanding of information systems is highly valuable, and a strong facility with spreadsheets is essential. To help understand the economic environment of finance, we also recommend additional upper-division courses in economics.

Finance Option Requirements

[2011-12 bulletin year*]

A minimum of 28 business credits as follows:

  • ACTG 381 - Financial Accounting and Reporting I (4)
  • FIN 319 - Intermediate Financial Management (4)
  • FIN 352 - Investments (4) - Formerly FIN 452
  • FIN 441 - Fundamentals of Derivative Securities (4)
  • FIN 449 - Valuation (4)
  • FIN 456 - International Financial Management (4)
  • FIN 465 - Finance Topics and Cases (4)

The printable (PDF) version of this information includes prerequisites, a suggested sequence, and identifies the terms these courses are usually offered.

Links to the requirements for other bulletin years are found on the Course Information page.

The SBA offers a Master’s Degree in Financial Analysis

The Master of Science in Financial Analysis (MSFA) degree is an accelerated graduate business program that integrates coursework in finance and accounting. This unique dual-focused program quickly prepares students to pursue a variety of advanced career paths, including public accounting, investment management, and corporate financial management. MSFA coursework is ideally suited for those interested in management-track careers in finance and accounting, with many graduates ultimately seeking CFO and partnership positions in their organizations.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in finance can meet the program prerequisite requirements by completing the intermediate accounting sequence. (ACTG 381, 382, 383)

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