Finance Major

Undergraduate Finance Major

Shape the financial forces making the world go ‘round.

Tap into the very core of the business world and develop an in-depth understanding of finance—which, in turn, impacts every aspect of modern life, from lending to infrastructure to retirement fund portfolios. 

Finance Major Overview

People who work in finance affect almost every aspect of business—indeed, of modern life itself. Consider the impact these financial practitioners make: Corporate finance officers help their companies raise capital that often finances new plants and new products, resulting in new jobs. Public finance professionals raise money to build roads, bridges, schools and hospitals. Lending officers at banks, savings and loans and credit unions help their customers finance homes or college education. Portfolio managers invest the retirement funds of millions of people.

Finance Advising

Every Eller student has an assigned advisor to help with the academic questions that come up as you study here. Get to know the Finance advisor. 

Meet julio pena the Finance Advisor

The Eller Department of Finance

The Finance major falls within the Department of Finance, a leading force in financial management education and research. Learn all about our department’s coursework, faculty and community partnerships. 

Explore the Finance Department

Finance Sample Coursework Plan

How your Eller Finance experience can play out:

This sample plan is based on 14-17 credits per semester, but each student and their academic plan is unique. Please meet with your Academic Advisor to create a custom plan for you.  Please note that your General Education requirements, including second language, are determined by when you were admitted to the university.  Your Academic Advisor can help you navigate the requirements relevant for you. For a full list of official degree requirements, check out the University General Catalog. 

First Year

1st Semester
CourseUnits
ENGL 101* First Year Composition  
MIS 111* Computers and Internetworked Society 
MIS 112* Computers and Internetworked Society Lab  
MATH 112 College Algebra Concepts and Applications  
General Education and/or Second Language  
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
1
3
3-7
Total13-17    
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
ENGL 102* First Year Composition  
MATH 116* Calculus Concepts for Business Majors 
General Education  
General Education and/or Second Language 
BNAD 100 Language and Context of Business  
   
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days 		3
3
3
3-7
1
Total13-17
Summer
Use summer to catch up on math if behind in sequencing based on placement results prior to your first year.

Sophomore Year

1st Semester
CourseUnits
BNAN 276* Statistical Inference in Management 
ACCT 200* Introduction to Financial Accounting  
ECON 200* Basic Economic Issues  
General Education  
General Education
BNAD 200 Career Management in Business  
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
1
Total16
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
ACCT 210* Introduction to Managerial Accounting  
BNAN 277* Analytical Methods for Business 
BCOM 214* Fundamentals of Business Communication  
General Education  
General Education or Ethics**  
   
Attend Career Showcase and apply for Professional Admissions in February, and attend UA Spring Career Days		3
4
3
3
3
Total16
Summer
We highly recommend that students participate in a study abroad and career-related experience.

In order to take the following upper-division courses, students must be admitted to the major through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process.  

Professional Phase 

1st Semester
CourseUnits

MGMT 310A Organization Behavior and Management  
MKTG 361 Introduction to Marketing  
BCOM 314R Business Communication  
ACCT 400C Intermediate Financial Accounting (Grade of C or better required) 
FIN 360 Quantitative Financial Management  (Grade of C or better required)
FIN 360L Quantitative Financial Management Techniques  (Grade of C or better required)

Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days

3
3
3
3
3
1
 
Total16
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
ECON 300 Microeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions
OSCM 373 Basic Operations Management  
MIS 304 Using and Managing Information Systems  
FIN 412 Corporate Financial Problems (Grade of C or better required)
FIN 421 Investments (Grade of C or better required)
   
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
 
Total15
Summer
Use summer to gain career-related experience through internships, study abroad, or volunteering.

Professional Phase

3rd Semester
CourseUnits

MGMT 402 Integrating Business Fundamentals with Ethics and Law in Management 
ECON 330 Macroeconomic Institutions and Policy
ENTR 485 Innovating: Creating the Future 
FIN Major Elective Course 
FIN Major Elective Course
FIN 498 (Senior Capstone) 

  
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days

3
3
3
3
3
1
Total16
4th Semester
CourseUnits

FIN Major Elective Course 
General Education
General Education
Minor, Electives, or remaining General Education requirements

Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days, and Graduation in May

3
3
3
3
Total12
Summer
Enjoy your summer and continue the job search if necessary!

Note: This is only a sample plan and requirements are subject to change and may vary based on catalog year, placement tests, AP/CLEP credit, transfer work, summer school, etc.

All students enter as Foundational Business Managements majors, and must go through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process to gain entry to the upper-division professional majors. The above plan is designed on the assumption that a student tests into College Algebra on the PPL Math Placement Exam; students who test lower than College Algebra should refer to the Five-Semester Plan and work with their academic advisor to learn how they can adjust their schedule to meet their educational goals.

* Eller Foundation Courses: You need to take these classes before you apply for admission into the professional program. Professional Admission is required before enrolling in 300- and 400-level core and major courses. Students transferring directly into the upper division who do not have a BCOM 214 equivalent completed will be required to take BCOM 315 before graduation instead.

** Business Emphasis Areas: You must take one ethics course to complete your degree. This class does not need to be completed before applying for Professional Admission.

Students can meet the Second Language requirement by demonstrating second semester proficiency through examination or taking any of a variety of second semester language courses. Each student needs to meet a minimum of 120 total credits. Students are strongly encouraged to take BNAD 100 and BNAD 200 to develop their professional knowledge and competencies required for success in the upper division. Please consult with your Advisement Report and your academic advisor.

Finance Cohort Schedules

View Finance major cohort schedules by semester:

Finance Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
8:00 - 9:15 BCOM 314R* BCOM 314R*
9:30 - 10:45ACCT 400CBCOM 314R*ACCT 400CBCOM 314R*
11:00 - 12:15MKTG 361FIN 360**MKTG 361FIN 360**
12:30 - 1:45MGMT 310A MGMT 310A 

Finance Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
12:30 - 1:45ACCT 400CFIN 360**ACCT 400CFIN 360**
2:00 - 3:15MKTG 361BCOM 314R*MKTG 361BCOM 314R*
3:30 - 4:45MGMT 310ABCOM 314R*MGMT 310ABCOM 314R*

* Students will take BCOM 314R at one but not both times.
 ** All first semester Finance students will be required to take a FIN 360 Lab that will be held on Wednesdays at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., or 10 a.m.

Finance Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
8:00 - 9:15FIN 412OSCM 373FIN 412OSCM 373
9:30 - 10:45 MIS 304 MIS 304
11:00 - 12:15FIN 421ECON 300FIN 421ECON 300

Finance Silver Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
9:30 - 10:45FIN 412* FIN 412* 
11:00 - 12:15FIN 412*ECON 300FIN 412*ECON 300
12:30 - 1:45FIN 421* FIN 421* 
2:00 - 3:15 OSCM 373 OSCM 373
3:30 - 4:45FIN 421*MIS 304FIN 421*MIS 304

*Students will take FIN 412 and FIN 421 at one but not both times.

Finance Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
12:30 - 1:45 ECON 330 ECON 330
6:30 - 8:30 FIN 498  

Finance Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
12:30 - 1:45 ECON 330 ECON 330
5:00-7:30 FIN 498  

 ** All third semester Finance students will be required to take a ENTR 485 course that will be held one day a week either Tuesday, or Thursday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m, 3:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Additionally, students will need to take MGMT 402, which will be held fully online. 

Finance Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
6:30 - 8:30  FIN 498*   

Finance Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
6:30 - 8:30  FIN 498*   

*Students are not pre-enrolled

Finance Elective Course Options

The following Finance electives are available:

An in-depth overview of acquiring, manipulating and analyzing financial information, specifically for finance majors. 
(Please note: Finance Majors must complete 9 units of Finance Elective credit, this course would leave 8 remaining units and needing 3 additional electives courses)

Units: 1
Offered: Fall, spring, summer

The primary objective of this course is to develop the ability to use finance concepts to solve practical finance problems through the use of Excel spreadsheet models.

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, spring

International financial markets and the financial management of the multinational firm.   

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, spring

Critically explores corporate finance problems using case studies in an international context. The course uses a mixture of financial statement analysis, Microsoft Excel-based valuation models, and custom-written VBA programs to analyze real business problems. Industry professionals who make decisions within an international context are frequent guest speakers (both in person and by video conference).

Units: 3
Offered: Fall

Examines how corporate financial managers and investors manage risk using derivative securities, such as options, swaps, futures and forward contracts. Emphasis is on managing financial risk.  

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, spring

To apply classroom learning to an active management of a student managed portfolio.   

Units: 3
Offered: Fall

To apply classroom learning to an active management of a student managed portfolio.

Units: 3
Offered: Spring

Financial markets and institutions; effects of economic conditions and government policy on financial institutions, the flow of funds and interest rates; term structure of interest rates; financial institution management.   

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, spring

Investment analysis of real estate. Sources and costs of financing. Secondary markets and government programs.

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, spring

View All Finance Undergraduate Courses

Finance Major Career Resources

Finance Careers

Your Finance degree translates to in-demand careers in financial planning, portfolio management, investment analysis and investment banking. 

View Finance Career Possibilities

Meet the Finance Career Coach

Eller students have a world of options in front of them—which is why a dedicated career coach is so valuable. Get professional coaching on internship and job opportunities awaiting you. 

Meet the Finance Career Coach