Finance Major

Bachelor of Science degree

The curriculum in finance seeks to develop an understanding of the role played by finance in various organizations. Finance deals with the acquisition and management of resources to accomplish organizational objectives within an acceptable risk/return profile. The financial manager decides how to raise funds in the capital markets and  how best to invest these funds in order to accomplish organizational objectives. To accomplish these tasks, the discipline of finance has developed a sophisticated set of analytical tools that bring together concepts from a variety of sources such as economics, accounting and mathematics. The concepts and techniques developed in finance are equally applicable to not-for-profit organizations that must also raise and invest funds in an efficient manner. Those skilled in financial analysis play a central role in deciding such current issues as mergers, buyouts and international investments.

Student Learning Outcomes

The finance program seeks to produce graduates who have professional, analytical and managerial skills in finance, and who are able to adapt to the changing demands of business and society. In addition, the finance program seeks to contribute to knowledge and practice in finance through professional activities.

Students will

• understand the scope of financial management and career opportunities within the field;
• understand the nature and implications of global financial markets and their regulatory environment;
• be able to assess, interpret, and evaluate corporate financial statements;
• be able to apply the theory and techniques of finance to long-term and short-term investment decisions;
• be able to apply the theory and techniques of finance to the management of financial institutions and services;
• understand the need and opportunities for risk management in domestic and international contexts;
• appreciate the necessity of incorporating a consideration of ethics in financial decision-making; and
• be able to use library resources, technology, and electronic databases for continuous learning.

 General Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

The Bachelor of Science degree in Finance requires completion of 40 courses — 120 credit hours of coursework.

Business Foundation Requirements - 6 courses

• ECO 231 MicroEconomics
• ECO 232 MacroEconomics
• POM 212 Statistics
• MIS 101 The Business Organization*
• MTH 103 Finite Mathematics
• ENL 265 Business Writing

Finance major courses — 7 courses

• FIN 383   Investment Analysis
• FIN 397   Financial Modeling
• FIN 398   Financial Institutions
• FIN 484   Advanced Investment Analysis
• FIN 485   Seminar
• FIN 494   International Financial Management
• ACT 444 Intro Financial Statement Analysis and Firm Valuation

Core business requirements—10 courses

• ACT 211 Financial Accounting
• ACT 212 Managerial Accounting
• FIN  312 Finance
• MKT 311 Marketing
• MGT 311 Organizational Behavior
• MGT 312 Legal Framework in Business
• MIS 315  Management Information Systems
• POM 333 Quantitative Business Analysis
• POM 345 Operations AnalysisMGT 490  Business Strategy

Business Electives — 1 or 2 courses.  Students select 300 or 400-level business courses that are not required by their major. This course may be taken from any other discipline in the College of Business. Students can use these electives for a minor if they do not also use them in their major.

Students who entered prior to fall 2012 will take 1 business electives. Students who enter in fall 2012 or after will take 2 business electives.

Non-business electives — 5 to 7 courses.  Students select four courses outside of the College of Business. All students are strongly advised to investigate minors in other Colleges and make selection that that meet requirements of that minor. Consult with your advisor for assistance.

University Studies courses or GEN ED — 6 or 8 courses

First year students who enter the university in fall 2012 or later and transfer students who entered in fall 2012 or later with less than 25 credit hours will take 6 additional courses from University Studies. http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.

First year students who entered the university prior to fall 2012 and transfer students who entered prior to fall 2012 with more than 25 credit hours will take 10 additional general education courses. http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/generalinformation/ .

*Transfer students with more than 15 credit hours do not take MIS 101. Substitute a 300 or 400-level business elective.